Modern Vespa

There has been at least one excellent posting on fitting turn signal audible warnings, using a single buzzer and a diode to keep the two circuits separate. I thought I would add my alternate version (with pictures of the process on my GTS) that uses two buzzers so here goes:

1. Buy two 12v buzzers from your local radio parts store. Mine cost £2.70 for two (less than $5 US) and I chose those with the lowest pitch of the selection available.
2. Remove the front turn signal units (1 screw each side on GTS) the horn casing (1 screw behind flip off Piaggio badge) and the black cover at the left side of the bulkhead (1 screw).
3. On each side, disconnect the turn signal light unit and bare each of the two wires connected to the white plug.
4. Solder a suitable piece of cable to each bared wire and tape the joints.
5. Route the cables to the cavity exposed behing the left side bulkhead cover.
6. Solder the buzzer units to the cables from the turn signal unit plugs and tape the joints.
7. Check that the buzzers work with the turn signals.
8. Use pressure sensitive tape (or glue) to fix the buzzers in the cavity and secure the cables.
7. Re-fit the light units and covers.

If you find the buzzers too loud, put a piece of tape over to dampen them.

I hope some of you find this of interest - it is certainly a useful safety aid to know when your turn signals have not been switched off.

Good Luck -

PS - Noticed that when posted the sequence of the pictures reversed so please view them backwards - sorry!


Buzzers fitted in cavity

Cables routed and securely fixed

Cables soldered and taped

Cables bared ready for soldering

Right side turn signal removed

Buzzers and basic wiring diagram

Very cool. I've been thinking of doing this myself. Thanks for the write up!

If anyone who wants to do a mod like this with out cutting, stripping, soldering wires (warranty issues, tech intimidation, resale etc), there are piercing clip-on connectors available. As described, you snap one onto the scooter wire and a contact pierces the insulation, you then insert the wire you want to add and snap it in as well. They can be removed leaving only a pinprick in the insulation.
I imagine they are available from Radio Shack (or whatever it's called now).
If anyone is interested I can order them from my electronics supplier at work, so if you are interested let me know in the next few days they are very cheap (pocket change).

Tim

I have used the easy pin connectors you are talking about and yes they are simple but I find they don't work nearly as well as a good solder job. If the wires move at all or are shifted a certain way, the connectivity isn't has good and cuts in and out. Just my two cents, it could have been the connectors I was using.

There are different brands with varying quality. The wire gauge has to be correct and the insulation not too thick. They are also only good for certain applications. Low current applications such as this are ideal.
On an older, no-warranty scooter I would not hesitate to cut and solder away, but on a newer machine ...

Tim

Installed the buzzers last night in about 15 min. Great answer to fixing
the silent turn signals. Radio Shack han the buzzers for $3.29 ea and the wire taps for $1.99. Installed the buzzers with a rubber band to each signal inside the front shield. All you need for tools, phillips screwdriver
to remove the light fixtures, pliers to squeez the wire taps, and electrical tape to re-wrap the wires. The sounds come from inside on each side. Lot less wiring, no soldering. Great!!!

Does it make any difference which ends of the buzzer goes with which wire coming from the bulb?

In looking over this mod of Gary's in the tech section I noticed he went with 1 buzzer, but he also used diodes.

Anyone have any thoughts on the use of the diodes? Are they just to help power surges? Can you tell I hate electrics? I have so many mods planned for winter! I hope I can get them all done

The diodes simply allow the use of a single buzzer while keeping the left and right lights isolated from each other. Two buzzers is just another solution, less intimidating for many but just as effective (perhaps more so if you want to be able to hear which side is flashing).

Tim

Thanks Tim. I get it now.

Why didn't you simply ask me, Tom?
The diodes are needed to isolate the two turn signals when wired together, and allow the use of a single piezo buzzer. A diode only conducts electricity in one direction.

Well I did ask. Here. Fair game for everyone. You just were not fast enough. Honestly, I figured since the OP did not use diodes, it was more appropriate to ask here so others could benefit from the answer.

Thanks though.

Tom

Well, just goes to show there's more than one way to skin a cat.

I used the wired direct to the light method on a previous scoot and it is very simple - I just couldn't resist using that space behind the bulkhead cover on the GTS.

The clip-on connectors are good but in my case the gauge of the wires from the buzzer and that I was using to reach the light were so different I thought the connection might not be good.

In answer to FarSideMan, in my experience it doesn't matter which way the wires are connected.

I'm very glad my original post prompted some reaction, the important thing being that however you do it you will ride safer and we all want that!

PS just bought a big flourescent hi-viz coat but that's another story.

Be careful out there...

If you're using a piezo-electric buzzer, it's polarized. It will only work if you connect the positive wire to the positive side of the bulb.

Here we go, you got me started again. I just finished using the Radio Shack buzzers, #273-055A, $3.29 each (get two of them), one 4-Pack of Telephone Wire Tap Connectors #64-3081 for 19-26 gauge wire, moisture resistant, $2.99. It's a fifteen minute project.

Tools Needed:

1. The three items listed above.
2. Pliers
3. Wire cutters
4. Phillips screwdriver
5. Small flat-tipped screwdriver
6. Two small nylon cable ties
7. 12-ounce can of beer

Instructions:

1. Remove front turn signal bulb housing with Phillips screwdriver. Test beer for freshness.
2. Without cutting any wires, lay the turn signal bulb wires through the "Run Wire" edge of two separate connectors. Use the small flat-blade screwdriver to gently push the wire into the slot. When you can easily slide the connector up and down the wire, it's in the groove. Check beer again; don't let it go flat.
3. With the wire cutters, snip off both ends of the red and black wires on each tap connector so no bare wire is showing on the tips.
4. Run the end of each wire into the "Tap Wire" slot on the other edge of the tap connector. I used the black wires on the same tap connector, and used the colored wires on the other tap connector.
5. Press the tap connector flat with a pair of pliers, making sure it's evenly down on both edges, and the gel squeezes out a little bit.
6. Use a small cable tie to hold the whole thing together, and keep it from dangling onto the radiator.
7. Replace turn signal bulb housing. Take a nap.

Looks good FarSideMan, only one thing to add:

8. After waking from nap, crack another beer and repeat on other side.

Tim

Thanks, Tim! I thought I was going deaf on my left side.

Why do you guys love to make your lives dificult? You only need to remove the panel behind the legshield to do the whole job!

Wires from the indicators connect to the large plug that you will find there for fitting an alarm, so that the alarm can flash the indicators. Just connect your two diodes (or two piezo buzzers) to the pink and blue-white wires on this plug.

No need to open the horn cover or the indicator lights.

Yes, I have mentioned this in a previous post. Guess it should be preserved in the technical section.

Mike

The "plug" is probably the relay that flashes the indiators. I'm not familiar with the GTS. It's just a matter of what is easier to access on a particular scoot, or whether you want to be able to hear which is left and right.

Tim

No, Tim, there is no relay for flashing the lights. The flashing signal comes out of the CDI, and just gets routed to left or right indicators by the handlebar switch. The flashing voltage gets generated continuously, whether the indicators are on or off.

Check the wiring diagram on page 90 of the GT200 workshop manual. The flashing signal comes out of pin 1 of the CDI via a blue/black wire.

The alarm, when fitted, presumably creates its own flashing signal, and routes it to the indicators on both sides of the scooter via the afore-mentioned two wires.

Mike

I installed the mini-buzzers only to find at cruising speed the wind and full-face helmet didn't allow me to hear the buzzing. After two repeat trips back to radio shack I finally setteled on pulsing piezo buzzer # 273-066. The cost was $5.29 each but now they can be heard. Installed so they face out each upper radiator opening. Has a chirping sound. the speed wire taps work great. Black wire to black wire, red wire to blue white and red wire to pink.

I changed out the little buzzers for the Radio Shack #273-060, which instead of a buzzing noise, has a shrill chirp. It's only about 10 decibels higher, 86db, but now I can hear them in traffic.

This is a great thread. Very informative.

It's reason #147 that I belong to Modernvespa.com.

Thanks, everyone.

Kevin

That chirp sounds better than the buzzing.

Since I almost bought it the other day when I forgot to turn off the turn signal on a sunny afternoon I decided I must have an audible warning that the tells me the signal is on.

There have been several good posts on this topic and I thought I would add the details re what I found at Radio Shack that works great.

The entire project costs $12 and takes all of 20 minutes!

You need 2 - 12VDC Piiezo Buzzers. I bought #273-060 85db and they are perfect. Just loud enough without being ridiculous.

I also bought a pack of 4 tap connectors ( # 64-3081) for 19 to 26 gauge wire. They are air tight and have a gel inside that makes them moisture proof.

All you have to do is remove the front turn signal lamps by removing the one screw that holds them in.

CAREFULLY...Strip back the electrical tape on the two thin wires on the turn signal. Attach the black wire on the buzzer to the black wire on the turn signal using the tap connectors.

The connectors don't come with instructions. Use a pliers and remove the green cap. Push the wire from the turn signal into the slot on the side. A thin screwdriver works great. Put the green cap back on lightly. DO NOT PUSH IT IN YET! Then push the buzzer wire into the adjoining hole until it stops. Now use a pliers and squeeze the green cap on until it is flush.

Repeat with the red wire. Attach it to the other wire coming out of the turn signal.

Tape the buzzer and extra wires to the turn signal wires and replace the whole turn signal unit.

Repeat with the other turn signal.

I can't believe Vespa doesn't put this essential safety device on every one of there bikes.

I just registered a few minutes ago to post re turn signal buzzers and I noticed under my name the wonderful handle "LURKER"

Who added that?

It makes me sound like a sniveling old codger who hangs around playgrounds!!!

Thanks a lot

Not to worry, everyone with only a few posts gets the Lurker title automatically. It'll change to Member in a few more posts.

You're not?

It was generated by the number of posts....we were all lurkers once...

"The old snivling codger from Las Vegas"

Does anybody know how this works with the Euro kit on the LX 150? On the left hand blinker, there are 3 wires - Pink, Black, and Black with Red Stripe. Which do I splice? I'm guessing the buzzer's red wire goes to the pink - how about the black wire - which one does it go to? I believe the black wire controls the running lights.

Great thread.

Thanks so much (FarSideMan/JohnW) for the info!

2x 95db alarms. 4 splice connectors. Double sided tape. 20mins it was done.

I put two Radio Shack 85 Db buzzers on my P200 yesterday and they work great. Wired directly into the blinker hot wire, grounded to frame. Love it.

This buzzer should work very good for the slower scooters. But for the MP3 500, not so much. Cause by the time the buzzer beeps at me, I may be 20 feet ahead of the sound ... LoL

Here is what I did on my scoot. Using LED lights which actually is a better reminder than a buzzer. But on slower scooters, the buzzer might work.

My 2008 Gts super has got a visual turn signal indicator.

It doesn't help me at all because i prefer look at the road.

Awesome guide thanks. I did it and it cost me £2.98 for two buzzers and took me less than ten minutes including soldering (optional).

I DIDNT remove the horn casing or the black panel. I just stuck the buzzers on the back of the indicator so didn't need to route any wires anywhere. Been wanting to do this for years but wouldn't have done without this guide so thanks again!

Scooter Wests indicator clicker MI107 they say does not work with digital dashes or an LED turn signal kit. Why?
My 2017 Vespa GTS300 ABS has what I call a part digital dash - the mileage/odometer, petrol guage and clock are on a digital screen, whilst the warning lights ( low fuel, oil pressure, high beam and INDICATORS) and speedometer seem to be analogue. Whether the warning lights are bulbs or LEDs I do not know.
The wiring diagram shows a diode in the feed to the indicator light on the dash. Why is it necessary?
Can some kind soul please explain?
A photo of the dash should follow this post.

Last edited by ecryder on Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:30:27 +0000; edited 1 time

Here is the dash

Go one ebay and search out indicator relay with buzzer for led - cheap as chips and plug'n'play replacement for the original relay - five minute job.

This is the one i have on my 2020 Notte HPE...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Buzzer-Blinker-6V-12V-2-Pins-Relay-Indicator-Flasher-Beeper-Turn-Signal-Blue/333593029645?hash=item4dabb1ac0d:g:LHoAAOSw3ftes-nW

Nice. Thanks.

I am surprised that a electronics tech didn't point out how overly complicated this method is. The simple solution is to forget about wiring to the turn lights at all. No diodes required at all. Just simply wire one buzzer to the output side of the flasher unit. That's it! Doesn't matter which side is turned on left or right. The flasher unit just starts up and does it's thing. So why bother with the complicated wiring?

Ciao andate su BlinkBuzz e troverete un ageggio semplice che fa da freccie d'emergenza con cicalino per le freccie quando si svolta ....