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CVO Technical => Electronic Toys and Gadgets => Topic started by: TinSpinner on February 27, 2012, 04:54:13 PM
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Looks like somebody at HD has been listening to all the complaints about the way the passing lamps are wired. I was at the local dealer Saturday and they had a new wire harness for independent control of the passing/auxiliary lamps. P/N 69200441. I don't think this is in the 2012 parts catalog so you may have to request it by the P/N at the dealer. Haven't put it on yet but plan on pulling the fairing for a couple of other things soon and will install it then.
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I haven't used this connector but I believe you can install it without removing the outer fairing or the inner fairing lower cap for those people that aren't removing the outer fairing anyway for some other work like yourself. FWIW..
Should be able to reach under rh side of lower fairing and pull enough slack to seperate the connector and install this jumper.
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Spending any money at all on this harness is nuts! This is a modification anyone can do in 15 minutes without any additional harness, and without spending a cent. ;)
Instructions are here:
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=7315.0
Jim
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I haven't used this connector but I believe you can install it without removing the outer fairing or the inner fairing lower cap for those people that aren't removing the outer fairing anyway for some other work like yourself. FWIW..
Should be able to reach under rh side of lower fairing and pull enough slack to seperate the connector and install this jumper.
I pulled the inner fairing cap on my '07 to install this. Don't know how easy it would be to do without good access to the connector. It is a REAL bear to get that bugger unplugged. Of course on the later model CVOs with the power locking ignition switch you might as well pull the outer fairing to get to the connector since you have to do that to get the ignition switch off to remove the lower fairing cap.
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Spending any money at all on this harness is nuts! This is a modification anyone can do in 15 minutes without any additional harness, and without spending a cent. ;)
Instructions are here:
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=7315.0
Jim
I hear you Jim. But I just do not want to cut and splice the factory wiring if I do not have to. Probably never have any problem but the part can be gotten from a 20% off dealer so to me it seemed reasonable.
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It's like many things Harley, you get to pay them a nice premium for the convenience of a plug and play item to fix something they should have fixed in production at no cost many years ago. I wonder if the 2013 models will come wired for independent spot operation straight from the factory? I guess that depends on how much extra they think they can make selling this little bit of wire and two connectors instead.
Jerry
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I cannot find any authority but I had always understood that some federal highway ordinance mandated that the spots/auxiliary/passing lamps not be illuminated when the high beam headlight was. I know it is that way on both my autos. I don't know if something changed of if the moco will put a disclaimer with this harness that it is for off road / race use only and may void your vehicles warranty, lol.
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No disclaimer in the catalog (see attachment).
Jerry
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I cannot find any authority but I had always understood that some federal highway ordinance mandated that the spots/auxiliary/passing lamps not be illuminated when the high beam headlight was. I know it is that way on both my autos. I don't know if something changed of if the moco will put a disclaimer with this harness that it is for off road / race use only and may void your vehicles warranty, lol.
That's what I recall, too, Jerry.
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In the instructions that came with the harness there is no disclaimer other than to check for possible system overloads. I installed LED headlamps and passing lamps so the amps are less than with halogen or HID, eliminating any concern about overload. As far as I know there are no laws on the books in GA that specifically address the passing lights being on or off with high beams on. They still put off less light than a cage, especially those with HID headlamps so it shouldn't be an issue, but then there are a lot of laws on the books that defy logic.
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In the instructions that came with the harness there is no disclaimer other than to check for possible system overloads. I installed LED headlamps and passing lamps so the amps are less than with halogen or HID, eliminating any concern about overload. As far as I know there are no laws on the books in GA that specifically address the passing lights being on or off with high beams on. They still put off less light than a cage, especially those with HID headlamps so it shouldn't be an issue, but then there are a lot of laws on the books that defy logic.
Ain't it the truth. But I am more concerned about seeing and being seen so I'll take my chances and plead ignorant.
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I installed it on my bike works flawless. The only negative is flashing your lights in hope, of being seen by others.
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That part looks like the way to go if that's what you want. Plug-n- play makes it easy. I think I'll try that on my seeg :2vrolijk_21:
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That part looks like the way to go if that's what you want. Plug-n- play makes it easy. I think I'll try that on my seeg :2vrolijk_21:
I bought two.
One for the 03 Classic and one for the 11.5 Ultra.
Did the Classic first, install took almost 20 minutes.
Did the Ultra second and that took 15 minutes.
35 minutes for both bikes and probably 30 minutes was taking off and reinstalling the outer fairings.
It took that long because I had to clean all that dust behind the fairings.
;)
SBB
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I installed it on my bike works flawless. The only negative is flashing your lights in hope, of being seen by others.
:confused5: Maybe I'm just slow this morning. Can you elaborate on your comment.
Jerry
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Jerry,
Riding with others or solo I often flash my lights, to make sure I’m seen. Having the spots lights, shutoff and turn on when flashing my high beam does help get their attention. Losing that ability is a negative. I always ride like I’m invisible. There are times when you have to try, and make yourself as visible as possible.
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Ain't it the truth. But I am more concerned about seeing and being seen so I'll take my chances and plead ignorant.
In Virginia, "fog lamps, auxiliary lamps" should only light with the low beams, driving lights with only the high beams. I have had vehicles with both, and they had to operate that way to pass inspection. My dealer mentioned to me that they were looking into whether on not that this would pass a VA inspection. My answer was I don't care. My dealer gives me free inspections, and they will pass it.
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Jerry,
Riding with others or solo I often flash my lights, to make sure I’m seen. Having the spots lights, shutoff and turn on when flashing my high beam does help get their attention. Losing that ability is a negative. I always ride like I’m invisible. There are times when you have to try, and make yourself as visible as possible.
:2vrolijk_21: Gotcha. Especially in daylight I think your observation is right on the money, there is more of a visual difference when actually cycling the two spots off and back on than what you get just with the high beam versus low beam flash.
Jerry
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In Virginia, "fog lamps, auxiliary lamps" should only light with the low beams, driving lights with only the high beams. I have had vehicles with both, and they had to operate that way to pass inspection. My dealer mentioned to me that they were looking into whether on not that this would pass a VA inspection. My answer was I don't care. My dealer gives me free inspections, and they will pass it.
Spots are not required. So if I had an inspection problem they would conventiently be totally inoperative. :2vrolijk_21:
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Spots are not required. So if I had an inspection problem they would conventiently be totally inoperative. :2vrolijk_21:
That might work for you in Tennessee, but when I lived in Virginia if the vehicle was equipped with any sort of light the light had to work when the vehicle was inspected. So some driving lights you had wired in illegally for instance couldn't be easily forgiven by just pulling the fuse or pulling a wire. You had to completely remove the lights to pass a properly performed inspection.
Anyhow, I'm going to assume if Harley has made this available with no restrictions such as "only legal in certain states" or "off road use only", there must not be any serious issues still out there. And if one podunk locality does have a problem with it, it's real easy to put it back to stock. Not something I'd lose sleep over, in other words.
Jerry
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Nice modification...going to place my order today. Thanks! I do not want to cut factory wiring, so it's worth 30 bucks to me.
BTW: My 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee had 'fog/driving' lights that stayed on even with high beams. All our other vehicles turn out the driving lights on high beam.
I'm not an attorney, but this is the logic as explained by a self proclaimed expert (auto dealer):
The states consider the axillary driving lights to be fog lights. It is not advised to drive with the high beams in the fog, so they require the "fog" lights go out upon activation of high beams. On our bikes, these are not fog lights, unless you install yellow lenses. So it is not illegal to bypass the wiring with the clear lenses.
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I think it all depends on the LEO that sees/stops you and the mood he/she is in. I had a 1990 Acura Legend that came with factory installed driving lights. Coming home from work late one night on a dark two-lane county road I had them on (headlights were on low beam) when I met a Sheriff's deputy patrol car coming toward me. He immediately did a 180 and pulled me over. Got a ticket for 'dazzling lights' whatever the hell that is. Went to court and the judge dismissed the ticket saying my penalty was having to come down there. What a bunch of crap that was.
Jerry (grc) I was joshing about disabling the lights for inspection. Luckily I don't have to put up with that. No state inspection here but folks who live within the Memphis city limit do. And there are some real azzholes at the inspection stations (city run, can't go to an indy). One guy had a burr up his azz a few years ago about the Panacea type taillights that flash. Said folks might confuse that with a fire truck! Never ceases to amaze me how some 'public servants' can get so badge heavy.
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Did I miss something?
I thought that the harness allowed you full control on whether the Passing/Driving/Fog lights were on or off... using the harness simply allows you to turn them on in conjunction with the highbeam for the additional lighting they provide.
Is what I've read recently saying that they will be on regardless?
If you have 'control', then I would simply turn them off for the inspections and when asked to demonstrate that they operate, simply turn them on for the inspector... Unless there is a specific Law/Regulation preventing you from operating the lights while the highbeam is on... what would it matter?
And if there is such a Law/Regulation for your State, I don't know that I would make the install.
But, here's another something to think about... my 2011.5 Ultra's lowbeam stays lit when I switch to the highbeam, so isn't that pretty much the same thing? And, this was a Factory Installed feature.
Anyway, I just typed way too much for a simple question... as I often find myself doing toward the end o the day. 8)
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The harness does give you the choice of whether the auxiliary lamps are on or off regardless of the headlamp setting. With this in mind I can't see how it could be failed by any inspection. If they were on constantly it could possibly be an issue in some locales. I've been wondering about moto-lights and how they would be considered in some of the places where people are concerned with this harness. It really seems like much ado about nothing to me; the extra light are a safety function. If we stay safe, and alive, we get to pay more taxes to keep those pinheads working. Funny how they don't think the same way I do...
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New jersey eliminated motorcycle inspections.
Solved that issue. Although even when we did have inspections, my lights were still on all the time unless I turned them off.
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The harness does give you the choice of whether the auxiliary lamps are on or off regardless of the headlamp setting. With this in mind I can't see how it could be failed by any inspection. If they were on constantly it could possibly be an issue in some locales. I've been wondering about moto-lights and how they would be considered in some of the places where people are concerned with this harness. It really seems like much ado about nothing to me; the extra light are a safety function. If we stay safe, and alive, we get to pay more taxes to keep those pinheads working. Funny how they don't think the same way I do...
There used to be regulations on the books that limited the number of lights you could have illuminated on the front of a vehicle at the same time. For instance, those of us with a few more wrinkles than others remember when auto headlights were separate high beams and low beams, for a total of four individual lights. Some regs existed that limited you to four lights at one time, so if you installed extra driving lights or fog lights you had to have them wired so they went off if you turned on the high beams. As far as I know, and I'm by no means up to date on all such regulations these days, I think most such regs have been eliminated. I know I can't find one in Federal safety standard 108 which pertains to lighting.
As for the Moto Lights or similar products, you can still be ticketed in many/most jurisdictions if your lights are improperly aimed or cause excessive glare to oncoming drivers. IMHO, they are one of the most irritating inventions anyone has come up with to hang on the front of a Harley. Poorly aimed lights that bounce around with every tiny ripple in the road do very little to help the vision of the rider of the bike so equipped, but they do irritate the hell out of folks coming at them. I personally lump them in with straight pipes as products with high irritation factors we could easily do without.
JMHO - Jerry