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#1 | Lit up controls datum

Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:08 pm

Now that we lost an hour, Im riding home from work in the pitch black. I dont know if I ever noticed this before on any other bikes, but I figured on a bike this technologically sound, why dont the controls light up?

This is a new bike to me after 6 years of muscle memory on a different bike. It would be nice if the controls would light up so I can see everything(i.e. menu, heated grips, cruise control etc.). Im sure that once I get used to everything after a while Ill have muscle memory on this bike too, but it would be nice otherwise.

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Grumpy Goat

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#2 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:19 pm

That would indeed be great. And it wouldn't be completely new, as my son's KTM Superduke 1290R already has it.

A 2018 "Sport Style" R1200RS for her and a 2019 "Sport Style" R1250RS for him.

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Grumpy Goat

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#3 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:31 pm

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #1
Now that we lost an hour, Im riding home from work in the pitch black. I dont know if I ever noticed this before on any other bikes, but I figured on a bike this technologically sound, why dont the controls light up?

This is a new bike to me after 6 years of muscle memory on a different bike. It would be nice if the controls would light up so I can see everything(i.e. menu, heated grips, cruise control etc.). Im sure that once I get used to everything after a while Ill have muscle memory on this bike too, but it would be nice otherwise.

I still push the starter button for the right turn signal...................

Old Forum Orphan

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#4 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Thu Nov 07, 2019 7:11 pm

Zitat von TenCats im Beitrag #2
That would indeed be great. And it wouldn't be completely new, as my son's KTM Superduke 1290R already has it.

it was a new feature on the last update of the Triumph Tiger 1200 - not much use when the bars are inside muffs!

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#5 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Fri Nov 08, 2019 2:38 am (Last edited: Fri Nov 08, 2019 2:40 am)

That's why I devised these lights for my GS, and will be fitting them to the RS when it arrives. I found them useful on the night rides back from Portsmouth after my two trips to Europe this year.

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#6 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Fri Nov 08, 2019 4:53 am

Nice effect!

I would like to apologize to anyone I have NOT offended. Please be patient. I will get to you shortly.

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#7 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Fri Nov 08, 2019 2:59 pm

Zitat von fred_jb im Beitrag #5
That's why I devised these lights for my GS, and will be fitting them to the RS when it arrives. I found them useful on the night rides back from Portsmouth after my two trips to Europe this year.

Thats great! Would you mind posting up a DIY how you did it?

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#8 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Fri Nov 08, 2019 4:53 pm (Last edited: Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:40 pm)

Wenn Sie hier auf Links zu eBay klicken und einen Kauf t�tigen, kann dies dazu f�hren, dass diese Website eine Provision erh�lt.

Zitat von hyperm3 im Beitrag #7
Zitat von fred_jb im Beitrag #5
That's why I devised these lights for my GS, and will be fitting them to the RS when it arrives. I found them useful on the night rides back from Portsmouth after my two trips to Europe this year.

Thats great! Would you mind posting up a DIY how you did it?

Thanks - glad you like it! There is a bit more in this thread I posted on UKGSer which gave rise to great hilarity and teasing from the cynics on there as I knew it would!
https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread...klit-switchgear

The lights were originally white, but one of the few useful comments I got from my fellow GS owners was that because they might be visible from behind the lights should be red.

These are the type of lights I used, which I waterproofed with some transparent heat shrink sleeving:
Werbung: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-USB-LED-...lHnhX63RR0YzJHg

They are actually designed as USB keyboard lights. To change them to red I popped out the plastic diffuser and put some red photographic filter material under it, carefully cut to size, then popped the diffuser back into place. The other thing I found was that the connection to the USB extension lead connecting them to the power source tended to come loose in use, so I put some heat shrink sleeving over the joint to hold them together.

Because these lights require a USB 5V supply I used a couple of single 12V to USB converters I happened to have spare as the power source. You can get ones with two USB ports which would be more convenient and would work fine as the power requirements are quite low. I powered the converter from one of the outputs on my HexEZcan, but you could power it from any switched 12V source.

In my case I put a light sensitive switch in the circuit so that they would come on automatically at night, but this is not really needed. You could just put a manual switch somewhere convenient, or just leave them on all the time - they are not really very visible in daylight anyway. If you want to use a light sensitive switch this is the one I used:

Light sensitive "dusk to dawn" switch:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Control-Switch-...2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

You obviously have to find somewhere convenient to mount this where it can receive ambient light, and they are a bit tricky to work out the wiring for as I found when I got it wrong and blew up the first one. If I remember correctly the switch is actually designed to go into the earth side of the load it is switching - but check the wiring diagram on it and others which can be found through Google.

Light sensitive switch on GS:

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#9 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:49 pm

Zitat von fred_jb im Beitrag #8

Thanks - glad you like it! There is a bit more in this thread I posted on UKGSer which gave rise to great hilarity and teasing from the cynics on there as I knew it would!

Thanks for the writeup!

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#10 | RE: Lit up controls datum

Tue Nov 19, 2019 10:28 pm

Yep, I'd like lit up controls too.
On previous bikes with less function buttons I didn't need it, but the other day while trying to change modes at night on the fly, I killed the engine! I should have pulled over to do it I guess but lights would have helped for sure.

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