Custom LED Taillight

Status
Not open for further replies.
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com
Click to expand...

Only a minor point, and possibly not important on a motorcycle, but those LEDs would not be legal as orange side reflectors in most jurisdictions.
They are only orange when lit, not when parked, and aren't reflective ?

3 lads here ran into a trailer at night, no reflectors, not good.
But trailers are a lot bigger/harder than motorcycles...

Neat FastInterback...
 
T95 said:
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Nice Bikes!
Two Questions:

Are turn signals required in California for bikes that were not issued with them from the factory. I have a 71.

No, 1971 was the last year that it was optional. And this bike never had turn signals. I confirmed this with the CHP when i
was getting the new title issued. Although my wiring harness has the ability to add turn signals, I prefered the cleaner look without signals...and Im sure it would cost 500 USD to buy all the parts needed

So LEDs will work on the original positive ground systems by just reversing the wiring? Your the first person I have noticed doing.
Click to expand...

And yes, LEDs are simply an electrical one-way valve. And in a basic installation as a side marker light, all you need to do is reverse the wiring
Click to expand...
 
Yellow_Cad said:
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com

Custom LED Taillight
Click to expand...

What is the exact part number you are using on the Norton? Also, how is it hooked up (to what)? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Here is the link, I have purchase several times from this guy (or people) fast delivery. I ran the wires from the side marker lights back to the tailight. I have a Lucas "multiple connector" where the tail light unit connects to the main wireing harness. There were some empty holes so I just soldered some of the norton terminators on the marker light wires and plugged in. red wire to ground and the black wire to rear running light.

again, here is the link with specs

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... Fulite.htm
 
Rohan said:
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com
Click to expand...

Only a minor point, and possibly not important on a motorcycle, but those LEDs would not be legal as orange side reflectors in most jurisdictions.
They are only orange when lit, not when parked, and aren't reflective ?

3 lads here ran into a trailer at night, no reflectors, not good.
But trailers are a lot bigger/harder than motorcycles...

Neat FastInterback...
Click to expand...
Thank you,

Yes you are correct about the orange reflector issue...ironically, the whole reason I put illumination on the side of my Norton was to let drivers see me from the side, instead of waiting until the reflectors were lit up by headlights (as you mentioned it may be too late in some cases). These LEDs are very bright, and can be seen from many angles, not just when looking at the bikes profile. So in this case, I belive I am improving my safety with these lights......I might mention, I dont get off work until midnight, so I ride in the dark everyday and I am always looking at ways to make my fleet of bikes more noticeable at night. LEDs are great because of the extremely low draw they have on the battery,(think old bike eletricals) I think I am going to do that LED tailight from another thread, so I can leave the "parking lights" on when Im in city. they could run all night probably without draining the battery.
 
I'm going to do this, light 'er up like a Christmas tree so they (cages/trucks) can see you sooner . Just reverse the wires,why didn't anyone else think this ,fear of burning out the light (s)? My 70 S is the very last year of no turnsignals reqd. here in Ontario, Canada, b.t.w. So many clowns on cel phones , night driving, etc. that you NEED them.
 
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com

Custom LED Taillight
Click to expand...

Is the one you used red? I see they also have yellow and the stock one is yellow. Did you give thought to yellow vs red and if so, what do you think on that? The second post on this thread seems to have the California rules on required colors and from what I see, it can be red or yellow.
 
Yellow_Cad said:
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com

Custom LED Taillight
Click to expand...

Is the one you used red? I see they also have yellow and the stock one is yellow. Did you give thought to yellow vs red and if so, what do you think on that? The second post on this thread seems to have the California rules on required colors and from what I see, it can be red or yellow.
Click to expand...

motoalchemist, what do you think on the yellow/red thing I mentioned? Just interested on your take on it.
 
Yellow_Cad said:
Yellow_Cad said:
motoalchemist said:
My fastback is a 1971...no turn signals. But i do have the LED side marker lights. still have POS ground...just hooked up the light backwards.

Here you can see in this picture...these LEDs look almost Identical the Norton reflectors. Got at superbrightleds.com

Custom LED Taillight
Click to expand...

Is the one you used red? I see they also have yellow and the stock one is yellow. Did you give thought to yellow vs red and if so, what do you think on that? The second post on this thread seems to have the California rules on required colors and from what I see, it can be red or yellow.
Click to expand...

motoalchemist, what do you think on the yellow/red thing I mentioned? Just interested on your take on it.
Click to expand...

Hey Yellow,

sorry for delay..anyway, I wentr with the yellow simply because yellow/amber is generally the color of a side or marker light. But also the red taillights and yellow side lights to me creates more attention to a driver otherwise not paying attention. usually all a drivers sees is red tailights, unless somebody illuminateds a turn signal, so by having a yellow light on all the time I am hoping it catches the attention of a car driver .
 
As for the U.S., I don't have the cite but as I recollect, under US Dept of Transportaiotn/Fed law, all motorcycles built after 12/31/73 are required to have turn signals. Of course, that doesn't speak to state laws that might have required them before that date.
 
xbacksideslider said:
As for the U.S., I don't have the cite but as I recollect, under US Dept of Transportaiotn/Fed law, all motorcycles built after 12/31/73 are required to have turn signals. Of course, that doesn't speak to state laws that might have required them before that date.
Click to expand...

I don't think state laws will supersede that law. At least I hope not.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top