LED "bulb" in Lucas-style Tail Light

[Huladog_imp]

Several of us have installed a Lucas-style tail light which does a lot to "tighten up" the rear fender's appearance but the single conventional tail light bulb let a lot to be desired since the aftermarket tail lights don't come with a parabolic reflector and a lens that's designed to diffuse the meager light output of the single filament.

The conventional bulb does work, just that I felt I needed more light output so idiot drivers would have a better chance of seeing me and I didn't feel light wiring up additional lights.

A friend who has resurrected his old Suzuki GS-something from back in the day recommended getting LED's from [url=http://superbrightleds.com]superbrightleds.com so I dug around their site and [url=http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb-dual-intensity-25-led-motorcycle-bulb/170/767/]found these:



What's interesting is that they have the array of LED's firing straight back but they also have a ring of white LED's behind those red LED's to give you illumination for your license plate.

I had to do more research on their site to figure out why they say to get a RED LED for a RED tail light when you would think the white LED would give you a brighter tail light, but nope something to do with how a white LED puts out less red light and the rest of the light output from the white LED gets filtered out by the red tail light housing.

Interesting. I also remembered some science about how red/blue/green combined (or some such combination of colored lights) when added together would give you a "white" light. Light coloring differs from how we go about mixing paint which is what throws me off.

Anyway, 'nuff rambling. Much happier with the light output now that I have multiple points of light instead of the single filament of the stock bulb.



OK so $12.99 per bulb (plus about $2.99 for quick mailing) isn't cheap but it's a lot less than some of their other 1157 bulbs that cost $24 or so! Beats getting something like Hyperlites and going through more hassles with wiring again.

Aloha,
Huladog

[dailyrider_imp]

They have come down in price. They used to be about double that. Good post, I'll be making this change. I am already on my second tail light bulb. The first one burned out when they started my bike for the first time at the dealer.

[_imp]

LED lighting can be more efficient, durable, versatile and long lasting. An electrical current passed through a semiconductor material illuminates the tiny light sources we call LEDs. LEDs are now being incorporated into bulbs and fixtures for general lighting applications. LEDs are small and provide unique design opportunities




[url=http://reflector-design.com/index.php/parabolasynthesis]parabolic light reflector

[Papa Weeley_imp]

^ Spam? Really?
Is it safe to assume that the factory tail light takes the same bulb (#1157)? This sounds like a great upgrade. I've done this on a few vintage Mustangs, and really liked the effect.

[the Ferret]

^ Spam? Really?
Is it safe to assume that the factory tail light takes the same bulb (#1157)? This sounds like a great upgrade. I've done this on a few vintage Mustangs, and really liked the effect.

LOL I have no idea if that's spam or not? I don't understand one word of it. Maybe Guth can take a look at it and tell. Doesn't look like it's trying to sell anything to me. Just info?

[Papa Weeley_imp]

We used to get these "bot" messages that looked just like this in a car forum I belonged to for several years. They're not always selling something; it's almost like they're generated by a Google search for the subject matter of a thread. Really weird.

If not, uh, welcome reflintorm!?

[Huladog_imp]

Since this old topic came back to life on its own, as an update I also added a couple of cheap LED running/brake lights to each side of the tail light LED "bulb" just because I thought the single "bulb" didn't seem bright enough.

Trimmed down the clear plastic case of the add-on LED's, stuck them to the reflector surface inside the tail light housing.

Got them off eBay [url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Red-boat-motorcycle-truck-trailer-RV-light-99R-Dual-/221296447016?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item33864bce28&vxp=mtr]here.

Had previously wired up a bunch of them on an old black plastic license plate frame to create a big add-on brakelight on my old Suzuki Bandit.

Aloha,
Huladog

[jsinher3_imp]

i installed LEDS in my headlight, turn signals and brakes lol

[Elipten_imp]

I would like more info jsinher3 on your install. Please share.


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