5 Mth Update (At end): LED's, Alarm System, garage opener, flush mount gear indicator
To start off, a big shout out to Vince on this forum for helping me with creative ideas on LED use for safety (and coolness affect!), and most importantly saving me time with wiring connection advice. Thank you Vince!
I am not too worried about my bike being stolen, however my son & I take country rides, usually stopping for lunch in some town where often I can't see my bike parked a block away or behind the building. I have a lock strap I use to secure my jacket and helmet sometimes, depending on the weather. That's a lot of stuff for a curious no-gooder to avoid messing with perhaps. Also, I want to know if a cager backs over my bike, as honest accidents happen, and then people turn dishonest without leaving a note, from my personal experience.
So I got a M1 Encore two-way remote bike alarm. It was just under $60. Not cheap. You can buy an $18 alarm if you just want a siren, but I wanted the two way key fob that works like a restaurant pager, so when something happens to the bike it buzzes, lights up and sings a song in my pocket. This alarm has both an adjustable motion detector as well as an adjustable impact alarm. It has a silent mode where only the lights blink, no alarm sound unless someone tries to start it. I like that mode when in a crowded area, like parked with a lot of other bikes. From what I can tell this is the same private branded system as Spy, although I like the Encore a little better based on size and shape of the remote. I recommend whichever you like and get cheaper. The remote stays connected for a very long range.
Installing it mostly under the passenger seat would not be much of a challenge if not for that's where I put my Power Commander, so I had a REALLY tight fit. Making more of a challenge I wanted to be able see my PC status light. The motion detector is under the rider seat, velcroed down for easy disassembly.
Putting the alarm system in, is relatively simple once you figure out where to put it, although finding the ignition cut wire can be a challenge. A multimeter or test light, and Vince made this and other connection questions easier to figure out.
I decided to light my jewel with a pretty powerful yellow LED light, and add rear brake/turn signal LED's to the under seat pod, and also inside the front fake intake pods at the same time as my alarm, so all those lights will flash with the alarm trigger. I also added a garage door opener to my shop where the bike resides, hidden under the top left faring/cowl piece with a remote button to activate it. Finally, I flush mounted my gear indicator where I had only two sided taped it previously....another great idea from Vince! It looks way better this way. I located it line-of-site so my phone doesn't block it. I use my phone for navigation all the time.
In retrospect, it was good to have it all tied together in one project because you have to remove ALL the farings and bodywork. On the other hand, I was cursing myself with all the tedious wiring, mounting, careful cutting, drilling and dremmeling required. It took me quite a while.
Having to make custom wiring harnesses, I highly recommend tesa tape for this. It's sorta like electrical hockey stick tape. It makes the job much easier. It's a bit pricey though.
I am very happy with the results. I like my combo strobing rear tail ight and flush mount front turn signals the way they look, but honestly don't think drivers can see the rear signal from the side, or the front flush mount signals very well from the front. Now they can.
This project was a challenge for me to do, mentally to plan it all out, then all the wiring and tucking it neatly away so it's invisible. You can read Adezine's posts on what I have done with the lights. I'll take better night time pics of the front later, and add them. The front pod lights are a little dull in the daytime, but very nice at night, they are turn signals and DRL which frame the jewel light nicely. The lighted jewel is awesome anytime. Bike needed that! The hidden garage door opener, well, everyone should have one on their bike !
To start off, a big shout out to Vince on this forum for helping me with creative ideas on LED use for safety (and coolness affect!), and most importantly saving me time with wiring connection advice. Thank you Vince!
I am not too worried about my bike being stolen, however my son & I take country rides, usually stopping for lunch in some town where often I can't see my bike parked a block away or behind the building. I have a lock strap I use to secure my jacket and helmet sometimes, depending on the weather. That's a lot of stuff for a curious no-gooder to avoid messing with perhaps. Also, I want to know if a cager backs over my bike, as honest accidents happen, and then people turn dishonest without leaving a note, from my personal experience.
So I got a M1 Encore two-way remote bike alarm. It was just under $60. Not cheap. You can buy an $18 alarm if you just want a siren, but I wanted the two way key fob that works like a restaurant pager, so when something happens to the bike it buzzes, lights up and sings a song in my pocket. This alarm has both an adjustable motion detector as well as an adjustable impact alarm. It has a silent mode where only the lights blink, no alarm sound unless someone tries to start it. I like that mode when in a crowded area, like parked with a lot of other bikes. From what I can tell this is the same private branded system as Spy, although I like the Encore a little better based on size and shape of the remote. I recommend whichever you like and get cheaper. The remote stays connected for a very long range.
Installing it mostly under the passenger seat would not be much of a challenge if not for that's where I put my Power Commander, so I had a REALLY tight fit. Making more of a challenge I wanted to be able see my PC status light. The motion detector is under the rider seat, velcroed down for easy disassembly.
Putting the alarm system in, is relatively simple once you figure out where to put it, although finding the ignition cut wire can be a challenge. A multimeter or test light, and Vince made this and other connection questions easier to figure out.
I decided to light my jewel with a pretty powerful yellow LED light, and add rear brake/turn signal LED's to the under seat pod, and also inside the front fake intake pods at the same time as my alarm, so all those lights will flash with the alarm trigger. I also added a garage door opener to my shop where the bike resides, hidden under the top left faring/cowl piece with a remote button to activate it. Finally, I flush mounted my gear indicator where I had only two sided taped it previously....another great idea from Vince! It looks way better this way. I located it line-of-site so my phone doesn't block it. I use my phone for navigation all the time.
In retrospect, it was good to have it all tied together in one project because you have to remove ALL the farings and bodywork. On the other hand, I was cursing myself with all the tedious wiring, mounting, careful cutting, drilling and dremmeling required. It took me quite a while.
Having to make custom wiring harnesses, I highly recommend tesa tape for this. It's sorta like electrical hockey stick tape. It makes the job much easier. It's a bit pricey though.
I am very happy with the results. I like my combo strobing rear tail ight and flush mount front turn signals the way they look, but honestly don't think drivers can see the rear signal from the side, or the front flush mount signals very well from the front. Now they can.
This project was a challenge for me to do, mentally to plan it all out, then all the wiring and tucking it neatly away so it's invisible. You can read Adezine's posts on what I have done with the lights. I'll take better night time pics of the front later, and add them. The front pod lights are a little dull in the daytime, but very nice at night, they are turn signals and DRL which frame the jewel light nicely. The lighted jewel is awesome anytime. Bike needed that! The hidden garage door opener, well, everyone should have one on their bike !
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