Ducati Monster Forum

Just got the package from Bernard at Vizi-Tec (http://Vizi-Tec.com) yesterday with his new real LED rear light for the Ducati Monster. 

My initial impressions are: Very nice quality.  Wiring w/AMP connector is factory looking, light smoke lens is clear with correct markings to appease DOT folks and the LED board inside is a piece of artwork.  It's a dual-plane board with some very smart technology happening within it -- definitely his electrical engineering background is showcased here.  There are literally hundreds (490?) of wide-dispersion LED's integrated into the PCB setup.  When you initally plug-in, it goes through this cool startup sequence showcasing its functions.  It's bright to put it mildly.  "running mode" LED is nice.  "stop light" is very bright and not missed.  Big perk is the wide dispersion of the LED's used.  I didn't measure, but I'm guessing @130 degrees from side-to-side.  (Clear Alternatives is @20degrees at most)

I'm hoping to get some comparison photographs for everyone ala daylight / evening -- I'll post then. 

One of the other problems associated with LED lights is the thermal issues.  I've seen too many ClearAlternatives go dead in Arizona once they get hot while sitting in traffic. (they come back to life once cooled down thus you don't usually notice) I know after our discussion a few months ago, Bernard ended up baking these in ovens for hours while subjecting to use via test equipment cycling light patterns.  It passed with flying colors.

Also it appears he has done something with the load resistance to avoid the use of external resistors.  I need to talk with him more in regard to that itself.  Nice thing was that it was plug-n-play and installed in just a few minutes.

info --> http://www.vizi-tec.com/SUPANOVA/SupaNova_ProductInformation.htm

More later when I get a chance.

448 according to their site.. wow.  That's a nice looking bit of kit.  Any idea on the MSRP?  Will it make me cry?

Any word from Bernard and Vizi-Tec on when this is for sale?  All I see on their page for sale is the light modulator.

I've never been satisfied with the connectivity and brightness of the Clear Alternative light and would be interested in this.

Thanks
CWBY

I'll take one!

Jinkies that looks bright! 

Pricing:
http://www.vizi-tec.com/SUPANOVA/SupaNova_ProductMatrix.htm

The following is a quote from another thread.

As I was typing, corey beat me to it. Here it is anyway.
If you click on the info --> link in the first post then click on the "two basic configurations and pricing" link you will see their price list.

SupaNova-Monster SKU/Item Numbering and Lens Color Availability and Price Matrix
                     
 Base Unit        Base Unit +         Base Unit +         Combo
  + Color          License Plate       SupaBrake                                               Color Code
                           Light                                                             Clear Smoked Red Blue Yellow
*SN350-?        *SN350-L-?         SN350-SB-?    SN350-LSB-?                
                                                                                                Yes      Yes    Yes  Yes    Yes
 $159.00             $169.00              $189.00          $199.00                                   

SN490i-?          SN490i-L-?         SN490i-SB-?    SN490i-LSB-?               
                                                                                                Yes       Yes    No   Yes    Yes
 $214.00             $224.00               $244.00         $254.00

Replace "?" with Color Code letter


I'm thinking of getting the SN350-SB-C. I want Rizoma turn signals, so I don't want the intergrated turn signals.

is the unit with integrated signals and the flasher for sale yet?

This is a SWEET product!  I have the SupaBrake flasher, and it's a slick unit, with excellent craftsmanship.

Must           Order        Soon

First: For those who contacted me about buying these -- I don't sell them. I talked with Bernard one day in regard to another project and I ranted about all the problems I was having with the Clear Alternatives one -- and what I wish somebody would improve upon for higher quality and better engineering -- so he built it. Talk with Bernard at Vizi-Tec.com (http://Vizi-Tec.com) on how to order.

Quick update:

Vizi-Tec builds this unit in small production runs.  Yes -- they are built by real people and not mass produced and thus the associated costs.  ClearAlternatives can order a thousand at a time and get cheaper prices, but Bernard is just a regular Ducati enthusiast who knows how to engineer great products and doesn't want to mortgage his place to fund the project.  Also his light is the complete assembly as pictured -- lens, LED board, mounting plate and plug (depending upon model Monster).

Also this is sn#001 of the production run itself.  Pretty cool!

Quick snapshots with the light in the shop itself.  Photographing lights is a challenge to be honest.  It's hard to desribe how well these work (and especially in comparison to the competitors).  I will admit that the ClearAlternative one is brighter looking directly into the led's themselves -- no surprise.  What is cool is how bright these are behind, radiant light outward (see plate), at 45 deg and even at almost 90 deg from the rear.  No comparison at all in terms of which one I'd put on my own Ducati and ride with at night.

I'll take a few more pics this weekend outside to show how much more useable light output is available from these.

(as arrived from Vizi-Tec)
(http://motocreations.com/dmf/unit.jpg)

(directly behind with shop lights open and big shop door open)
(http://motocreations.com/dmf/back.jpg)

(45 degrees and with shop lights off)
(http://motocreations.com/dmf/45deg.jpg)

(almost 90 degrees and with shop lights off)
(http://motocreations.com/dmf/90deg.jpg)

That is one sweet light! Kind of pricey but it looks like there's a lot of engineering that went into it. Does any one have any pics of the light under bright sunlight?

Well, there you go, never knew about the Shutting down/Over heating Issue with the CA LED tail light.
Might have to upgrade!

I thought Monsterparts was going to be selling these Tail lights?
Or are ViziTech looking at selling Direct?

I'm hoping to take some this weekend.  A few others shipped to customers this week from what I understand.  This is production unit #1


Direct for the time being.  They aren't officially on the website yet.  Should be by Monday.  Else e-mail him in the interim via the sales e-mail.

So let me get this straight.

If I get this unit:

SN448i-?-LSB

$254.00
   
it comes the license plate light, the supabrake and the integrated turn signals?

I'm gonna have to ask some question of B... I want integrated turn signals and to use my rizomas like I currently have.  (I want to cake too)

It looks like the integrator plugs right into the main harness and you don't have the ability to hook up regular signals... 

But, from the look of the product they are smart folks and mave have taken care of this eventuality. 

Those are some impressive shots and it looks like a top notch piece of kit.

Yes, It is the combo unit. (but the model # will change because they upped the LEDs to 490) I think it will be SN490-?-LSB.

Mark,
Thanks for talking the time out of your busy schedule to do this review. Greatly appreciated!

If anyone has questions pls. feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. In the meantime I've updated the site with some pictures of the SN490i in its raw form and also added a small vid I took last week while testing the power-on code sequence. Sorry for the poor camera work/quality. There is only so much one can do with the limited pair of hands we each have.

http://www.vizi-tec.com/SUPANOVA/SupaNova_Pictures.htm


YUU,
Please contact me off-line. I'll be happy to make you a custom harness to address this.


-Bernard
vizi-tec

I want the standard running/brake light - no integrated turn signals.
Will that be available with the standard three flat connectors?
I have the Flasher unit on order from MonsterParts. Did I just waste $$$ since it will be a built-in feature?

If I got it wrong, please correct me.

True. The non-integrated version(SN350 base) of the product comes with the 3 flat quick disconnect terminals; Same terminals as what is on the back of the stock bulb housing. This allows for a straight and simple install and still allow user to use whichever turn signals

The flasher unit(SB-Monster) will mate in series to the above and modulate it accordingly.


No. If/when you order the MonsterLED(SupaNova) do NOT order it with the SupaBrake option. Having two instances of the SB flasher functions in series could be chaos.  ???

Hope this answered your question. I'll be uploading new installation docs for the product soon.

-Bernard
VT

Chaos with double flashers? Sounds like fun 8)

I got my answers, thank you  [thumbsup] - just thought it would be cheaper and easier to have the flasher built in. No biggie though.

Can't wait to get it 8) Well, actually I can, but as with so many mods - if there are new and better parts I will be interested.

I have the supabrake and I'm very pleased with it. Next a Supanova I want one 

So would it be possible to add a special feature where say  I tap the brakes three times and the message "Back Off" appears? After watching the video it seems text would be legible from a distance with so many leds. 

- plus a variety of customized messages to choose from  8)

I haven't had time to take additional pictures yet.  But did talk with Jeff H/ MonsterParts.com as he received his yesterday as he is selling them now.  His comments were about the same as mine -- bright and easily installed. (and if Jeff can install it then anyone can!)  Since I'm going to be out of town due to business over the next several weeks, I'm routing mine over to my test guys to try on their Monsters after many questions about them.  So hopefully there will be more feedback here soon for others.

I'm guilty to admit that I complete disassembled the light assembly.  The CA one took me about two minutes to schematic and reverse engineer entirely.  No way in h*ll could this one be so simply reverse engineered!  And I doubt that I could easily figure out what he has done with all his software/firmware changes. 

Admittedly the price is higher than the other Monster LED light assemblies out there.  Quality products that are hand assembled and tested don't come cheap. 

Hopefully we see some other interesting lights coming from Vizi-Tec soon with the same attention to quality and detail and light dispersion methodology.

Unfortunately no. The hardware is not designed to access the individual LEDs.
It is intended to form several vertical clusters only. 5 total. Within each cluster of LEDs exist an independent current source. So the chance of all 5 failing is low. Each LED are also manipulated in such a way that given one were to fail the resulting cascading failure will be limited to only 5 LEDs at a time.

Too limit the chance of LEDs failing in the field we do a full power-on test for an hour before shipment. This process will weed out any infant mortality in the 350/490 LEDs. So the chance of the end user getting a "short-lived" led is slim.

The feedback received thus far with our initial introduction of the SupaNova for the Ducati Monster has been totally positive. We were hoping there would be interest in a top quality product. I'm glad to report that the demand is overwhelming.
 
Our initial production sequence has been sold out and our secondary production in route to us has been sold out also.  Unfortunately due to the lead times to build our products, it will now be 30+ days to get inventory again. We never imagined this kind of response to be honest.

Thus if you are interested in the MonsterLED light assembly, please contact us to get onto our waiting list.  We will fulfill all inquiries on a FIFO based system. First In, First Out.

Recap: Amazing feedback from the Monster community.

Thanks,
-Bernard
vizi-tec

I know this thread is a little old, but could you describe or video how the SN490i works when the brake is applied with the brake light flasher and a turn signal is on. 

Thanks,

Fletch

I'm afraid you will have to wait (I hope I'm wrong) - Bernard has been said to have relocated and things will take some time. This is what I've heard on the DMF, again I hope I'm wrong. You might be able to get an update from the main (?) vendor MonsterParts. Good luck!

If you get a chance to get one of these lights.......Don't hesitate GET IT. This is the most beautiful and visible light I've ever seen. I've had the Clear Alternatives lights in the past on other bikes. The craftmanship and engineering on this light are very impressive. Thanks Mark and Bernard!!
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7635.jpg?t=1222832661)
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7639.jpg?t=1222832836)
(http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n417/Bbrent_photos/IMG_7638.jpg?t=1222832904)

I'm still waiting for a response to a couple of Emails I sent asking to be put on the waiting list, I advised I'm happy waiting in line for how ever long it takes. No response.
Are they even trading still?

from another thread..


be patient  :)

In that case, I'm happy to wait  [thumbsup]

I've just today sent emails to Bernard - any products or communications received recently?

I'm looking for a BRIGHT integrated light, my bike came with one and I've heard comments
from two folks about my signals not being easy to see.

NOT what I want to hear - the SN490i would be my choice.

My bike came to me tail chopped with integrated light, I gotta see what it is, there are two
resistors wired in (2.5ohm iirc).

I would also dearly love to replace my FRONT signals with some that show front and rear,
Although it looks very Fast-And-Furious-ish on a cage, more is better on a bke methinks.

From another thread:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23274.msg412753#msg412753 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23274.msg412753#msg412753)

I received mine in good order and timing last month, and very bright as advertised.

Anyone know if Vizitechs are shipping yet?

Yep - mine arrived the other day. I saw someone else got theirs as well.

It's fancy man... the brake light's probably smarter than anything else on my 2000

Great, thanks!

Just installed my Supra flasher light(brakes only), very smart little unit! I had to get creative with the 796(location of flasher unit) as it has that dreaded flapper motor under the seat!! Make sure it doesn't interfere with the motor operation. I can't wait to get rid of it(flapper motor) when my DUC.EE comes in, anyone selling a 696 intermediate/Y pipe?!!