Modern Buddy

As soon as I bought my Buddy, I wired up the running lights. Once the days started getting shorter, I wanted to add some more nighttime visibility. I started with two red LEDS above the reflector on the rear mud flap. Then, once I was able to get my hands on someone’s unwanted DOT blinkers, I mounted them under the Buddy. One down by the battery compartment. The other under the rear mud flap. I think I’m gonna move the rear one and put it by the front one, just face it backwards to fill in the underside of the Buddy.

Is this legal? I have seen some posts here talking about lights mounted under vehicles and that in order for them to be legal, the lights fixtures have to be out of view. Since im using the same light housing (the DOT blinkers) and the same amber color lights as the running lights, am I in the clear? The small red LED’s and the amber lights underneath are all wired together and on a switch.

Dude that is SWEET looking! Very nice!

looks great. what you've got there probably is legal, but i'm not giving you legal advice here. in oregon, you probably could not be given a ticket for the setup pictured, but be careful adding too many unconventional lights. although cops probably won't care too much about a scooterist, anything that looks out of place just gives them good reason to use their flashy red and blue lights to stop and talk to you.

That looks AMAZING! Does anyone want to give ME their unwanted DOT lights?

Looks really cool!

Here in Michigan i think that would be illegal though. Underbody neon light kits are illegal on cars here unless you are parked, so I would assume the law is the same for this type of set up.. I googled around to try and find the law in WA but could only find an unreliable car forum where a member said the law is the same as michigans...
I would leave them on anyway, they look too cool

You might want to look into using LEDs or LED bulbs. You can get 1156 bulbs for DOT turn signal housings made out of like 20-30 smaller LEDs.

The standard 1156 bulbs are like 10 to 12 watts. Each. I know from personal experience that the generator can't keep up with much more than 20 extra watts. Too many extra running lights--at least 1156 halogens--will kill your battery eventually.

jmsmith802 wrote:I would leave them on anyway, they look too cool

Yeah Im not planning on taking them off, even if they do turn out to be illegal. Its very rare for me to pass any cops on my ride home from work anyway. And, a simple flip of the swith and the evidence is gone

How about some down low glow bicycle lights.They would certainly light up your rig.Bunches of bike riders use these.

Well, I in the name of safety I just got carte blanc to buy some LEDs to convert the dead lights to running lights. Hopefully I can slip some pork in there for myself so my scooter will be your scooter's equal in lighting. I've seen someone say that they blew out LEDs. I'm wondering if I need to run the LEDs off my 12V regulator I will be using for my IO board to remove the risk of the LEDs being over current?

I moved the rear light and am much happier with the results.

PTB wrote:You might want to look into using LEDs

I do plan on switching the new lights to LEDs. They won't be as bright as stock 12watt bulbs though

I have tried some LED bulbs for the running lights but was not satisfied with them. I haven't given up on using LED's for the running lights. The first amber set I bought weren't bright enough. The second set of Ultra White was bright enough but it confirmed I like the amber color better. The search continues.

I thought the 1156 LED's were brighter than the stock bulbs. You mean they're not?

Howard

are there any regulations against using amber for something other than hazards and turn signals?

Howardr wrote:I thought the 1156 LED's were brighter than the stock bulbs. You mean they're not?

The amber set that I bought was not even close. The super white was as bright or brighter depending on the angle. The stock bulbs get a lot of help from the reflectors inside the lense. Most leds dont have enough side firing lights to make use of the reflectors. The ones that do, wont fit because they are to long. In general, white LED's are brighter then any other color LED.

where did you pick up those white 1156 led ones?
those are VERY bright...

kc2klq wrote:where did you pick up those white 1156 led ones?
those are VERY bright...

From this ebay seller:
http://stores.ebay.com/US-Home-Direct

search for 1156 31 white

Very nice! Maybe see if you can get one under the seat, too?
I likes it!




BTW: Cops have seen me several times...and I have a friend who's an officer - she said she wouldn't pull me over for it. Thought it was a good idea for visibility at night, too.

PS. They're selling them very inexpensively on eBay. I just got my pal a set of red leds for $15 in a kit with everything you need...

Do you guys think that this would work ok?

link

Looks like as long as you can mount it correctly it would be just fine.

Anybody think about these lights killing the battery giving you no lights at all

Put some inline LED protectors on your bulbs... scooters are known for eating LEDs after a short while. For the extra $2 a bulb it's worth the protection. http://superlumination.com/equalizers.htm

jeremymiller wrote:Do you guys think that this would work ok?....Looks like as long as you can mount it correctly it would be just fine.

Yes those will work. I think mounting will be the tricky since its just tape. The underside of your scooter is not really tape friendly.

As far as the lights killing the battery: With my stock 35watt headlight and running lights on all the time, thats the same draw as riding with just my high beam on (55watts). Many members here have upgraded their headlight and added running lights with no problems.
The lights under my Buddy are now LED's. They draw 2.6watts. I ride with them on so infrequently that I am not worred at all about killing the battery.

I'm sure it wouldn't be too bad. There's plenty of stuff under there that a wire tie would like to stick to!

wow looks great!