Integrated/LED Taillight 82 1100 EZ

[Kcwiro]

I have designed some LED boards that can be put into various models of GS bikes, but, due to sporadic income on my main job, have not committed to actually having them produced on mere speculation. If there is sufficient interest, I might just go ahead and get them made. I have designed boards for the L models with the brake light on the chrome fender, a second model for most of the G models and a third model for the 750/1100E models that have the light that tapers down do a point at the back. Will probably cost in the neighborhood of $50-55 (plus shipping). If anyone is interested, let me know, so I can gauge how much interest there is.

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I would be interested if the board would make a bright output like the bulb. My taillight lens has creacked on the back of my bike on my spare so As I am in that area of repairs anyway. I would be interested .... would you be doing integrated turn signals into it or would I still be using rear stems? ... I just bougt a new set 4 turn signals of those off ebay for $60 to go back to bulbs as my turn signals with LEDs were way too dim during the daylight.... they may be stock knock offs but dam if I can tell they look good

[kingofvenus]

That's what I'm looking for. How'd you go about it? And where'd you get the lenses? That's a pretty slick looking machine.

They came from Lockhart-Phillps, they're called Batwings. Had to drill 1/4 inch holes in the stock tailight lens. They are leds but are not the brightest.... Seem to be good enough for the LEO's that have pulled up behind me.

[dpep]

After getting rear ended this summer reducing visibility is not on my agenda. In fact I'm thinking about a lighted neon leather jacket, rotating helmet mounted strobe light, and a siren for the future.

Amen. I just recently went the other way, removed little bullet signals from my 1100E and put stock stalk signals back on. I like the look better and I like the greater amount of separation from the centerline of the bike. My turning intentions will be clearer sooner (distance wise) to other motorists.

I also wear a hi-viz jacket and put reflective tape on my helmets. And one of my motorcycles is all yellow. All I can do is play the odds.

[Turtleface]

They came from Lockhart-Phillps, they're called Batwings. Had to drill 1/4 inch holes in the stock tailight lens. They are leds but are not the brightest.... Seem to be good enough for the LEO's that have pulled up behind me.

Have a link to a source for those? Can't find them after scouring the intra-web-tubes for them.

[GSXXZRX]

[QUOTE=midnightcafe;1122334]LEDs are a hassle. need to wire in resistors, expensive if you don't have the know how.

Not necessarily. All you need is one of these.

[GSXXZRX]

For those who think led's aren't bright enough, you may want to look into some new technology. This is a Superflux led.
I wired 6 of these to a bread board.
When lit you can't look directly at them. Their very bright.

Here is a Superflux bulb. $13 bucks a pair.

[Steve]

Yes, the superflux LEDs are intensely bright, but those tower bulbs don't work worth a hoot in a fixture designed for an incandescent bulb. The reflector is designed to reflect the light from a filament in a certain location. Even with all those LEDs on the side, there is likely not one of them in the same location as the original filament. What does that mean? It means that all those LEDs will be spreading their intense light sideways, not to the rear. I got one for my wife's 850L, installed it, took a look at it, put the original bulb back in.

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[Turtleface]

Yes, the superflux LEDs are intensely bright, but those tower bulbs don't work worth a hoot in a fixture designed for an incandescent bulb. The reflector is designed to reflect the light from a filament in a certain location. Even with all those LEDs on the side, there is likely not one of them in the same location as the original filament. What does that mean? It means that all those LEDs will be spreading their intense light sideways, not to the rear. I got one for my wife's 850L, installed it, took a look at it, put the original bulb back in.

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I want to state clearly, that I have no intention of using one of those terrible tower bulbs. I've seen those in person, and am not impressed by how the light is scattered.

I do like the LEDs themselves, as they are quite bright. The idea was to take bright LEDS like those, and position them properly behind the stock lens so that they are shining backwards towards traffic behind me. I was going to pick up some PCB and build them myself from scratch, in order to better facilitate mounting and light aiming. Projects going to be on hold for a month or two, since I've just discovered that I need a new drive chain as soon as possible, and that's going to suck up my bike budget for a few.

I'll document the whole process from start to finish, and if it turns out pretty well, it should be fairly easy to fab, provided one knows how to wield the all might soldering iron.

[kingofvenus]

Have a link to a source for those? Can't find them after scouring the intra-web-tubes for them.

If my memory serves me, i think i got them from Dennis Kirk. The only time i've been rear ended was by a friend of mine who i was riding with....

[tejasmud]

What is the gain from using LEDs?

None of the LEDs I have ever tried were bright enough in daylight, bright as all get out in the dark, but just don't like them due to the lack of daytime visability. None of the ones I had tried were DOT approved. Maybe that was the problem.

What is the catch though?

Less power consumption? On a GS?

For what, accessories? Heated grips or chaps, butt warmer, cell phone/ blackberrie charger, Ipod....

Ohhh...

X-mas lights.....

[Turtleface]

What is the gain from using LEDs?

X-mas lights.....

Well, duh. You know those cars you see all decked out in lights and wreaths and what have you? I'm going for the motorcycle version of that.

In all seriousness though, LED technology is coming along VERY quickly right now. Most of the stuff used in LED lights for the automotive aftermarket isn't the best. Manufacturers will use the cheapest stuff they can get away with, and obviously quality will suffer. Newer stuff looks at least as bright as my stockers, provided you can aim it properly. Here's a link to video of the product that Loudest linked to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5i_dDU8O2w&feature=player_embedded

Seems the camera is set up to show off the LEDS in the best possible fashion, and I'd be interested in an off-angle shots. So long as they're bright enough, I'll probably pick one up and see what it takes to modify a stock lens to accept the LED unit.

The whole idea behind this burgeoning proof of concept is to increase conspicuity. So, if it turns out to be less eye-grabbing than the stocker during operation, then it's not going to make the final version of my bike.

Which will be awesome, when I'm done.

[Steve]

... I was going to pick up some PCB and build them myself from scratch, ...

As I mentioned in my first response:

I have designed some LED boards that can be put into various models of GS bikes, but, due to sporadic income on my main job, have not committed to actually having them produced on mere speculation. If there is sufficient interest, I might just go ahead and get them made. ...

If I can get enough interest, I will go ahead and produce some, but income after next week is still up in the air. The main start-up cost is getting the boards etched and drilled. Buying the LEDs and soldering them in won't be much of a problem. As with any small production runs, though, most of the cost is in the setup. Consdering the setup fees and the per-board costs, it will only cost twice as much for a batch of ten as it does for a batch of two, which will keep the price down to a reasonable level.

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[Kcwiro]

How much would you want to try and fab up a set? I do have a spare taillight lens cracked sure but for testing it is still mostly intact. ... Soot me a PM if you are still interested in breadboarding something out. I would love to have some of those more modern superflux for my lighting but I would have to see it in person to know if it is bright enough for what I need $15 a piece for the towers ugh..

Anyway hit me up and we can talk