After several weeks of trying to get my LED turn signals to work, I finally succeeded this past weekend. The problem I was having was the signals weren’t blinking. The controls would activate them correctly, but they just stayed lit, no blinky blinky.

I tried using an LED relay from Harrison Specialties. It didn’t work.

I tried replacing the stock thermal flasher with an electronic one. Still no blinky.

I returned the electronic flasher for another. Nope.

I finally decided to buy a ELFR-1 from customled.com and still nothing.

It dawned on me that my problem had nothing to do with the flasher or relay, it most likely was my wiring in the headlight bucket.

So, I decided to take it apart and put it back together again.

I cut every wire. I cut for two reasons:

1. I wanted to shorten the wires to make a little more room in the bucket. The excess length was from installing the clubman bars.

2. I wanted to replace the bullet ends.

My process began with stripping the thick black plastic harness, then cutting around 6 to 7 inches off each wire. Oh, I decided to remove the turn signal buzzer also. Now I wonder if removing it contributed to my LED signals working.

All wired up with new bullet connectors. I also cleaned the ground connections.

Custom LED electronic flasher relay ELFR-1.

Two prong. Plug and play. Red on flasher goes to black on the bike. Black on flasher goes to grey on bike.

My new ELFR-1 sitting nice and cozy in the stock rubber mount. My new front signals, also LED, should arrive by the end of the week. I’ll take some video of all the signals on friday. I’ll post soon.

After much research and poking about on the web, I finally decided on a pair of rear turn signals. I chose them because of their casing. Tiny and anodized black. It just so happens that they are LED lights. I never intended to use LEDs. In fact, I think LEDs kinda clash with the vintage aesthetic of caferacers. But I really do feel like there was no alternative. Everything else was either chrome, cat eyed, huge, or made for sport bikes and Harleys. I went with the black anodized aluminum because they will compliment my seat.

They certainly won’t pass inspection, but easily swapped out temporarily when inspection time comes.

Since they are LEDs and draw less power, a new relay will need to be installed as well. If not, the bike will think a dual filament bulb has gone out and blink the lights twice as fast. The bike actually may require two new relays. I’m not sure. I’ll play it by ear when they arrive.

http://www.harrisonspecialties.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=HS