The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Ben_Carufel on November 30, 2010, 05:05:26 PM

Title: Bob Roller -- LED/Reflectors for Rear Fender?
Post by: Ben_Carufel on November 30, 2010, 05:05:26 PM

I saw you mention recently that you swapped out your round reflectors for ones with integrated LEDs.

I wonder if these are what you put on?

http://www.etrailer.com/p-MCL59RB.html

In planning an upgrade to LED turn signals, some have mentioned the directionality of the LEDs. Perhaps if a guy wired these things to bling along with the corresponding turn signal, he would have slightly better visibility?

Personally if I went that way I'd swap them out to amber -- I know DOT wants red reflectors at the back of the bike and amber at the front, but I'm willing to bet that 99.9% of the population doesn't use the color differentiation to identify which end of a car they're looking at in the darkness...but at least then they'd blink more amber, just like the turn signals.

Title: Re: Bob Roller -- LED/Reflectors for Rear Fender?
Post by: Ben_Carufel on November 30, 2010, 05:07:13 PM

And here's the amber version, for future reference:

http://www.etrailer.com/p-MCL59AB.html

Title: Re: Bob Roller -- LED/Reflectors for Rear Fender?
Post by: Bob_Roller on November 30, 2010, 05:56:30 PM

I got the lights at Checker Auto, at least that's what they are called here in the Phoenix area, maybe O'Reilly auto parts in the southeast US .

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=C523R&eq=&Tp=

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lights/Optronics/MCL36RB.html

They've got a stud mount on the back, fits right into the mounting hole for the reflector, you need to make up a twin lead wire harness, as the wires on the light are only 3 inches long .

I put the wires in black heat shrink tubing then drilled a few extra holes in the front of the plastic housing for the tail/brake light housing .

Title: Re: Bob Roller -- LED/Reflectors for Rear Fender?
Post by: Ben_Carufel on November 30, 2010, 06:59:46 PM

Quote

I got the lights at Checker Auto, at least that's what they are called here in the Phoenix area, maybe O'Reilly auto parts in the southeast US .

http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=C523R&eq=&Tp=

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Lights/Optronics/MCL36RB.html

They've got a stud mount on the back, fits right into the mounting hole for the reflector, you need to make up a twin lead wire harness, as the wires on the light are only 3 inches long .

I put the wires in black heat shrink tubing then drilled a few extra holes in the front of the plastic housing for the tail/brake light housing .

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I'll have to decide if I'm going to set the bike up for night riding or go for the cleaner look. Since I'll likely have another airhead soon, maybe I'll go clean with this one and set the other one up for all purpose/touring use...