OMG Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Anyone tried the LED brake lights? Are they really brighter? Bozeman guy got slammed from behind hard enough to push his front wheel clear thru the bumper of the car in front of him at a stop light. Broke both legs but he will live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redxxrdr Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 (edited) I put direct bulb replacement LED in my SV. They replaced the 1157 bulbs. Brighter, but very directional. They look great from the rear, but not from off to the side. I purchased a spare taillight housing and some super bright LED and added some thirty more LED to go with the ones in the socket. It is bright, but not the clean install that I hoped for. I also added a brake light module from E:bay. superbright led modulator. The good news, the brake light is much brighter. The bad news, this little module would not drive all the LEDs at once. So I need to get another module, and split the load. There are also modules out there that handle the current for standard bulbs. Plus, My soldering has failed me. I have a intermittant open circuit that leaves me with the LED replacement bulbs only. Hey, did I say I was an engineer? GEisME3 Bill has a replacement LED board in his K1200RS with the modulator. It is annoying as hell to ride behind. And that is what I want. Hit the brakes, the brake lamp pulses a couple seconds, then at a slower rate for a couple seconds, then full on. It really gets attention. The problem is, the Beemer dealer that supplied it is closed, and we can't figure out who made the one he has. On my XX, I put strip LED inside the reflector that is just under the tail light. I have one of the modulators driving it. My kids say that it gets attention. I still have the OEM lamps in the tail lights. brake light pulse.3gp I really think that the modulator is the way to go. My daughter rides the SV, so I am working to make it more visible and safer. Edited May 4, 2016 by redxxrdr add link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Krypt Keeper Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I do, however I learned something afterwards from here. Red len, use red led colored diodes not white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMG Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 (edited) Ordered the light and modulator - Thanks! Red Edited May 4, 2016 by OMG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redxxrdr Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 I may not have been too clear. The modulator that I linked, didn't drive a large LED lamp. I just ordered one call Back Off tonight. It says that it can drive up to 3 light bulbs. It's about $40.00. I'll post up how it works. The $5.00 one will drive smaller amounts of LED's. Post up how yours works. Also Krypt Keeper is right, red LED work better with red lens. I had forgotten that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganDonor Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 My experience with XX, Goldwing, and C14 replacement brakes lights have proven to me that they are all sub par. You are much better off adding supplimental LED brake lights, like the HyperLites I have on my C14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptxyz Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 i have this in my klr and it's way more visible from all angles. http://www.happy-trail.com/klr650-5176.html i'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard to fit into the blackbird housing. didn't pay full price though. paid $40 on a klr forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoWhee Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 (edited) A Whelen tir3 fits nicely under the tail light where the reflector goes. For led tail lights, I have a California flasher up top and an OEM on the bottom. With the extra lights in the bags the bike looks like a Christmas tree. I've been rear ended twice once on my wing once on my first XX so I'm a little paranoid now. I don't mind looking dorky with the lights, I'm used to it. Edited May 4, 2016 by JoWhee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Oddball lighting can hurt more than help, and can also get you a ticket. Those turnsignals are confusing as fuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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