Added LED rear light- Norge

[canuguzzi]

I wanted to have an additional light on the rear end of the Norge so I put this on:



Standard running.



Brake light activated



Side view.

These pics all taken in bright daylight.  The standard rear tail lamp on the Norge does nothing to illuminate from the sides.

These are two LED strip lights wired so that the topmost row is always bright and the lower row is dim but glow bright when the brakes are applied. They could easily be wired in any configuration including blinking during braking. They draw very little energy but I think they do provide a standout presence when you are stopped, crossing intersections and so on.

I used the LED lights with a black background so that they blend into the Norge's tail pack carrier. As you can see from the top picture, at off angles the added LEDs really show up whereas you can barely see the stock tail lamp. From the side, no comparison.

I was going to illuminate the assemblies on the tail trunk but I often ride the Norge without it and then means plugging and unplugging it. Not a big hassle to do but this is no hassle.

[cjoles]

Looks great!  I had planned on only having my Givi case on when I needed it but feel that the LED's with brake, taillight and turn signal add so much to my visibility that I've kept the case on for the last year and a half or so full time for the safety aspect.

[Idontwantapickle]

That's nice! Where did you get the lights?
Hunter

[Adk.IBO]

Looks great!  I had planned on only having my Givi case on when I needed it but feel that the LED's with brake, taillight and turn signal add so much to my visibility that I've kept the case on for the last year and a half or so full time for the safety aspect.

Did the same thing with "Admore Lighting" LEDs, been a bit longer than that though. Touch the brakes and tailgaters get the idea.

[canuguzzi]

Pep Boys of all places. I wouldn't have the oil in a sewing machine changed there but they do have a very good selection of those LED strip lights. Get the super brights, they have different item models there. They have batteries connected to them on the rack so you can see which are brightest.

The wiring was pretty straight forward and it was by my one mistake that the top row got wired bright on all the time. In the end I liked it take way because it gets noticed all the time. It seems to keep the sleds back just a little bit more than the stock lamp which unless you are looking directly at it, is almost invisible.

A tip:

While the 3M VHB does stick to the luggage rack very well, I used some black tie straps to make sure nothing was going to come loose. Unless you get real close you can't see them in which case you wouldn't see me standing behind you either.  ;)

[JeffOlson]

Very nice! Nimrod cagers should see you better now.

[Far star]

No Pep Boy in Whitehorse however if I ride to WSBK in Laguna Seca I'll find one somewhere.  That and some other coveted Guzzi trinkets. Nice addition to our Norge, I like it.

[atavar]

I just ordered the light kit for my Givi E450 topcase.  I'll see how it is when it gets here.  I may end up adding some extra lighting as you have done.

[swmckinley54]

P3 lights from Skeene.

[jas67]

I've got the smaller Admore on my Breva 1100.    It works well, though it now has a fuel individual LEDs that no longer work :-(

[atavar]

OK, i am running in to some minor snags dealing with the Norge active tail light.  Does anyone know a source and maybe part numbers for the Norge tail light 3 pin electrical connectors?  I would like to make an adapter harness and avoid cutting in to the stock harness.

[charlie b]

Superbrightleds
They have a ton of different ones.

My trunk is bolted on so I added a strip under the reflector

[canuguzzi]

OK, i am running in to some minor snags dealing with the Norge active tail light.  Does anyone know a source and maybe part numbers for the Norge tail light 3 pin electrical connectors?  I would like to make an adapter harness and avoid cutting in to the stock harness.

I cut the stock wires, then wired in a split and fused it. Used waterproof heat shrink connectors from a Marine supply shop. If I want to disconnect the LEDs, I can either pull the fuse (also waterproof housing) or disconnect by pulling the pigtail. If there is a fault I can use that split to check to current too.

The LEDs can run off a 9 volt battery so the draw can't be very much.

On the Superbright store. They have a good selection but the one time I ordered a bunch of LEDs (at least 20) for my DP Motorhome (ceiling lamps) and one was DOA, they wanted me to send them back the bad one at my cost in order to get a replacement. Would have cost me more in shipping that it was worth so I stopped buying from them. Besides, you can find equal or better quality a lot of other places.

[charlie b]

I've always had good luck with them.  Tail lights, turn signals, strip lights, license plate lights.

I do buy from the auto parts store if they have what I want.  Like the indicator lights on my dash or the front turn signal lights.

[canuguzzi]

Atavar, you can always use those splices they sell that don't require cutting wires. They work really well and you can remove them later and just put a piece of silicon tape over the spot where the splice connector used to be:

I think they call them T Tap connectors. HD and Lowes have them. I wouldn't use them for something getting pulled around but for the light kit or leds they should work just fine. I always use some silicon tape around any splice, just cause.

[atavar]

Unfortunately to wire in an aux light I need to insert a diode in the brake light wire to block the voltage from the tail light circuit.  That means I have to cut at least one wire.  Those tap connectors are also famous for corroding after a couple years. 

Besides which I really prefer being able to go back to stock in case of problems or just because.

Thanks for the idea though.

[Idontwantapickle]

Pep boys! Whodathunkit! Thanks.
BTW I have the same tail trunk as you do. I would love to illuminate those clear red panels on top but they are not up for the job. And if I lose much room inside the lid my fathead helmet might not fit.
Maybe the Italians have a light kit for that.........

Hunter

[1Sourdough]

Superbright and other venders have LED flashers, too.  I mounted a small LED strip on the license mount below the taillight and a unit inside the box to which the taillight is attached which flashes four times fast, four slow and then stays on.  Since the LED unit is an auxiliary, not the official brake light, it's OK to flash