Rather than awkwardly jutting out from somewhere near the front forks on a motorcycle, Jon Ostojic has created a set of turn indicators that attach to ends of the handlebar. Undeniably stylish, the MuzaMoto Turn Signals provide all-round visibility thanks to front-, rear-, side- and bottom-facing LEDs. A bolt-on version is also available for front or rear mounting.
Fashioned from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum with an anodized finish, and featuring a UV stabilized water-tight lens, the MuzaMoto Motorcycle Turn Signals are compatible with handlebars with an internal diameter of between 0.65 - 1-inches (16.5 - 25.4 mm) and come with a removable ring which caters for standard mirror mount. Each signal is home to four 1.5 W LEDs that give off about 400 lumens of light for 360-degree visibility.
"The reason why one of the LEDs points down is because it illuminates the road underneath you," Ostojic told us. "The darker it is outside (and the more you want to be seen), the more the bottom LED is visible illuminating the road beneath you. It adds more to the visibility of the signal and motorcycle than you'd expect."
Installation of the fashionable and functional replacements for stock turn signals is not quite as simple as just unscrewing the bar end stops and replacing them with the MuzaMoto lights, though.
"It's not difficult to follow the included instructions if you do your own motorcycle maintenance and the idea of cutting and stripping a wire and drilling a small hole doesn't intimidate you," explained Ostojic. "If the idea does intimidate you, the installation might be better left to a professional."
The process starts with disconnecting the battery before removing the factory bar-ends. Then a small hole needs to be drilled on each side of the handlebar to allow the MuzaMoto bar end wire to pass through the hollow handlebar and out through the drilled hole (passing a spare piece of wire through the drilled hole and out the end of the handlebar, then using this to pull the MuzaMoto wire back through will likely make this task easier).
Next you'll need to adjust the expanding collet until the bar end can no longer be pushed into the handlebar by hand. A snug fit is ensured by tapping the bar end flush with the handlebar using a rubber mallet.
"How the signals are wired into your motorcycle harness depends on what configuration is desired," said Ostojic. "If the factory front turn signals are to be removed, then the wires that used to go to the factory signals need to be cut close to the signal and spliced together with the MuzaMoto Bar-Ends. Alternately, the factory lights could be left intact with the MuzaMoto signals spliced into these wires."
If that sort of work looks a bit daunting, or you want some equally delicious turn signals for the rear of your two-wheeled beast, MuzaMoto has also developed a set of bolt-on signals.
"The Bolt-On MuzaMoto signals are easier to install," MuzaMoto's founder told us. "They are intended to replace existing bolt-on factory signals. The factory signals will be held on place with a nut. Remove this nut and cut the wire close to the signal. Then simple drop in the MuzaMoto Bolt-on signal in its place, tighten the nut and join the wires. They can also be installed anywhere that the surface is flat enough by drilling a hole and running the signal wires to the custom location."
At the moment, however, you'll have to curb your enthusiasm just a little as neither the bar end or the bolt-on signals have reached the production stage.
Ostojic has launched on Kickstarter, where a set of early bird bolt-on signals can be yours for US$100. Equally limited early bar-end units will cost you $125, and after those are gone the pledge level rises to $125 and $150 respectively. If you want a set of each then you'll need to stump up $200 for one of the first five sets, or $250 once they've been snapped up. The campaign ends on April 13, with an estimated delivery set for July.
Installation of the MuzaMoto signals may also involve the addition of a resistor to ensure the turn indicator blinks at the correct rate. This depends on whether your existing turn signals have LED or incandescent bulbs, backers will get the chance to opt for the provision of resistors at the survey stage.
The pitch video follows.
Source: MuzaMoto, Kickstarter
