LED Flasher Relay

[Run Away_imp]

Interesting thread.

I just stumbled across it while looking up info for converting my turn signals.

I have a 2018 CB1100RS, Canadian market. It has the older style incandescent orange coloured signals. I bought a set of used OEM Honda turn signals from a Japanese-market CB1100RS, which are LED from factory.

Here's a picture of the two types next to each other.


Notice the JDM signals have an extra 3rd wire on the front signals, possibly for the DRL function? My bike doesn't have any blank plugs hanging out behind the headlight that match. The pulse width modulated running lights in an interesting discovery that explains some of the things I've found.

I searched an online Honda dealership in the UK and looked up the part number for the UK spec turn signal flasher for a 2018 CB1100RS. The part number is 38301-KZZ-J01, and the catalogue description says it's for LED signals. It seems it's used on a few Honda bikes.
Here's a pic grabbed from Google


So my theory is that on CB1100s that come with factory LED turn signals, they do away with the pulse width modulated DRL function, and add that feature back in with a 3rd wire to the front lights. This allows them to use a more conventional flasher relay shared on other bikes, which has fewer wires.