Vetter Trunk
- bohdan
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:39 am
- Location: Venice, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1993 GL1500
2013 GL1800
2013 GL 1800 trike
2009 Yamaha
Vetter Trunk
Gents, According to the installation instruction for the wiring of the Vetter trunk, it says the lights are running lights. Has anybody put dual filament bulbs to make them brake and running? My bike is a 77 so it has the reserve lighting system. Would that affect operation? Cheers
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1725
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Vetter Trunk
My Vetter HAS dual filament bulbs (came that way). As to the reserve lighting system I don't know what effect the added load would do, when I had my '77 wing the reserve system was bypassed. To remove doubt about the reserve system you could use two relays, one for Stop lights and one for the running lights, Simply send power direct from the battery thru the relays to the Vetter, and trigger the relays with the bike's brake light and running light circuit. Don't forget fuses.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
-
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:56 am
- Location: Driebergen, Utrecht
- Motorcycle: 1976 GL1000 Gran' Luxe
Re: Vetter Trunk
Mine too has dual filament bulbs. I did however have problems with the battery dying when riding slowly through city traffic, which I believe is a consequence of the gl1000 charging system not having much reserve... I'd install a switch somewhere to turn them off if necessary.
- bohdan
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:39 am
- Location: Venice, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1993 GL1500
2013 GL1800
2013 GL 1800 trike
2009 Yamaha
Re: Vetter Trunk
Thanks guys. What do you think about conversion to LED’s?
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1725
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Vetter Trunk
On a GL1000 it couldn't hurt. I wouldn't bother the turn signals though, they are never on long enough to make any real difference.
FWIW on my 1100 (same alternator) I've never killed the battery in stop/go traffic, and I also have a stereo with a 60 watt amp on it, too. The trip home from work I have to drive that 15 mile parking lot known as I-70, often a lot of stop/go or very slow. When moving, stay in a lower gear to keep the revs up, and if stopped I might twist the throttle a little for 1500-2000 revs for a little extra juice. This seems to be enough, even with fans cycling on a hot stop/go drive to keep the battery happy.
FWIW on my 1100 (same alternator) I've never killed the battery in stop/go traffic, and I also have a stereo with a 60 watt amp on it, too. The trip home from work I have to drive that 15 mile parking lot known as I-70, often a lot of stop/go or very slow. When moving, stay in a lower gear to keep the revs up, and if stopped I might twist the throttle a little for 1500-2000 revs for a little extra juice. This seems to be enough, even with fans cycling on a hot stop/go drive to keep the battery happy.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- bohdan
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:39 am
- Location: Venice, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1993 GL1500
2013 GL1800
2013 GL 1800 trike
2009 Yamaha
Re: Vetter Trunk
Okay. Thanks Denver Winger. I may just give that at ry. Cheers
Re: Vetter Trunk
Another forum member gave me a good suggestion for lighting along the lines of LED.
As it was explained to me, feel free to change all the bulbs to LED with exception of rear turn bulbs. That will ensure enough load on the lighting system for the factory turn indicator relay to function. And since they only come on when turning, the impact will be minimal as someone above said.
Regarding the Vetter trunk. I have a vetter trunk with 4 round tail/brake lights on a 1976 GL1000. And the bulbs brighten when I apply the brakes.
Good Luck
As it was explained to me, feel free to change all the bulbs to LED with exception of rear turn bulbs. That will ensure enough load on the lighting system for the factory turn indicator relay to function. And since they only come on when turning, the impact will be minimal as someone above said.
Regarding the Vetter trunk. I have a vetter trunk with 4 round tail/brake lights on a 1976 GL1000. And the bulbs brighten when I apply the brakes.
Good Luck
- bohdan
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:39 am
- Location: Venice, Florida
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1977 GL1000
1993 GL1500
2013 GL1800
2013 GL 1800 trike
2009 Yamaha
Re: Vetter Trunk
Thanks for the info. Does your trunk lights do both braking and running? The PO of the trunk apparently cut a conductor off the bulb. So I think I can have 4 running light and brake on the outside? Or 4 brake lights and two running lights on the outside. Cheers