The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Ben_Carufel on November 27, 2010, 11:51:14 AM
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I did a boatload of searches on the forum here and couldn't find this info, so I wonder if it's been covered before.
My R65 is sans front turn signals as it had a fairing with integral signals on it which the previous owner removed. The wiring is there, I just have to acquire a set of turn signals.
I'm picking up some generic ones for the time being ($13 at the local cycle shop) but will eventually outfit the bike with LED turn signals front and rear, both for safety and for modernity. I'm going in a bit of a cafe racer direction with it, so I'm going to search and search 'till I find just the right ones, but in the meantime...
Has anyone sourced a turn signal relay that does not prompt the fast blinking problem?
These guys have a few different products which cater to motorcyclists and cagers:
This one is a "Load Equalizer" which is installed in line with the current relay left intact:
http://www.customled.com/products/load_equalizer/load_equalizer.htm
This one is an entirely new relay (not sure if it's compatible with the R65, but I'd bet that plug isn't a plug-and-play solution)...
http://www.customled.com/products/flasher_relay/flasher_relay.htm
Do any of you guys have a picture of the turn signal relay on the R65? Perhaps we could have them do a "custom" batch that are plug and play for us...
Thoughts?
Ben
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This is a really excellent technical article on airhead relays with pictures and diagrams. Seems to indicate that your flasher relay is an electromechanical type not an old fashioned thermal relay.
http://www.airheads.org/content/view/159/49/
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Here's a link to relays that are made to be used with LED replacement lamps .
http://www.ledlight.com/led-flashers-load-equalizers.aspx
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I use these LED products in the tail/brake light sockets on both the R65s. Have a couple on order right now for the twin-bulb tail light fixture on the Triumph trophy.
SuperBright has great prices and immediate delivery plus made in the USofA.
Scroll to the bottom of the page for the load resistors and LED relays that will eliminate your problem. Relay pin out diagrams are on this same page.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Ftail-brake-turn.html
Monte
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About 2 years back I tried LED turn signals. I was having a power drain from the sidecar headlight, taillight and my stop and go city driving. I put in a no minimum load flash I got from superbrightleds.com. It wasn’t expensive and I am still using it. I tried a LED tail light at the same time. I was really happy with the LED tail light and disappointed with the LED turn signal. I hooked the right side up with standard bulbs and the left with LED’s. The right side, with standard bulbs was much brighter. I thought with a black cycle on a dark night I need all the light I could get and went with standard bulbs. So, I would stick with the standard bulbs....unless the LED’s have gotten better
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Thanks guys. I'll likely order some LED turn signals and see how they work!
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Monte,
Which LED bulbs are you using for the tail/brake lights? The BA19 1157 dual intensity? In white since the lens is already red? Just plug them in with no load resistor? Sounds even easier than the motorrad elektrik kit...
Steve
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Keep in mind the R65 has two bulbs in the tail light housing. Both are single-contact 1156-Style bulbs with different wattage.
The tail light bulb on the bottom I left as is. May upgrade to an LED wide angle white... someday. The brake light bulb I converted to the SuperBright BA15 24-LED, wide angle, Red 1156-R24.
Considering that most states require a white light on the license plate. Those folks rocking dual filament tail-brake light 1157 filament bulbs should perhaps order the white LEDs to be legal.
For the Triumph, I'm rolling the legal dice and went with the red LEDs as SuperBright says that when combined with the red plastic lens, the light output will be "redder"... they say.
No resistor circuit required. Perhaps the sheer number of LEDs -24- is enough not to cause any issue. I don't have LEDs in the turn signals.
Monte
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I used the motorrad elecktrik beacon LED taillight...did not try a LED bulb in the tail light.
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Thanks Monte, I just ordered the bulb. Very curious about what the difference will be in the real world...
Steve
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Here is a good write up on the how's and why's of LED lights and load balancing. http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=205077
I've tried it both with LED and filament bulbs. The problem I have found is that almost all LEDs are unidirectional. Great light output in one direction but almost disappear when viewed from the side. Even a very small filament bulb seems brighter if its in a correctly formed reflector housing.
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Agreed re directional aspect of LEDs. The bulb replacement Monte suggested has radially oriented LED's in addition to a wide angle array aimed out, which should give the best of both worlds- direct plus reflector enhanced illumination. Like I said, I'm very curious...
Will keep you posted. I'll take some before and after photos.
Steve
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SuperBrightLEDs give you a choice of a wide angle spread of light or a tighter focused output. Take your pick. The bulbs can be arrayed to also provide a sideways light emission.
I just received today the LED tail/brake light bulbs for the Triumph Trophy 900. 24 LEDs -each bulb- in a wide angle design. The bulbs are arrayed to also provide a sideways light emission.
My selection of red LEDs, combined with the red plastic faceted tail light lens is quite impressive in a dark garage. It was easy to leave one conventional filament bulb in place next to the new LED unit. Light 'em up and... way cool.
Monte
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Thanks again for all the info Monte. I'm planning the Beacon2 for the taillight/brake light, but will also likely do LED turn signals. One thought I had -- I've seen Bob Roller or maybe Barry commenting on how he put round LED/reflector units in place of the factory ones. Perhaps a guy could wire those up to blink with the turn signal, thus giving a nice side indicator since the LED turn signals are so directional.