More lights...more problems???

[Old Prof]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

[BajaRon]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

Put the lights on and don't worry about it. Especially if they are LED (I'm not sure why anyone would use something else). If you wire them wrong then yes, you'll have issues. But that is true of any vehicle.

[M109Dreamer]

We have the brightsides front and back, fender channels, and the HMT without any issues.

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[Bob231]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

I've added the Custom Dynamics high mount brake light, two extra rear marker lights and rear facing turn signal lights on the mirrors with no problems

[murphybrown]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

I luv my LED's and have LOTS of them...never an issue. TricLED (site sponsor) have the best IMHO as well as can answer any ? you have. Shawn has some personal position that I just scratch my head on...but each to his own. Live and let live and all that good stuff...

[billybovine]

Any electrical addon to your Spyder may be defective and could emit so much electrical noise to interfere with the communication signals on the CAN BUS. In reality it does not happen often. So it should not stop you from putting on lots of lights. What you should do is buy good parts from reputable suppliers. All addons should have connectors in the correct strategic locations. This is to aid in future disassembly for repairs and for easy disconnect for troubleshooting if a problem crops up.

[bmwlarry]

I have seen the video you refer to. Shawn is the mechanic I use when I need something that I cannot do myself. Here is what I have gleaned from him when talking to him.

1. Use TricLED or Custom Dynamics - steer clear of very cheap Ebay stuff
2. Think about the install and where you place/run wiring. If works needs to be done, be able to disconnect and easily reconnect.
3. It is very hard when the owner has someone wire lights and then it comes into Shawn for other services. Tracking down electrical gremlins is not easy!
4. Use Positaps and Posiloks when possible - easily disconnected and reconnected

[finless]

Believe it or not, Shawn Smoak is incorrect this time. The lights are NOT on the Can Buss!

FYI that video he posted the problem was something else. The person on that ride was with Ann Meyer on an Alaska Trip and her bike broke down again later for the same issue. I forget what it was now but the light was not the issue.

You can ask Ann about it if you want to know more.

Bob

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

....Someone posted an incredible explanation on how the Can-bus system works on our Spyders so you will have to look for it.....It really doesn't apply for what you want to do tho...........I have done a lot of LED lights on My RT and they are ALL DIY from stuff I bought on E-Bay.....It all works fine ......I would get an add-on fuse block ( Banggood.com $ 8.00 ) to isolate any stuff you do......I would only do LED's.....Also look on E-bay at these connectors item# 201107737645, they are the easiest I have found because you can dis-connect by un-plugging from the wire it's attached to, then just re-plugging.. look at them it's self-explanatory....they sell larger amounts and less just search the different sellers....PS these are very small.....Mike

[Bfromla]

Having ridden bikes for over 50 years, I'm a firm believer in "safety in visibility!" I've always added lights in various combination in order to be seen...especially in the rear of the bike. Now...about to get a '14 RT Ltd that's stock (aka farkle-free) and wanting to start adding lights. Yesterday watched a Shawn Smoak video in which he warns against adding these extra lights to the Spyder as the CAN Bus system goes crazy and will cause many potential problems.
My questions: Do you veterans out there agree? Will running all these extra lights off an independent fuse block solve this? and finally would someone offer up a brief description of what this CAN Bus system is and how it works.
Sorry for such a wordy post, but I've come to trust this forum and the many experts who help us newby's out. THANKS!!!

Thanks for asking. Lots of us have added LED 's with no problems. The blinkers may go hyper flash but that is correctable. Use the vendors & the info provided, you wont go wrong. Better yet come to spyderfest & get installed on-sight. By the pros ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456600452.726422.jpg fyi my tricled (long) & rivco (short)lights I got last year.


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[Bob Denman]

As BMWLarry said: Get your lights from a known source of high quality products... Don't try to buy cheap lights!
Hook them up correctly, and you'll never have a problem with them!