Indicators on a 6V ST70

Just wondering how people have fitted indicators to a 6V UK spec ST70?
As we all know indicators were not fitted as standard to the UK models and while I recall that some people did fit them back in the 70's (my dad owned his first ST70 one back then) I can't remember how they did it and whether the installation was neat.
Any photos of your installation would probably be appreciated as I can't be the only person going about this modifcation?

Personally I am using the standard Honda indicator lamp from the 1970's. They are larger than what many people fit to ST's but like the UK spec rear light, they were standard across the range in those days and are "in keeping" with the period.
For front mounting I am just drilling the 'ears' and bolting the stems to that. I had thought about using them to replace the headlight pivot bolts (thus avoiding drilling the "ears") but I recall one of my old Honda's having this set-up in the past and it was a bit of a pain, also the wires were susceptible to damage where they were in close proximity with the rear of the headlamp rim.
The rear is a bit more awkward. The obvious answer is to use a non-UK spec rear light & bracket as these have the mounting lugs attached but the point is I am keeping it as close to standard UK spec as possible and that means keeping the original light. A rack is one solution and the "genuine" Honda one (made by Rickman if I recall correctly) had the lugs fitted to it but I don't have one and instead am using the (slightly smaller) one sold by CMSNL (not to be confused with the Chinese one which is smaller still). So, ignoring the rack the only other option (and the one I am doing) is to mount a pair of tabs on the rear of the number-plate bracket and bolt the stems to this (similar to the non-UK spec brackets).
As for switch that is simple, the genuine Honda one replaces the horn-switch and does away with the need for a chunky aftermarket switch on the handlebar.
For a relay I am using an electronic one and orange LED "bulbs". My reason for this is that the 6V system just doesn't cope with any load unless the engine is on more than tickover so the use of low wattage 6V LED's will stop this being an issue and an electronic realy will maintain the correct flash rate. I am using Orange LED's as the white ones are too bright and shine through the orange lense. LED's in light units not specifically designed for them are illegal for road use but I am willing to risk that as I will in not having a repeater light in the speedo (could replace the speedo unit but I want to keep the original unit which shows the correct mileage) but if it causes an issue at MOT time it is the work of minutes to remove the whole set-up for the purpose of the test. Likewise I am going to run with a red 6V stop/tail LED "bulb" in the rear light for the reason of low current draw.

Anyway, anyone got photos of their set-up?
Plenty of aftermarket indicators out there but has anyone used any of the various genuine Honda units such as the small bullet ones? As I say, this is aimed more at UK spec bikes.

Hi Litch,checkout mine on the picture section under Arnys st70..........
Goodluck ....

Already seen it, very bright & shiney!!!

I am using the same method of fixing the front indicators although the stems will be longer.
At the rear you have a non-UK spec rear light and that makes it slightly easier as the indicators are slightly higher than mine will be. Too low and the OS one will foul the exhaust, drop it down lower to clear the exhaust and it will be too low to be of any practical use. The indicators I am using are larger as well, I had toyed with the idea of using the small Honda units (without stem) but decided that it would be more difficult to manufacture neat mounting brackets whereas using the larger Honda units it is a simple case of just bolting on the stem.

Would love to see what other people have come up with.

Ive got some genuine indicators for sale on ebay

leeandaly wrote:Ive got some genuine indicators for sale on ebay

Already got mine thanks, bought some more of these.




They are larger than the ones most people fit to an ST70 but as I said earlier they were fitted across practically the whole range at the time so are correct for the period if not the specific model.

The ones shown on Ebay say they are made by Lucas which will make them the ones fitted to various British bikes of the period (60's & 70's). My dad's Commando had them, as did the Bonneville plus I fitted a set to my wife's Royal Enfield. They are excellent units and look similar to the genuine Honda (Stanley) units but they are different. I've still got a couple in the garage which I kept in case my wife decides to go back to a British bike again.

You could modify your listing to show Lucas so they could be picked up by a British bike owner?

The bigger versions are from the Japanese ST's.

Bench tested the indicator set-up today and I am mightily impressed.

The 6V orange LED "bulbs" work perfectly in the Honda (Stanley) light units and unlike white LED's (which tend to be too bright for coloured lenses) keep a really good colour while still being nice & bright and easily visible even in sunlight. With each "bulb" being made up of multiple LED's set at different positions there is a decent spread of light at every angle, even the side.
The electronic flasher relay works nicely and the best part is that with the LED's drawing only a fraction of the current of a conventional bulb the flash rate is consistant even when the battery is in a pretty discharged state.

I am going to try and take some photos of the units lit up which I will post when done.

Took a couple of photos, they don't really do justice to the effect but they aren't too bad.

The first one was taken using a flash so you can see how the orange LED shines through even in bright light. The second one was taken with no flash and looks a bit washed out but that is just how the image has come out, in reality the colour is vivid.

Look forward to seeing a few pictures of them on the bike

Its just a indicator that works...................