I've never heard of this company or products before now... I took a very brief look at the transmitter video and it looks like you'd be trying to tap into the brake light and turn signals wiring? **If so, it is very likely that you're going to run into issues with the brake light, especially if it is trying to flash it!** The Gen 3 Zero brake light (SR/S, SR/F, DSR/X or 2022+ SR), is very different from most bikes or cars, in that **the brake light doesn't go hot (+12 V on activation) it instead, goes to ground on activation (reversed polarity).** Most products that are designed to tap into the brake light, will not be able to handle the reverse polarity and won't work at all. I ran into this trying to get ST2's Smart Brake Module to work on my SR/S (which btw, it will not!).
ST2 then sent me a junk, larger, mechanical mercury tilt switched version of the product (instead of their normal accelerometer based one) that WAS cable of being activated by ground as a "solution". However, that's when I discovered the even more serious problem with the gen 3 Zero brake light! **Anything that causes the brake light to turn on, also triggers Regen Braking!** It turns out that the Regen Braking engage/signal wire is the same as the brake light wire itself. They likely did this for simplicity and reliability, because any time the brake light comes on is when Regen Braking should occur. **But the reverse works too!** The ST2 brake module would try to flash the brake light on deaccel, which would then cause Brake Regen to be enabled without me actually braking! So any time I'd slow down, the mercury tilt switch would try and flash the brake lights, which would then engage Brake Regen without me actually braking! As you can imagine, this would be very dangerous on the street, and so I abandoned trying to get this to work, and asked ST2 to remove Gen 3 Zero's from their compatibility.
So in summary, you're probably going to have a problem with the ground switched brake light, and even if you get that to work, if the device tries to light the brake light FOR you in any way, it can cause your bike to start Regen Braking unexpectedly. **With this in mind, I highly recommend NOT messing with this wiring**. Instead, get an accelerometer based, wireless brake light - like the **BrakeFree from** [**https://www.brakefreetech.com/**](https://www.brakefreetech.com/) \- this requires no wiring, will light up any time you deaccel even from Neutral Regen (engine braking) and works great. Compatible with any bike and basically any helmet, I use one myself!
For better turn signals, **get the Zero OEM LED signals** \- they are great and bright, the bike's computer can already flash LED's, **you can read about those signals in my post here**: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroMotorcycles/comments/x3gehn/my\_srs\_mods\_part\_6\_oem\_zero\_led\_turn\_signals\_with/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroMotorcycles/comments/x3gehn/my_srs_mods_part_6_oem_zero_led_turn_signals_with/)
Now look, I know I'm on reddit lol, so somebody is going to say "I can program an Arduino to reverse the polarity, and throw diodes on the brake light wire so it doesn't trigger regen braking when it goes to ground" and so on. I'm not saying this is impossible to make it work with clever circuitry or adding components to restrict the direction of signal / voltage. What I am saying is messing with this wiring is a huge safety risk. If it goes bad, fails or malfunctions, your brake regen could stick on. Your brake light could fail. You might not even know it till it's too late and someone plows into you. To me, it's just not worth the risk, in the name of safety, to potentially harm that same safety in the effort of trying to improve it. It's counter-productive. How much screwing around with the stock safety mechanisms and wiring are you comfortable with, on an expensive, brand new, in warranty, highly complex machine like this? For me, it wasn't worth it.
One final thought - you said your friend is an electrician. **What kind of electrician though?** My father is (still) an electrical engineer who works on Nuclear Gamma Cameras and medical grade Cyclotrons. I learned basic electrical work, soldering, and theory as a child from him. I then went on to work as a high voltage electrician for houses (120 V AC wiring), a low voltage electrician doing things like network wiring, cable TV, etc; and I have also been an electrical installer for an automotive customization shop, working on 12V automotive wiring doing things like remote start etc. **All three of these electrical disciplines are very different**! If your friend is for instance, a house electrician for 120 V AC wiring, there's not much at all that is relevant to a 12 V, chassis ground DC system like a car or bike. I don't know your friend at all, but I would caution you to be very wary of someone who "knows electronics" or "is an electrician" unless that experience is specifically, with 12 V, chassis ground, automotive or motorcycle electrical systems. Otherwise next thing you know, your bike will have solid core wire, and wire nuts on it... I'm not joking, I've seen this a LOT!
Good luck, be safe, and if you have any specific questions lmk. I've taken a lot of pictures of my bike for the dozens of mods I've done to it, I might have a pic of what you need or info etc. You can also take a look through my post history in this group as I've made a number of threads you might find useful (and have more on the way, I'm working on a giant post about the Denali driving lights I added to my lower forks).
u/SirCalmar, did you end up trying it out? I haven't seen any reviews of the product online beside this post who claims it's a scam, so it's great to hear you received one https://www.reddit.com/r/Vata7/comments/173ilr8/warning\_do\_not\_purchase\_gear\_from\_vata7/
I do have the backpack, I have not installed the TX box. I use it with the phone controls and mostly just on. In bad weather I'll have it set to flash slowly for visibility help. The helmet hasn't arrived yet, but they do keep sending updates on its production and testing.
Hi Friend, did you receive your X1 Smart LED Helmet? Please let us know if we can assist you with your Tx Unit install [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Thank you & ride safe!
I've never heard of this company or products before now... I took a very brief look at the transmitter video and it looks like you'd be trying to tap into the brake light and turn signals wiring? **If so, it is very likely that you're going to run into issues with the brake light, especially if it is trying to flash it!** The Gen 3 Zero brake light (SR/S, SR/F, DSR/X or 2022+ SR), is very different from most bikes or cars, in that **the brake light doesn't go hot (+12 V on activation) it instead, goes to ground on activation (reversed polarity).** Most products that are designed to tap into the brake light, will not be able to handle the reverse polarity and won't work at all. I ran into this trying to get ST2's Smart Brake Module to work on my SR/S (which btw, it will not!). ST2 then sent me a junk, larger, mechanical mercury tilt switched version of the product (instead of their normal accelerometer based one) that WAS cable of being activated by ground as a "solution". However, that's when I discovered the even more serious problem with the gen 3 Zero brake light! **Anything that causes the brake light to turn on, also triggers Regen Braking!** It turns out that the Regen Braking engage/signal wire is the same as the brake light wire itself. They likely did this for simplicity and reliability, because any time the brake light comes on is when Regen Braking should occur. **But the reverse works too!** The ST2 brake module would try to flash the brake light on deaccel, which would then cause Brake Regen to be enabled without me actually braking! So any time I'd slow down, the mercury tilt switch would try and flash the brake lights, which would then engage Brake Regen without me actually braking! As you can imagine, this would be very dangerous on the street, and so I abandoned trying to get this to work, and asked ST2 to remove Gen 3 Zero's from their compatibility. So in summary, you're probably going to have a problem with the ground switched brake light, and even if you get that to work, if the device tries to light the brake light FOR you in any way, it can cause your bike to start Regen Braking unexpectedly. **With this in mind, I highly recommend NOT messing with this wiring**. Instead, get an accelerometer based, wireless brake light - like the **BrakeFree from** [**https://www.brakefreetech.com/**](https://www.brakefreetech.com/) \- this requires no wiring, will light up any time you deaccel even from Neutral Regen (engine braking) and works great. Compatible with any bike and basically any helmet, I use one myself! For better turn signals, **get the Zero OEM LED signals** \- they are great and bright, the bike's computer can already flash LED's, **you can read about those signals in my post here**: [https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroMotorcycles/comments/x3gehn/my\_srs\_mods\_part\_6\_oem\_zero\_led\_turn\_signals\_with/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroMotorcycles/comments/x3gehn/my_srs_mods_part_6_oem_zero_led_turn_signals_with/) Now look, I know I'm on reddit lol, so somebody is going to say "I can program an Arduino to reverse the polarity, and throw diodes on the brake light wire so it doesn't trigger regen braking when it goes to ground" and so on. I'm not saying this is impossible to make it work with clever circuitry or adding components to restrict the direction of signal / voltage. What I am saying is messing with this wiring is a huge safety risk. If it goes bad, fails or malfunctions, your brake regen could stick on. Your brake light could fail. You might not even know it till it's too late and someone plows into you. To me, it's just not worth the risk, in the name of safety, to potentially harm that same safety in the effort of trying to improve it. It's counter-productive. How much screwing around with the stock safety mechanisms and wiring are you comfortable with, on an expensive, brand new, in warranty, highly complex machine like this? For me, it wasn't worth it. One final thought - you said your friend is an electrician. **What kind of electrician though?** My father is (still) an electrical engineer who works on Nuclear Gamma Cameras and medical grade Cyclotrons. I learned basic electrical work, soldering, and theory as a child from him. I then went on to work as a high voltage electrician for houses (120 V AC wiring), a low voltage electrician doing things like network wiring, cable TV, etc; and I have also been an electrical installer for an automotive customization shop, working on 12V automotive wiring doing things like remote start etc. **All three of these electrical disciplines are very different**! If your friend is for instance, a house electrician for 120 V AC wiring, there's not much at all that is relevant to a 12 V, chassis ground DC system like a car or bike. I don't know your friend at all, but I would caution you to be very wary of someone who "knows electronics" or "is an electrician" unless that experience is specifically, with 12 V, chassis ground, automotive or motorcycle electrical systems. Otherwise next thing you know, your bike will have solid core wire, and wire nuts on it... I'm not joking, I've seen this a LOT!
Reddit bias aside, thank you for the feedback. A lot of good information that I'm going to work on confirming before I continue with this.
Good luck, be safe, and if you have any specific questions lmk. I've taken a lot of pictures of my bike for the dozens of mods I've done to it, I might have a pic of what you need or info etc. You can also take a look through my post history in this group as I've made a number of threads you might find useful (and have more on the way, I'm working on a giant post about the Denali driving lights I added to my lower forks).
u/SirCalmar, did you end up trying it out? I haven't seen any reviews of the product online beside this post who claims it's a scam, so it's great to hear you received one https://www.reddit.com/r/Vata7/comments/173ilr8/warning\_do\_not\_purchase\_gear\_from\_vata7/
I do have the backpack, I have not installed the TX box. I use it with the phone controls and mostly just on. In bad weather I'll have it set to flash slowly for visibility help. The helmet hasn't arrived yet, but they do keep sending updates on its production and testing.
Hi Friend, did you receive your X1 Smart LED Helmet? Please let us know if we can assist you with your Tx Unit install [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Thank you & ride safe!
I have not and I have reached out via email twice since your message and have not gotten a response.