Topic: Tailight for Cafe racer

[motorpscyho]

Does anyone have a unique and interesting solve for the tailight/license plate issue when installing a cafe seat.

I am in the process of cafe'n out my wifes 400/4 and have the same seat as ProTeals on his recomendation

I have a lucas style tail light I was playing with but can not find a solution I like.

Does Anyone know if they make a 3 filiment signal that I could use as brake/running/turn light?

Thanks

[SD750F]

Check there guys out:

http://www.clearalternatives.com/

They make a whole series of multi-function tail lights with integrated signals. And if you are familiar with a tail light style you like on a sport bike, then the ordering will be easy.

Scott

[motorpscyho]

Thanks SD

I'll check that out.

A

[cben750f0]

or these, thought they were pretty neat... peace

http://www.austreetfighter.com.au/scart/html/63.html

[matchanu]

I'm fairly budget minded, so I've had to improvise.

Check out the trailer parts section of any auto parts or WalMart and get the stop/break light. You'll have to fab your own mount, but it looks correct for the bike, and is a lot cheaper than some high speed LED light.

As far as turn sigs, I use the little stubby jobs that go for around 12 bucks. You can get those at your local motorcycle shop.

Now, you can turn any dual light/dual filimet light into a multi functional light/break/turn sig system. There is a electric modular you can get with the trailer parts that is made for this very purpose. I don't think they are very expensive, and are pretty straight forward in setting up.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/The-Integrator-Kit-motorcycle-tail-light-turn-blinkers_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35598QQihZ020QQitemZ300101069816QQrdZ1

[kslrr]

Why buy something already made when you can design and fab your own?  I will post pics soon of the process.

[ProTeal55]

Glad to hear my little project has got you going on your own 
If u like the look of the lights I have, go ahead and buy them and wire em up with a trailer box as mentioned above. That way the dual fillamanet lights will handle brake, run & turn. These little lights work like a champ, and are kickin brite !!

[motorpscyho]

Hey ProTeal

Thanks for the encouragement. What are those signals? and where did you get them?

I have a lucas tailight I was thinking about mounting on the bubble but it is not my optimum choice.

Motorpsycho

[ProTeal55]

I have a lucas tailight I was thinking about mounting on the bubble but it is not my optimum choice.

Please dont do that to that pretty seat.
I personally cant stand when people ruin perfectly good seats with huge tail lights (my opinion)..

The lights u speak of are actually considered marker lights.
They are available for about $40 outta the Drag Specialties catalogue.
They come with an amber and red lens, and have the 1157 bulb included.
After tons of looking around they seem to be the smallest housing available with a full sized
1157 dual fillament bulb (thus why I like them so much)...

[motorpscyho]

Thanks ProTeal

Pulling through for me again.

I was really not likin the idea of  mounting a tailight to the butt.

I looked at the drag specialties site, what was the part number? or the name of them anyway?

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/search/?q=marker+lights&submitQuery.x=0&submitQuery.y=0&submitQuery=Search

[zanzara]

Here is the one I found/got for my little project. The quality is certainly better than the previous cateye I had.

http://www.caferace.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=C&Product_Code=62-21514&Category_Code=RRBT

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

The Lucas tail light is radiused to fit a similar seat section
lemme find the pic of it..here ya go
DWYJ
p.s. only light that works in my opinion
[img]

[bill440cars]

The Lucas tail light is radiused to fit a similar seat section
lemme find the pic of it..here ya go
DWYJ
p.s. only light that works in my opinion
[img]

            Nice looking bike there. Thought it was a Super Hawk at first. Is it a CB160? At any rate, how about some details? Like to know more myself.

                                                           Later on, Bill

[motorpscyho]

Yeah DWYJ

That is exactly how I was thinking for the lucas light.

I just would rather not put anything on the bubble.

It's too sexy without having anything stickin out of it's ass.

Then again I may resort to that If I can not find what I am after.

Thanks

[SD750F]

Here is a flexible LED light bar that you could mount under the bottom edge of the seat:
http://www.customdynamics.com/flex_led_array.htm

This one you could mount upside down under the seat:
http://www.customdynamics.com/half_moon_custom.htm

Here is another one that can have integrated turn signals and the whole unit can be curved to match your seat:
http://www.customdynamics.com/kawasaki_mean_streak_motorcycle_led_turn_signal_lights.htm

There is really a lot to chose from. And I bet I can find a couple more products.

Scott

[bill440cars]

          I like the Lucas style tail light  myself and look how Daniel (DME) did his.

                 

[coolcat2002]

Thanks ProTeal

Pulling through for me again.

I was really not likin the idea of  mounting a tailight to the butt.

I looked at the drag specialties site, what was the part number? or the name of them anyway?

http://www.dragspecialties.com/fatbook/search/?q=marker+lights&submitQuery.x=0&submitQuery.y=0&submitQuery=Search

Capsule, search for capsule marker or accent lights. 

[tsflstb]

You could maybe mount it sticking out underneath the seat like this...





I put some aluminum foil on the inside of the top of the lens since you don't see it anyway.  That reflects a lot of light back down and makes it brighter from the back.

[bill440cars]

You could maybe mount it sticking out underneath the seat like this...





I put some aluminum foil on the inside of the top of the lens since you don't see it anyway.  That reflects a lot of light back down and makes it brighter from the back.

                Now, that looks good too! And, like Daniel's, yours doesn't look "Stuck On" either. Both have accomplished a good look.

                                                Later on, Bill    

[motorpscyho]

Nice look on yours there tsflstb.
It reminds me of what I did with my hawk GT(pictured below)

One thing I am concerned with is a clearance issue.
They tail I have seems to sit a bit lower than most others  look. If I mount the light under there I am going to have to do some choppin on the fiberglass.
Still not sure if I want to go that route!? I guess the decision will come to me, eventually anyway.

There are lots of good examples here and I am sure it will inspire something.

[motorpscyho]

here is the state she is in

[ProTeal55]

I put some aluminum foil on the inside of the top of the lens since you don't see it anyway.  That reflects a lot of light back down and makes it brighter from the back.

I did something similar to the tail lights on my 55 Chevy. Instead of alum. foil I used alum. tape that they use for HVAC applications. I put it everywhere where the light could be reflected out the main lens, and made a huge difference..

[kslrr]

I was working on my aluminum tail last night trying to mount the 9 tail/brake lights using rivits and a mounting plate that I made.  The only inspiration I got was to beat it into submission .  The aluminum I was using is too thin and was warping with each rivet I put in.  Oh well, back to the old drawing board, er, CAD program.

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

Guys..that wasn't my bike, i got that pic off the "Cafe Racers Photo Album" . com site..if ya need the link i can hook ya up later,
here's mine..needing the rings redone
DWYJ
[img]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/DWYJ/Cafe500/DSCN0525.jpg[/img]]

[Dougy Dougy Dune Buggy]

Bill440
i beleive it is a 160, it's been on a couple of sites..i liked it cuz of the rims and Lucas Tailight
which mine has..very Cafe pieces i think...i'm going with Dunlop tt100's like Doug ID has on his, doing my own seat also
sorry for the thread hijack motopscycho!!   here's my bike in first stages of black
Later,
DWYJ

[img