Tail Light

CrazyTed

.040 Over
Joined
Oct 2, 2008
Messages
87
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
Ok, this tail light is just pitiful. You can't tell when it is on running light or on tail light. I really need to find a definitive way to increase the visibility from the back of the bike. I've tried several different LED tail lights, brighter bulb tail lights, etc. Anybody actually have the answer to more light from the tail light? It's bad enough that there's not enough light out front from the pitiful stock headlight. I'm even thinking of changing the headlight reflector to something that may actually work. This is a great bike but trying to figure out how to get enough light is crazy. It almost doesn't make it to the USA DOT Federal standards for lighting it's so dim.
 
How about a nice set of HELLA lights? You can blind the drivers behind you!

Have the old lady ride backwards?

Just kiddin'...I'm a smart-ass at heart.

Are you riding a standard? touring? what?
Are you running a Run-Turn-Brake?

If you've tried the RTB and changed to a higher wattage bulb out back, obviously, your only alternatives would be to add more lights out back, or change your expectations.

Some have added hardbags with built in lights, others have added trunks with lights. You can also check with 3M for retroreflective films that will help with visibility out back... depending upon your paint color. How about some LEDs?

As far as the headlight is concerned, a lot of people are changing the headlight bulbs to PIAA or Sylvania bulbs. Use the search forum tool for bulbs that others have used. Some folks, myself included, are adding 'down low' lights or TRI fog lights to increase the lumins out front.

Good Luck
 
Last edited:
Considering I posted this in the R3T forum, it would be safe to say I have a touring model. I have changed the bulb out front already and added driving lights. The single front light is pitiful. As for the back, I have tried higher wattage bulbs, LED bulb, etc without actually improving the difference between the tail light and the brake light. I'm looking at adding some hyperlites maybe. I am in the process of adding DOT tape to the hard back mounts underneath as I sell the tape in my business. I was hoping someone had a source for a really ignorant bright brake light.
 
CrazyTed said:
This is a great bike but trying to figure out how to get enough light is crazy. It almost doesn't make it to the USA DOT Federal standards for lighting it's so dim.
Click to expand...



Reminds me of my BSA 650 Hornet. It shipped with a generator and a flashlight was brighter at night. I found an alternator from a Lightening and that helped.
 
Not bad mouthing your R3T but I consider the R3 with twin headlights it's trademark. Even the twin beams can stand a bit of upgraded light from Sylvania Silverstars. I can't imagine one pitiful headlight. I'll have to remove a bilb from one of my two and see the effect......

You might consider changing the front to a HID unit. If the bucket is big enough, you can put all the guts inside.

On the taillight scenario, I'm in the process of designing and producing a multiple LED flat cluster that will fit under the lens and be much brighter than the stock weenie light.

When I have a workable model, it will be om my website.....
 
Flip,

Are you familiar with the BRAKE light. Currently sold here:

Road Rocketeer Products Home

It was originally marketed by Gizmo Mill with very little support. I had two of them on BMW's and there were excellent lights. If that's the sort of thing you're working on, it would be a huge improvement over the stock light. You should sell all you can make....
 

Yepper.

There is a rather interesting story behind that taillight. The original units were made by a Canadian and then a certain (will remain nameless here) aftermarket purveyor of accessories contracted with some Chinese sweatshop to make knockoffs, of course, much cheaper. It put the Canadian out of business and the knockoffs, while cheaper, weren't very good. Problem is, LED's unlike incandescent lamps, don't throw light to the side. That is, the only illuminate in the direction they mount. However, the new generation of LED's have overcome that. Meanwhile, the Canadian is bankrupt.

Mr. Smith's Halogen bulb in a modulator socket is a viable alternative but the LED cluster using new generation LED's with the appropriate circuitry is a better solution. With a nominal 20,000 hour life expectancy plus a very low triggering voltage and amperage draw, you can forget about the taillight...forever. Like my brake line clamps and my handlebar clamps, it will outlast the bike.
 
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