LED lights

[Barbarian]

Hey there,

I was riding out to the in-laws a couple weeks ago, with the missus and the kid following in the car (I had to go to work later, so two vehicles made sense).

She commented that the indicators on my bike were not terribly bright. In fact, she said she had an easier time spotting the reflective stripe on my jacket than she did the indicators.

So I've been hunting around, trying to figure out what would be a brighter tail light and indicator.

Right now everything is currently stock, which means the indicators are 1156s and my tail light is a 21/5 1157, right? (It's a 2006 650 Bandit S...)

Does anyone have suggestions/recommendations for brighter lights?

[orionburn]

Custom Dynamics carries some hi-intensity LED clusters, and biggins too - up to 1.85" diameter. Not sure you could cram those in or not, but they have different sizes. They make various ones that you can wire yourself, or have the "socket" that regular 1157 bulbs use.

They also carry some other types that either flash/pulse or do some little light dance to make you more noticeable. Downside - they ain't cheap. Most start at $20 PER light.

I can vouch for one thing, the little 1157 LEDs you can get at an auto parts store will suck big time, so don't waste your money on those. I'm going to invest in the CD LEDs for my FZR and see how well they work. If I like them I'll spring for set on the Bandit.

Here's the link to the place to buy them: Custom Dynamics

And a nice write up in WebBikeWorld showing the difference between the CD LEDs and regular 1157s: http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/led/led.htm

[Vlad]

I just ordered a pair of these:

http://superbrightleds.com/specs/115x-xLX3.htm


Currently have these and I'm NOT satisfied:

http://superbrightleds.com/specs/1157-x24.htm

The light output is barely adequate. The difference in intensity between brake and no-brake states is not pronounced enough.

IMO, those "LED clusters" that consist of standard plastic bright 5mm LEDs are a waste of money. Get Luxeon.

If you want/need to use your parking light a lot, get a LED replacement for it too (brightness not so important). Even if you don't it can save you from draining the battery in case you turn that flimsy bandit key too far by accident.

[Red01]

If you want/need to use your parking light a lot, get a LED replacement for it too (brightness not so important).

Are you talking about the little bulb between the 2G's headlights?
The one that US bikes don't have.

[Vlad]

Are you talking about the little bulb between the 2G's headlights?
The one that US bikes don't have. :wink:

I meant the license plate light, but the one you are thinking of is a good addition too. In Europe they are called "position lights". In North America they are replaced with running lights, but I still thing they should have kept them as parking markers.

Everything that will make me more visible and audible, even when parked, is a mod worth working on.

[Red01]

The only reason my B12 has running lights is because I modified them. My bike's wiring harness had the wiring and voltage available for running lights, just didn't have front signals with dual filaments and their required provisions.

Do the CDN Bandits have running lights?

[mademiriam]

Do the CDN Bandits have running lights?

mine doesn't

[stormi]

By Canadian Law, we have to have headlight on anytime the bike is running.  This has been law for all vehicles here, since,.. '91?

A real pita if you have a weak battery and an old system, like on the b4.  As soon as you turn the key that damn light is on and draining the battery as you're cranking.  

With the 919, the bike cuts power to the headlight while cranking, then restores it once started.

The parking light ( the taillight stay lit while parked and the key is out of the ignition) is an option on some bikes and not on others.  The b4 has it, the old '88 Hurricane my dad rides has it, the 919 doesn't, but I'm sure I've also seen it on some current bikes too.  

It's designed to increase visibility when parked, but I've also noticed it causes confusion with a lot of people.  I once used it by accident, and came back to a lady going over Dita looking all over, running her hands on the poor girl and such.  I walked up and asked her if I could help her (a little abrasively), and she said, "Oh! Your tail light was on, and I thought you might drain your battery, so I was looking for a way to turn it off..."

[Vlad]

As soon as you turn the key that damn light is on and draining the battery as you're cranking.  

With the 919, the bike cuts power to the headlight while cranking, then restores it once started.

I was very unpleasantly surprised when I saw my Bandit doesn't keep the headlights off until the engine is running. My 1992 Kawi Zephyr was more sofisticated in that respect, just like your 919.

That's what happens when well meaning but poorly thought-trough laws are put in place. First you loose the off position on the light switch, then you end up adding relays and other complicated doodads to make that simple task possible - or not. BTW, you can add a relay to take care of keeping lights off when the bike is not running, but my Bandit has too many relays already.

Oh, don't even get me started on the pass switch...
 

The parking light...
... "Oh! Your tail light was on, and I thought you might drain your battery, so I was looking for a way to turn it off..."

:) It's easy to turn it off on a Bandit and most other Suzukis. Any key that can fit in the ignition lock slot will do, even a screwdriver. I turned my neighbor's parking light off once with my own key and saved him from draining the battery (it was in the underground garage and he does not have LEDs). I guess someone at Suzuki was clever enough to make that last turn of the key "unlockable".

[Red01]

I was very unpleasantly surprised when I saw my Bandit doesn't keep the headlights off until the engine is running. My 1992 Kawi Zephyr was more sofisticated in that respect, just like your 919.

That's what happens when well meaning but poorly thought-trough laws are put in place. First you loose the off position on the light switch, then you end up adding relays and other complicated doodads to make that simple task possible - or not. BTW, you can add a relay to take care of keeping lights off when the bike is not running, but my Bandit has too many relays already.

As your Kawi proved, it's not the law that was so poor, but how the manufacturers choose to conform. The law just says motorcycles built after the date set must have the headlight on when the engine is running. Your Zephyr did it with relays/circuits one the engine was running, Suzuki chose to just have it come on with the ignition switch, others come on with the key, but kill the light while the starter is engaged.

[solman]

I tried led's and didn't have any luck with them.  I may try a diffreent brand or something.

[Vlad]

I tried led's and didn't have any luck with them.  I may try a diffreent brand or something.

What was the problem? Post it here and someone might be able to help, maybe even me  :wink:

[Barbarian]

I think we've got some different lighting arrangements between the various bikes.

Mine has ONE tail light (5w/21w) which operates as running light, license plate light, brake light, and parking light.

Up front I've got a high beam bulb, low beam bulb, and two more running lights in the fixture that seem to be a tad dimmer.
vlad did you get your Luxeons yet, or are they on the way?

orionburn when do you expect to have 'em installed?

[Vlad]

vlad did you get your Luxeons yet, or are they on the way?

They are on their way. I plan to do a comparison with pictures once I have them installed.

[Vlad]

I got them and installed them. Way better than the cluster ones I had before, and also better than another big cluster setup on a friends bike.

The comparison pictures are here (all the shots were taken with fixed (same) exposure and from the same position:

http://picasaweb.google.com/vladpic/LEDBrakeLight