Topic: What do you think about LED Lights on Motorcycle ? (Read 7854 times)

JeffsHogPen · « **on:** June 29, 2009, 03:01:39 PM »

The Wife and I were In Austin at the Republic Of Texas Rally a few weeks ago. We saw a lot of Bikes with the LED Lights. The are flashy and are an Eye catcher. Now my Wife wants me to have some put on My FXSTSSE. I have never thought about this before and have mixed feelings on it. What are your thoughts ?

Fired00d · « **Reply #1 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:11:07 PM »

I've seen some "tastefully" done that enhance the bike. I'd check w/local and state laws before getting some (they are illegal here). If "Momma" (wife) likes and wants them... get them and use that to your advantage next time "you" want to get something for your bike.

Ride Safe,
Fired00d

rganz · « **Reply #2 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:23:40 PM »

Can't say I like them.
Reminds me of something you see at the circus.

Different strokes for different folks I guess

Rob

ice6900 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:33:41 PM »

when not over done they can bring a good highlight to some bikes

1abastarsmda · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:15:08 PM »

I have to assume you are talking about LED lights around the engine area. I've seen some that look good and others that look tacky. It's a personal taste thing. If you don't like them and depending on how savvy your wife is, tell her that you would need a bigger battery and a different voltage regulator and a few other things and that it will end up costing well over $1000 to install them. She won't want them anymore.

mrmagloo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:21:08 PM »

Ghay.

Gecko · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2009, 05:46:28 PM »

LED lights for turn signals, running lights, auxillary lights, fine. LED lights for lighting up chrome or to shine on the ground underneath - pure 100% undeniably and entirely RICE! Oh, and gay. I bought a set of flashing ones that screw onto the valve stems and light up when the bike moves. I put them on my friend's bikes just to bug them. Stupid, poser accessory IMO.

Trapperdog · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2009, 06:15:18 PM »

Hey JC, you going to address this one?

JCZ · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2009, 08:06:05 PM »

Quote from: trapperdog on June 29, 2009, 06:15:18 PM

Hey JC, you going to address this one?

What's to address?

I will say that a majority of the Nor Cal group have them. Didn't you get them when Mel did, Roger?

Trapperdog · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2009, 08:41:57 PM »

Quote from: JCZ on June 29, 2009, 08:06:05 PM

What's to address?

I will say that a majority of the Nor Cal group have them. Didn't you get them when Mel did, Roger?

No, not gay that I know of

, However circus's have always seemed appealing. May have to order me up some red ones to match the bike

it's at Jim's anyway getting a new Pro Clutch and starter clutch.

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2009, 04:49:19 PM »

I think they look good when done right, and with restraint.

I have them on my Black with blue Flame fatboy. They are blue LED's and bring out the blue flames nicely at night. They also highlight the pipes and rocker covers.

I have been thinking of adding some to my SERG

Buffy · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2009, 05:08:43 PM »

Take a look at my signature line and watch the Road Glide pictures.

If they don't see me with all of those LEDs, then we're all in trouble.

grc · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2009, 05:14:05 PM »

I don't know, do those lights make the bike run any better? (no) How about making the bike ride any better? (no) Do they get you in trouble with the law in certain states and localities? (yes) Do they remind me of the Willy G. school of "screw function, as long as it looks good"? (yes) Do you plan to fire them up with the bike in a dark garage while you sit around with some friends in some lawn chairs with a cold one admiring the glow (from the lights, not the beer)? If so, don't forget to charge the battery when you're done.

Not my cup of tea, but for those who are into show I guess they're OK. At least I don't find them as distracting as those friggin' neon tubes under the tuner cars that seem so popular with the kids.

Jerry

spydglide · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:15:08 PM »

They float my boat. Much better than obnoxious power-robbing drag pipes in my humble opinion. And what good are these scooters if you can't have fun with 'um in a ostentatious way anyhoo?

har! spyder

1abastarsmda · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:18:49 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on June 30, 2009, 06:15:08 PM

They float my boat. Much better than obnoxious power-robbing drag pipes in my humble opinion. And what good are these scooters if you can't have fun with 'um in a ostentatious way anyhoo? har! spyder

Let's hear it for ostentatiousness. Woo-hoo!

Gecko · « **Reply #15 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:24:31 PM »

GA-AY-AY-AY-AY!

tony1968 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:59:43 PM »

Reminds me of when you see the old amf electra glides with all the lights on the saddle bags and the back and all over... kinda gawdy... IMHO but hey to each his own...

erniezap · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2009, 07:08:34 PM »

Quote from: trapperdog on June 29, 2009, 08:41:57 PM

No, not gay that I know of , However circus's have always seemed appealing. May have to order me up some red ones to match the bike
it's at Jim's anyway getting a new Pro Clutch and starter clutch.

If you want to see what the red ones look like, check out Jim's or my cherry...

Trapperdog · « **Reply #18 on:** June 30, 2009, 09:52:30 PM »

I'm surprised to see so much hub bub over some colored lights

No one seems to pay this much attention to all the "chromosexuals" around

Guess I'm just used to seeing lights on most of the NorCal crew's bikes. Kinda cool at night when we are all standing around swapping lies at a motel and the bikes are all lit up. Other guests seem more inclined to come on over and chat it up a bit. I don't think the AMP draw is great enough to discharge the Bat. enough though. JMHO

JCZ · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:05:00 AM »

We don't have a monopoly on it. I got a PM yesterday saying that a majority of the boys in the south have em, too.

No Roger, you can leave them on for hours with no issue. I know of a case where somebody accidentally left them on all night. Bike started the next morning....no problem.

MIKEYTEE · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2009, 10:52:17 AM »

Quote from: JCZ on July 01, 2009, 10:05:00 AM

We don't have a monopoly on it. I got a PM yesterday saying that a majority of the boys in the south have em, too.

No Roger, you can leave them on for hours with no issue. I know of a case where somebody accidentally left them on all night. Bike started the next morning....no problem.

I know your talking Southern Cal. Not the REAL SOUTH!
Mike

spydglide · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2009, 11:03:38 AM »

I gotta say : Before you go to the expense of putting LED's on your bike you've got to get use to washing your bike on a regular basis so the lights have something shiney to cause a reflection..

...just saying

har!

spyder

T MAC · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2009, 11:50:43 AM »

chromosexual - now that is a new one to me

I bought a kit from Custom Dynamics last winter when I could not ride - had to find some mod to do on the bike- it was winter and I could not ride

. Never installed the leds but I plan on it maybe this year. I really bought them for riding at night more than posing - sitting around my bike lit up at night- with my hawg wired tunes cranking doesn't sound like a bad idea though

I like the kit that I bought, it seems simple and was $229 shipped. I think I would contact Jim before I bought any leds and see what he offered and recommended. The kit I bought has 13 led stripes and looks like it might require more than some kits I have seem since them.

As for Led brake lights, turn signals or other lighting the only way to go for visibility and longevity. I have noticed most automoblie manufacurers have gone to LED's as well as scooter makers.

Trapperdog · « **Reply #23 on:** July 01, 2009, 12:06:33 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on July 01, 2009, 11:03:38 AM

I gotta say : Before you go to the expense of putting LED's on your bike you've got to get use to washing your bike on a regular basis so the lights have something shiney to cause a reflection.. ...just saying har! spyder

I wondered why JC is always washing his and Terrie's bikes

Trapperdog · « **Reply #24 on:** July 01, 2009, 12:07:50 PM »

Quote from: JCZ on July 01, 2009, 10:05:00 AM

We don't have a monopoly on it. I got a PM yesterday saying that a majority of the boys in the south have em, too.

No Roger, you can leave them on for hours with no issue. I know of a case where somebody accidentally left them on all night. Bike started the next morning....no problem.

That's what I was saying JC

JCZ · « **Reply #25 on:** July 01, 2009, 01:16:48 PM »

Quote from: MIKEYTEE on July 01, 2009, 10:52:17 AM

I know your talking Southern Cal. Not the REAL SOUTH!
Mike

So Cal isn't the south........that's So Cal. No, he's from the South. Chip also mentioned that many of the boys in the south got dem dar lights.

Kind of like drag pipes or any number of other mods on a bike.........some like em, some don't.

But we're having fun with this one.

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #26 on:** July 01, 2009, 01:47:15 PM »

Quote from: grc on June 30, 2009, 05:14:05 PM

I don't know, do those lights make the bike run any better? (no) How about making the bike ride any better? (no) Do they get you in trouble with the law in certain states and localities? (yes) Do they remind me of the Willy G. school of "screw function, as long as it looks good"? (yes) Do you plan to fire them up with the bike in a dark garage while you sit around with some friends in some lawn chairs with a cold one admiring the glow (from the lights, not the beer)? If so, don't forget to charge the battery when you're done.

Not my cup of tea, but for those who are into show I guess they're OK. At least I don't find them as distracting as those friggin' neon tubes under the tuner cars that seem so popular with the kids.

Jerry

Do they make your bike much more visible at night to others?.....YES

I live way out in the sticks. I run with the led's on, and it makes my bike much more visible. My bike gets ridden quite a bit in the dark.

Also I have left mine on for several hours with no trouble restarting the bike.

BANDANAGIRL · « **Reply #27 on:** July 03, 2009, 11:31:21 PM »

I love the lights on my bike and I know Don loves the ones on his.
Its kinda fun turning them on while your in a restaurant or anywhere for that matter and watching all the people looking at them. It is a conversation piece. When everyone gets together and we all turn them on its pretty awesome.
And Jim ( Hddude ) does a great job putting them on.

Soozie

JoMo · « **Reply #28 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:34:37 AM »

I think there allright if you like that sort of thing.

Jo MO NYC

nidan · « **Reply #29 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:30:39 AM »

In moderation they can certainly help visibility

1abastarsmda · « **Reply #30 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:00:21 AM »

Last night I saw a bike coming down the road with the blue LED's in the engine area. What I really noticed was that coming from a distance in the opposite direction, where I would normally just see headlamps, I could also see the blue illuminating from the side of the bike and I immediately knew it was a bike coming the other way. That's probably not a bad thing for safety issues. It really looked kind of nice too.

I think I would consider getting them if they actually made the chrome engine pieces to cover everything. Having all those granite colored areas, I don't know if there's enough reflective area on the engines to really make these SE models look good. I would really like it if Kuryakyn would come out with the covers for engines with the hydraulic clutch, as my understanding is that they are not available to us.

OTIS · « **Reply #31 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:16:38 AM »

Quote from: Gecko on June 29, 2009, 05:46:28 PM

LED lights for turn signals, running lights, auxillary lights, fine. LED lights for lighting up chrome or to shine on the ground underneath - pure 100% undeniably and entirely RICE! Oh, and gay. I bought a set of flashing ones that screw onto the valve stems and light up when the bike moves. I put them on my friend's bikes just to bug them. Stupid, poser accessory IMO.

I like em i have them on my bike i have installed them on probably 20 bikes no body Gay around here. must be in the eyes of the beholder.

OTIS

spydglide · « **Reply #32 on:** July 18, 2009, 07:59:06 AM »

Quote from: OTIS on July 18, 2009, 12:16:38 AM

I like em i have them on my bike i have installed them on probably 20 bikes no body Gay around here. must be in the eyes of the beholder.

OTIS

Hey Otis, I'm thinking that Gecko wasn't referring to you when he made that remark.

har!

spyder

OTIS · « **Reply #33 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:10:11 PM »

Quote from: spydglide on July 18, 2009, 07:59:06 AM

Hey Otis, I'm thinking that Gecko wasn't referring to you when he made that remark. har! spyder

He is reffering to motor lights in general i have had em for 5 years you old pirate.

Randy

LarryB · « **Reply #34 on:** July 19, 2009, 07:44:04 AM »

ok. now that we have determined they are not gay, what are some of the better manufacturers of these lights. I know the real trick to these is the install. nothing worse than seeing the lights hangin down. I want to see the glow, not the light.
What are some of the horror stories on installing?

MD-Dave · « **Reply #35 on:** July 20, 2009, 08:39:09 PM »

Quote from: LarryB on July 19, 2009, 07:44:04 AM

ok. now that we have determined they are not gay, what are some of the better manufacturers of these lights. I know the real trick to these is the install. nothing worse than seeing the lights hangin down. I want to see the glow, not the light.
What are some of the horror stories on installing?

I went with the orange Boogey Lights on the O/B SERG. There is a guy that installs them at shows around the Maryland area. He will also come to your house or office to do it. He did an exceptional job on mine. You can not see them until I turn them on. He used braided wire covers and chrome zip ties where he followed my brake lines to the front calipers. If anyone wants his number, just PM me.
I had the Custom Dynamics LED's on my Night Rod and they look very similar to the Boogey Lights. I heard somewhere that Custom Dynamics make the LED's for a lot of the vendors. Not sure though.

sgchick · « **Reply #36 on:** July 21, 2009, 12:12:52 PM »

I love my LED lights that HD Dude, Jim, put on for me. He did a great job and you don't see them till I turn them on

I've just had them for a short time and get lots of positive comments on them.

miker · « **Reply #37 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:04:22 PM »

I had them on my 03, purple, boogey lights, they worked good. I felt more visible at night, not in a gay way or anything not that there is anything wrong with....errrr...nevermind.

The last 3 bikes I have had, I did not put them on, don't know why maybe because to me its a little spendy? I dunno.

Wrongway · « **Reply #38 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:23:39 PM »

Saw a few as we pulled out of Hood River and they all looked real good. The are not over done, Jim does a suttle install. Not like the front disc covers you see on Wings and some Harleys. I don't have them, yet.

DICKW · « **Reply #39 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:41:51 PM »

Quote from: LarryB on July 19, 2009, 07:44:04 AM

ok. now that we have determined they are not gay, what are some of the better manufacturers of these lights. I know the real trick to these is the install. nothing worse than seeing the lights hangin down. I want to see the glow, not the light.
What are some of the horror stories on installing?

Larry
I have done several bikes with SWINT LED the install is pretty simple. You have to take the tank off to do the job properly. I always did the installs were you could rebuild the motor and not have any interference (if you get what I am saying).

I think the most noticeable wires will be up front if you Light up the wheel.

These lights don't do anything fancy just on and off.
The Grey Ghost would most likely look the best in white.

They say Red and Blue are illegal Police/Fire.

Anyway that is my take.
I like them and will most likely install the Blue or White on mine.

Before you ask.........you can buy any configuration you want....if done right around $350.00- $400.00 give or take.

miker · « **Reply #40 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:55:10 PM »

Red and blue cannot be projected forward in fla...but my pal with blue over the motor got tagged anyway..white may be the way to go on the 09 Blue Silver cuse...I did like the purple, like black light, anything fluorescent would glow...cool man.

GC_Super · « **Reply #41 on:** July 21, 2009, 02:25:36 PM »

I don't have them on the engine at all, but I did change out my tail lite and turnsignal lites to Kury LED's. At nite it's great to see and very bright, but during the day those that ride behind me say they don't see it very well, and it's the one that flashes when the brake is applied.

?

JeffsHogPen · « **Reply #42 on:** July 27, 2009, 03:53:20 PM »

OK....I am going to do it. My 2007 FXSTSSE is Copper Mountain in Color. Which should I use.....Red Lights or Orange lights ? I would rather highlight the Burnt Orange look if I have the opportunity. I have not seen the Orange lights on any bikes so that is a concern.

MD-Dave · « **Reply #43 on:** July 27, 2009, 04:00:09 PM »

Quote from: JeffsHogPen on July 27, 2009, 03:53:20 PM

OK....I am going to do it. My 2007 FXSTSSE is Copper Mountain in Color. Which should I use.....Red Lights or Orange lights ? I would rather highlight the Burnt Orange look if I have the opportunity. I have not seen the Orange lights on any bikes so that is a concern.

I would go with the Orange. Red is usually reserved for Police or Fire equipment. I had orange lights on my Night Rod. It was black with real flames and the orange really brought out the flames. I have orange on my O/B SERG now, as well. I personally like a glow rather than a spotlight effect so I went with strip LED's around the engine compartment. The attached picture is from the Night Rod. It is hard to get a good picture due to the lighting conditions.

DICKW · « **Reply #44 on:** July 27, 2009, 04:41:11 PM »

Quote from: JeffsHogPen on July 27, 2009, 03:53:20 PM

OK....I am going to do it. My 2007 FXSTSSE is Copper Mountain in Color. Which should I use.....Red Lights or Orange lights ? I would rather highlight the Burnt Orange look if I have the opportunity. I have not seen the Orange lights on any bikes so that is a concern.

Swint has what they call "Fire" that's what I had on the 06.....Kinda Orange...Kinda Red....Their you go.

DW6019 · « **Reply #45 on:** July 28, 2009, 11:24:19 PM »

The taillamp/turn signal LED's from Radiantz or Custom Dynamics are great, major improvement in light output and visiblity, Both these manufacturers have frt yellow LED's now that run @ 100% and blink to 0, vs the normal 30% run, blink to 100%, they do wonders for the frt turn signal awareness. The Kurakyn stuff looks good in there tent at bike events but out in the sun is very ineffective to the point of being invisible.
The engine/tire/saddlebag LED's that change color, have a remote etc... well I agree with above post, they are Gay. But to each his own, I ride with a guy who is not gay, but he has the Lizard lights with remote and thinks they are cool, not sure what makes him think this but he does.

LarryB · « **Reply #46 on:** August 05, 2009, 07:39:28 AM »

Quote from: DW6019 on July 28, 2009, 11:24:19 PM

The taillamp/turn signal LED's from Radiantz or Custom Dynamics are great, major improvement in light output and visiblity, Both these manufacturers have frt yellow LED's now that run @ 100% and blink to 0, vs the normal 30% run, blink to 100%, they do wonders for the frt turn signal awareness. The Kurakyn stuff looks good in there tent at bike events but out in the sun is very ineffective to the point of being invisible.
The engine/tire/saddlebag LED's that change color, have a remote etc... well I agree with above post, they are Gay. But to each his own, I ride with a guy who is not gay, but he has the Lizard lights with remote and thinks they are cool, not sure what makes him think this but he does.

hmmm, you say this like it's a BAD thing.

Author Topic: What do you think about LED Lights on Motorcycle ? (Read 7854 times)