Topic: To LED or not to LED, that is my question.

[tennesseebreeze]

I'm working on the electrical part of my 1973 cb500 cafe build. I've got stock ignition and starting systems. I want to go with some lighting that looks a little more modern and low profile than stock. I'm looking at circular mini turn signals and a smaller round taillight. I'm also open to something new for the headlight, but that's not as important. I've found some very affordable, stylish signals on Ebay, but all of them are LED lit. What are the benefits to using LED and what kind of mods would I have to employ in order for them to run properly on these old electrical systems? Is a special flasher relay needed, how about any special transformers or the like? I have a tight budget so the cost/benefit considerations are pretty important.

[flybox1]

I'm running a 35/35w H4 headlight, LED brake light bulb, and LED turn signals all around.
All I needed was a ~$10 electronic flasher relay from the auto parts store.

[tennesseebreeze]

I'm running a 35/35w H4 headlight, LED brake light bulb, and LED turn signals all around.
All I needed was a ~$10 electronic flasher relay from the auto parts store.

What bike are you running those on?

[flybox1]

its in my sig 

[tennesseebreeze]

its in my sig 

Sorry, I see three bikes there.

[flybox1]

CB750K

...it also says Past Bikes in my sig

[tennesseebreeze]

So it does. Thanks for the information on LED's. I think I'll go with it.

[Garage_guy_chris]

I have been running LED signals and tail lights on a CB450 for a few years and i have a few things to share

-Vibration, it can tend to kill led signals and lights it will shake loose leds or resistors off the boards and cause them to stop working. Some LED lights are encapsulated in a plastic or epoxy type of thing this type seem impervious to vibration

-Brightness, typically LED lights are brighter but not always

-Convert. I wanted a signal i couldnt find in LED so i found some incandescent ones i liked and bought LED bulbs to go in them. the nice thing about this is if a bulb dies from vibration i can replace the bulb for $6 instead of a whole signal for $20+

-Power consumption. LED's draw next to no amperage thus giving you extra power for other things.

-Electronic flasher, Is the only thing needed to convert and make signals work properly

[Nic]

I put LED bulbs in my 750 indicators, the LEDs were so bright the orange colour washed out real pale. I pissed them off. Also put a stop tail LED bulb in the tail light but the brightness went way down. I figured I might want my stop light to be as bright as pos so that was the end of LEDs for me. Maybe I had cheap #$%* ones?

[flybox1]

The good LED brake/tail light from superbrightleds.com wasnt cheap...$30.  Bright as &*^%$!
Always buy the same color LED as the reflector cover.  Allows for more light transfer.

[Bankerdanny]

Vibes should be less of a problem in the SOHC/4's than on the 450 twin.

When buying bulbs for turn signals and brakes you need to buy lights that match the colors of your lenses. Don't buy white bulbs for use with the yellow turns and red tail/brake light.

[Nic]

Thanks Fly and Danny, makes perfect sense, I'll have another go at them some day.

[Bailgang]

As already noted not all LED's are bright so be careful which one you choose. The first tail light LED I bought from superbrightled.com was advertised as a motorcycle tail/brake light LED, the bottom row of LED's that shined on the license plate was white while all the other were red which is all well and good except the red LED's weren't all that bright in the day. The next one I purchased was all red and more of them and it was bright, the downside other than the cost was being that all the LED's were now red that meant my license plate looks pink at night.

[flybox1]

@Bailgang
https://www.denniskirk.com/custom-dynamics/polished-led-license-plate-bolts-w-white-leds.p497334.prd/497334.sku

...much cheaper alternatives on Ebay, but you get the idea

[Nic]

It does seem that there are many to choose from, I went back and looked at the stop tail ones I have, I have white ones which are too dim and red ones which are also too dim. I watched a utube clip where a guy demoed 3 different blinker LEDs on his car, the 3rd one finally looked half decent although still not as bright as the stock bulb.
Which are the real deal, anyone know for sure and can post ebay links for both blinker and tail.

[PeWe]

What about headlight Hi/Lo H4 LED?
The driver take som additional space. My headlight is stuffed with 3 relays. I might change to use this lamp
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Bike-30W-3000LM-H4-HB2-9003-6000K-CREE-LED-Headlight-Hi-Lo-Beam-Bulb-/111471030568?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&var=&hash=item19f430f128

cheaper here:  EDIT. I'll know soon if It will fit. I've just ordered one. Free shipping as usual from China. will most likely pass customs without any addional economical punishments
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Power-H4-9003-LED-30W-6000-K-Lumen-Head-Light-Lamp/301375731172?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28111%26meid%3D5dfec36593a644d6b3704283c41ddb69%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D11472%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D111471030568&rt=nc

[dave500]

I think a lot of led lamps are less obvious than globes in the real world,they look bright at night but during the day some you have to see them square on to notice them?even on high end cars the indicators look lame during the day,i don't know how some of them pass dot?

not that the average café racer guy cares,I guess that's all part of being a rebel?

[Deltarider]

It's funny but LED brake- and indicatorlights do not draw as much attention as glowbulbs do. Maybe it's a personal thing.

[Nic]

I'd like to try an LED headlight, this one has a fan for cooling but costs a bit http://cognitomoto.com/collections/frontpage/products/h7-led

[evanphi]

I have LEDs on all indicators and the tail bulb, plus the electronic flasher. All from superbrightleds.com

[Harsh]

I have this LED headlight in my 350.  I will be ordering another one for the 750.

http://www.dx.com/p/20w-2000lm-8000k-motocycle-led-headlamp-w-angel-eye-12v-216822

You can install them in the oem sealed glass housing with a little work.
http://www.hondatwins.net/forums/50-electrical-discussion/25905-led-headlight-install-oem-sealed-beam-headlamp.html


All of the other lights on the bikes are LED's

[flybox1]

It does seem that there are many to choose from, I went back and looked at the stop tail ones I have, I have white ones which are too dim and red ones which are also too dim. I watched a utube clip where a guy demoed 3 different blinker LEDs on his car, the 3rd one finally looked half decent although still not as bright as the stock bulb.
Which are the real deal, anyone know for sure and can post ebay links for both blinker and tail.

Brake/tail light
Many on the forum have used this first one with good results.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb--dual-intensity-36-high-power-leds/1689/
I'm interested in trying this one w higher lumen output.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb--dual-intensity-28-high-power-led-/1644/

[Nic]

It does seem that there are many to choose from, I went back and looked at the stop tail ones I have, I have white ones which are too dim and red ones which are also too dim. I watched a utube clip where a guy demoed 3 different blinker LEDs on his car, the 3rd one finally looked half decent although still not as bright as the stock bulb.
Which are the real deal, anyone know for sure and can post ebay links for both blinker and tail.

Brake/tail light
Many on the forum have used this first one with good results.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb--dual-intensity-36-high-power-leds/1689/
I'm interested in trying this one w higher lumen output.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb--dual-intensity-28-high-power-led-/1644/

Thanks Fly, they ain't cheap are they

[Bankerdanny]

I put LED's from Superbright in my MGB, and when testing brake lights in daylight I didn't notice any real difference in brightness, but at night the LED's seemed much brighter.

I ended up swapping them into the bag lights on my Goldwing to save some juice since the original GL1000 has similar marginal charging to most SOHC4's.

[evanphi]

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-led-bulbs/1157-led-bulb-dual-intensity-25-led-motorcycle-bulb/170/767/

This is the one I use for my tail light. Rear facing bulbs are red, and radials are clear for plate illumination.

I put LED's from Superbright in my MGB, and when testing brake lights in daylight I didn't notice any real difference in brightness, but at night the LED's seemed much brighter.

I ended up swapping them into the bag lights on my Goldwing to save some juice since the original GL1000 has similar marginal charging to most SOHC4's.

Agreed about daylight. Not much brighter. But certainly an improvement at night.