Modern Vespa

Hi there folks here are my mp3 mods:

Rear LEDs in the place of turn signal indicators (unused on the mp3 LT) + 18smd led on brake light. Now when i press the brake a total of 6 led lamps and (4*9+2*18=) 72 smd leds emit light.


Both lamps on mod using a plain wire:


Xenon 6000K slim ballast for both lamps:


By using leds for all lamps and xenon's i get up to 43% less electrical current usage and therefore, the battery gets charged more easily while on the move and the motor starts a bit quicker.

Installed a Fabbri mid screen, offers good wind protection for body, head and some for the hands (last 2 pictures from above)

Installed white wheel reflective tape, looks really cool and makes you even more visible!

Added a strap to the seat (from an umbrella) so as to lift it with one finger:



Bought this gps/pda case which is great for use with my asus smartphone along with an external usb battery!
Got a DELTRAN BATTERY TENDER JR 12V and installed a permanent charging jack under the seat.


Bought a Grip-Lock for easy added security. If you lock the front brake and with the handbrake on it will be really difficult for one to move the Scoot.

http://www.grip-lock.com/

Payed for a Xena XZZ6 alarm disk lock which i find a really clever disk lock adding some points to security when left outside overnight (waiting it for it to come).

Looks cool can you show us a pic of the rear led bulbs with them off cheers

It's the same thing; it doesn't emit (much) more light so with the brakes released it has a stock look.

I like the idea of the grip-lock, but one easy release of a nut and your brake level is detached!

The grip-lock is a good idea because you clearly see it and will not forget to remove it before starting. The problem is that it will take 30 seconds and even less to bleed the front brake circuit and release the pressure of the pads on the disc.

True! But would you steal a scooter with: Grip-lock, Xena alarm disk lock, chain, handbrake, locked fork and alarm or would you steal some other?

Jeeze...I think if I had to worry that much I'd move to a safer place. Uh...wait a minute, I guess that's what I already did now that I think about it.

BTW, I use a disc lock similar to yours but without the alarm. It has a high visibility coiled orange cable that slips over the handgrip to remind me not to ride off with it still locked.

Just as an added thought to that last, I only use the orange cable because it came with the lock and I figure it serves notice to the crooks who may not have seen it. I always do a 360 degree walk-around to check tires, lights, etc., before I ride off; It's a habit that's saved me a lot of embarrassment over the years.

Anyway it sound's like your scoot is well protected short of Mr Smith & Mr Wesson...

LL75

Visible locks keep honest people... honest..

Keep some spare fuses available then. There are two reasons why this method isn't used by dealers (or me).

I noticed that when I Goggled the HID lights that they also were pushing some sort of adapter box with it. Does it need anything extra, or can those replacements be installed as is?

Some HID kits are very junior - they don't allow for a direct battery feed, they advertise themselves as "inline replacements". Don't install them as such - most HID ballasts have a high (but short-lived) inrush current that is usually at least 5 times the running current. So installation should be done bearing this in mind.

It's actually a soldering wire so hopefully it will just melt instead of blowing up the fuse.

The HIDS -the ones i got at least- need no adapter!

I have the HID installed on the low beam only cause the HID on high beam really blind the incoming traffic so bad, so instead i installed the 2500k yellowish light bulb just in case i encounter some foggy day, but i like the idea of the hitch with umbrella material.

Xena Disk lock is here, really cool and noisy item!

So you are using a piece of solder as a jumper

Wayne B

Yes! And it works great!

Wait until it warms up a little, then, oops... melted solder on other connections and who knows what kind of short circuits await... There's a reason solder is not used for a conductor!

Strongly suggest you use an alternate method, preferably that already put forth by jimc on this forum.

Ok i believe you and jimc. I did the wire mod and soldered them together, put some electric tape and insulated really well.

Thank you all for your advice.

why does my left tail (not brake) light get burned..? The 9 smd led bulbs installed there died but the halogen lamp works great. Any thoughts?

Well, the actual LED's are rated at 1.5 to 3 volts. Some prepackaged bulbs have an internal resistor to drop the 12V bike voltage down to the 3 V or so the LED needs - some don't and you have to somehow regulate the 12V down to 3V externally. Also sometimes the charging system may have voltage spikes which normal incandescent bulbs ignore but a solid state LED will get fried. Best thing to do there is place a capacitor across the line feeding the bulbs - or a zener diode or a solid state voltage regulator. The last item may be a good idea if you need to regulate the voltage to a substantial number of bulbs as it will handle the voltage regulation more efficiently - assuming your bulbs aren't already setup for 12V.

We need more info on the LED specification and what you were using to limit the maximum current draw.

The bulbs are rated 12V, as the seller states, bought from here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390045097373&viewitem=

The line to which it is attached has no mods (rear left running light) but, i have put two extra 9smd bulbs (where the blinkers on rst models are) connected to the brake light line (a 18 smd led bulb is installed here) so the fuse is moded.

I also found these more expensive bulbs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-PCS-RED-9-LED-SMD-CAR-12v-T10-WEDGE-BULBS-168-194-W5W_W0QQitemZ360225084230QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item53df169346
but they are a bit bigger.Maybe they are better?

The problem possibly is that those are only fine for a regulated 12V supply - but really LED lamps for cars and bikes should be capable of handling up to 15V - and without some internal regulation or constant current limiting others can fail.

Here's an example of one that is just fine for automotive use:
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/501194t10-mini-light-tower-leds-xenon-white-bulb-p-1545.html

I've used these people in the past - OK guys to deal with!

Well then i guess that the only lamp they have thats serves my purpose is:
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ultimate-501t10194-watt-ultra-p-1686.html
but i don't know if it emits light wide enough. Do you think that i should stick to the ebay cheap leds ot try out one of these?

The cheaper ones will work out more expensive in the end, as they are bound to eventually fail.

What you could do though is add a 12V regulator in series with the side-light feed, then the cheaper ones should be fine.

I also found these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/T10-Parking-Side-Light-Bulbs-High-Power-LED-WEDGE-Red_W0QQitemZ320416922188QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item4a9a563a4c
a bit cheaper with paypal safety and with the specs needed. I think that i'll give a shot to these!

Thanks for your time jimc

PS At least i know my battery charger works..

which lamps did you use on the picture, there are more links on the page, i really like to know which ondes i should use.

thanks in advance

ps: can i just put them in like a regular lamp?

T10 red inverted high power wedge led, voltage range: DC 10.5V~15.8V
I got them from here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320416922188

Yes you can use them with no problem, plug and play.

thank you!

You are welcome!

The audible turn signal indicator mod is complete with great success:
Turn signal beeper?#847748


Also did the front position lights mod:

Here are 2 vids with two of my mods:

Turn Signal Beeper
Givi V46 Custom Led light kit with Stop light Flasher:
8)

what was the size of the bulbs you used? and can you please send me a link to the exact ones you used. I just got mine and really want more brake visibilty. Thanks!

Yea pretty much what Bubba was saying you need a LED voltage regulator,like what Voodoo scooter parts sell.

http://voodooscooterparts.com/Products.php scroll down page

- LED Voltage Regulators -

" Protects aftermarket LED bulbs from damage caused by overvoltage. With these regulators installed, your bulbs will never be subjected to more than 12volts"

Google LED voltage regulator for plenty of choices....

Don't put leds for brake lights. They are too weak in the sun.
Sorry but I have yet to find BA15S leds that can bee seen under heavy sunlight.

Put T10 for position lights only...

@ Scootover I think that you posted pics of ressistors and not voltage regulators...