K75 Hazard Lights Hook-up

[kentuvman]

I've got the tank off my K75 as am doing some maintenance - replaced a burned out fan motor for cooling the radiator and doing some other odds & ends.

Happen to have an extra toggle switch "in stock" and want to install the hazard lights. I believe I've found the harness on the bike.

Can someone please tell me which are the hot wires so I can test it before putting the tank back on. The photo below shows the wires from the plug in on the wiring harness and the wires on the toggle switch.

I've got a voltmeter and probably can figure it out but electrical is not my forte. I did connect the battery and flipped the switch and it didn't work so I'm guessing the hot wire from the toggle switch is out of order as it is currently configured.

Thanks,

Ken

[98lee]

Ken,

The Brown is the ground.
The yellow/purple and the blue /white wires go to the flasher unit. By grounding these two wires, you are telling the flasher unit to flash left and right turn signals. You need a double pole single throw switch to do this so that, when it is off, the yellow wire is not connected to the blue wire(otherwise your turn indicators will not work correctly.

To operate the flashers you must first turn on the key, then activate the flasher switch. Once the flashers are flashing, you can then remove the key.



:dance:dance:dance

[kentuvman]

thanks, Lee - I plugged it in & connected the battery but didn't turn on the key - will give it a try.

[98lee]

WELL????



:dance:dance:dance

[toddlamp]

Good timing. I was just about to go messing around with my hazards. I decided, for increased visibility in foggy weather, to install a strobe light in the tail light. I wanted to activate it via a 3 ways OEM toggle switch in place of the standard hazard switch.

The tail light has a separate section on either side of the light that is perfect.

[toddlamp]

.

[kentuvman]

Hi Todd,

Have you been able to test your strobe light yet with the bike running?

I tried installing a tailblazer bulb on my '87 K75S and it worked fine EXCEPT the brake check system light wouldn't go off. I really like the tailblazer and wish for an answer on how to make this work. Paul Glaves suggested installing hyperlights off the power source - that they won't interfere with tripping up the circuit.

I went for a ride yesterday with a couple friends - one has a tailblazer on his R1100 - I have one on my F650 - I'll tell you this - riding behind my friend, when he hits the brake the tailblazer really gets my attention fast.

I'm not currently happy with just a plain 'ol brake light on my K75.

[toddlamp]

Hi Todd,

Have you been able to test your strobe light yet with the bike running?

I tried installing a tailblazer bulb on my '87 K75S and it worked fine EXCEPT the brake check system light wouldn't go off. I really like the tailblazer and wish for an answer on how to make this work. Paul Glaves suggested installing hyperlights off the power source - that they won't interfere with tripping up the circuit.

I went for a ride yesterday with a couple friends - one has a tailblazer on his R1100 - I have one on my F650 - I'll tell you this - riding behind my friend, when he hits the brake the tailblazer really gets my attention fast.

I'm not currently happy with just a plain 'ol brake light on my K75.

I feel the same way as you about the tail lights. My primary concern was using filiment bulbs in a single bulb tail light. I carry extra bulbs but you can't always pull over right away to swap them and I worried of a failure mid ride. As a supplement I installed an LED light bar toward the bottom of the rear fender. This one to be exact:

http://www.motorcycle-leds.com/KR_light-bar/

It really does a good job of adding secondary, LED, braking light as well as a little motion to hopefully set myself apart from the rest of traffic.

Following the same theory of "inconvenient failure" I installed a bulb similar to the pic below in the lower slot of the tail light (I got a pair of them on eBay for ~$10 shipped). I was VERY pleasantly surprised at how well it performs. Why BMW couldn't just make the tail light hole large enough to use a standard 1156 i'll never know (especially since all the turn signals and brake lights are 1156). I chose to not enlarge the hole either. Some minor trimming and maneuvering of the LED bulb was necessary. Oh, and I got the 2 sqaure version and not the large 3 or 4 square cause I don't think they would fit in the confined space of that second hole.

http://www.dingjuled.com/UploadFiles/Product/20091203213523_72074.jpg

[kentuvman]

Todd - very neat install - so what you're saying is the light bar you bought from the link you posted, sits on the bottom of the tail light lens - are you using double stick tape to secure it?

[Ted]

I just checked out the site, looks like it might be what I am looking for. Do you have to install the running light portion? I am interested only in the brake light function.

Thanks!

[98lee]

I tried installing a tailblazer bulb on my '87 K75S and it worked fine EXCEPT the brake check system light wouldn't go off. I really like the tailblazer and wish for an answer on how to make this work.

You must have gotten an older version of the tailblazer (more than 3 years old). I had the same problem about 3 years ago and called Kisan. They said I need the new 20w-S. They swapped me. Now it works perfectly. The bulb warning light does flash in concert with the brake light but I find that reassuring plus you can tell when it goes from flash mode to constant mode. Try giving Kisan a call. They are good people.



:dance:dance:dance

[toddlamp]

Todd - very neat install - so what you're saying is the light bar you bought from the link you posted, sits on the bottom of the tail light lens - are you using double stick tape to secure it?

This is what the back of my bike looks like. The light itself has adhesive on it. The reason I mounted it where it is was because there was already a hole to pass the wire through.

http://www.toddlampone.com/pictures/motorcycle_cross_country_1/bike_prep/images/DSC_7143_prep.jpg

[kentuvman]

Hazard Lights working!

Was a simple plug & play - wow - sometimes we get lucky.

Lee - if you hadn't mentioned the ignition switch had to be activated I'd probably still be trying to figure it out.

Thanks much!

Other work done - handlebar risers back on with new and longer Spiegler brake line; repositioned aux power input beneath the fairing, instead of on dash. New dash - thanks Paul Glaves - cutting the vinyl with a bread knife cut like butter but needed tin snips to trim the metal beneath the vinyl.

To do: install switch for altitude plug and just ordered new BT45's and will get those on hopefully next week.

Fun stuff. Thanks as always.

[98lee]

To do: install switch for altitude plug



If you or a friend have a Pilot P-Touch label maker, you can make a reasonably factory looking label for your altitude switch:

22986



Did you ever call Kisan about your tailblazer? The correct one works GREAT!




:dance:dance:dance

[kentuvman]

I will call Kisan - they're on my list. The only thing is I believe the model you suggested, I already have. Will get to the bottom of it and let you know.

Lee - do you know where I can buy the little plastic do-hickey that has the hazard warning on the switch?

[98lee]

These are just the inserts that go in the switch:

08 61311459359 FOG TAIL LAMP SYMBOL $4.02
08 61311459360 SYMBOL HANDLE HEATED $4.02
08 61311459361 SYMBOL SIGNALLING LIGHT $4.02
08 61311459362 SYMBOL HORN SCALE $4.02
08 61311459363 CLIP WITHOUT SYMBOL $1.21


08 61311459367 SYMBOL HAZZARD WARNING $4.02


08 61311459703 ANTI BLOCK SYSTEM SYMBOL $4.02
08 61312305197 FOG TAIL LAMP SYMBOL $4.02



Hey, I just noticed the "Fog Tail LIght". That's a pretty neat idea. Sort of like the "rain" lights on the back of Formula 1 cars.

Early Ks have pathetic tail lights. The tailblazer makes the brake light good but I've always been concerned about the tail light.

I usually ride fast enough that I can apply the "first rule of Italian race car driving" from Gumball rally : "What's behind me is not important".

But in fog, my visibility combined with fogging visors, I slow way down. I'm concerned about being run over from behind.




:dance:dance:dance

[kentuvman]

Where did you see the fog tail light?

[98lee]

:ideaThese are just the inserts that go in the switch:

08 61311459359 FOG TAIL LAMP SYMBOL $4.02

08 61312305197 FOG TAIL LAMP SYMBOL $4.02



The switch label is in the BMW parts list.

They do not show the light itself for US Spec. bikes but, the idea of a much brighter, or more prominent set of rear facing lights that might not be desirable (or legal) for normal use, but could be switched on during times of poor visibility, does sound attractive for those morning rides to breakfast spots here in the foggy San Francisco Bay Area.

It's one of those things that makes me go Hmmm.:idea




:dance:dance:dance

[toddlamp]

Hey, I just noticed the "Fog Tail LIght". That's a pretty neat idea. Sort of like the "rain" lights on the back of Formula 1 cars.

Early Ks have pathetic tail lights. The tailblazer makes the brake light good but I've always been concerned about the tail light.

I usually ride fast enough that I can apply the "first rule of Italian race car driving" from Gumball rally : "What's behind me is not important".

But in fog, my visibility combined with fogging visors, I slow way down. I'm concerned about being run over from behind.


:dance:dance:dance

That's the exact reason why I installed the strobe light. Here's a camera vid of my setup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0c7YvioXgY

[toddlamp]

Ken,

was the switch that you used a dual (on/off) or triple (on/off/on) position switch? My hazard switch is an on/off version so I was under the assumption there would only be two wires needed (which is what the dual position switches have) to turn on/off the hazard lights. You picture and the wiring diagrams i've seen show three wires. How many terminals were on the underside of the switch you used?

The reason I ask is because I want to install a triple position (on/off/on) so that I can have one ON selection to use the stock hazards and the other ON position to activate my strobe. But to do that I would need one wire off the switch to use for the strobe. Seems like the triple position switch (with three wires) would still require all three to be used for the stock hazards. Do you have any pics of the underside of the switch you used?

[toddlamp]

Just took out the hazard switch from my 94 K75 and there were only two wires (Brown (Pin 1) and Yellow/Violet (Pin 3)).

Just thought that was interesting since the Clymer manual and posts in this thread state/show three wires.

[kentuvman]

Dual Switch

[toddlamp]

Dual Switch

Ok. So two wires went to the outside most terminal and one went to the inner most terminal (if you can remember), right?

[kentuvman]

Actually on this installation, Todd - it was for my emergency flashers - it was a simple plug & play. I believe with a voltmeter you can engage the switch and with the VM in audible mode you can easily tell which is the hot wire because you'll hear a beeping noise from the VM. The way I find a hot wire on the harness is using a pin to prick a small hole in the wire I think is hot and then setting the VM to 12V - use black lead against the frame and turn on power and you'll know the wire you pricked is hot if you get a 12v reading on the VM - that's what I did to install my driving lights.

Hope this makes sense.

I have a question, Todd - what Ebay seller did you buy your extra led tail lights & sockets for the light bulbs from and where did you connect the wires to your K75 - did you just splice them into the existing connections for brakes & running lights?

If you can post a picture or two, would be greatly appreciated.

[toddlamp]

I have a question, Todd - what Ebay seller did you buy your extra led tail lights & sockets for the light bulbs from and where did you connect the wires to your K75 - did you just splice them into the existing connections for brakes & running lights?

If you can post a picture or two, would be greatly appreciated.

Which extra lights/sockets are you referring to?

The rear of might bike (as seen in the video) consists of:

1: OEM 1156 brake light
2: LED 1156 running/license plate light bought on ebay from seller hk_plus (here is their current auction for the same item: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-1156-SMD-13-LED-White-Light-Bulb-2056-382-BA15S-P21W-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5bb8761fQQitemZ13038 7834399QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries)
3: Knight Riderz LED Light bar (http://www.motorcycle-leds.com/KR_light-bar (http://www.motorcycle-leds.com/KR_light-bar/))
4: Modified OEM side reflectors with LED strips added (LEDs used: http://www.surplusgizmos.com/3-LED-Red-Waterproof-Strip-750-mcd-12v-DC_p_1548.html) (Install instructions: http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=30723)
5: Dash switch activated strobe light. The strobe I used is the same one in the fire alarm strobes you see in office buildings (http://cgi.ebay.com/Amseco-12V-UL-Fire-Alarm-Strobe-Light-White-SAD-12L-New-/310215673044?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483a4b84d4)

[kentuvman]

Todd - you're good!

[toddlamp]

Todd - you're good!

I aim to please. I updated Knight Riderz url.

[Ted]

Speaking of which, not a big fan of the KIT look - do you know if the light bar can be run without hooking up the blue wire to the running light?

[kentuvman]

Todd - one more question - where did you buy the extra sockets for the led lights you purchased on ebay?

Do you have any shots to share of how you tied the wiring into the brake & running lights?

[toddlamp]

Speaking of which, not a big fan of the KIT look - do you know if the light bar can be run without hooking up the blue wire to the running light?

I don't see why not. The light has three wires coming off of it: Ground, Parking Lights, and Brake Light. Or here is another site that offers more options as well as a 21 LED bar (mine is a 12 LED bar)

http://www.customdynamics.com/knight_rider_led_light_bar.htm

The non-sequential ones still hook up to the parking lights but have dual intensity LEDs and act like a running light.

Todd - one more question - where did you buy the extra sockets for the led lights you purchased on ebay?

Do you have any shots to share of how you tied the wiring into the brake & running lights?

I never added any additional sockets. I bought two LED bulbs and only used one to replace the stock license plate light. No additional wiring was needed for that bulb. Since it is not my brake light, it does not illuminate the dash indicator.

[kentuvman]

Back of my K is looking better than ever now that I've installed the Kisan LPB-16.

Features include extra led running lights - very bright.

LED lights on left flash with left turn signal and same for Right signal.

Hit the brake and I get the same effect as with a tailblazer bulb.

Instructions pretty good - even tells you which are the hot wires for the right and left turn signals. I verified with a voltmeter - just stuck a "T" pin in the wire to make sure it was the right one before using the wire clamps to crimp.

All in all a very clean install and well worth the Ben Franklin. I'll try and post a picture of it on the bike in the morning.

Here's what the unit looks like: