Brake light housing question....

Donnyd21 · June 21st, 2011, 08:14 PM

Why is it that after I pullmy seat off I can see 2 holes on the left and right side of the brake light housing that are empty? Are there supposed to be brake lights there? i only have one light in the center...

road_rascal · June 21st, 2011, 08:26 PM

Here ya go. I plan on doing this soon.

Donnyd21 · June 21st, 2011, 08:28 PM

Im going to do that tomorrow

Snake · June 21st, 2011, 08:47 PM

This mod makes the tail look wider and makes the rear more visible.

FrugalNinja250 · June 22nd, 2011, 05:54 AM

As to the why, in other countries the outer assemblies were for turn signals. In the US there's a minimum distance from the center of the brake light bulb to the center of the turn signal bulb, and the stock housings are too close to qualify. So, they were left empty and turn signals on stalks were added. The red lenses were left in so that it wouldn't look funny.

whiteboy · June 22nd, 2011, 06:31 AM

Awsome mod doing this today and hope it lasts me till I get the integrated system

M · June 22nd, 2011, 10:41 AM

Here's my actual installation that expands on the FAQ pictures and narrative:
http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?t=62619

Donnyd21 · June 22nd, 2011, 11:23 AM

Just got done doing it, took me a hour start to finish and $11 in parts from Autozone, I had to buy the 2 wire sockets (#85803) instead of the 3 wire as they had to order the 3 wire, if you guys can get the 3 wire do that (#84725) as I spent a good while trying to get the solider to stick to the 2 wire socket for a ground, I used 2397 bulbs for the outsides instead of 1157's, the 2397's use a tad less energy than the 1157's, I also used some 5 min epoxy to keep the sockets from falling out of the housing even tho they fit nicely into the stock housing without having to cut or trim anything, bulb replacement is easy if they go out just like the center bulb, just remove the cover. Looks way better now, a LOT brighter even in the day time, WELL worth the money, I get my 15T front sprocket coming in tomorrow so ill be back into the bike again.

road_rascal · June 22nd, 2011, 11:26 AM

Nice install writeup. I'm going the local auto parts store tomorrow and get the 3 wire sockets.

greg737 · June 22nd, 2011, 01:22 PM

Warning: If you put incandescent lights in the two empty brake housings you'll be back on the forum asking why your headlight and instrument cluster go dim when you're idling at a stoplight.

Incandescent lights = drawing lots of watts

LEDs = drawing next to nothing

The EX-250 produces about 180 to 200 watts of power (even at idle). The reason for the variable range of the estimate is that some rotors are better than others (i.e. the magnets installed in the rotor are of variable quality and can be damaged/degraded during handling/installation if the rotor is dropped or even bumped hard).

The EX-250 in stock condition uses about 120 watts of power (out of the estimated 180 to 200 watts available). So you've only got 60 to 80 watts to play with when you're adding lights and farkles.

Snake · June 22nd, 2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiteboy

Awsome mod doing this today and hope it lasts me till I get the integrated system

Justin, this mod applies to the pre-gen models.

Snake · June 22nd, 2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg737

Warning: If you put incandescent lights in the two empty brake housings you'll be back on the forum asking why your headlight and instrument cluster go dim when you're idling at a stoplight.

Incandescent lights = drawing lots of watts

LEDs = drawing next to nothing

The EX-250 produces about 180 to 200 watts of power (even at idle). The reason for the variable range of the estimate is that some rotors are better than others (i.e. the magnets installed in the rotor are of variable quality and can be damaged/degraded during handling/installation if the rotor is dropped or even bumped hard).

The EX-250 in stock condition uses about 120 watts of power (out of the estimated 180 to 200 watts available). So you've only got 60 to 80 watts to play with when you're adding lights and farkles.

Great point Greg. The same thing happened to me when I did the mod and put filament type bulbs in. The instrument panel would go dim when I came to a stop and especialy whilth the brake lights on. I switched all three to led's with less power drain and brighter than stock. A real plus plus.

Donnyd21 · June 22nd, 2011, 05:01 PM

Where can I get LED lights that will fit into the housing??

I just bought another brake housing, I am going to wire this all up nice so its plug and play and throw it up on ebay.

Snake · June 22nd, 2011, 05:29 PM

Most auto parts stores should have them I bought mine from Dennis Kirk.

Donnyd21 · June 22nd, 2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake

Most auto parts stores should have them I bought mine from Dennis Kirk.

I mean a LED light that will fit into the OEM socket or will they have to be re-wired and custom installed into the housing? Got any links?

Snake · June 22nd, 2011, 05:40 PM

www.denniskirk.com

They sell led lights that fit in the stock sockets.

Donnyd21 · June 22nd, 2011, 08:36 PM

You guys were right, I am getting dimming with brake lights applied, just ordered 1157 type LED lights.

road_rascal · June 23rd, 2011, 12:07 PM

My search for the 3 wire socket (84725) is turning up zilch. Nobody in the MN metro area has one, plus Carquest says that it looks like Dorman may be discontinuing the socket as they don't have that part number in their system. Is does cross over to a Standard (brand?) 57-4845 and they only have one in Kansas City. I may have to order them online. Plus none of the local MC shops carry any of the LED 1157 bulbs- all special order. I was hoping to do this mod over the weekend.

Snake · June 23rd, 2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnyd21

You guys were right, I am getting dimming with brake lights applied, just ordered 1157 type LED lights.

We speak from experience Grass Hopper.

road_rascal · June 23rd, 2011, 02:47 PM

Ok- looks like I found another option at the parts store. Dorman #85860 fits pretty well. All I had to do was Dremel a little notch on the side to allow the ground wire tab to stick through. Then I can fill hole/gap/whatever with 30 minute epoxy to secure it in. I may cut off the six tabs around the socket as they're really not needed. Hopefully I'll have this wrapped up by Sunday.

Donnyd21 · June 23rd, 2011, 05:59 PM

^Those will work, I ordered some 1157 LED's off ebay yesterday.

road_rascal · June 24th, 2011, 09:40 AM

Got 'er done this morning. The job went much better than I expected. Lots of light in the rear now. I used 3mm bullet connectors (soldered) instead of crimp (I have a ton of bullet connectors) and shrink wrap. Nice and neat. I also used 2397 bulbs in the pods. I'll probably swap them out with LED's whenever I get a chance.

June 21st, 2011, 08:14 PM	#1
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	Brake light housing question.... Why is it that after I pullmy seat off I can see 2 holes on the left and right side of the brake light housing that are empty? Are there supposed to be brake lights there? i only have one light in the center...

June 22nd, 2011, 06:31 AM	#6
whiteboy ninjette.org member Name: justin Location: Odessa Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 blue ninja 250r Posts: 223	Awsome mod doing this today and hope it lasts me till I get the integrated system __________________________________________________ If you’re going to lead, then lead. If you’re going to follow, get the hell out of my way!

June 22nd, 2011, 10:41 AM	#7
M ninjette.org member Name: M Location: Oklahoma Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 x2, Ninja 650R Posts: 165	Here's my actual installation that expands on the FAQ pictures and narrative: http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?t=62619 __________________________________________________ The Rally - Oklahoma

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June 21st, 2011, 08:26 PM	#2
road_rascal ninjette.org member Name: ___ Location: ___ Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): ___ Posts: 160	Here ya go. I plan on doing this soon.

June 21st, 2011, 08:28 PM	#3
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	Im going to do that tomorrow

June 21st, 2011, 08:47 PM	#4
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	This mod makes the tail look wider and makes the rear more visible.

June 22nd, 2011, 05:54 AM	#5
FrugalNinja250 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Frugal Location: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Join Date: Mar 2010 Motorcycle(s): Several Posts: A lot.	As to the why, in other countries the outer assemblies were for turn signals. In the US there's a minimum distance from the center of the brake light bulb to the center of the turn signal bulb, and the stock housings are too close to qualify. So, they were left empty and turn signals on stalks were added. The red lenses were left in so that it wouldn't look funny.

June 22nd, 2011, 11:23 AM	#8
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	Just got done doing it, took me a hour start to finish and $11 in parts from Autozone, I had to buy the 2 wire sockets (#85803) instead of the 3 wire as they had to order the 3 wire, if you guys can get the 3 wire do that (#84725) as I spent a good while trying to get the solider to stick to the 2 wire socket for a ground, I used 2397 bulbs for the outsides instead of 1157's, the 2397's use a tad less energy than the 1157's, I also used some 5 min epoxy to keep the sockets from falling out of the housing even tho they fit nicely into the stock housing without having to cut or trim anything, bulb replacement is easy if they go out just like the center bulb, just remove the cover. Looks way better now, a LOT brighter even in the day time, WELL worth the money, I get my 15T front sprocket coming in tomorrow so ill be back into the bike again.

June 22nd, 2011, 11:26 AM	#9
road_rascal ninjette.org member Name: ___ Location: ___ Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): ___ Posts: 160	Nice install writeup. I'm going the local auto parts store tomorrow and get the 3 wire sockets.

June 22nd, 2011, 01:22 PM	#10
greg737 - Name: - Location: - Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: A lot.	Warning: If you put incandescent lights in the two empty brake housings you'll be back on the forum asking why your headlight and instrument cluster go dim when you're idling at a stoplight. Incandescent lights = drawing lots of watts LEDs = drawing next to nothing The EX-250 produces about 180 to 200 watts of power (even at idle). The reason for the variable range of the estimate is that some rotors are better than others (i.e. the magnets installed in the rotor are of variable quality and can be damaged/degraded during handling/installation if the rotor is dropped or even bumped hard). The EX-250 in stock condition uses about 120 watts of power (out of the estimated 180 to 200 watts available). So you've only got 60 to 80 watts to play with when you're adding lights and farkles.

June 22nd, 2011, 05:01 PM	#13
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	Where can I get LED lights that will fit into the housing?? I just bought another brake housing, I am going to wire this all up nice so its plug and play and throw it up on ebay.

June 22nd, 2011, 05:29 PM	#14
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Most auto parts stores should have them I bought mine from Dennis Kirk.

June 22nd, 2011, 05:40 PM	#16
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	www.denniskirk.com They sell led lights that fit in the stock sockets.

June 22nd, 2011, 08:36 PM	#17
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	You guys were right, I am getting dimming with brake lights applied, just ordered 1157 type LED lights.

June 23rd, 2011, 12:07 PM	#18
road_rascal ninjette.org member Name: ___ Location: ___ Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): ___ Posts: 160	My search for the 3 wire socket (84725) is turning up zilch. Nobody in the MN metro area has one, plus Carquest says that it looks like Dorman may be discontinuing the socket as they don't have that part number in their system. Is does cross over to a Standard (brand?) 57-4845 and they only have one in Kansas City. I may have to order them online. Plus none of the local MC shops carry any of the LED 1157 bulbs- all special order. I was hoping to do this mod over the weekend.

June 23rd, 2011, 05:59 PM	#21
Donnyd21 ninjette.org member Name: Donny Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R Posts: 36	^Those will work, I ordered some 1157 LED's off ebay yesterday.

June 24th, 2011, 09:40 AM	#22
road_rascal ninjette.org member Name: ___ Location: ___ Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): ___ Posts: 160	Got 'er done this morning. The job went much better than I expected. Lots of light in the rear now. I used 3mm bullet connectors (soldered) instead of crimp (I have a ton of bullet connectors) and shrink wrap. Nice and neat. I also used 2397 bulbs in the pods. I'll probably swap them out with LED's whenever I get a chance.