By installing LED lights you will make your bike unique and beautiful. You can buy a mounting kit or led strips and carry out the installation yourself.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The preparation
Step 1. Get everything you need
In addition to the led lights kit, you will need the electric cable, preferably in two different colors to differentiate the two battery poles. You'll also need Velcro strips or adhesive, sandpaper, pliers, screwdriver, soldering iron, clamps, electrician's tape and a fuse to complete the job.
Step 2. Test the led strips
Test the strips by connecting the cables to the two poles of the battery. Check that all the LEDs are working.
- The kit may also include the battery. If not, you can use the one on the motorcycle to test the strips, but disconnect it from the motorcycle's electrical system first. Alternatively you can use a common 9 volts battery.
- After trying them out, sort the strips by their length. This will make it easier for you to choose which one to use during installation.
- It would be good to disconnect the motorcycle battery anyway even if you don't use it to test the strips. On most motorcycles, the battery is located under the seat. By disconnecting it, you can try the LED strips without danger of damaging other components.
Step 3. Try different positions
The kit may contain instructions on how to mount the LEDs, but if they are not there you can try different configurations by temporarily mounting the strips with paper tape. Make sure you have enough leds to complete the project.
By using the paper tape you do not risk damaging the paint of the motorcycle
Step 4. Choose where to mount the switch
The kit will include a switch which should have three wires on the back, two poles plus ground. The switch should be mounted in a convenient location to reach.
Part 2 of 3: Glue the led strips
Step 1. Attach the velcro to the led strips
Once you have decided on the position of the strips you can start assembling them. Many kits have led strips with adhesive backs, but once mounted you will not be able to move them anymore. The velcro instead guarantees a perfect fixing and you can move them at will.
If you are sure you don't have to move them anymore, you can use the adhesive of the strips, or fix them with double-sided tape
Step 2. Install the strips
After fixing the velcro you can attach the strips to the bike. Sometimes to get to the most difficult places, for example behind a fairing, you will have to take pieces apart. You can remove them using screwdriver and pliers.
Fit the strips with the cables facing the battery to make connection easier
Step 3. Route the cables to the battery
Sometimes it is complicated to run the cables in the direction of the battery. You can help yourself with a stiff tool or by tying them up with fishing line.
Part 3 of 3: Connect everything
Step 1. Connect the switch to the positive pole of the battery
Connect the positive pole of the battery to that of the switch using a red wire. Solder a ring terminal at one end of the cable to make the connection to the battery, then unwind enough cable and solder the switch.
- In this portion of wire you should insert the fuse. LEDs consume very little, but it is always better to use a fuse. The latter will have a cable at both ends. You will likely place it near the battery, under the saddle. Strip an inch of wire and join the ends by wrapping them together. Use electrician's tape to insulate the connection. Do the same thing on the other end. A 5-10 amp fuse is sufficient.
- If you don't know how to make the connections, you can look for a guide that explains how to solder, or you can buy solder paste. Just overlap the ends, apply the gel and heat.
- The switch will likely have male connectors, so you will need female connectors to solder to the cable.
- Eventually you could cover the connections with heat shrink tubing. Make sure you buy the right size for the wire you are soldering. Slide the sheath over the electrical tape you placed earlier to cover the connection and apply heat with a flame or hot air to shrink the sheath.
Step 2. Connect the ground wire
For this connection you will need a length of wire to be connected at one end to the ground pole of the switch, and at the other to a ring to be fixed to the bike frame. The ground will need to be connected to the metal, so you will need to find a portion of the frame near the switch where there is a bolt, and attach the ring connector to it.
To ensure good conductivity, it is a good idea to remove the paint on the frame around the connection with a piece of sandpaper
Step 3. Connect the positive pole of the led strip to the switch
Run the positive lead from the strips towards the switch. Secure the cables securely to the frame. Once you reach the switch with all the wires, peel off the sheathing and join them by wrapping them together, then solder them to the switch connector.
- If the two wires coming out of the LED strips are joined together you can use a small knife to divide them, cutting parallel in the hollow between the two wires for the entire length necessary.
- If a cable is too short you can extend it with another piece. Strip the ends and join them together, then cover with electrical tape.
Step 4. Connect the negative poles of the strips to the negative pole of the battery
Pull all the negative leads of the led strips towards the battery. As for the previous step, strip and join all the wires of the led strips into a single connector, then attach it to the battery.
Advice
- If you use more than one strip in one place on the bike, you can already join the different cables near the strips, so that you only have to lead one cable up to the battery.
- Removing part of the fairings will make it easier to install the LEDs and fix the cables so that they are not seen once all the pieces have been reassembled.
- Use a 9 volt battery to test the strips after each connection. This way you will immediately notice if something is wrong, instead of having to go looking for the malfunction once the whole job is done.
- In some countries this type of lighting is prohibited. Check your country's legislation before installing any lights. In some countries, installation is permitted for exhibition purposes only. Don't break the law.
- Some kits have a remote control to operate the lights, in which case you will also need to connect the antenna cable to the bike frame to improve reception.
Warnings
- Make sure you have disconnected the battery from the motorcycle's electrical system before starting.
- If your kit doesn't have a fuse you should add it. It is always better to have one, even if the LEDs don't absorb much energy.
