LED tail and brake lights, perhaps signals too

[raphski]

Hi,
Back from a recent evening ride and noticed my tail light was out, kind of scary. I good reminder to check lights prior to the ride. At any rate turns out it was just a burnt out bulb. I would like to switch over to LED's to reduce draw and also get brighter lights if possible. Can I just plug them in or is it more complex than that?
Thanks!
Raphael

[Tony Smith]

Hi,
Back from a recent evening ride and noticed my tail light was out, kind of scary. I good reminder to check lights prior to the ride. At any rate turns out it was just a burnt out bulb. I would like to switch over to LED's to reduce draw and also get brighter lights if possible. Can I just plug them in or is it more complex than that?
Thanks!
Raphael

Depending on what you buy it can be simply "plug-n-play". I replaced my stop and tail lights with multi LED lights that used the same base, this means my tail light is a lot brighter than stock and the brake a bit brighter (it's the reflector that makes the difference.

I've stopped short of replacing the blinkers as I am yet to find an LED bulb that I think will actually work all that well in standard BMW blinkers, but I have replaced the front parking bulb with an LED strip glued and cable-tied to the bottom of the instrument mounting plate. An LED headlight bulb will be bought when I find a decent lamp assembly that fits.

[mrclubike]

For the tun signals use these bulbs with this Flasher
no resistors or any thing required.
Plug and play  

[mrclubike]

For the brake and tail light Use these
The brake bulb will need to be modified
You will have to cut the end of the Heat sink off to clear the lens.
The plastic part at the top of the base will have to be trimmed to get it into the socket

The tail light bulb will plug straight in with no modifying

This set up is a lot brighter than the standard bulbs because the LED's point back into the reflector

I have seen this
http://www.beemershop.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=BS&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BK40TWIN
And it is not as bright as the Sylvania ZEVO and cost twice as much

[raphski]

Thank you!!!

Report to follow once I get them installed. It's really the rear tail and brake light I'm concerned with. The signals seem bright. While we are on the subject of lighting I do have a headlamp question as well. I recently converted back to the stock headlight, the previous owner had a goofy aftermarket light on it. On the headlight reflector under the headlight bulb there is a opening for another small bulb. This is not on my bike and the wire has been cut. If one of you has a photo of what it's supposed to look like and it's purpose I would like to see it.

Raphael

[Barry]

The small bulb was only fitted to European bikes. It's a parking light that comes on in the first position after off on a Euro ignition switch. Euro switches have 5 positions including off where as US bikes only have 3.

The bulb is a 4 W  BA9s that fits in a push in bulb holder BMW part No 62 14 8 680 130

[Bob_Roller]

One point to make, is that the LED color needs to be the same as the lens it will be shining through .

Put a white LED behind a red lens and it will be quite dim as compared to a red LED .

Here's a link to a site that has specific parts for BMW's .

http://motoelekt.com/lighting.htm

I put the Beacon 2 and the ' Stopper ' a 24 LED light bar below the license plate along with a part they no longer sell, two 8 LED flashing LEDs, the add on parts come on with the brake light and get noticed , I do a lot of night riding .

[raphski]

Thanks!

I changed out the tail, brake, and signals with the Syvania LED's of the correct color. It cost about 75 bucks for everything. Total plug and play with the exception of the one bulb mod whcih was supper easy, took about 20 seconds with a diamond wheel on the grinder. I'm not convinced that the signals are any brighter, perhaps if I'm board one night I will install one of each and find out. I did it for lower draw and reliability.

Barry, thank you for the info on the mystery bulb opening I won't worry about that then.  

My headlight also didn't come with a rubber grommet where the wires enter the bucket on the lower side, it seems like there should be one although I didn't find it in the parts fitche when I looked. I may be looking in the wrong category. If someone easily has the part number please send it my way.

Here are two photos, one of the LED bulb in the signal and the other of a voltmeter I recently picked up on ebay. Totally sweet, also can charge my phone and has a switch in the back so you can turn it off as desired.

Thanks again!!
R

[mrclubike]

One point to make, is that the LED color needs to be the same as the lens it will be shining through .

Put a white LED behind a red lens and it will be quite dim as compared to a red LED .

Here's a link to a site that has specific parts for BMW's .

http://motoelekt.com/lighting.htm

I put the Beacon 2 and the ' Stopper ' a 24 LED light bar below the license plate along with a part they no longer sell, two 8 LED flashing LEDs, the add on parts come on with the brake light and get noticed , I do a lot of night riding .

The bulbs I show are Amber for the turn and Red for the brake and tail light  They have a "R" and an "A" at the end of the part #

I have seen the Beacon "2"  Bulb assy from Motorrad Elektrik side by side with the Red ZEVO LED and the ZEVO is Brighter  

[wilcom]

was get'n a pain in the neck look'n sideways

[raphski]

Thanks for straighten me out!!
 
Just back from a cool evening ride in Santa Fe and all is well with my lights.
Next on the list is my clunky fork, or at least that is what I'm guessing is clunking on my dirt road. It's also leaking a bit of fork oil on one side as seen in the now correctly oriented photo.

[Bob_Roller]

looks like the left fork is seeping some oil .

A job for the off season !!

Where did you get the voltmeter, been considering one for the R65's .

[raphski]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291695042925?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

8.99 on ebay
It's pretty sweet. I'm still learning about voltage. It is interesting when I turn it on it usually reads 17.5 then after a few seconds goes down to 12.5, this is with the bike not running.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello,
May I suggest you buy the lamp holder for the parking light and install it ? Even if you do not run a parking light. This way the hole in the reflector will be closed and the moisture will have a more difficult job to reach the very very fragile mirror lining in the headlight....
I do not know what are the road regulations where you live but I live in a country where insurance look at everything they can find in a severe accident not to pay the money they owe. So you'd better fit only approved parts on your motorcycle, including the bulbs.... Just my 2 cents !

[raphski]

Thanks for the perspective. I will order the parking light. If it will work with my US ignition I will set it up and use it as well.