Modern Vespa

I've been obsessed with the idea of improving my scooter visibility from the front. I've researched and bought several LED lights. Now I'm installing Skene Photon Blasters with Alert and Turn Signals. I know many of you aren't into the light thing. I am.

https://www.skenelights.com/online-store/Front-Visibility-Systems-c22717550

It's much easier now that I've been in and out of here a few times and know where the wires are. I don't love removing the knee guard panel, but it gets less daunting each time.

In this picture I got the LED modules temporarily wired to test and I'm really happy with the light show they create. It all works. You can see the left LED module in black housing just in front of the left brake lever.

I hate leaving the scooter in this state but I've been trying to quit for the day before I'm totally worn out and start making "more" mistakes. Tomorrow it will be cut cables to length, solder and heat shrink connections and zip tie in place.

Of yea, and install one more gadget. That's the Kisan headlight modulator. I saw a 2021 GTS 300 with LED headlight on the last club ride and I think it's very very noticeable.
https://kisantech.com/pathblazer.html

I do love these projects and tinkering and have learned a lot doing them. I also love gadgets and I end up doing all of these a second time because as soon as my wife sees them, she wants them on her scooter too. And because I think they all increase safety I wouldn't think of not adding them for her as well. And doing anything the second time is a ton easier.

Here's hoping it continues to go smoothly. Like the horn project, I learn as I go.


Wires everywhere front view

View from back. Note new addition of Racing Sixties Seat Cover by Suzi at [url]http://www.cheekyseats.com/[url]

The rear is my concern. AdMore makes a very good light bar. They gave customers a heads up that their Black Friday sale is coming.

I do not know if all this extra lighting is really a good idea.

Regularly I am completely blinded even by bicycles. And blinded you have no idea where the bike is.
The same with blinking lights. They get noticed, that is true, but very difficult to locate where exactly the light source is.

This is so true. Especially now with the clock changed so it's dark before 5:00 PM.

What I have found is you don't need brighter lights, you need to pay more attention yourself.

I had a buddy I knew years ago that took care of all the electrics at the local airport. He rode his custom Harley everywhere and was frequently annoyed at the hassle from cars treating him like he was invisible, so he came up with great idea. He mounted a light on the top of his sissy bar. This was not ordinary light - it was used as a strobe during IFR conditions. To say it was bright was an understatement, it was blinding bright. I don't know how he he pulled it off but it supposedly did work, one would go near him on the highway. That is under the police pulled him over and gave him a citation. Went to court and the judge ruled against him, something about distracting traffic. He took it off.

I installed the Admore rear light bar about a month ago. It's amazing and well designed.

To all the cautions about "extra lights" :

1. It's the nice thing about MV that we have opposing views here. How boring if we didn't.
2. I agree with the concerns about blinding lights. The lights need to be well designed and carefully deployed. As a cyclist, I've ridden behind badly installed rear blinker lights that were blinding until adjusted properly.

Tierney's example of his friend with the super bright airport strobe is the perfect example of way to much power with the wrong light installed the wrong way.

To me, these are good reminders as I do my final install to make sure the lights are installed as designed to increase visibility while not blinding.

I should have said this at the outset. I want to deploy the best lights current technology has to offer which will help me been seen on my Vespa, primarily in the daylight. I would think it counterproductive and not responsible to do otherwise. I'm also aware that I am responsible for paying attention and being vigilant.

My reading suggests that both Skene and Kisan are producing products which are well designed.

This group is not shy about voicing its opinions. Go ahead.
I'm hoping this thread does not become a referendum on auxiliary lighting.

I'd be very happy to learn about any research and data and techniques about light systems for Vespas and anything that would help me.

Thanks all!

I have a top quality halogen bulb in all bike's headlamps. I keep them clean and well adjusted and I run them on high beam whenever I'm riding during the day. It may piss some people off but at least I know they've seen me.

Must work, I've been riding for 42 years.

I don't ride much at night and not at all on friday and saturday nights due to the number of friends lost to drunk drivers.

If the electrics can handle it I fit higher wattage bulbs, H4 bulbs can be had with up to 150 watt highbeams last time I looked.

I don't use LED headlamps as the units currently available aftermarket just don't have any carrying power, they just don't light up far enough down the road for my liking.

For sure they have noticed you, but they have not seen you.

Blinded by the light you have no idea where the source of the light is coming from.

Never blind upcoming traffic, never do that.

I've ordered a second tail light that I'll put on the bottom of the top box right at the rear, almost poking out from under sorta.

I can't make up my mind if I'm gonna wire it as a brake light only or as brake (bright) plus tail (ie always on) ... thoughts? Note: I virtually never ride at night if that affects your opinions

It doesn't look like you're really committed to auxiliary lights. What you are doing is adequate, but I don't think you've gone as far as you possibly can. Your scooter needs LED underglow lights. You could do them so they flash the colors of the Italian flag, the colors of your bike, Christmas colors, Kwanzaa colors or whatever you think would get you noticed.
You can also get license plate frames with LED lights that can scroll messages like, "BACK TF OFF" if someone gets too close. And don't forget the rims. You can do LED strips on them, as well as led caps on the tire valves.
Have you seen the mirrors that have speakers in them? Crank up the NWA and be both seen and heard while stirring up mayhem. But stick to Public Enemy's F.T.P., not NWA's when you're riding dirty through the gated community.
As you can see, someone's already done a Vespa, but more tepid than Gangster. Hopefully, you find these inspiring:

Good that you take care not to blind. Then auxiliary lighting is no issue for me and may well indeed improve visibility while looking nice at the same time.

I have to admit that even these underglow LED things as shown by Motovista can be classy if well chosen.

If you almost never ride at night I would wire it as a brake light. By day there is no need for extra rear lighting and as an extra brake light it will be better noticed.

I had done a lot of LED upgrades to my GTS.

For the headlight, I went from H4 halogen OEM to LED H4, and on to a projector lense LED unit that is truly a huge upgrade.

I also had the LED switchback kit for the front turn signals, with upgraded LED bulbs that made a nice difference.

I added Amber LED strips to the leg shield beading connected to my turn signals.

I upgraded the tail light to a Zelioni unit I found on sale for 50% off (it was still kinda pricey).

I installed Admore's light kit in my Givi topcase for additional rearward lighting.

The only lighting not LED were my rear turn signals and dash lights.

Here's a thread detailing my LED journey on my GTS...
LED Upgrades complete on GTS - Updated June 2020

@CrazyCarl

Forgive me, but another item in your picture caught my eye...

Would it be possible to see the whole car?

@Burt 37...it's a 1946 MG TC. Not currently running, but hoping to get started on it soon.


Coming out of the garage at my parent's house after 30 years, heading to my garage

I'm so jealous! That car is a beaut!

Very nice..

I hope you get to enjoy it soon..

Thanks for sharing...

Motorists, I like the spirit here!
My first Vespa was just six months ago and I've spent 50 or more hours tinkering with lights, horns, audible turn signals, and speed sensing brake lights. And now, you've opened my horizons even more. Underglow lights and music. I was afraid I had run out of projects! I'm just getting started! Thanks!

This applies to me as well. With my 2007 GTS & topcase, I installed the leds from Scooter West that fit into the reflectors of the topcase. They function as eye-level taillights (red), brake lights (brighter red), and turn signals (amber). Vespa has removed the reflectors from the current topcase.

I like the idea of the Admore as a current alternative. Their BF sale seems limited to giving you extra reflectors or a flashlight. I don't need either, so I'll keep looking.