OEM Tail/Brake Light Comparison to LED Tail/Brake Light

g21-30 · October 29th, 2009, 04:00 PM

As I mentioned in another thread, I installed the Custom Dynamics RL1157-32-R LED Tail/Brake Light yesterday. Here is the bulb just after removal from the shipping package:

Another view:

The OEM tail light with the ignition on:

The OEM brake light:

The Custom Dynamics LED tail light with the ignition on:

The LED brake light:

Because I was not impressed with the brightness of the LED and the fact that the no-cut brake modulator only worked once with the LED bulb, I reinstalled the OEM tail/brake light!

g21-30 · October 29th, 2009, 04:40 PM

Notice in the first picture, the bulb actually has LEDs point 90 degrees from the LEDs featured in the second picture. In other words, if the Ninja tail/brake light housing was open on the side, the light would be visible to traffic on the side of the bike! A good feature, but wasted on this bike.

noche_caliente · October 29th, 2009, 06:30 PM

Sam, I think the idea on those 90* LEDs is that they will better hit the reflectors instead of having just the single spot of light from the rear-facing LEDs... sadly, it doesn't work. I have the same bulb on my bike I think, and it's crap.

bob706 · October 29th, 2009, 06:49 PM

How much do the led 1157's cost? If it doesn't work with the no-cut modulator thats a point against it, but as a spare it might be handy. I have the worst luck with regular 1157's.

Actualize Composites · October 29th, 2009, 09:51 PM

Definitely agree with the spare idea, the 1157's seem to burn out like nobody's business and LEDs are just that much more reliable. Any of you guys actually still have your stock bulb in perfect working order?

g21-30 · October 30th, 2009, 04:43 AM

Cost is $6 plus $5 USPS = $11.

If the brake modulator would have worked, I probably would have left the LED bulb installed.

adouglas · October 30th, 2009, 05:23 AM

Were those photos taken at the same exposure, or did you have the camera set on automatic?

Because I can't see a significant difference between the two.

As it happens I have a similar LED on order from a different manufacturer (Wixtech).

Alex · October 30th, 2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Actualize Composites

Any of you guys actually still have your stock bulb in perfect working order?

Mine's going strong with zero issues so far. Seems like there were a bunch of faulty bulbs in the '08s that people have reported and Kawi replaced, there may even have been a recall of sorts. But they aren't universally poor, or at least there are some that seem to have been working fine with a normal service life.

g21-30 · October 30th, 2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adouglas

Were those photos taken at the same exposure, or did you have the camera set on automatic?

Because I can't see a significant difference between the two.

As it happens I have a similar LED on order from a different manufacturer (Wixtech).

Auto, it was. Since it was a quickie comparison, I didn't bother with accuracy. Looking back, I should have used a tripod, at a constant distance. If you look real close, the LED pics have dark spots away from the center, where the lense is not being illuminated.

The OEM bulb will be a year old in a couple of weeks.

noche_caliente · October 30th, 2009, 04:19 PM

for me, it does work with the modulator. The OEM is still fine in a box with the stock headlight bulbs right now

Sound Wave · October 31st, 2009, 02:22 AM

i bought a 60 LED bulb and it was pretty much crap. i quickly changed it back to oem. by looking at the bulb, i thought it was going to be really bright.

here is a link to my pics comparing the oem and LED bulbs
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...68&postcount=4

ScorpionNinja · October 31st, 2009, 06:28 PM

Well i have the no-cut brake light modulator, stock tail/brake light still!

With Over 4,000 miles on the replacement bulb i bought, NPs as of yet!

LEDs for taillight, IMO are a WASTE! Id rather Save Money on a LED BM-taillight/etc... and Buy one of those 'Plug & play' HID Headlight (both beams) KITs!!!

But heres my post w/ info:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...09&postcount=7

headshrink · November 3rd, 2009, 01:18 AM

13K miles on my origional bulb

HKr1 · November 3rd, 2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Actualize Composites

Any of you guys actually still have your stock bulb in perfect working order?

Stock bulb is still working on our bike............

Ken · November 4th, 2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Wave

i bought a 60 LED bulb and it was pretty much crap. i quickly changed it back to oem. by looking at the bulb, i thought it was going to be really bright.

here is a link to my pics comparing the oem and LED bulbs
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...68&postcount=4

Yeah there's too many LEDs on it. The LEDs are so small they don't shine enought light on the reflector bowl. The LED bulbs that are brighter than the stock ones need to have fewer but larger LEDs. I've tried a few including the 60 LED one and its output is worse that the stock bulb. I bought a LED bulb with 2x LEDs and it was brighter than the stock one for sure.)

But now I use the bikemonkey LED taillight. Now that's bright

Sound Wave · November 4th, 2009, 11:17 PM

ah... makes sense. the company was adverstising it as their best type of light that they had.

i had the mentality of "hey, if 12 is good, then 60 must be AWESOME!!!!" lol.

headshrink · November 5th, 2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Wave

i had the mentality of "hey, if 12 is good, then 60 must be AWESOME!!!!" lol.

Wherever you are, there should be an AA meeting at just about any time you need it.

Sound Wave · November 5th, 2009, 12:49 AM

more like saa.

nah.

Sound Wave · November 5th, 2009, 01:01 AM

oh, btw... here is the bulb i bought. it was very expensive. there were 2 in the pack. that damn description got me. in fact, looking at it again, it says it is brighter the 27 led bulbs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V-LED...Q5fAccessories

randomwalk101 · November 7th, 2009, 12:08 PM

go with the BM light...it's very bright. You can get the non-integrated version for about 1/3 less.

October 29th, 2009, 04:00 PM	#1
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	OEM Tail/Brake Light Comparison to LED Tail/Brake Light As I mentioned in another thread, I installed the Custom Dynamics RL1157-32-R LED Tail/Brake Light yesterday. Here is the bulb just after removal from the shipping package: Another view: The OEM tail light with the ignition on: The OEM brake light: The Custom Dynamics LED tail light with the ignition on: The LED brake light: Because I was not impressed with the brightness of the LED and the fact that the no-cut brake modulator only worked once with the LED bulb, I reinstalled the OEM tail/brake light!

October 29th, 2009, 06:30 PM	#3
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	Sam, I think the idea on those 90* LEDs is that they will better hit the reflectors instead of having just the single spot of light from the rear-facing LEDs... sadly, it doesn't work. I have the same bulb on my bike I think, and it's crap. __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

October 30th, 2009, 04:19 PM	#10
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	for me, it does work with the modulator. The OEM is still fine in a box with the stock headlight bulbs right now __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
WTB: Rear OEM 2008+ Ninja250 Tail Light/Brake Light	FerociousNINJA	Items Wanted	5	March 29th, 2010 08:52 AM

October 29th, 2009, 04:40 PM	#2
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	Notice in the first picture, the bulb actually has LEDs point 90 degrees from the LEDs featured in the second picture. In other words, if the Ninja tail/brake light housing was open on the side, the light would be visible to traffic on the side of the bike! A good feature, but wasted on this bike.

October 29th, 2009, 06:49 PM	#4
bob706 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sean Location: Mary Esther, FL Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 1998 HD Road King Posts: A lot.	How much do the led 1157's cost? If it doesn't work with the no-cut modulator thats a point against it, but as a spare it might be handy. I have the worst luck with regular 1157's.

October 29th, 2009, 09:51 PM	#5
Actualize Composites Carbon Fiber Name: Alex Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 17	Definitely agree with the spare idea, the 1157's seem to burn out like nobody's business and LEDs are just that much more reliable. Any of you guys actually still have your stock bulb in perfect working order?

October 30th, 2009, 04:43 AM	#6
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	Cost is $6 plus $5 USPS = $11. If the brake modulator would have worked, I probably would have left the LED bulb installed.

October 30th, 2009, 05:23 AM	#7
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Were those photos taken at the same exposure, or did you have the camera set on automatic? Because I can't see a significant difference between the two. As it happens I have a similar LED on order from a different manufacturer (Wixtech).

October 31st, 2009, 02:22 AM	#11
Sound Wave Ramen Rider Name: Gary Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2015 BMW R1200R, 08 Honda VFR800A (sold), 09 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.	i bought a 60 LED bulb and it was pretty much crap. i quickly changed it back to oem. by looking at the bulb, i thought it was going to be really bright. here is a link to my pics comparing the oem and LED bulbs http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...68&postcount=4

October 31st, 2009, 06:28 PM	#12
ScorpionNinja ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Dave Location: Michigan Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 650RTE & 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (SOLD) Posts: A lot.	Well i have the no-cut brake light modulator, stock tail/brake light still! With Over 4,000 miles on the replacement bulb i bought, NPs as of yet! LEDs for taillight, IMO are a WASTE! Id rather Save Money on a LED BM-taillight/etc... and Buy one of those 'Plug & play' HID Headlight (both beams) KITs!!! But heres my post w/ info: http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showp...09&postcount=7

November 3rd, 2009, 01:18 AM	#13
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	13K miles on my origional bulb

November 4th, 2009, 11:17 PM	#16
Sound Wave Ramen Rider Name: Gary Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2015 BMW R1200R, 08 Honda VFR800A (sold), 09 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.	ah... makes sense. the company was adverstising it as their best type of light that they had. i had the mentality of "hey, if 12 is good, then 60 must be AWESOME!!!!" lol.

November 5th, 2009, 12:49 AM	#18
Sound Wave Ramen Rider Name: Gary Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2015 BMW R1200R, 08 Honda VFR800A (sold), 09 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.	more like saa. nah.

November 5th, 2009, 01:01 AM	#19
Sound Wave Ramen Rider Name: Gary Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2015 BMW R1200R, 08 Honda VFR800A (sold), 09 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.	oh, btw... here is the bulb i bought. it was very expensive. there were 2 in the pack. that damn description got me. in fact, looking at it again, it says it is brighter the 27 led bulbs. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V-LED...Q5fAccessories

November 7th, 2009, 12:08 PM	#20
randomwalk101 self wrencher Name: john Location: houston Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.	go with the BM light...it's very bright. You can get the non-integrated version for about 1/3 less.