New Mods for my wife's 2013 ST-S.

[JimVonBaden]

I ordered a set of universal fit panniers from E-bay, yes, yes I did.

I am actually pretty impressed. They are light weight, but do not feel flimsy. They have solid universal mount components, lock, easy one/off, and have dual lighting. I could do running and signals, brakes and signals, or running and brake lights, I chose the ladder. This bike will be used in traffic a lot, often at night.

First Panniers.

I didn't have a lot of time, so I do not have install photos. That's OK because my plan is to test them, then take it all apart and weld the mounts together, clean them up and powder coat them for a more OEM look. I'll document that process.

So, here is what you get for $299 delivered:










For the wiring I used quick lock connectors. I need to work on them to hide the wiring better, but it should be good when I rebuild the mounts. I'll add some tubes to hide the wires, or something.

I have other mods planned, so I will add them to this thread in the future.

[Haze]

Nice job on the installation.
Looks like a great winter project with welding and powder coating.
Where did you tap into the wiring for the tail lights?
Cheers, David C.

[JimVonBaden]

Nice job on the installation.
Looks like a great winter project with welding and powder coating.
Where did you tap into the wiring for the tail lights?
Cheers, David C.

Thanks. It should come out very nice. I will, of course, replace the crossover bar for a more integrated look.

I just tapped the brake and running light wires under the dirt guard right where they split for the two bulbs in the tail light. I used posi-taps. Clean and easy and no damage to the wiring.

[bwbarnes]

Very nice Jim. Please post more pictures of the setup, including pics of the mounts without the bags attached.

[JimVonBaden]

Very nice Jim. Please post more pictures of the setup, including pics of the mounts without the bags attached.

Thanks, will do.

The mounts are a bit cludgy, but they are pretty solid and look OK with the bags on. Once I cut and weld everything, then powder coat them, they should look much better!

[Zip]

Looks good

[JimVonBaden]

Very nice Jim. Please post more pictures of the setup, including pics of the mounts without the bags attached.

OK, here are a few more!










Here is the inside:




The outer trim panel can be removed easily for paint of wrapping. Just five short screws.








Overall I am pretty impressed for the price!

[JimVonBaden]

Also, because I have a set of heated grips to install, as well as aux lights and a USB power plug, I pulled the panel and added the switches. The Heated grips plug is there and went right in. I pulled the hot and ground from the second from the left socket for the USB, and the Aux switch seemed about right so I plugged it in. I wont know on that until the lights come in.







More to come when the rest of the parts come in and I have time.

[bwbarnes]

Thanks for the pictures of the mounts. Looks good, I look forward to seeing your finished setup. I'm thinking about getting the same bags for my '08 GS.

[jaherbst]

Great looking hard bags. The "cheesy" mounts not so much but with all your expertise and experience I

am sure you could fabricate something that looks a little more upscale.

For just a few dollars more you could have the fantastic looking Corbin's.

Jack

[JimVonBaden]

Great looking hard bags. The "cheesy" mounts not so much but with all your expertise and experience I

am sure you could fabricate something that looks a little more upscale.

For just a few dollars more you could have the fantastic looking Corbin's.

Jack

I think that was a compliment!

The mounts will definitely improve.

As for Corbins, beautiful, but damn! $$$$

[MurrayBrown]

[QUOTE=JimVonBaden;1197449]I ordered a set of universal fit panniers from E-bay, yes, yes I did.













I REALLY like the lights on the "bags"! I need to figure out something for my Givi bags on my 2014 ST Limited.

[JimVonBaden]

Thanks! Many of the GIVI panniers have reflectors that will accept lights behind the lenses.

Check here for potential kits. https://www.admorelighting.com/

[JimVonBaden]

Added a modified GPS mount:


And a State Inspection Sticker plate:

[ARtraveler]

Good looking stuff my friend. You saved $500 or so over the GIVI ones made for the . Look as strong or stronger.

If you want cheesy, the luggage inserts for the RT's are pretty bad. They do the job, but for the price I paid--I felt a bit clipped.

[JimVonBaden]

Replaced the grips today, The heated grips work great, and take about 2 hours to install for someone who has never done it before.










By the way, you can not rotate the switch pods, they are locked in place by substantial tabs on the bar mounts.

[JimVonBaden]

Prepping for winter riding!

[JimVonBaden]

Unfortunately the Stebel horn would not fit where the stock one is, though it worked. So I installed a louder conventional FIAAM High horn.






Bolts right in, much louder.

[JimVonBaden]

Fortunately the bike comes prewired, and all you have to do is add a stock aux light switch:



Pop off both top and middle side panels to access the wiring, conveniently in the right place:






The wiring is set up so you can turn the lights on with the switch, or, swap wires, and they come on with the low beams and shut off with the high beams. For the switch you want gray with the green stripe and black.

Just pop off the cap and use it as the male switch by adding pins.

Pull out the plugs and retainer, crimp on the pins and reinsert.







Pull the black trim panel from the upper insert and drill holes to install the lights. I had to use some angle parts I had lying around. It gives me the ability to adjust in all directions.





Then reinsert the panel, plug in the light, and install the panels.





A demo of the lights,









It is very obvious when the lights are on.

Great lights: $17.99 each https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Switch: $7.99 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Haze]

Very nice job on installing the driving lights.
I have the same lights mounted on the lower A Frames.

Did you have any issues with inserting the Amazon switch into the STS wiring harness?
I bought a similar switch on Amazon and found the pins on the back of the switch were spaced a bit different from the Spyder socket.
Required a bit of custom wiring to prevail. Maybe I bought the wrong switch. My switch is not lighted.

Cheers, David C

[JimVonBaden]

Very nice job on installing the driving lights.
I have the same lights mounted on the lower A Frames.

Did you have any issues with inserting the Amazon switch into the STS wiring harness?
I bought a similar switch on Amazon and found the pins on the back of the switch were spaced a bit different from the Spyder socket.
Required a bit of custom wiring to prevail. Maybe I bought the wrong switch. My switch is not lighted.

Cheers, David C

Thanks David,

My switch was completely plug and play, once I broke off the plastic post between the pins. The only issue is that it is not lit. I may mess with it, or may not. Either way, it works the lights just fine.

[mmiehe]

Great job on those mods. Especially the panniers. Definately on my to do list. Thanks for the inspiration. I gotta ask, where did you get that USB switch? Couldn't find it for the life of me.
Again great job.
Mike

[JimVonBaden]

Great job on those mods. Especially the panniers. Definately on my to do list. Thanks for the inspiration. I gotta ask, where did you get that USB switch? Couldn't find it for the life of me.
Again great job.
Mike

Thanks Mike. I got it here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used the black and red wire from the plug below it for hot and ground. Works great.

[JimVonBaden]

I added auxiliary turn signal markers to my wife's rear view mirrors. Impossible to see the factory ones in daylight.


Trimmed to one segment, then colored the yellow black to blend them.



I could have made the more visible, but I didn't want them overwhelming at night. I will check them out and reposition as necessary.




Very simple to wire in, no permanent mods, $4.00 from e-bay for for, so I have extras.

[JimVonBaden]

Got some 1/2" tubing today and started on replacing the ugly mounts for some clean ones on the panniers on my wife's ST. I got them done, now need to pull them back off to powder coat them.

Before:





After:










Stay tuned.