are the led bulbs brighter than the regular bulbs ? i want brighter bulbs for the taillight /stop light bulbs without a bigger draw on the system .since i got hit from behind back in September i figure brighter bulbs may help .the only LED taillight bulbs i used were on the 2000 Victory i had [the regular bulbs on that bike blew out daily ] . thanks
LED bulbs are often brighter but it depends on the bulb. LED's draw a lot less power. If you uses LED bulbs for your turn signals you will either need to add a ballist resistor or go with an electronic flasher as LED bulbs due not draw enough current for most mechanical flashers to work correctly.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
I had LED in the flasher of my Jawa before I got the police's electric system and on each side I could place maximum 1 LED bulb with out raising the flash frequency too hight. In white it worked well, but the yellow plexiglass took of some of the brightness. (the LED light seems not to be white (wide range of wave length) but only certain wave lentgh that get absorbed by the plexiglass lens. It helped me for to have better battery in the dark but I don't think that it was more visible then the standard bulbs., And the redplexiglass stayed darkwith the white LED bulb, so I had to go back to standard bulbs in the break and backward position light.
Sven
I don't know much about them except that all LED's are not created equal! Some are nothing more than profit minded junk pumped out from China, per usual. Others are properly engineered and mfd'd, other are far superior engineering and mfg.
Just the other night a buddy told me about new technology there. Previously all LED's were 'line of sight only' in that the light was only broadcast in a straight line out from the center, no broad light as with incandescent. Recently some new technology LED's are avaialble that are far brighter and cast a beam more like incandescents, that they can be seen from most any angle.
I've seen these on some semi-trucks and fire trucks, ambulances and other emergency vehicles. They're much, much brighter than standard light bulbs or any other LED's I've ever seen, can't miss them! May take some research but they're the only ones I plan to use. I'm sure there's info online somewhere, I just haven't searched it out yet.
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I get mine from www.SuperBrightLEDs.com and have been happy with most all products I've gotten from them. I've gotten tail lights, turn signals, light bars, strip lights, dash lights and a number of direct auto replacement bulbs. Yes, you will likely need to replace any mechanical (bi-metal) flasher units with an electronic flasher (probably 3+ prong) to drive the much lower draw of LED turn signals. Buy bulbs that color-match any lenses they need to shine through.
The only item I got from SB LEDs that I wasn't real happy with was an 1157 replacement bulb where the lights were directed perpendicular to the base. Probably my fault, but when I inserted the bulb in my turn signal stem (on a Honda CB550) to direct the lights through the forward facing lens, I twisted off some internal wires.
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I replaced all my signal lights, including brake lights, on our Road King rig with Harley LED lights.
They were pricey, but were plug and play, and are much brighter than stock bulbs.
There are some after market plug and play, that I found after I already installed mine.
Jay
A very good brake/tail light is available at the local Harley shop. It is called a "Bright Ass Light" and it lives up to its name. Harley also sells LED headlights and passing lamps now for an Ultra Classic but they are very proud of them. THey also have them for a Road Glide now and I am saving my pennies for a set. I also use a light strip I attached to my tour pack. It incorporates both brake and turn signals. The stock lights on the car seem to be pretty good so I did not mess with them. I am going to install front running lights and turn signal on the car but wanted to put a driving light on it too. My light guy said that might be illegal. Right now it is the front I am concerned with.
I don't really know, but read on a LED site, that we need to use the same color LED as the lens. Red bulb behind a red lens, amber bulb behind a amber lens, hope this helps.
Here is what SuperBrightLEDs.com sayz about color-matching bulbs to lenses...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb_notes.php
Desclosure: I'm not financially associated with SuperBright other than being a satisfied customer.
i will check that out .i just want the brake light super bright. i still plan on putting a light strip on the sidecar .the light strip i found
I would like and may try to install a 3rd brake light. A super bright LED display that flashes about 3 times a second, and have it switchable for when I want it on: like in city trafffic etc.
My 02 Ultra has six stop lights and 7 running lights. You can never have to many lights on the rear. I lost two good friends do to being hit in the rear at night. One was just a couple weeks ago.
I bought two sets of LED bulbs off eBay and they are JUNK!
46u - 12/6/2012 4:39 PM
My 02 Ultra has six stop lights and 7 running lights. You can never have to many lights on the rear. I lost two good friends do to being hit in the rear at night. One was just a couple weeks ago.
I bought two sets of LED bulbs off eBay and they are JUNK!
Sorry for your loss, buddy, praying for y'all and the families.
Yes, that's my thinking behind the flashing stop light, because the current laws won't let me launch heat seeking signal flares to get cell phone yaker's attention!
Jeff ,very sorry for the loss of your friends. i am very careful riding and extra careful now that i have had both hips replaced . so extra bright lights and a air horn are on my list of things i want.
horrorguy - 12/7/2012 8:33 PM
Jeff ,very sorry for the loss of your friends. i am very careful riding and extra careful now that i have had both hips replaced . so extra bright lights and a air horn are on my list of things i want.
The guy that hit him did not even see the red light he was sitting at and hit him at 55MPH and he flow 300 feet.
I had an Howard air horn and spent more time working on it then I did keeping the bike up. I now have Harley s dual horn set up that works well.
I took a look at the website that was posted here you need to read it as not all LED set ups are not brighter then stock but a good website but for good ones too costly for my situation. I think 6 brake and 7 running lights on the rear work well and I am going to make the right turn signal on the bike that now is on the sidecar a running light as well.
