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[WFP]

For me, adding the LED on the tourpac in combo with the Panacea is a good alternative...sort of like the CHML in cars.

/Bill

A lot of them have the same handicap Bill.  I had the light that was just the center light from the Panacea system without the rest of it.  Nice bright LED.  You put that thing on, prop down the brake pedal, walk back behind the bike the evening you're working on it and see so much new bright light you think "EVERYONE can see this!".  Then in bright daylight with the sun behind you you find out NO ONE can see it. 

One of the good bright Silverstar 1157s is what I ended up changing mine back to after it was pointed out to me.  Though not immediately after. 

Someone pointed the problem out to me.  I glanced at it at a motel later that evening.  Noticed how bright it was.  Immediately thought the friend who'd pointed it out in the sunlight was obviously an imbecile.  Then a few days later heard that pucker inducing sound of a cage briefly locking up its brakes behind me as I was stopped at a stop light with no room in front of me to get out of its way.  That night I put a bulb in that was recognizable in all conditions rather than more recognizable at night (which is when the bike gets far and away the least amount of its riding anyway).

[Twolanerider]

For me, adding the LED on the tourpac in combo with the Panacea is a good alternative...sort of like the CHML in cars.

/Bill

If I had one of the tour paks on all the time I would have just left it alone too Bill.  Both have spoilers on them and that light is a bit brighter and up nice and high in someone's line of sight.  Even the saddlebag spoilers help.  But about half the time neither tour pak is on the bike.  Just a couple of backrests.  So I figured "what the hell" and plugged a good bright Silverstar 1157 back there.  Someone might actually see it better and it'd suck to get my ass knocked off.

[greglyon]

I also had visibility problems in daylight with the LED lights in the Panacea.  I have since gone back to stock couple dwith a tail light flasher.

[Midnight Rider]

Are we talkin' just bright daylight here or sun shining directly on the back end of the bike?  In the daylight mine seem to show up fine, but I haven't positioned the bike to see it with the sun directly behind.  I will do that ASAP.  I do know that the tourpak strip shows up no matter the conditions, but this array is in a diffuser, so that may make a difference.  Will take some pics this weekend if the weather is good.

[Twolanerider]

Are we talkin' just bright daylight here or sun shining directly on the back end of the bike?  In the daylight mine seem to show up fine, but I haven't positioned the bike to see it with the sun directly behind.  I will do that ASAP.  I do know that the tourpak strip shows up no matter the conditions, but this array is in a diffuser, so that may make a difference.  Will take some pics this weekend if the weather is good.

It's when the sun is behind you Terry.  On my own (and a few others I noticed after starting to pay attention) that LED brake light just doesn't shine through.  They've all been the Kuryakyn Panacea lights (or variants thereof).  So perhaps yours will be different.  But on my own, you just flat couldn't see it when the sun was behind it.

[Midnight Rider]

It's when the sun is behind you Terry.  On my own (and a few others I noticed after starting to pay attention) that LED brake light just doesn't shine through.  They've all been the Kuryakyn Panacea lights (or variants thereof).  So perhaps yours will be different.  But on my own, you just flat couldn't see it when the sun was behind it.

Thanks, Don...I'll be sure and check it out well.  Don't know how different, if at all, this one is from the Panacea.  To tell you the truth, I've really never paid much attention to how bright the regular bulbs are with sun from behind.  One reason I wanted to stay with the amber turn signals is for contrast to the red...I'll try and get some pics, and if it sucks, it'll come off.

[greglyon]

I led on a 2k trip last summer.  Everyone that followed at some point in time made the comment that they couldn't see when I activated my turn signal or brake.  Visibility way more important than cool.

[sooiee]

Purchased a Red LED Tailight array for my bike from Custom Dynamics (talk to Christine...she's a sweetie) to install in place of the regular 1157 clear bulb.


The LED tailight array has three whites on the back top, which shine through the clear part of the lens...they have a bit of blueish tint to them that is hard to see in the pics, but it looks pretty cool, IMO.

First pic is the old tailight in run position...

Maybe I'm having the CSS (Can't See *hit) problem again?  Seems to come on more frequently in my old age. 
What did the array unit cost?  Was there more than just the array to replace? 
later, J

[Midnight Rider]

Maybe I'm having the CSS (Can't See *hit) problem again?  Seems to come on more frequently in my old age. 
What did the array unit cost?  Was there more than just the array to replace? 
later, J

Sooie....here's the link to the page...it's the LED retrofit...03-07 square lens.  You do need the load equalizer as well...there's an entire page of stuff for HD's.

http://www.customdynamics.com/harley_davidson_motorcycle_taillight.htm

[sooiee]

Ahh....THANKS. 
Maybe I need to take the dark glasses off? 

Cheers, J

[RJ749]

Terry, I think the problem with the Panacea is avoided with what you did since you have the Red lens.

The Panacea with the clear lens totally washes out if the sun is directly on it from the rear as 2Ln pointedout.  I damn near ran over a couple guys in Cripple Creek under that sun from the back problem. 

[Twolanerider]

Terry, I think the problem with the Panacea is avoided with what you did since you have the Red lens.

The Panacea with the clear lens totally washes out if the sun is directly on it from the rear as 2Ln pointedout.  I damn near ran over a couple guys in Cripple Creek under that sun from the back problem. 

Mine had the "smoked" lens.  Then tried a red one.  While there was a bit of difference between the two both were pretty much invisible with the sun right behind them.  Never tried a clear lens though.  So that sucks too huh?

[RJ749]

Mine had the "smoked" lens.  Then tried a red one.  While there was a bit of difference between the two both were pretty much invisible with the sun right behind them.  Never tried a clear lens though.  So that sucks too huh?

Yep, the direct light is a killer.

[Twolanerider]

Yep, the direct light is a killer.

It was ugly Rog.  I'm sure some lighting engineer could explain why.  But it always seemed a bit counterintuitive to me that the LED that was so much brighter in all other circumstances compared to an incandescent 1157 completely failed compared to that same 1157 when in direct sunlight.  I was always too lazy to try to look anything up on it either.  Was too easy to just stick a really good 1157 back in.

[RJ749]

Not sure if anyone recalls the old thread, but I have the 1157 LED in my turns and tail light.

It seems fine, I would hope that the array that Terry put in would work the same in the stock lens.  The pic here is just running brightness and they are plenty bright.