Ducati Monster Forum

There may be a thread on this yet I could not find..

Curious if there is a method to make the turn signals also run as running lights.

I commute too much in dark and foggy situations...

Thanx,,,

07 S2R 1000

I may be thinking out of my sand box, but i would think that if you replaced the front/rear signals with LED, and put in place LED's that supported running / turn signals, you would only need to tap into say the existing license plate illumination wire for the running lights. Existing bulbs/system uses a single pole bulb, hence you would have to either replace the socket on a stock unit or replace the light with "bullets" of some sort that were designed for running/turn signals.

I just replaced my rear turns with LED bulbs but need to add a load equalizer since the LED's don't draw enough current. The fact that they dont draw much current is why I think you would have no issues tapping into the license plate illumination wire to provide the leads for running lights. That is provided you replace all the bulbs with LED, including the license plate light.

Someone with more LED experience would probably help by piping in Yes or No.

Hope this helps.

Load equalizers are available from kuryakyn, J&P, and most other lighting suppliers. One load equalizer usually takes care of the front or the rear lights. Another assumption I am making is that a 2amp equalizer will suffice.

how would you let people know you are turning then?


Sounds to me you need HIDs. for fork lights like on Multistradas.
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=12103.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=12103.0)

I converted the front signals on my GT1000 to dual filament sockets & bulbs.  I just found the smallest sockets I could find at the auto parts store and retrofitted them in the stock signals.  Works great, and I know I'm more visable at night.  Not sure why bikes don't come this way stock.

I found an interesting article on achieving this with a simple rewiring.  check this out...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/markerflash/markerflash.html (http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/markerflash/markerflash.html)

I don't want to be the first one to try it on a Duc, though.

I'm using LEDs from Rizoma.  I wonder if this technique would work with LEDs?

I saw a dude once on the highway that had mounted led strips under his bike that were wired up to his turn signals. When he would hit the signals the entire underside of his bike (on whatever side he was turning) flashed along with his other blinkers. Sounds kinda cheesy, but it def. got my attention as to which way he was going.

For how much I ride my bike on the tollway @ night I might do something similar on my Monster.

I like that idea! as long as we kept them amber and not some funky strange hypnotic color... lol

Firstly it is good that you recognise the need to be seen. In addition to additional lighting, consider reflective clothing, helmet bands etc. If you removed your reflectors put them back on.

With regard to additional lighting, double filament is the way to go, use the same bulb as the stop light, with the tail light filament for the running light and the brake light filament for the turn indicator, that way your signal will be visible over the running light.

I don't think this is possible with any off the shelf LED, you would need dedicated led's for each circuit. It would be feasible to control the led's electronically by input switching modes but you would need a gizmo box to do this.

Maybe check out...

http://www.badlandsmotorcycleproducts.com/2008/Products/Metric-Bike-Electronics.htm (http://www.badlandsmotorcycleproducts.com/2008/Products/Metric-Bike-Electronics.htm)

I'll answer my own question.  The technique described in this article can be used for bulbs that don't have a requirement for pos and neg wiring, so LEDs can't be used this way.  I'm not sure if 1157 bulbs care about the polarity, but if they don't this may work for stock turn signals.

Check out the Badlands link above.

I def. agree with the color thing.
I am most likely gonna wire something up like this to my bike before Spring hits.
I am all about the whole "less is more" kinda attitude when it comes to bike, but you wont see this "mod" unless
it is night and I am turning... [thumbsup]