Topic: avoiding a cafe rear end mess

[Ewan 500K1]

......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 ?

[Jerry E.]

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.

[mcpuffett]

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.

[Toxic]

Mine looks like this:



dual intensity and is still plenty visible in the daylight

[Ewan 500K1]

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

[Ewan 500K1]

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

[Syscrush]

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.

[Syscrush]

Mine looks like this:

HUBBA HUBBA!!!

[Mugen_Stumpo]

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

[MCRider]

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.

[fiolola]

This is how I solve my rear mess.