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Aftermarket Brake Light?

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adamchandler

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May 26, 2022
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R1200GS
Has anyone installed a Denali B6 or Clearwater Billy Brake Light on their R18? I don't want to add a light strip or another light but instead install one of those license plate frames but it's not clear how I wire it in given the fender is stainless steel so I'll need to lift the bike up and remove the rear wheel to see how to install it. Photos of the inside of the fender with a wheel removed would be helpful.
 
Very interested in your progress with this one. Please keep us posted.

I assume that the bagger wiring is similar to the FE in that they use harder to find square pin plugs. I would also assume if Clearwater makes one for the R18 it would be plug and play with their can-opener. Boy that would be nice.

GL
 
I installed the Billy light to my FE using the canopener. Just need to run two wires to the back easily done between the fender and metal brackets under it. Used a 4 ft wire tie from the right center of the bike to run under the fender but above the brackets to the rear of the fender then taped the Billie light wires and pulled them through and connected to the canopener.
 
Finally get into doing this. The Bagger / TC install is going to be a bit more work. I need to remove the seat which is harder on the TC with the top case installed and remove one of the side boxes.
 
To remove the seat on the TC, you can press against the backrest cushion just enough to get a Phillips screwdriver down there. Alternatively there are 4 screws inside the front of the top box that hold a plastic plate. It will take less that two minutes to remove those four screws that allow easy access to the seat bolt.
 
R2K said:
I installed the Billy light to my FE using the canopener. Just need to run two wires to the back easily done between the fender and metal brackets under it. Used a 4 ft wire tie from the right center of the bike to run under the fender but above the brackets to the rear of the fender then taped the Billie light wires and pulled them through and connected to the canopener.
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Can you send some pictures of the install. Also if you can send the link for the light and the canopener. Appreciate it.
 
I want to install a Denali light.

Do I need a Canopener?

Do you have a wiring diagram for 2023 R18 c?

Thanks a ton
 
The easy answer is yes. Because BMW uses the same light for brake and turn signals and a single wire to control them it requires a more sophisticated solution to add just an extra brake light. There are other ways to go about it, but again the easy answer is a Clearwater CanOpener. The added benefit is you can use the CanOpener to use switched power to accessories and of course lights.
 
widu13 said:
Hex EzCan for K1600 works the same way, Denali kit is a bit cheaper and just as good.
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I agree if you want to use Denali lights vs Clearwater lights the Hez EzCan is the way to go if they make one for the R18.
 
R2K said:
I agree if you want to use Denali lights vs Clearwater lights the Hez EzCan is the way to go if they make one for the R18.
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They don't make one specifically for the R18, but the K1600 one appears to do all functions.
 
widu13 said:
They don't make one specifically for the R18, but the K1600 one appears to do all functions.
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It is highly unlikely that the Hex EzCan designed for the K1600 will work properly on the R18.
 
Unsure TBH, mine did a B6 brake light but I didn't mess with the spots/horn on the TC and left them factory. I don't see any reason that if routed via the ezcan that they would not work. Ancillary Denali lights definitely would.
 
Yes, the Hex EZCan for the K1600 will work for Denali D7 lights, B6 brake light, and Soundbomb horn. I have all on my 2023 R18 Pure. For the brake light, an extra wiring extension was all that was required. You run the wiring up under the fender to the controller which will be located under the left-hand side panel. The Denali lights are blindingly bright, and they can be easily controlled by the EZCan. I have yellow lens on mine for better conspicuity.
 
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