Topic: my new invention!! should i produce these? blinker grips bar end directionals

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

So essentially I had the idea to make a set for myself....then thought...I can make them for everyone. EVErYONE! Maybe couriers or every bike in China? I cast them in a soft amber urethane. The light is led. I am messing with a few button ideas for non motorcycle applications. On a 12v system it can just get tied in.

I put this up in "polls" because I would like creative crit and feedback. I have blown too much time and money  on dead end ideas. (See alloy clear points cover and day cafe hoop seat mounts)

[Stev-o]

Pretty cool....but will it sell?     

[kghost]

The question is not if it will sell.....

The question is: Will meet regulatory approval to be legally used.

I think that's an original and innovative idea just don't know if it can be used

[KrautKoffin]

I'd rock this on my 550 since I wasn't going to run blinkers to begin with.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I figured if a bar end blinker or a flush mount......these would be the stock distance apart and higher for better visibility...? I am really leaning towards the bicycle market now, but have to figure on some hardware so they can be battery operated and independent. Blinkers for bikes. Just more visibility.

[strynboen]

if they vere black and only flashed in the aut.. end..and looked more stock....can theu be mold in black/yellow at same time..so only end cap are lighting

[seanbarney41]

Frankie...I think your thinking is ingenious, but you are getting too far ahead of the general populace.   Revolutionary ideas are rarely popular, and thus don't sell well.  Those seat mount thingies look to be a  real time saving, problem solver...but how the hell do you market them in this key word internet world?   Don't get frustrated.  We love you and your products.

[nccb]

I think its cool, maybe some people would use them in addition to their already installed blinkers and the grips would be more of a novelty for cool factor?

[madmtnmotors]

Pretty VERY cool....but will it sell?     

FTFY 


Novel idea. I think the fully lighted grip might be a little bright at night in the rider's eyes. Have you tried these at night? If I were going to run these I might expect to "black out" the back half to knock down the light shine at night. I could also see these being used in conjunction with the stock signals as well. Then there's the million dollar question...

any idea on a price point?

[70CB750]

It reminds me too much of neons on tuned cars in the Fast and Furious style. Would not caught me dead with grips like these.

[ofreen]

If your hands are holding the grips, then light beneath your hands is lost for the most part anyway...

Here is the main issue, I think.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I was thinking of having LEDs on the end and in the grip but it is a tough production. Casting with wires embedded. I like the black out on the inside idea. I have the LEDs focused aiming outward to the end of the grip to create a light pipe effect.

This us literally the first casting and test. I've got some blinky hardware to try now. (From my dogs night Collier)

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Frankie...I think your thinking is ingenious, but you are getting too far ahead of the general populace.   Revolutionary ideas are rarely popular, and thus don't sell well.  Those seat mount thingies look to be a  real time saving, problem solver...but how the hell do you market them in this key word internet world?   Don't get frustrated.  We love you and your products.

Thank you so much for this.

[Roach Carver]

Practical or sale able ? I don't know, but definitely cool!

[70CB750]

Could you mold something like emergency red light triangle - flashing with a switch. Flare replacement say.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Sure.

[KrautKoffin]

How about having 70% of the grips black and the last 30% at the end of the bar clear with a little spacer inside of it to push the drip off the end of the bar just far enough for a LED that can be ran through the bars. That eliminated the idea of molding grips with wires embedded!

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

But a regular bar end blinker already exists. I want the whole grip to light up.

[Roach Carver]

You know, why don't you throw a set up on ebay and see what they bring?

[flatlander]

the whole grip lighting up would be too flashy for me. but that's just me - others may like it exactly for that reason.

you could make a version that's a very inconspicuous bar-end blinker, by just making the ends light up and make the rest "boring black". that's something i would consider if i wanted to get rid of my original blinkers.

hey is that a CD that you mounted them on?

[LesterPiglet]

Ladies might like them...not necessarily for bikes.   

[70CB750]

Ladies might like them...not necessarily for bikes.   

Dang, I was waiting for somebody to voice my first thought 

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Ha! "Too flashy"

Lester- it is awfully dildo esque. Guy at work same it and said " oh yeah, ladies love it when they light up."

[flatlander]

2 birds with 1 stone - two marketing opportunities with a single product
frankenstuff you're a genius!

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I need to find a photographer that has a sweet bicycle and a rad motorbike, so I can send them one set of grips for pics.

Yo flatlander!

[333]

I think having the LED inside the hand could be distracting for the rider, and the light dissipates by the time it gets to the end, where it's needed for visability.   I would suggest having the LEDs in a protruded end(about the size of handlebar weights).

Most states that have a safety inspection require lighting to be DOT approved.  We had problems when I worked in a Honda dealer, selling aftermarket turn signals, because they wouldn't pass inspection because they didn't have the DOT approval markings.  Some inspectors wouldn't check, but state troopers would ticket if pulled over.

Over all, I like the idea. 

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

OK. Well I will still make the clear ones and push for bicycles, I can just do the same treatment with the led ring but on the end. The wires can just run right down the inside of the bars. I see bar end blinkers on eBay for $25-$50 from china....buzz kill. I hate making stuff for myself at minimum wage...or below.

I could just engrave " for of road use only" on the grips right?

[LesterPiglet]

Or branch out into the adult industry mate.
What about some sort of device to fit on the rear shocks for indication purposes? Slipover shrouds or something.

[333]

Well, you could.  It just wouldn't get me out of a ticket.

I don't know what it would take, but getting DOT approval and U.S. made could be an advantage over imported junk.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

And FCC regulations? I think this might be another dead end product, novelty. I need an idea that can replace the side covers as a part time job. Maybe I should just offer my machining and prototype mold making services for OTHER peoples ideas. I get paid whether its a did or not.

Anyone need anything 3d printed, machined or molded? I can make rubber, plastic, alloy, fiberglass,....chocolate......candles. ?

[333]

What possibly could the FCC have to do with this idea?

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

I see that label on anything digital.

[333]

Any device that has any type of timing circuit(as well as others) will have a crystal that can emit RF, and therefore needs FCC approval.  A simple LED circuit, not a factor.

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

But it will....the motorcycle version is just two wires to an led ring, the bicycle version will have a litiom battery with button. Wireless .

[Damfino]

Or branch out into the adult industry mate.

NSFW?

Blake-Edwards-Skin-Deep.avi

[KrautKoffin]

Hahahah

[333]

But it will....the motorcycle version is just two wires to an led ring, the bicycle version will have a litiom battery with button. Wireless .

I think you misunderstand the term wireless.  In this context, the word "wireless" means some signal is transmitted from one point to another. What signal is being transmitted to the grip?  I'm thinking it's a simple circuit. An led ring, a battery, and a momentary contact push button, for each grip.  Left turn, hit the left grip button.

Wireless- receives a signal without wires
Cordless- receives power without wires

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Kickstarter campaign???