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View Full Version : Back lit hand controls

Vaquero Mac
10-17-2013, 03:32 AM
Just wondering is there anyway to make the hand controls visible at night? That would be a nice option for kawasaki to add to these bikes with all the buttons on them.
Old Bear
10-17-2013, 09:08 AM
It would be very difficult as a project to do. I'm sure the manufacturer could do it, but at what cost? Then you have something else that can fail. I've never even thought about needing that. You quickly learn by feel where everything is. Even with my rain gloves on, I can easily find the proper control for the various functions. For me, it would be an additional expense with little use.
cactusjack
10-17-2013, 10:45 AM
I think the manufacturer expects owners to learn the positions of the various controls. You shouldn't be looking at them anyway.
george james
10-17-2013, 11:02 AM
Just wondering is there anyway to make the hand controls visible at night? That would be a nice option for kawasaki to add to these bikes with all the buttons on them.

I agree, with all the added buttons they do need to be more visible. Auto manufactures seem to agree by making them visible. Regardless how hard one tries, in the dark you are most likely to get it wrong if you have and use all the options available on the bikes of today. The extra cost would be minimal and worth it as far as I'm concerned.:tup:
cactusjack
10-17-2013, 11:13 AM
I think the Gold Wing may have backlit controls, but I'm not sure.
Sin City Stan
10-17-2013, 11:16 AM
I think the Gold Wing may have backlit controls, but I'm not sure.

Well, yeah, it's a Goldwing with 4000 buttons and switches on it. :D
crazygene49
10-17-2013, 01:33 PM
Buy a new Harley, they have it.
Monkeyman
10-17-2013, 02:48 PM
Harley, Gold Wing, Indian. Quite a few with backlit controls. Not sure why everyone doesn't do it.
ringadingh
10-17-2013, 05:16 PM
They would be nice just to have , but uneccessary, as you should be able to find them all by feel.
jestephens
10-19-2013, 09:12 PM
...except that horn button. That has not gotten easier to find.
dmyers
10-20-2013, 07:46 AM
I can find the horn just never used it, aside from just voicing my displeasure with somone
jestephens
10-20-2013, 09:21 AM
I can find the horn just never used it, aside from just voicing my displeasure with somone

The horn button on the 1700's is not convenient at all. It seems like it was an afterthought when they put all the new stuff in that housing
Old Bear
10-20-2013, 05:50 PM
I found that being upset lends to exaggerated movements, and when I allow myself to follow the desire I hit the horn button with ease! YMMV >:(
haygrrr
10-20-2013, 08:23 PM
I don't think back lighting would have helped any for me as don't look down at the controls. Big learning curve on Vaquero though. Never had so many buttons before and looked pretty stupid for awhile till I figured them all out.
Kaygee
12-17-2013, 03:33 PM
Finding the buttons are a mater of practicing when your sitting still. Looking at then is a good way to run into the back of someone. Just practice it will come automatically after about 40 consecutive tries.
tonik
12-17-2013, 06:38 PM
Finding the buttons are a mater of practicing when your sitting still. Looking at then is a good way to run into the back of someone. Just practice it will come automatically after about 40 consecutive tries.

That is what I did with the horn button, got mine this fall and left two days later for a 2000 mile trip. I hit the horn on the freeway (away from traffic) about 50 times that first day.