I just got some sample gel material and am currently testing it. They look really cool! Check out this pic:



The gel filter above is like a mirror when the VFD is off (as you can see). When you turn on the empeg, you can read the display perfectly. It reminds me of those newer Sony and JVC model home audio electronics. Like this one. I also have a green lens with the same reflective material. It looks great! I have not driven around with these, so I am not sure how practical they are. But, they do look very eye-popping. See some more pictures I took of these lenses here:

http://spmicro.com/gallery/empeg_motorcycle_lens

Steve (DarkStorm) will be gauging demand, so please contact him if you are interested in these gel filters. There is no pricing info at this time. Again, please contact Steve directly about these.

These look so cool, I think I may be using them as my everyday color. Even if I don't, I will have them with me in Cincinnati if anyone would like to see it in person.

Those are seriously cool.

I would like to see them. I use the smoke lens now everyday.

I would DEFINATELY be interested in these lenses.

as would I...

Thanks for sharing Rob

I could go for a green made out of that stuff.

If it is the same stuff they use in motorcycle visors, there should be some interesting options. My current daytime riding visor is reflective like that, but appears as a rainbow of colors to others instead of one solid color. That on an empeg would be interesting.

Let us know how that works in daytime driving conditions. That looks so cool!

Doesn't light reflection during the day make it difficult to read?


Thanks,
Aragon

I just drove around a half hour with the green lens on. It is definitely harder to read then the normal lenses. But, I think this new look is more about vanity then functionality. With the sun shining on it, the display was still readable... barely. The coolness factor makes up for the readability IMHO.

These gel filters also make the magic marker mod unnecessary because you cannot see through them. I will drive around with the clear one tomorrow.

Since they are gel filters, what lenses are you using them on? Smoke, Clear?

The only Darkstorm lens I have is clear. That is what I'm using the gels with with.

Just an update: I'm really digging these lenses. They look really great!

Now if only there was an aluminum fascia to go with them.

Aluminium is on the way!! Watch this space.

Rob is the clear lens any better than the green, have you tried it out yet?

Better in what way?

I used the clear one first yesterday. The car was parked and the sun was shining directly on the display. It was tough to read. I will drive around with it tomorrow and compare the readability between green and clear.

Going totally on style, I would say I liked the look of the clear better. We'll see how practical it is tomorrow.

Also keep in mind that I only have samples of clear and green. I am trying to find out if there are any other colors available.

I will also try to take better pictures. The current ones really don't do justice to these gels.

Ah, sorry I've misread the thread. I thought you had tried the gel on a clear lens and a green lens. Sorry!

OK, just to clear it up for anyone else.

This material is a new gel. It is very much like the gel on the existing Darkstorm lenses. This new reflective gel will like be mounted on the back of a clear Darkstorm lens and should be available through Darkstorm. Smoke may work well also, but I do not currently have a smoke lens.

PLEASE! tell us how it looks in the daytime, I'm sure it's tough to read, but to what extent?

The OE "red" lense was rough, but usually legible. My DarkStorm deep red lens is just that - it looks beautiful with my red dash lights at night, but is pretty much impossible to read during the daytime.

I'm looking for something that will match some portion of the inside of the car, whether it be deep red, smoke, chrome, or something else. I'm leaning towards trying a smoke lense, it wouls look good aesthetically with the rest of the car during the day, even though at night it won't match anything. I'd try this one out if seeing through it isn't too bad, the bling might be worth the price of it not matching the gauges at night.

Well, rambling there. In comparison to any other lens you have ever tried, how hard is it to read the display?

I am still using the green at the moment. I will put on the clear tonight. The green is very readable. I have been using it without any problems for about a week now.

These lenses should be available through darkstorm in a few weeks (hopefully).

Great, now we'll have the proper empeg lens for when we rollin' on 20-inch dubs.

OK, update on the silvery filter...

I have been using it for a few days now and it is completely acceptable for everyday use. Well... with a few exceptions.

1. The first day when I took the initial pictures the sun was shining directly on the screen. It got quite unreadable. Since then, this has not happened again.
2. I drive a manual transmission car. As such, my arm is often reflects off the empeg's screen. My arm is white... as in I-don't-go-outside-and-get-tan white. When my arm is visible in the screen, that section is more difficult to read.
3. I have black leather seats. I can always see their reflection in on the screen. I would imagine a lighter color interior might produce the same effect as my arm being in front of the screen.

That said, the color of the VFD comes through the same as if you were using the clear lens alone. And, I think I like the colored filter better (green is the only color I have at the moment). That is just personal opinion. As for flashy looks alone, the silvery filter is probably cooler.