Following my moans on a previous posting a reply from "bigrich" re: extending a bike loom got me thinking (oh yes it happens sometimes-not often). My Fireblade loom has got it all, lights, indicators, instrument and engine circuits, so is it a case of just pluging in the engine/dash connections and extending the lighting circuits to fit and then splicing in the switches and Ford stalks. Can it be that easy or am I missing something (maybe a brain)
Comments please
Regards
Barry

That's what I did with my ZZR loom.

Bear in mind you bike loom will be missing a few key items, fog light, hazards, low brake fluid warning lamp. These will need wiring in too.

Also be aware that Mr Honda might not have the same ideas as Mr Ford when it comes to wiring up to the switch gear on the column (if you use them).

I spent a long time working out how the Ford switch gear worked compared to how the Kawasaki loom wanted it to work.

Good luck.

Mike

It sounds easy that much is true, and i didn't find it a hard job, but it does take time, patience and a relevant haynes manual.
It's useful to find out which wires your going to extend and then go to someone like vwp and get the correct colours, its cheap enough and you'll be able to trace it all too!
Have to say though, its very satisfying to do. Go on give it a go, you know you want to!!

Thanks Chris & Mike, that's very encouraging, I off to the workshop now armed with my Haynes manuals, sandwiches and fire extinguisher to give it a go.
Thanks again
Barry

The only thing I will add is that the number of fuses is lower on a bike. This makes sense on a bike with only one of each light, but do you really want to lose all of your lights if a fuse blows on a car?
Cars normally split circuit into left and right circuits. This ensures that you can at least get home if you lose one side of your lighting.

barry what chris has said it is relatively easy some bits fiddily some of the main components may need extending aswell

most of all its a time consuming job

u2u me if you cant get your hazard lights to work etc etc

fog light etc

ta chris

I believe a common technique is to use a battery charger in place of the battery too to save blowing all your fuses or damaging the loom or summat when testing it.

The bits which didn't work when I grafted the Lancia loom onto the Ford column switches were:- 1) Side lights as parking lights and 2) hazard lights when ign. switch and battery cut-out were off. Both these need to be perm. live.
I've wired in a ciggie lighter as perm. live for charging the main battery (input) and mobile phone charge (output) when out and about (I wish!). I soldered all the extension wiring then used heat shrink and/or self-amalgamating tape to reduce the risk of joint failure.
Finally if you are using a battery cut-off switch make sure there's a resistor in the charging circuit to protect the alternator in case the switch is operated when the engines still running.

Cheers, Pewe
PS The others are correct - a lot of time and patience required.