LED brake light & turn signals

Cafe_to_go

Cafe_to_go

Coast to Coast
I will be upgrading my turn signals to LED's, is there anything I need to be aware about? My mechanic told me that old motorcycle relay's don't give enough juice to LED turn signal's and that I should be okay since I have an automotive flasher relay? Any truth to this?
 
yep.. its true..
I got LED from ebay for my cb350 that never worked for that same reason.

I met John at a bike show a few years back and told him of my experience with LEDs on my cb350 and he showed me what he had for older bikes. I ended up getting custom made LEDs for brake/stop light from and they are amazing.

John at: JD Motorcycle Lighting & Accessories
http://www.jdcustomlighting.com
(416) 284-8202

He hand makes them for bikes that run stator rather than alternators and they work perfect on my cb550.
Im planning to get 2 more rear brake/turn, (since my cb750 has integrate tail/turn lights).
He charges $20 per and work perfect.
 
I dont know...I guess....All I can tell ya is that I swear by John's LEDs.
When I find something that works and I like, I generally stick by it!!.. LOL!!
 
Mechanical relays won't typically work properly with led turn signals. Electronic relays will usually work but your best bet is to buy a relay that is specifically designed to work with led signals. An "automotive" relay doesn't really indicate if something is electronic or compatible with LEDs. If you have one, try it out and see. Iit shouldn't be too hard to wire it up temporarily, and observe whether or not your lights flash. If not. search on Ebay Motors or try www.superbrightleds.com. LED relays shouldn't cost you too much.
 
eurban said:
Mechanical relays won't typically work properly with led turn signals. Electronic relays will usually work but your best bet is to buy a relay that is specifically designed to work with led signals. An "automotive" relay doesn't really indicate if something is electronic or compatible with LEDs.
Click to expand...

Wiring in a resistor or two will solve this problem--less than a couple bucks for the whole bike.

--Chris
 
Or you can just buy the LED's from JD Lighting Assocceries and dont have to worry about all that stuff!!..
 
That's true. And to be honest, that's exactly what I'm going to do as well.

--Thanks, Chris
 
I just put an LED run/brake light on my cb350 and it works like a charm. Using two leads off the pos leg, one with less resisters in line to achieve the braking light.
 
To add more nonsense. What type of LED lights are you talking about? I stuck an LED 1157 in my tail light (because the vibration caused by the design of the mount killed fillements) which you can get at Autozone, and it works fine, it's already got the appropriate resisters inside the housing. If you want more of a panel of LEDs or something then you should go with what Noel has posted.


Mechanical flashers on the other hand will not work because the LED does not draw enough current to heat the flasher up enough for it to work (all mechanical flashers work by heating up) so it's kind of the opposite of what the old timer was telling you. Electronic flashers will (as stated) work fine because that's what they're for, but it being "automotive" does not by any means mean that it's electronic.
 
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