Page 1 of 1
Are these a good idea?
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:35 pm
by Zombie Master
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:21 pm
by Unclviny
I did the LED-THING (turn signals) on my /5 and undid it pretty quick, they are no brighter and they did not draw enough to "trip" the flasher relay so I had to change that too and the indicator would not work with them.
I did install a "dancing" brake-light-LED and that is GREAT! (it flashes 4 times and then stays on every time I hit the brakes).
Vince
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:12 am
by Deleted User 287
It still utilizes the OEM bulb socket, which is a weak point on a lot of airheads.
I like my Beacon 2 from Rick at Motorrad Elektrik much better. I was constantly removing my taillight lens to reset the bulb in it's socket. Now there is no more socket.
Turn signals Vince? This is a brake light - no flasher relays involved. Anyone that tries to upgrade to LED turnsignals is just someone looking for something NOT broken to fix.
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:50 am
by Unclviny
I got my LED brakelight from roadrocketeer, they have a reputation for great products and miserable service, luckily for me things went well. It has a dipswitch on the board and it has 8 flash-patterns, it took a little work with the schematic to make it work as the directions say "simply swap the 3 wires over" (sounds easy right?) but there are like 9 wires!
Vince
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:22 am
by vanzen
LED tech is quickly becoming the industry standard
and has been readily embraced by auto and MC manufacturers alike, BMW included.
This, even as those philistines will staunchly maintain their doubts and misconceptions,
emphatically, if not irrationally, struggling to cling onto the past ...
Retro-fit gizmos and do-dads, however, should be approached with extreme caution ...
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:34 am
by vanzen
justoneoftheguys wrote:...It still utilizes the OEM bulb socket, which is a weak point on a lot of airheads...
The integrity of "sockets" (connections, and grounds)
will be the nemesis of any 20+ year old machine that will depend upon electric lighting !
Clean and tight – a bulb-socket works just fine.
Once neglected for a decade or three or so ... then blame will be too easily displaced,
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:41 am
by dougie
Like Rob, I have the Beacon 2.
Very effective and reliable, but more money.
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:25 am
by jagarra
You're correct in that the sockets and connectors will be your nemesis. I worked in the electronic and computer repair business for over 40 years. In determining what would fail we used to used a process called failure trending analyisis, which predicted what would fail as a % of faults. The items that were always the highest were connectors and sockets.
As these bikes age, the probability of failures in these areas will increase.
Re: Are these a good idea?
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:32 am
by Seth
I love my toxic old Cyberlite!
Not legal, but when did that stop us.
It flashes in proportion to how hard you're braking (assuming level ground).