LED Tail Lights

basementmt · May 11th, 2015, 02:05 AM

Hi all, did anyone have/tried this on? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201179502856

What is your opinion about it? I'm thinking of getting one in smoke but not sure whether with the amount of LEDs I will be more visible or not.

I'm looking for a better looking tail light but of course, visibility is important.

Somchai · May 11th, 2015, 02:40 AM

This http://www.customled.com/products/20...led-tail-light and nothing else...

verboten1 · May 11th, 2015, 07:24 AM

agreed!

InvisiBill · May 11th, 2015, 07:36 AM

No firsthand experience, but the eBay one looks fairly ineffective. It uses regular LEDs, which aren't as bright as some of the SMD ones. It uses a relatively small number of LEDs, so there simply isn't as much light output. Using a variety of different colored LEDs means a smaller number of LEDs for each color (i.e. turn signal is a small area, brake light is a small area, etc.). I'm counting 25 LEDs in that whole assembly. For comparison, a standard 1.85" round Radiantz cluster has 48 LEDs (they fit 25 on their 1.25" cluster). It also has standard bullet connectors on the wires, as opposed to an OEM connector.

I know people generally don't like the look of standard turn signal stalks, but taillights with integrated signals inherently mean a smaller brake light and often smaller turn signals too (on top of the signals being too close to be legal). They look better, but they really do cut into your bike's visibility too.

verboten1 · May 11th, 2015, 07:47 AM

The blaster X was more visible to me, when I was 3 or 4 bikes behind than some of the closer bikes were...

it's a great light, and the signals are also quite visible

ForceofWill · May 11th, 2015, 10:36 AM

I have the customled and it's bright for sure. Plus you get the strobe on first press which is really nice. The turn signals are switchbacks so you don't lose any tail light size for them.

basementmt · May 11th, 2015, 11:51 AM

Thanks guys for your feedback, Blaster-X seems nice but I'm not really too keen about adjusting with relays etc...

I came across this, which looks also nice and maybe very similar to Baster-X. What is your opinion about this?

http://www.motodynamic.com/kawasaki/...hts-smoke.html

Many thanks guys

InvisiBill · May 11th, 2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basementmt

Blaster-X seems nice but I'm not really to keen about adjusting with relays etc...

Those mods are required anytime you switch to LED (low power) signals, so you'd most likely have to do it for the eBay one too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvisiBill

Any low-power LED turn signals will require an upgraded flasher. The lower draw of LEDs compared to bulbs means they don't work properly with the standard flasher. It sees the lower draw and thinks you have a bulb out, so it hyperflashes.

You need a diode kit because of the single blinker indicator. It actually ties into the blinker circuit on both sides. With stock bulbs, the little bit of power leaking through from the other side isn't enough to do anything, but with efficient LEDs, it's enough to make the other side turn on too. The diode kit isolates the two sides at the indicator light (similar to have separate L/R indicators), eliminating the leakage to the other side. I personally think the stock setup is a cheap cop-out, and everyone should do the diode mod to make it "correct", but I'm kinda OCD like that.

broilmebk · May 11th, 2015, 12:44 PM

What Bill said. Any change to LED and you will need a different relay.

verboten1 · May 11th, 2015, 04:03 PM

I did nothing to install my blaster x

Somchai · May 11th, 2015, 05:20 PM

basementmt · May 12th, 2015, 02:41 AM

Here's a good video showing the difference between Blaster-X and MotoDynamic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYJkEbUAkBQ

As you rightly said, Blaster-X is brighter, but I can live with the difference between the two so I opted for MotoDynamic, hoping not to have to mess with the wiring.

I let you know how it goes and maybe post a video of the outcome!

broilmebk · May 12th, 2015, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by verboten1

I did nothing to install my blaster x

Not sure how you guys did that cause the description itself says:

Quote:

* Required accessories: ELFR-1 QD Flasher Relay & No-Cut Diode Kit (* see note in installation tab).

verboten1 · May 12th, 2015, 09:26 AM

only if you have LED in the front as well.

May 11th, 2015, 02:05 AM	#1
basementmt ninjette.org member Name: Neil Location: Malta Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 27	LED Tail Lights Hi all, did anyone have/tried this on? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201179502856 What is your opinion about it? I'm thinking of getting one in smoke but not sure whether with the amount of LEDs I will be more visible or not. I'm looking for a better looking tail light but of course, visibility is important.

May 11th, 2015, 07:24 AM	#3
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	agreed! __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

May 11th, 2015, 07:36 AM	#4
InvisiBill EX500 full of EX250 parts Name: Bill Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Aug '15	No firsthand experience, but the eBay one looks fairly ineffective. It uses regular LEDs, which aren't as bright as some of the SMD ones. It uses a relatively small number of LEDs, so there simply isn't as much light output. Using a variety of different colored LEDs means a smaller number of LEDs for each color (i.e. turn signal is a small area, brake light is a small area, etc.). I'm counting 25 LEDs in that whole assembly. For comparison, a standard 1.85" round Radiantz cluster has 48 LEDs (they fit 25 on their 1.25" cluster). It also has standard bullet connectors on the wires, as opposed to an OEM connector. I know people generally don't like the look of standard turn signal stalks, but taillights with integrated signals inherently mean a smaller brake light and often smaller turn signals too (on top of the signals being too close to be legal). They look better, but they really do cut into your bike's visibility too. __________________________________________________ * Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *

May 11th, 2015, 07:47 AM	#5
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	The blaster X was more visible to me, when I was 3 or 4 bikes behind than some of the closer bikes were... it's a great light, and the signals are also quite visible __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

May 11th, 2015, 04:03 PM	#10
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	I did nothing to install my blaster x __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

May 11th, 2015, 02:40 AM	#2
Somchai Freedom for Germany Location: This World Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R-FI Posts: A lot.	This http://www.customled.com/products/20...led-tail-light and nothing else...

May 11th, 2015, 10:36 AM	#6
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	I have the customled and it's bright for sure. Plus you get the strobe on first press which is really nice. The turn signals are switchbacks so you don't lose any tail light size for them.

May 11th, 2015, 11:51 AM	#7
basementmt ninjette.org member Name: Neil Location: Malta Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 27	Thanks guys for your feedback, Blaster-X seems nice but I'm not really too keen about adjusting with relays etc... I came across this, which looks also nice and maybe very similar to Baster-X. What is your opinion about this? http://www.motodynamic.com/kawasaki/...hts-smoke.html Many thanks guys

May 11th, 2015, 12:44 PM	#9
broilmebk ninjette.org sage Name: Brian Location: Orange County, CA Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): '12 ninja 250r Posts: 762	What Bill said. Any change to LED and you will need a different relay.

May 11th, 2015, 05:20 PM	#11
Somchai Freedom for Germany Location: This World Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R-FI Posts: A lot.

May 12th, 2015, 02:41 AM	#12
basementmt ninjette.org member Name: Neil Location: Malta Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: 27	Here's a good video showing the difference between Blaster-X and MotoDynamic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYJkEbUAkBQ As you rightly said, Blaster-X is brighter, but I can live with the difference between the two so I opted for MotoDynamic, hoping not to have to mess with the wiring. I let you know how it goes and maybe post a video of the outcome!

May 12th, 2015, 09:26 AM	#14
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	only if you have LED in the front as well. __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

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