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[dite]

I have Springer that has the standard turn signal bulbs.  Can I replace those 1157 and 1156 bulbs with LED bulbs? Who makes the best ones?

[Twolanerider]

I have Springer that has the standard turn signal bulbs.  Can I replace those 1157 and 1156 bulbs with LED bulbs? Who makes the best ones?

There are MANY (many many many many many) different LED bulbs in the 1156 or 1157 format.  They'll have anywhere from a few LED segments to many.  Have seen them with as few as three and as many as 32.  And I know my look wasn't exhaustive.  Differences in brightness also. 

All that is to say you can't say "LED bulb" by itself anymore and assume there is any kind of apples to apples comparison. 

Some of the bulbs are big because they've got so many lights stacked on them.  Have seen some so large they won't fit in a Harley bullet housing.  Easiest solution will be to hit your local full line auto parts store.  They'll likely have some right there you can match size to.  They'll likely also be a common or known branded product and have a local warranty you can handle right there at the store if you need to.

They'll be more expensive than the stuff that can be ordered online.  And they might not be better.  But they won't be bad.  If you want to shop online try a known entity like Custom Dynamics.

[Rimjam]

Be forewarned that LEDs don't draw as many amps as incandescent bulbs so your flasher mechanism may not work.  You can purchase separately (@ extra cost of course) devices to make up for this.  Most vendors of LED conversions tell you this only in the fine print.

[smkblwr]

also check to see if they have to be DOT compliant in you state to pass an inspection.

[mattm]

You will drive yourself nuts!

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Ftail-brake-turn.html

http://www.superlumination.com/

As mentioned above, many of these will not fit.

[SCRM-R]

I use LED bulbs from www.sixity.com  They are pricey, but the 1156 and 1157 bulbs are nice and bright and they do fit in the bullet turn signal housings as well as the taillight housing.  Much brighter than stock, and much brighter than the standard Kuryakyn Panacea LED lights as well.  There is an ebay seller that carries them in red and amber.  They say to use red bulbs inside of red lenses and amber bulbs in amber or clear lenses.  I like 'em.

[SneakyPete]

I use LED bulbs from www.sixity.com  They are pricey, but the 1156 and 1157 bulbs are nice and bright and they do fit in the bullet turn signal housings as well as the taillight housing.  Much brighter than stock, and much brighter than the standard Kuryakyn Panacea LED lights as well.  There is an ebay seller that carries them in red and amber.  They say to use red bulbs inside of red lenses and amber bulbs in amber or clear lenses.  I like 'em.

Do you need to use a load equalizer with these LEDs?  What specific part number do you use? Thks

[SCRM-R]

I'm not sure if you need the load equalizers for the turn signals because I'm using the Kuryakyn "run-brake-turn" flasher that does have load equalizers in it.  And, I don't know the part numbers, but below are three ebay links to the three types of bulbs...red 1156, red 1157 and amber 1156.

Red 1157: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160667719215?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Red 1156: http://www.ebay.com/itm/150679316278?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Amber 1156: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160667719161?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Hope this helps.

[SneakyPete]

Thanks for the info.  If you use a red bulb in the tail light, how does that effect the license plate illumination since that portion of the tail light lens is white?

[SCRM-R]

Thanks for the info.  If you use a red bulb in the tail light, how does that effect the license plate illumination since that portion of the tail light lens is white?

Well, I never thought about that one, so I went out and turned it on to see. It does illuminate it, but with a red glow.  My license plate is under the taillight and it never really illuminated it very well anyway.  I suppose that the reason they recommend you not use a white LED bulb in a red lens is because they emit such a bright white light it will show pink through the lens 

[SERK3]

I changed front, rear and taillight to led's a couple yrs. ago, I went with kuryakyn and added the run-turn-brake as well, the turn signals, taill-brake lights and the spoiler lights on the tour pak flash when you apply brakes. 

[SCRM-R]

Here is all we ever wanted to know about why to NOT use white LED's behind red or amber lenses.
http://litezupp.com/content/so-why-not-use-white-led-behind-red-or-amber-lens-important-info

[Screamin]

Here is all we ever wanted to know about why to NOT use white LED's behind red or amber lenses.
http://litezupp.com/content/so-why-not-use-white-led-behind-red-or-amber-lens-important-info

Good info. Thanks.

[grc]

They forgot to mention which color LED to use with a smoked lens, which is what most CVO's have.  I don't see any "smoke" colored LED's listed.   


Jerry

[SneakyPete]

They forgot to mention which color LED to use with a smoked lens, which is what most CVO's have.  I don't see any "smoke" colored LED's listed.   


Jerry

Hmmm, another good question.  Maybe you use yellow as that's the color incandescent bulb used with smoked lenses???

[SCRM-R]

They forgot to mention which color LED to use with a smoked lens, which is what most CVO's have.  I don't see any "smoke" colored LED's listed.   


Jerry

My front signals are bullets with smoke lenses and I use amber bulbs.  Perfect.

[Eagle Eye]

This is another real lighting solution, that provides a complete package of Bright Ass Lighting, which includes white for the tag.  http://www.brightasslights.com/site/

They are a little pricy, but from what I see on their website, appear to be one of the best bright LED solutions out there.