Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/727617
10 nOctober 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS Light 'em up! NAMZ GEN2-LDW-R Complete LED Taillight Red Laydown with Window, $149.95 NAMZ/Badlands LL-01-A Plug-n-Play Illuminator, $118.95 NAMZ GEN-200-AW-1157 Bullet Style Turn Signal Amber with White Running Light 1157 Pair, $89.95 NAMZ JAE Mini Connectors (assorted) Drag Specialties/Alloy Art Chrome/Red/Red Fender Strut LED Marker Lights #7806-1041, pair, $141.95 Drag Specialties Chrome Fender Luggage Rack #DS-720116, $59.95 Drag Specialties Chrome Replacement License Plate Bracket #DS-193810, $21.95 Drag Specialties Chrome License Plate Frame #2030-0214, $29.95 Drag Specialties/Pro-One 4" x 7" Chrome License Plate Backing Plate #DS-720099, $40.95 Drag Specialties RIVCO Custom LED Accent Mirrors #0640-0658, pair, $249.95 namzcustomcycleproducts.com dragspecialties.com rivcoproducts.com Reviewed by Shadow Over the years, I'd customized my 2000 FXD for improved function, comfort, and, on occasion, aesthetics. But I'd never really addressed safety features, specifi cally, lighting. In fact, it had become increasingly apparent that some of the modifi cations I'd done have adversely affected key lighting functions to the point that they impact my ability to ride safely. I'd recently upgraded to an LED headlamp, which was a dramatic improvement to both my night vision while riding and the likelihood that I'd be seen more easily by oncom- ing traffi c. But there was still a long way to go, and I wanted to make sure the products and methods used were top notch, considering the spa- ghetti of wires that have resulted from various mods over the years. So I enlisted the counsel of my friend Jeff Zielinski, founder and president of NAMZ Custom Cycle Products in Oreland, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia. Jeff is an acknowl- edged expert on custom wiring, wiring harnesses and electrical component design and assembly, having written a frequently-updated book on wiring. Plus a few years ago, NAMZ also pur- chased Badlands, a company known for its motorcycle lighting products. My fi rst priority was to clean up the bike's rear lighting. Because of the aftermarket saddlebags that I got for the Dyna a dozen years ago, I had to relocate my turn signals. I'd installed an aftermarket combination taillight/ brake light/directional unit as well as a license plate frame with integrated turn signals, but, as I'd been informed numerous times by a wide assortment of riding partners, both rear turn sig- nal sets were barely, if at all, visible, especially in the daytime. Bolted to the license plate frame was an aftermarket fender luggage rack, which, years ago had broken in several places, so I fi g- ured I'd replace that too. Jeff suggested several parts that are available from Drag Specialties: Chrome/Red/Red Fender Strut LED Marker Lights, Chrome Fender Luggage Rack, Chrome Replacement License Plate Bracket and Chrome License Plate Frame. When I told Jeff that my aftermarket brake/taillight/ directional unit experienced intermit- tent problems (in other words, some- times the turn signals just wouldn't work), he recommended his company's Complete LED Taillight Red Laydown with Window as a replacement. And I also wanted to replace the Dyna's mir- rors, so I selected the RIVCO Custom LED Accent Mirrors which can be ordered from Drag Specialties. Once all the parts arrived, I rode to NAMZ so that Jeff could perform the installs. After the bike went up on one of the shop's lifts so that Jeff could get at the wiring under the fender, he noticed that the taillight assembly contacts were corroded, so I was glad we'd already made the The NAMZ LED laydown taillight is easily visible while performing either running light or brake function. Plus the Drag Specialties LED Marker Lights are incredibly bright, including when the brake has been activated as shown here. And note the clean look of the new Drag Specialties License Plate Frame. The Drag Specialties LED Marker Lights slip over the ends of the fender struts, and with the NAMZ/Badlands Illuminator module installed, now function as a combination of running lights, brake lights and turn signals NAMZ technical and training manager Tyler Pailas installs the Illuminator run/brake/turn module, which also serves as a load equalizer See "Namz," page 60, column 1