Additional Brake light and the GIVI case.

I recently (4/02) installed a GIVI case onto my Pacific Coast 800. Once the case was installed, I again revisited the idea of adding more light to the back of the bike, especially when braking. I'm always concerned an inattentive driver behind me might not notice I am braking and I was even more concerned that a driver behind me would concentrate on the large case and not see the brake lights which are fairly low on most motorcycles, this one included.

I'd previously added both a "Back Off" light module (that causes the brake lights to blink 3 times, then stay on steady for approximately 2 seconds, then that cycle repeats) and a set of Hyper lights ( a small set of LEDs  that blink when lit) that I'd also wired through the "Back Off" light module. The interesting thing about wiring both the brake light and the Hyper lights thru the Back Off module was they blinked at different rates and became even more noticeable than either used alone. The Hyper lights were just above the license plate where the white double stick tape shows in the photos below. However, with the new large trunk I was concerned about the trunk being over the lights and reducing their effectiveness of even what I had installed.

GIVI offers a light kit for the trunks which I decided not to order. Givi lights aren't that big and I felt I could install something better. Once the case was installed I went looking and found some interesting options. I was hoping for something I could mount on the top of the case (maybe a 3rd brake light from a pickup truck or something similar). Most of what I found either wasn't what I wanted or was flat on the bottom. Since the GIVI case has a curved top, a flat light wouldn't mount properly on the curved top. Also,  I decided that a light mounted to the case would prove to be inconvenient when I wanted to take the case off. I'd planned to install a plug to the light if it was on the case but decided even that might become cumbersome to use.

I next decided that the best option would be a light attached to the rack since the rack would always be on the bike even when the case was taken off and the light could be permanently mounted.  I also wanted an LED rather than an incandescent light since I felt it would be more visible. I went looking for an LED bar that I'd seen on the internet. It had about 10 LEDs in it and looked like it might mount nicely to the rack. I found what I was looking for but the LED bar was too long for the rack and nothing else I saw on the internet was what I wanted. So, I went looking locally.  In my search I stopped at a truck supply house and was treated well until the inevitable question arose of what type of truck I intended to install the lights on. I tried to dodge the question knowing what was coming (I'd learned long ago never to admit a part I needed/wanted  was for a motorcycle unless I was in a motorcycle shop) but the salesperson kept pushing and eventually I admitted the light was for a motorcycle. "We don't sell motorcycle parts" he said. As he walked away he turned and added "Try a Harley shop".   As I was walking out of the store, a light display caught my eye and another salesman (who'd listened to the first one blow me off) was happy to assist me in taking a look. What I found was a great light with approximately 60 LEDs in it that also had a bracket and rubber mount available. I took it outside to see if it would fit on the rack and immediately saw that it would look great on the GIVI rack and, in fact would look like it came with the rack. I bought it on the spot, took it home and mounted it. Showing it off to a friend that night, he kept asking which parts were the original rack and which had just been added. It looks that good. Cost for all the parts was about $60 and well worth it. I also wired it through the Back Off module and this one also blinks at a different rate than the brake light. It's very noticeable and much higher up than the brake light. From the first night I rode with it I noticed cars stopping further back than before. Maybe my imagination but I think not.  Anyway, here's the pics.

Click on any picture to enlarge it.

I left the original pictures a but large (might take a bit of time to download) so you can see the detail.

The light under rack.                       The light "lit up". Note that this picture was taken in the

                                                                                                     day time so, the light's aren't very bright but the LED shows clear but the brake

                                                                                                      lights (which are on) hardly show up.

  A side view of the light

  A view with the case on              .  and with the case on and lit up.

  Tail lights only

  Brake Light on                                 Brake and LED Lights