Author Topic: avoiding a cafe rear end mess  (Read 3205 times)

0 Members and 4 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Ewan 500K1

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
    • Adams Bros Probe 2001
avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« on: August 05, 2012, 06:17:58 PM »
......due to the need to have a stop lamp, rear light and a registratipn plate....not too mention indicators. I'm having a real struggle coming up with something for the back lights set up that is legal but doesnt look like a beurocratic minger........ just woke up at 2am and had to go out to the shed and do a mock up of a potential solution using carboard and red insulating tape.  In the photo red circle = reflector,  red strip = rear light / stop light using a flexible dual intensity LED strip. That's about as good as I can think of right now, hoping its UK legal...... Anyone else had a mindwarp with this ?
jings, crivens, help ma boab

500 four K1 cafe racer build thread at :
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100883.0

Offline Jerry E.

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 201
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2012, 10:13:13 PM »
An option I plan on using is to have the rear turn signals act as the taillights, turn signals, and brake lights. My girlfriends Harley has this setup stock for rear lights, and it keeps it simple looking. In my opinion, L.E.D. lights make poor taillights for daytime riding-not very bright compared to regular taillights during bright daylight. They do work well at night, tho.
"Why jump from perfectly good airplanes? Because the door opens."

Offline mcpuffett

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,354
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2012, 02:39:15 AM »
those barn door number plates don't help do they  ;), it don't look right stuck out on the side like that (just my opinion)

why not go for a smaller no plate under the rear tail piece? cheers Mick.
Honda CB750 KO 1970,   Honda VTX 1300 2006, Lancaster England.

Offline Toxic

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,200
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2012, 04:43:51 AM »
Mine looks like this:



dual intensity and is still plenty visible in the daylight

Offline Ewan 500K1

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
    • Adams Bros Probe 2001
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2012, 04:59:45 AM »
those barn door number plates don't help do they  ;), it don't look right stuck out on the side like that (just my opinion)

why not go for a smaller no plate under the rear tail piece? cheers Mick.

in UK if I get a new number plate , by law it would need to be even bigger ;(  .... and very little scope for putting it under the seat anyway due to clearance  issues
jings, crivens, help ma boab

500 four K1 cafe racer build thread at :
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100883.0

Offline Ewan 500K1

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 311
    • Adams Bros Probe 2001
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2012, 05:00:59 AM »
Mine looks like this:



dual intensity and is still plenty visible in the daylight

Like it ... is that a radianze LED strp ?  ..... still cant put the number plate under the seat though... not enough room
jings, crivens, help ma boab

500 four K1 cafe racer build thread at :
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100883.0

Offline Syscrush

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,419
  • Sold. :(
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2012, 05:49:44 AM »
In my opinion, L.E.D. lights make poor taillights for daytime riding-not very bright compared to regular taillights during bright daylight. They do work well at night, tho.
Modern LEDs are very bright if you're getting the right ones, and if you wire them correctly.

That means don't use load resistors to fix your flash rate!

They're becoming more and more common as brake, signal, and head lights for OEM applications.  They key is to get good quality stuff and install it with care and forethought.  Not all LEDs are created equal, I've had good luck with the stuff from Signal Dynamics.
Life is precious: wear your f'n helmet!
There's nothing more expensive than a free bike...
FWIW, I'm not a shill for Race Tech - I've just got a thing for good suspension and the RTCE's are the most cost-effective mod for these old damping rod front ends.

Offline Syscrush

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,419
  • Sold. :(
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2012, 05:50:26 AM »
Mine looks like this:
HUBBA HUBBA!!!
Life is precious: wear your f'n helmet!
There's nothing more expensive than a free bike...
FWIW, I'm not a shill for Race Tech - I've just got a thing for good suspension and the RTCE's are the most cost-effective mod for these old damping rod front ends.

Offline Mugen_Stumpo

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 287
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2012, 08:01:35 AM »
i have the same problem with my giuliari and italian plate...

try to mount it under the seat using some sort of bracket that tilt the plate a lot

Offline MCRider

  • Such is the life of a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,376
  • Today's Lesson: One good turn deserves another.
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2012, 08:21:26 AM »
Ewan:
I've always liked this:
http://omarsdtr.com/cafenew2.html
Mounts on the TOP shock bolt. Mounting it on the lower bolt exposes it to a great deal of road shock, inviting failure.
Like this:
http://omarsdtr.com/cafe.html

In the old 70s chopper days, we always mounted them high and horizontal. You may have to redrill your plate to fit if its not US spec.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2012, 08:23:49 AM by MCRider »
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline fiolola

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 41
Re: avoiding a cafe rear end mess
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2012, 10:19:21 PM »
This is how I solve my rear mess.