Using LED Tail/Stop light bulbs

[WifeofDink]

Too many people rely on the idiot lights and don't bother to check that the lights are infact working, with pre-licence testing in Aust. it is impressed upon you to not rely on the idiot lights. Make a point of checking all your lights before you ride out of your garage after all don't these lights make a difference to how safe we are on the road.

[redliner1973]

Re: Leds

So what most everyone here is saying is...Since I don't have that warning light I can just pop the LED's in and not have anything to worry about. Besides I check my lights before leaving the garage while she's warming up.

If you have no warning light, such as my GS doesn't, then yes, yank the bulb, put in the LED and enjoy the lighter load and brighter light the LED puts out. I have them both for my main running tail, and 2 Aux tails, and when I hit the brakes, there is NO dimming of the dash and headlights like there used to be when I had regular bulbs. 8w/23w or .005 watts...that extra little saved wattage will help the rest of the already taxed GS charging system. and, like others here, if you do have the warning light, I would yank that too.

[Anonymous]

Re: Resisters.

Why would you even need a resister since the LED's use less power. Won't that just cause more work for the charging system?

What you are saying is partially true but he appears to want to maintain the functionality of the warning light BUT if he used a resistor to keep the light functioning as designed it probably would not work if the LED were to fail any way due to the low resistance of the LED probably would not make enough of a change (with current still going through the resistor) to make the light come on so it is pretty useless any way. That is why I say pull the warning bulb. The LED will outlast the bike any way.

I really appreciate all the different thoughts on my question. Hap, yours makes a lot of sense.

My next project is to pull the bulb from the warning light. It was never an issue of relying on it solely as I always check lights and tire pressure before a ride. I'm a bit weird in that I really don't like making permanent modifications to a bike that can't be undone in the future. I restored too many cars that were hacked up.

Though most people I've talked to don't believe that serious restorations will ever happen with Suzukis, I'll still err on the side of caution.

Thanks again to all.

Dan Bennett
85 GS1150ES

[Hap Call]

Re: Resisters.

I'm a bit weird in that I really don't like making permanent modifications to a bike that can't be undone in the future. I restored too many cars that were hacked up.

Though most people I've talked to don't believe that serious restorations will ever happen with Suzukis, I'll still err on the side of caution.

Thanks again to all.

Dan Bennett
85 GS1150ES

Dan,

I agree 100% about the hack jobs. Just remember that no one thought that VW Beetles would become restoration projects, but now that is a big business. I am betting that sooner or later any vehicle can become a viable restoration project.

Hap