Topic: tail light mods

[Tracksnblades1]

Maybe and LED is the answer.

I hope LED bulbs are better today than ca 5 years ago when I tried LED bulbs in the K1 style rear light my K6 and K2 have.

The 2 models of LED bulbs I tested had bad brake light, not much difference when braking plus poor licence plate illumination.

So the old style 5/21W bulb is still used.
Brake light is important to be seen when lit.

General about rear light, not that important as headlight. If cars are closing up, you ride too slow!!

LED H4 front is OK.

In good fun and some tight puckers…😳

PeWe, perhaps in rural areas…

Not on I70 around junction 63 or near lambert airport in the St.Louis area in morning traffic… bumper to bumper at speeds way above the posted. Even an old 1157 and a big 76 lens aren’t bright enough when the car following your taillight is just feet away. Especially then (no phones) when its driver is putting on makeup, shaving, reading the wall street J, etc…

I had a close call at a construction concrete merge barrier. The car behind me didn’t see it or my taillight, reading the paper. I notice the car following was going to hit me so I accelerated, went right, instead of merging to the left, slammed  on the binders once on the shoulder behind the barrier..The following car hit the concrete barrier. Had I’d been there, splat…rode slowing through the construction site (no workers) and went on my way…feeling lucky…

[Tracksnblades1]

Here's my K1, I drilled the fender brace welds out, moved the fender up to where I wanted it, cut off the excess and re-welded the fender to the bracket. I was able to hide two welds under the Lucas type taillight, the rest are under the seat. The bolt holes are also covered.

What wheels are those Don.?

Looks good…

[PeWe]

Maybe and LED is the answer.

I hope LED bulbs are better today than ca 5 years ago when I tried LED bulbs in the K1 style rear light my K6 and K2 have.

The 2 models of LED bulbs I tested had bad brake light, not much difference when braking plus poor licence plate illumination.

So the old style 5/21W bulb is still used.
Brake light is important to be seen when lit.

General about rear light, not that important as headlight. If cars are closing up, you ride too slow!!

LED H4 front is OK.

In good fun and some tight puckers…

PeWe, perhaps in rural areas…

Not on I70 around junction 63 or near lambert airport in the St.Louis area in morning traffic… bumper to bumper at speeds way above the posted. Even an old 1157 and a big 76 lens aren’t bright enough when the car following your taillight is just feet away. Especially then (no phones) when its driver is putting on makeup, shaving, reading the wall street J, etc…

I had a close call at a construction concrete merge barrier. The car behind me didn’t see it or my taillight, reading the paper. I notice the car following was going to hit me so I accelerated, went right, instead of merging to the left, slammed  on the binders once on the shoulder behind the barrier..The following car hit the concrete barrier. Had I’d been there, splat…rode slowing through the construction site (no workers) and went on my way…feeling lucky…

Is it possible to use red auxiliary lamps to make rear more visible?
Cars have additional brake lamps.

https://www.customdynamics.com/motorcycle-lighting/motorcycle-auxiliary-accent-lighting/led-light-bars-for-motorcycles

https://www.amazon.com/BADASS-Universal-Motorcycle-Running-Indicator/dp/B01N036C2T

I'm happy to avoid such traffic when riding my bikes.

[grcamna2]

Maybe and LED is the answer.

I hope LED bulbs are better today than ca 5 years ago when I tried LED bulbs in the K1 style rear light my K6 and K2 have.

The 2 models of LED bulbs I tested had bad brake light, not much difference when braking plus poor licence plate illumination.

So the old style 5/21W bulb is still used.
Brake light is important to be seen when lit.

General about rear light, not that important as headlight. If cars are closing up, you ride too slow!!

LED H4 front is OK.

In good fun and some tight puckers…😳

PeWe, perhaps in rural areas…

Not on I70 around junction 63 or near lambert airport in the St.Louis area in morning traffic… bumper to bumper at speeds way above the posted. Even an old 1157 and a big 76 lens aren’t bright enough when the car following your taillight is just feet away. Especially then (no phones) when its driver is putting on makeup, shaving, reading the wall street J, etc…

I had a close call at a construction concrete merge barrier. The car behind me didn’t see it or my taillight, reading the paper. I notice the car following was going to hit me so I accelerated, went right, instead of merging to the left, slammed  on the binders once on the shoulder behind the barrier..The following car hit the concrete barrier. Had I’d been there, splat…rode slowing through the construction site (no workers) and went on my way…feeling lucky…

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

[Don R]

 I got a 750 at a yard sale that had two Yamaha turn signals with red lenses for taillights. The stems are the same thread as the Honda rear fender bolts. Wiring the brake light into the turn signals would require a trailer adapter or some diodes.

[grcamna2]

I got a 750 at a yard sale that had two Yamaha turn signals with red lenses for taillights. The stems are the same thread as the Honda rear fender bolts. Wiring the brake light into the turn signals would require a trailer adapter or some diodes.

Don,I owned a few vintage Yamahas that had the red turn signal lenses also.

[Don R]

 I went out to check, the Yamaha lights only have single filament light sockets in them.

[grcamna2]

I went out to check, the Yamaha lights only have single filament light sockets in them.

The lollipop round Yamaha sigs. from the 70's ?
I think that many of them came with red lenses for the rear in the 70's:I had a 74' TX500 that did.
They have a single lead contact in them;can you get two-wire sockets to fit inside those sigs?

[Tracksnblades1]

Maybe and LED is the answer.

I hope LED bulbs are better today than ca 5 years ago when I tried LED bulbs in the K1 style rear light my K6 and K2 have.

The 2 models of LED bulbs I tested had bad brake light, not much difference when braking plus poor licence plate illumination.

So the old style 5/21W bulb is still used.
Brake light is important to be seen when lit.

General about rear light, not that important as headlight. If cars are closing up, you ride too slow!!

LED H4 front is OK.

In good fun and some tight puckers…😳

PeWe, perhaps in rural areas…

Not on I70 around junction 63 or near lambert airport in the St.Louis area in morning traffic… bumper to bumper at speeds way above the posted. Even an old 1157 and a big 76 lens aren’t bright enough when the car following your taillight is just feet away. Especially then (no phones) when its driver is putting on makeup, shaving, reading the wall street J, etc…

I had a close call at a construction concrete merge barrier. The car behind me didn’t see it or my taillight, reading the paper. I notice the car following was going to hit me so I accelerated, went right, instead of merging to the left, slammed  on the binders once on the shoulder behind the barrier..The following car hit the concrete barrier. Had I’d been there, splat…rode slowing through the construction site (no workers) and went on my way…feeling lucky…

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That’s interesting you mentioned CB400f handlebars…My old 76F 750 was wearing and still wears the, narrowed down as much as allowing everything to fit, old K&N “Touring” handlebars advertised as similar to CB400F bars. Way before K&N started with their filters…My son even put original Honda CB400F bars (in black) on his 2014 CB1100. Didn’t use the holes since the 2014 has the wires on the oustside..That was back in the black out rage…

[Oddjob]

Please try and remember that these old Hondas charging circuits aren't the best in the world, too many additions and you risk breaking down somewhere, especially if you're doing a bit of stop/start in traffic.

I've been using an H4 LED in the headlight for some time now, reduces the current draw whilst having a really good, almost identical beam pattern, it's very bright without dazzling others. Whenever I'm at a bike meet I'm constantly asked where I got the bulb from, they ain't cheap but it's lasted and even at £50 or so that's for a pair so you can do 2 bikes or even share with a mate. All my biking group now has them fitted. I'm experimenting with LED dash bulbs now for warning lights and speedo/tacho illumination, they seem to be alright as well and of course less draw so more power left for other things.

[PeWe]

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That's why both my CB750's do not have stock mirrors.
My K6 got new Z1-900 mirrors.

My K2 chromed aftermarket mirrors for Z1-900.
With those I see more than my elbows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175377228547?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ae4ylo-grrk&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[grcamna2]

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That's why both my CB750's do not have stock mirrors.
My K6 got new Z1-900 mirrors.

My K2 chromed aftermarket mirrors for Z1-900.
With those I see more than my elbows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175377228547?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ae4ylo-grrk&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Z1 mirrors,yes? Per ? 

We have Z1 Enterprises.com here(USA)and they have some chrome mirrors similar.. to what you show;how do they operate when your bike vibrates ?

[PeWe]

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That's why both my CB750's do not have stock mirrors.
My K6 got new Z1-900 mirrors.

My K2 chromed aftermarket mirrors for Z1-900.
With those I see more than my elbows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175377228547?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ae4ylo-grrk&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Z1 mirrors,yes? Per ? 

We have Z1 Enterprises.com here(USA)and they have some chrome mirrors similar.. to what you show;how do they operate when your bike vibrates ?

They are rather OK. Small vibrations but possible to see that  something is behind me.
This is in the forbidden speed area

I remember that the used Z1-900 mirrors 1983-84 when my K6 got a lower sitting dragbar were much more stable than stock Honda.
The Z1-900 mirrors I bought new 2022 seems to be cheaper made but still an improvement.

The aftermarket chrome has smaller mirrors than stock CB750. Mirrors can be rotated to adjust how far out they sit.

Rear sight is important, Honda mirrors costed me a $250 ticket 2022
I searched and ordered asap.
Here Honda stock vs Z1-900 mirror that is placed better.CB750 mirror is bigger, more elbow.


My K2 with aftermarket mirrors, rotate and adjust width. Here in the shorter position, later rotated for max view.


Here my K6 with Z1-900 mirrors 1985. Probably from a bike, not spare part. Much clearer view in higher speeds was my first impression.

[grcamna2]

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That's why both my CB750's do not have stock mirrors.
My K6 got new Z1-900 mirrors.

My K2 chromed aftermarket mirrors for Z1-900.
With those I see more than my elbows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175377228547?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ae4ylo-grrk&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Z1 mirrors,yes? Per ? 

We have Z1 Enterprises.com here(USA)and they have some chrome mirrors similar.. to what you show;how do they operate when your bike vibrates ?

They are rather OK. Small vibrations but possible to see that  something is behind me.
This is in the forbidden speed area

I remember that the used Z1-900 mirrors 1983-84 when my K6 got a lower sitting dragbar were much more stable than stock Honda.
The Z1-900 mirrors I bought new 2022 seems to be cheaper made but still an improvement.

The aftermarket chrome has smaller mirrors than stock CB750. Mirrors can be rotated to adjust how far out they sit.

Rear sight is important, Honda mirrors costed me a $250 ticket 2022
I searched and ordered asap.
Here Honda stock vs Z1-900 mirror that is placed better.

My K2 with aftermarket mirrors, rotate and adjust width. Here in the shorter position, later rotated for max view.

I see what you mean on your bottom picture. 
The z1enterprises.com also has a complete black long Z1 mirror which has the mirror piece hidden(from the front view)inside a hooded cover;the orig. black Z1 mirrors were able to be adjusted/pivot up inside these hooded covers.
I'm not certain the repros also have the same feature.

I like both their small silver ones and the black,both a long stalk mirror;I just want to get the ones most resistant to vibration.
I feel Many auto drivers are certainly blind murderers who should not take their eyes off the roadway. 

[PeWe]

I'm glad you keep an eye in your rear view mirrors,with an unobstructed line of sight behind you;I'm using CB400F handlebars and only see behind me when I tuck my elbows inward.

That's why both my CB750's do not have stock mirrors.
My K6 got new Z1-900 mirrors.

My K2 chromed aftermarket mirrors for Z1-900.
With those I see more than my elbows.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175377228547?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ae4ylo-grrk&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Z1 mirrors,yes? Per ? 

We have Z1 Enterprises.com here(USA)and they have some chrome mirrors similar.. to what you show;how do they operate when your bike vibrates ?

They are rather OK. Small vibrations but possible to see that  something is behind me.
This is in the forbidden speed area

I remember that the used Z1-900 mirrors 1983-84 when my K6 got a lower sitting dragbar were much more stable than stock Honda.
The Z1-900 mirrors I bought new 2022 seems to be cheaper made but still an improvement.

The aftermarket chrome has smaller mirrors than stock CB750. Mirrors can be rotated to adjust how far out they sit.

Rear sight is important, Honda mirrors costed me a $250 ticket 2022
I searched and ordered asap.
Here Honda stock vs Z1-900 mirror that is placed better.

My K2 with aftermarket mirrors, rotate and adjust width. Here in the shorter position, later rotated for max view.

I see what you mean on your bottom picture. 
The z1enterprises.com also has a complete black long Z1 mirror which has the mirror piece hidden(from the front view)inside a hooded cover;the orig. black Z1 mirrors were able to be adjusted/pivot up inside these hooded covers.
I'm not certain the repros also have the same feature.

I like both their small silver ones and the black,both a long stalk mirror;I just want to get the ones most resistant to vibration.
I feel Many auto drivers are certainly blind murderers who should not take their eyes off the roadway. 

Here are women the most dangerous car driver.
Keep distance and be prepared when a car is waiting to cross your way, meet one that enter wrong side of the road when people are standing beside the road or just want to enter your lane from a smaller road etc.

I have at least 5-10 close to collision each year.

During one ride 2022 on smaller roads I met 5 women on wrong side within 30 minutes. I rode in legal speed, a younger biker might have collided with most of them.

[MauiK3]

We have red light runners here, I never jump out when I get a green before I look again. Some of them say "chance um" and speed through.

[willbird]

On the topic of mirrors on motorcycles :-). Ohio requires a rear view mirror but does NOT define what size. Guy I knew that rode a V twin pushrod american made motorcycle his wife was a Dental Hygienist, he ran a dental mirror as his required rear view mirror :-).

[grcamna2]

I went out to check, the Yamaha lights only have single filament light sockets in them.

Don,have you(do you know anyone who has?)tried to adapt a double filament socket to Honda sohc4's turn signals in the past ?

How about you BenelliSEI,have you done this and then installed LED bulbs ?

[PeWe]

This is a good reminder thread before the season.
At least here were frost and snow are still in charge.

I'll do another rear LED light investigation

[BenelliSEI]

I went out to check, the Yamaha lights only have single filament light sockets in them.

Don,have you(do you know anyone who has?)tried to adapt a double filament socket to Honda sohc4's turn signals in the past ?

How about you BenelliSEI,have you done this and then installed LED bulbs ?

I have a bin of old turn signals and have used the lamp sockets from early GL1000 and 1977/78 cb550/750 inserted into the earlier style base. They have dual filament sockets in the front for running light/turn signal bulbs. A few of my stems had to be opened up (can’t recall which) in order to get two wire through. I just ran a slightly larger drill through.

I’ve never tried an LED bulb. Years ago, I bought a retail display case of Stanley bulbs at an auction, for $10-15. There were so many bulbs in the back of the unit, I haven’t bought one since!

[Tracksnblades1]

We have red light runners here, I never jump out when I get a green before I look again. Some of them say "chance um" and speed through.

We have texting and surfing while driving here…

[Don R]

 We used to use a pair of the front signals and put them on the rear stems, then get red lenses and boom, extra lights back there. Some of the rear stems do need the wiring hole enlarged.
 My 78 Goldwing has a rack and vetter bags on it, when I removed the trunk, I added drag specialties mini's on both sides of the license plate, they work with running and brake lights and I still have amber turn signals.

[grcamna2]

We used to use a pair of the front signals and put them on the rear stems, then get red lenses and boom, extra lights back there. Some of the rear stems do need the wiring hole enlarged.
 My 78 Goldwing has a rack and vetter bags on it, when I removed the trunk, I added drag specialties mini's on both sides of the license plate, they work with running and brake lights and I still have amber turn signals.

Do you have a type of electric component to give your extra brake lights more power while the tail/running lights are on,or do the taillight section of the bulbs temporarily turn-off inside the turn sigs while the signals are flashing ?

[PeWe]

I upgraded my  2 CB750's today thanks to this thread!
LED bulb improved both rear light and brake light.

In very tight highway traffic in several lanes, more lights can be needed.
A helmet mounted red LED with stretchy strap aiming backwards might be something.

New rear light close to old brake light.
New brake light improves more.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VJWRKWB/ref=pe_24982401_503747021_TE_SCE_dp_1

I did not search for cheapest. Important it has light aiming sideways for licence plate.

This bulb will hopefully live much longer as specified.

[MauiK3]

Do you know the brand bulb?
Looks good, light is higher color temperature more like 4000k instead of what looks like 2700k