[juke]

Hey guys,
I'm on the cusp of digging into my bike, specifically sorting out the electronics. I'm trying to really wrap my head around what's needed and what's not and hoping someone can help. My plans involve relocating the battery under the motor and replacing it with an AGM. I decided to skip doing Li-Ion specifically to avoid being forced to replace the regulator. I want to replace all lighting with LED. I had no plans on replacing the hand controls (but can if needed), and I wanted to maintain (but likely replace) tach, speedo, temp gauge.

The only things I KNOW I need to do are replace the flashers for my turn signals, relocate battery and re-mount starter solenoid. Other than that, I believe it's mostly tidying up the existing wiring.

Should I be considering an alternative wiring solution like M-Control or Nuut? Or is that entirely unnecessary at this stage?

 

[juke]

Coincidentally NUUT seems to have a great sale happening this week…

 

[juke]

Also - With the headlights that have integrated turn signals, have those been problematic?

 

[Sidecar Bob]

US DOT and Transport Canada regulations require a minimum 4"/100mm spacing between any turn signal and any other light that is on when the signal is flashing (this is a good requirement - any closer and it becomes hard to tell whether it is flashing, especially next to a headlight).
That means that unless you set it up so that the main headlight switches off when the signal is in use headlights with integrated signals are illegal in North America

 

[juke]

Awesome thanks for the info Bob. I was already leaning against it anyway. Any feedback on the headlights with what look like a grid of LEDs versus a projector type? They look like they’d have terrible spread but the light output and style look good. I was also looking into bar end turn signals in addition to front and rear. Really want to make my intentions clear on the road…

 

[Sidecar Bob]

I have no personal experience with LED headlights other than that I put an LED bulb replacement in the headlight on my winter bike's sidecar this year. I haven't been outside of town after dark so the jury is still out on that but I'm not too worried because I don't think I used the sidecar headlight at all last winter (It was different when I worked for a living).

Between decades of tiny pits on the lenses and tarnish on the reflectors I replaced the original reflector/lens units on both of my bikes with something newer & more modern over a decade ago and replaced the halogen bulbs with HIDs shortly after. I remember how huge an improvement an H4 halogen made over the original headlight in my first bike and the HIDs were at last as big an improvement over the H4s (not to mention how much better the modern reflector/lens units were).
I would have considered LED headlights but they were still very expensive then and HIDs were much more affordable. LEDs would probably have been great on the summer machine but From what I've heard the HIDs may have been a better choice for the winter because LEDs don't produce enough heat to melt the snow off their lenses ;-)

Hopefully some of the forum members who have installed LED headlights will see this and weigh in.

 

[juke]

Considering this guy: https://www.amazon.com/Headlight-Da...light&qid=1639664506&sr=8-111#customerReviews

Also most of my questions remain from the original post...namely...am i oversimplifying what I'm going to need to do these reasonably simple things

 

[ChrisDiehl]

Good luck with your wiring ventures. I will be where you are soon enough but unfortunately for me I don't know anything about wiring. It's all magic to me so I will be way over my head. I watched a video on how to wire up an m unit the other day and it was pretty cool. I didn't know they existed and what all they could do. But for 350 bucks they better do alot. I have a big vtwin that I installed a 3rd brake light on a month ago but never wired it up because I'd end up catching it on fire and that's only 4 wires that need hooked up. I can't imagine what I'll F up when I have a whole wiring harness to deal with. Lol. I'm the guy that shouldn't be building a cafe racer. Or anything for that matter. But how else am I going to learn ya know. Anyway, hope it all works out for you and goes smooth.

 

[reclinedrelic]

Also most of my questions remain from the original post...namely...am i oversimplifying what I'm going to need to do these reasonably simple things

In your first post you asked "Should I be considering an alternative wiring solution like M-Control or Nuut? Or is that entirely unnecessary at this stage? " It seems to me that is a question only you can answer. The answer depending on your goals for the bike, your budget and your skill and knowledge of things electrical.

 

[juke]

In your first post you asked "Should I be considering an alternative wiring solution like M-Control or Nuut? Or is that entirely unnecessary at this stage? " It seems to me that is a question only you can answer. The answer depending on your goals for the bike, your budget and your skill and knowledge of things electrical.

That's a fair point - I think the main question I have is...What are the advantages to a new aftermarket wiring harness such as that outside of wiring organization. If that's all, I can deal with the OEM rat's nest and find ways to tuck and hide it.

As far as the rest, are there additional electrical considerations I need to make given that my goals are simply swapping lights for LEDs and swapping the battery for an AGM unit

 

[juke]

Good luck with your wiring ventures. I will be where you are soon enough but unfortunately for me I don't know anything about wiring. It's all magic to me so I will be way over my head. I watched a video on how to wire up an m unit the other day and it was pretty cool. I didn't know they existed and what all they could do. But for 350 bucks they better do alot. I have a big vtwin that I installed a 3rd brake light on a month ago but never wired it up because I'd end up catching it on fire and that's only 4 wires that need hooked up. I can't imagine what I'll F up when I have a whole wiring harness to deal with. Lol. I'm the guy that shouldn't be building a cafe racer. Or anything for that matter. But how else am I going to learn ya know. Anyway, hope it all works out for you and goes smooth.

oh I'm right there with you. I'm not looking to open new cans of worms, that's why I ask. I don't mind taking the time to learn and do things the right way, but if I'm doing it for the sake of doing it...I'll just stick with what's already working.

 

[reclinedrelic]

... OEM rat's nest and find ways to tuck and hide it.

As far as the rest, are there additional electrical considerations I need to make given that my goals are simply swapping lights for LEDs and swapping the battery for an AGM unit

The majority of the OEM harness is nicely tucked away on the bike as is. I assume that the rat's nest you refer to is the part of the wiring harness contained within the headlight shell. That can be dealt with by using a wiring box from a GL500 Interstate or a similar suitable box.

 

[juke]

The majority of the OEM harness is nicely tucked away on the bike as is. I assume that the rat's nest you refer to is the part of the wiring harness contained within the headlight shell. That can be dealt with by using a wiring box from a GL500 Interstate or a similar suitable box.

yeah i was mostly exaggerating, the other units clean up the wiring and that seems to be the biggest benefit when people are talking about re-wiring with it. I've got new carbs and pod filters, removed the side plastics, and will be installing a new seat. I'll be mocking up a box to contain most of the underseat wiring with the exception of the battery and start solenoid, both of which i believe i will have no issues tucking under the motor

 

[reclinedrelic]

An under engine location for the battery would not be my first choice. The battery will be exposed to more heat from the engine and the exhaust to say nothing of exposure to road dirt and water.

 

[juke]

An under engine location for the battery would not be my first choice. The battery will be exposed to more heat from the engine and the exhaust to say nothing of exposure to road dirt and water.

I'm sure there's truth to that, but at the same time it seems to be a popular choice that many have been running for years without a long chain of issues reported. If i've missed a bunch then i suppose I'm off in my assessment

 

[reclinedrelic]

It would be interesting to know how much use, and under what conditions, bikes with battery under engine actually get.

 

[rbkart2]

I have used the NUUT Tricky on 2 different build and have had excellent results. I have a Marty for the next build and will be hopefully getting 2 more Tricky units today. Also have done a battery under the rear cover and one under the seat. No real issues either way.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

I think I ride in too much foul weather for that to be a good idea.

 

[juke]

I have used the NUUT Tricky on 2 different build and have had excellent results. I have a Marty for the next build and will be hopefully getting 2 more Tricky units today. Also have done a battery under the rear cover and one under the seat. No real issues either way.

good to know, thanks!

 

[juke]

I think I ride in too much foul weather for that to be a good idea.

i think to redline's point that's probably the biggest factor. i won't be doing winter riding and if i'm riding in the rain it's because i probably didn't check the weather close enough. this is supposed to be a warm weather fun commuter for me