Modify your Cycra hand guards - LED Blinker Install

OK, the install isn't on a WRR but if your running Cycra hand guards on your WRR then the HOW-To is exactly the same.

Last summer I installed a Trail Tech 8” race light on my XRR and started trying to figure out where to re-locate the front turn signals to. I couldn’t find a place where they wouldn’t look like crap so I ended up just leaving the front turn signals off completely until I could come up with a better solution, which brings us to now.

Last month a friend ordered a set of Zeta hand guards with built in LED turn signals for his WR250R, I really liked the built in blinkers on the Zeta’s…… but I like the looks and wind protection of the Cycra guards better. I placed a call to Langston Racing and ordered up a set of replacement LED turn signal units for the Zeta guards with the idea of modifying my Cycra guards to accept them.

I installed the first LED unit into the left hand guard (right above the metal bar) using the left blinker assy and ran into a problem. After looking at the Zeta guards on the WRR a little closer I realized the guards are molded with an angle built into them where the light is installed; the lights themselves are compensated for this angle to make the blinker strait. When I installed the lens into my Cycra guard it looked great until I went to bolt up the lights to the lens and realized that the lights would be pointing at the sky….Hmmmmm. (Pictures below)

This left me with two options: First install the left LED unit under the left metal guard (this works since the curve in the guard is going the other way, I already ruined the first guard at this point so I fabricated an extra hole under the bar to test it out) or install the right LED unit onto the left guard above the metal bar so it will be upside down and at the correct angle. I wanted the light above the metal bar and since I had already fabricated the hole in the left guard for the left blinker that mean that my nice yellow guards were now shot….GRRRRR…

Soooooo…..After getting the original white guards back out I set to work again to install the LED assemblies.




First set the orange lens on the front of the guard and trace it out with a fine tip marker. Make sure it is laid out just like this picture if you are installing the lights above the metal bar (It should be rotated 180 deg if you are installing the unit under the metal bar). You want to have the bottom of the lens protrusion even with the taper crease in the hand guard so that the lens matches the curve of the taper and looks “factory”.




Next I drilled two holes inside the traced area, one on each end. Then I used a small saw blade and a couple of files to finish off the hole.




Here’s the hole ready for the blinker assy. You will need to take a file and bevel the bottom and top edge of the hole so the lens will sit at the right angle (strait ahead). Looking at the front of the guard you will need to taper the bottom edge down(outward) and the top edge upward(inward). File a little then test fit, you may need to do this a few times.





Here’s the lens installed in the guard. Sweet!




In this shot you can see how the bottom tapered edge of the lens follows the curve in the guard, that’s why you want to cut where I mentioned earlier. Nice tight fit.




Inside shot. This is the actual LED light unit. It’s really small and out of the way, Nice!




Here’s a picture of the lens by itself. You can see how it’s angled for the Zeta guards. I really should have caught this before I ruined my yellow hand guards




Both units installed on the bike (Excuse the missing headlight, more mods in progress ). I think it looks great, nice and clean! They are really bright for a small LED unit. Notice the yellow guard sitting on the belt sander; you can see the two different holes in it that I mentioned earlier.




Here’s my first attempt. This is with the left blinker assy installed in the left guard. Looks good so far.




Dang….Here you can see the problem. This setup would have been great for signaling airplanes but not much good on the road. The little holes in the back of the lens are where the LED’s slide into. Well, back to the white guards for now.

Overall I’m really happy with the results. The Installation/Mod is a lot easier to do than the write up makes it sound; it should take about 30-45 minutes to install a set from start to finish now that I know the drill. If I hit a branch and break a guard or light unit it won’t take very long to replace it. Thought I would post up this how to article in case other people are looking for a solution to the front blinker problem and like the Cycra guards, and possibly save them from ruining a set of plastic guards in the process.


After installing the blinkers I found out that they will not work with my Baja Designs blinker relay (Old Style Round Unit). I thought they would just blink faster but they will not light at all. If you do this mod you will either have to add a load resistor to the circuit or install a Electronic flasher. I tried YamWOW!'s flasher that he bought for his WRR and it worked great, you can get it at: http://www.customled.com/PRODUCTS/FLASHER_RELAY/flasher_relay.htm

OR if your doing this install on a Non-WRR......



You can go down to your local auto store (Shucks in my case) and buy this Electronic variable load flasher for $4.99. Bought one today and it works great, flashes now at normal rate and you can't beat the price! Sweeet

Makes it a plug and pay deal (WRR owners would be better off ordering the plug and play unit mentioned above so you don't have to cut any wiring).

Here is a video showing the turn signals in action, along with my 100W 8" race light.



Direct Link to watch full screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodSJ9kNvFc&feature=channel_page


Hodakaguy

Nice mod. Thanks for the insight.

All may not be lost. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but LED's are not a 'directional' light, are they? They may work just fine in your beauuuutiful yellow Cycra guards, even with the upward angle. The lens just has to glow, baby!

I'm just sayin'.

Actually, LED are very directional. Oh, you'll get a glow from them at angles, but the difference in lumens from a direct "hit" and an angled observation is staggering. That is why there is such a problem putting a lumen rating on the recent use of LED in household lightbulbs. Both incandescent and Compact Fluorescent Lights spread light pretty evenly. LED replacement lightbulbs throw very directional light so the lumen rating is high when in direct alignment, but low when off to the side. Ideal for "task" lighting, but so far, not the best for general lighting (though they are making great strides by using reflectors or multiple LED in a fanned out, multi-angle form).

In regards to the handguard LED, from the above images, one only has 8 LED and a very short and narrow strip (read: small surface area). One can only make up for such a small surface area, observable in traffic, by making it BRIGHT. An indirect light beam probably wouldn't be noticeable enough. With LED lights, it's all about the sweet spot!

Now that I stand corrected, I think I'll just sit down.