As mentioned in my earlier post, I had ordered two sets of Skene P3 Lights for the brake and running lights in the rear of the motor bikes. They arrived today at 1:00 PM in the mail and were installed and operational on both bikes by 4:30 PM. The most time consuming part was to figure out how best to run the wires from the lights to the connector module so I thought I would show how I accomplished this. However, lets have a look at the finished product and how much it enhances the visibility or Light Communication to other drivers/riders.

 

Note:

To Purchase in Canada: http://www.motorcycleinnovations.ca/Skene_P3_Lights_p/p3.htm

To Purchase in USA:                       http://www.lights.skenedesign.com/Dealers.shtml

Step 1

I installed the lights onto the license plate taking care to make certain that the wire connector to the light was on top and not the bottom. Otherwise the wires will wrap under and over instead of straight across to the middle.

Step 2

Remove the seat and remove the grab handle and luggage rack:

Step 3

Remove the small access cover underneath the rear fender (on top of the tire)  to access a small opening where the license plate light wire enters into the back section of the fender. You need a torx screw diver or socket.

Step 4

This step is not necessary but I thought that the wires were a bit thin and I was scared that they may crack or short in time with vibration where they wrap around the license plate holder and into the fender so I installed heat shrink tubing on all the exterior wires and as the two sides joined I joined them with one heat shrink tube.

  Step 5

Feeding the wire up through the small opening and into the upper back section of the motorbike proved a bit tricky until I MacGyvered a simple tool consisting of one long tie clip and a shrink tubing. I was able to connect the two wires to the thick end of the tie clip by using a small piece of Heat shrink tubing. I then fed the thin end of the long tie clip up into the back part following the license plate light wires. Once up, I could pull the tie clip and the wires followed. I then closed the small access cover with the wire just to the left of the cover’s clip that slides in on the bottom.

Step 6

Then you must unplug the left side section of the connector. This is a bit tricky. There is a locking device that moves in and out on each side (like a light switch). By pulling it the pressure of your finger tips will push in on the back end opening the locking device. I still used (gently) a screw driver to ply them apart. Once apart I gently cut a small portion of the wire wrapping to expose more of the colored wires to make it easier to positap.

 

Step 7

I connected all the wires using the Positap connectors supplied with the kit. I originally planned to connect the power and ground directly to my PDM-60 Fuse Block to avoid any possible Can Bus issues but they claim that the P3 is Can Bus friendly so I figured I would try it because it certainly simplifies the installation. As a note, you may add additional P3Lights and you would simply connect all the silver together and all the copper together.

These are the color Codes for the F700GS

• Brown – Ground, connect to black wire on P3 Lights controller

• Blue/Grey – License Plate Light, connect to red wire on P3 Lights controller

• Grey/Black – Tail/Brake Light, connect to white wire on P3 Lights controller

• Blue/Red – Left Turn Signal,connect to green wire on P3 Lights-TS controller (P3-TS only)

• Blue/Black – Right Turn Signal, connect to yellow wire on P3 Lights-TS controller (P3-TS only)

  

Step 8

Once all the connections are complete I tested the lighting to ensure that it all works fine. Then you must reassemble the top box holder and grab bar taking care to properly torque the bolts.

Step 9

For me only 🙂 – Start over again at Step 1 for my wife’s F700GS…

 

Final Modifications

Once the lights are installed, the settings on modulation can easly be changed by using the brake lever as follows:

P³ Lights Programming

To put the system in programming mode, tap the front or rear brake lever 4 times. (Taps must be less than 1 second long, and not more than 2 seconds apart.)
The P3 will respond with 4 flashes, confirming programming mode. Any setting from the table below may be changed by tapping the brake the number of times shown. (Taps must be less than 1 second long, and not more than 2 seconds apart.)

When you have finished entering the required number brake pulses the P3 will respond with 2 flashes, confirming the new setting. The system is then ready for normal use.

All settings are programmed independently, and are retained after the ignition is switched off.