Tail lights and Brake light LED conversion

[Lionheart763]

Hi All,
I've read lots of stuff on this, but nothing recent. Want to convert to good LED's for the rear end.
I just installed the front blinkers from Eagle, like them, but they flash too fast. Suspect it needs the resistor but haven't looked that up again. Working on the best option for head light as well. Got any guidance. Thanks all.

[Funbaldguy]

I can get you started in a direction. One of the members was selling a plug-in that would shut the blinkers off after 7 seconds or so. Also would have options of 4 way flashers or parade flashing. This add on would also allow you to switch all bulbs to led.
 Headlights you can try getting with darksider. He sells a headlight bracket. I believe he has partnered with a headlight manufacturer and you can get a package deal. You can find his YouTube if you put in something like Valkyrie led headlight bracket.
 I will try looking back at my old emails for information on the lights plug-in thingy.
Sorry my memory isn’t as good as I would like. But I deal with it. Lol
Ride safe

[Funbaldguy]

mailto:sigenhancer@gmail.com found this

[hubcapsc]

These are very good. Best I've ever seen for a Valkyrie...

https://www.amazon.com/Radiantz-Tail-Light-Honda-Shadow-Valkyrie-VTX/dp/B000TK8LY8

-Mike

[RonW]

are you still using the stock mechanical flasher relay? Led turn signals require electronic flasher relay to keep the flash rate from speeding up. However not all electronic flashers have an equal effect. Some return the flashing rate back to normal better than others. Also, when going from two Led turn signals to all four signals Led, the rate of flashing speeds up a bit, even with an electronic flasher.

[sandy]

Best LED taillight is the Radianze light. It has 126 LEDs and is a plug n play. Amazon has it.

[Bagger John - #3785]

...when going from two Led turn signals to all four signals Led, the rate of flashing speeds up a bit, even with an electronic flasher.

Not necessarily.

I've converted a number of bikes to all-LED signals, and depending on whose flasher unit you replace the stock unit with you'll not usually notice a difference. At least one aftermarket unit I've utilized actually allowed the user to vary the flash rate via an adjustment potentiometer.

What does happen with LEDs vs incandescents, though, is a much more rapid on-off time. This is due to the nature of the filaments themselves in that they take a little time to reach peak brightness; conversely, they dim to "off" at roughly the same rate. LEDs are an instant-on/instant-off proposition.

[RonW]

it's simply dependent on the specific electronic flasher relay or here the electronic flashers that the user picked off the shelf. I'm just mentioning that with 'some' electronic flashers, although it returned the stock flashing rate back to normal for leds only on the front signals, when later adding leds also to the rear signals, the electronic flasher relay wasn't able to maintain the stock rate with the four led load. The electronic flasher relays that you used perhaps did not have this quirk.

Actually a slight faster rate is good, but if its pass that frequency, than it's not as good, imho.

[Gondul]

Hi All,
I've read lots of stuff on this, but nothing recent. Want to convert to good LED's for the rear end.
I just installed the front blinkers from Eagle, like them, but they flash too fast. Suspect it needs the resistor but haven't looked that up again. Working on the best option for head light as well. Got any guidance. Thanks all.

Using resistors defeats the purpose of running LEDs IMO.

When I changed everything over to LED (minus the license place lights) I used the following two items to resolve the hyper-flashing and bleed over to the indicator.

For headlights/driving lights I picked mine up from Eagle Lights... I did have to cut/mod the plug for the driving lights as they would not fit in the Show Chrome housing, otherwise they've been great.

Metric Diode
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/flashers-load-resistors/metric-bike-diode-kit/1190/2805/

LED Relay
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/flashers-load-resistors/electronic-led-flasher-relays-for-motorcycle/787/842/

[RonW]

if you don't have the metric diode on hand you could always temporarily pull out the bulb for the blinker idiot light while you're waiting for the mail. This will also prevent 4 way flashing albeit the idiot light will be out of commission during the interim.

[Lionheart763]

Thanks to All for the response. I have so far gotten the Eagle lights Front turn signals, am looking to the eagle tail light and the eagle halo head light.
The question still remains what to use for the rear turn signals and or possibly getting something that will use the rear turn signals as brake lights as well.
Yes I still have the issue of fast blinking, but may wait to see how the whole LED conversion is complete to adjust with blinker or didoes. All suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[Jersey]

I can get you started in a direction. One of the members was selling a plug-in that would shut the blinkers off after 7 seconds or so. Also would have options of 4 way flashers or parade flashing. This add on would also allow you to switch all bulbs to led.
 Headlights you can try getting with darksider. He sells a headlight bracket. I believe he has partnered with a headlight manufacturer and you can get a package deal. You can find his YouTube if you put in something like Valkyrie led headlight bracket.
 I will try looking back at my old emails for information on the lights plug-in thingy.
Sorry my memory isn’t as good as I would like. But I deal with it. Lol
Ride safe

That's me (SignalBoss).  Unfortunately, I shut down the business to enjoy time with our new Grandson.
Cheers,
Jersey

[Lionheart763]

Hey Jersey, any hopes of restarting the rear tail light/blinker business again? Please? Love the eagle lights and tail lights, but really want to change out my rear blinkers. Nobody has anything even to convert to LED. Would love to make the rears as brake lights too. Understand the new grandson. I've got a 8 week old granddaughter. Enjoy.

[MarkT]

If you're handy with analog circuits, I wrote up this tech page years ago.  I modified the lights on my two road bikes with this circuit.  The lights are all LED's, and the rear markers are run-brake-turn.  I also added the Radiantz array light in the OEM taillight fixture.

This mod uses  two standard 5-pin relays from any auto parts store, so if you ever have a failure, the parts are everywhere.  My relays have never failed in years of use.  It can be made with 1157 or 1156 bulbs in the pods.  OEM is 1156 (single filiment).  If you run them as RBT, you need to stick with LEDs as the heat from incandescent run lights will melt the plastic pods.  Yeah found that out the hard way.

This is a half-day project if you have the relays, diodes and resistors, a full day if you change the pods to 1157's but then don't need diodes & resistors.  I have found some of these LED bulb arrays at Autozone.  Another good source is www.superbrightleds.com

This tech page is more wordy than necessary.  But it does cover the detail if you want it.

http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/VTX_signals/vtx_signals.html

Here's the circuit also at the link above.  Again, don't need the diodes and resistors circuit part to the left, if you use 1157 (two-filiment) bulbs.  Just set up the circuit to power the bright filiment, and run the power from the taillight running light to the dim filiment (the license light wire is right there).

The Valk has an unusual design for the turn signal lights in front.  The turn switch is actually two switches in one - the second part of the switch controls the power to the marker light filiments - when the turn signal is activated, it interrupts the power for that filiment on that side to maximize contrast.  How convenient!  We can use that to control relays for separating the circuits in back.  We are using the switched marker light circuits in front to select the brake lights in back to operate normally (relays active) or disabled on the side you're turning to (relay triggers off), with the Normally Closed side of the relay substituting the turn signal into the brake line.


 

[Pluggy]

Components are now available to make LED conversion easy.  Adding diodes and resistors was the only way a dozen years ago, but we don't need that now.

If you don't want to add diodes to the bike's wiring, replace the bulb for turn flash indicator in the headlight bucket with the below Item from Amazon.  It is like having a "left LED" and "right LED" in one item.

https://www.amazon.com/EverBrightt-Instrument-Dashboard-Replacement-Non-Polarity/dp/B07PYNZTW8

And the flasher, shown below, can plug in and replace the stock signal flasher relay.  The little cable that comes with it isn't needed. This eliminates the need to add resistors and flashes at a correct rate.

https://www.amazon.com/MFC-PRO-Electronic-problems-FLR-MFC2/dp/B082X6DX6L/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1E9SZMXA9JL6Q&keywords=led+turn+signal+flasher+3+pin&qid=1666772953&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjU2IiwicXNhIjoiMi4zOSIsInFzcCI6IjIuNDEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-8

This combination has worked with various LED signal "bulbs" I have tried.  You can get those many places.  The whole installation is quick as there are no resistors or diodes to solder in.  Been using this for two years.  It flashes alll bulbs at the correct rate.

[Jims99]

I have used things like these on mine. Different brand, but they all work about the same. Work great with LEDs too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/170930584677?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=BJs3BC9ESZq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Pluggy]

This is the latest version of the LED headlight "bulb".  Unlike the items available a few years ago, this one makes a beam like the halogen bulbs.  Fit right in with no modifications.  I had to aim the headlight down slightly.  There may be someting better in the $200 and up range, but this is certainly better than the halogens I had been using.  Uses 40% of the power that the old bulb required.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092SHMWQZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[MarkT]

Speaking of headlights, if you want a great looking LED headlight, Eagle Lights makes one they call the Infinity Beam.  Josh calls it the "Dragon's Eye".  Not cheap but it's on sale at $299.  Contact Josh, he has a kit that includes the adapter ring to fit the Valk bucket.  Handle here is Darksider.

[RonW]

Hey Jersey, any hopes of restarting the rear tail light/blinker business again? Would love to make the rears [turnsignals] as brake lights too.

As far as I'm aware, Jersey Inc. didn't make anything that converts rear turnsignals into brake lights.

Signal Dynamics, Badlands make electronic modules that convert rear signals into brake lights along with running lights (steady ON). Anyways, it's an interesting diy project. Here's some notes on converting rear signals into brake lights using the stock single filament 1156 bulbs. About all that's needed is 4 diodes and 2 relays (5-pin normally open). The only difficulty is working with thin gauge wires.



To make the rear signals brake lights, tap into the brake light wire at X then wire a Y to the rear signals. This will direct the brake light electricity to the rear signals making them light up whenever the brakes are engaged.




Blinker override. The brake light should be overridden by the blinker signal to keep the individual blinks distinct, but then the blinks might even be bright enough without significant conflict depending on the particular turnsignals and this step can be skipped. Below, once a turnsignal is activated, Relay A or B receives electricity from the respective turnsignal wire that it monitors at its 86 trigger terminal. This *switches the relay into an OFF state disabling the brake light current, at output terminal 87a, from flowing to the rear signals. Explanation in the inset box in the graphic below.




A glitch with this design is that Wire Y ends up connecting the Right signal wire to the Left signal wire. Below, Right signals activated. At Junction Z, electricity from the Right signal will flow across Wire Y to the Left signals (red arrows) and you'll end up with 4-way flashing where all 4 signals flash simultaneously.  




Diodes resolve the crossfeed issue. Diodes only allow current to flow in a single direction as denoted by the arrows on the diodes in the graphic below such that the diodes prevent current from crossfeeding through Wire Y to the opposite side turns signals.




Another nuance is that while Wire Y was intended to feed brake light electricity to the rear signals, the same electricity at Junction Z also 'backfeeds' to the front signals and the front signals start to act as brake lights. This did not bother me so I left it alone.




To prevent the front signals from turning into front brake lights, again splice in some diodes to stop the backfeed. Below, the Left signal wire is yet to get a diode and electricity at Junction Z travels to the Left front blinker making it a brake light (red arrows).




[edit]  Full schematic. Relays shut off brake light current to rear signals when signals are activated (blinker override). 'R' relay monitors right turn signal wire for blinking. 'L' relay monitors left turn signal wire for blinking. Vertical diodes stop blinker current from crossfeeding to opposite side turn signals preventing 4-way flashing. Horizontal diodes stop brake light from 'backfeeding' to front turn signals. 5pin relays used. 4pin relays are okay if you can find NC type (normally closed) meaning normally ON.




Many states require red lens for brake lights on rear turn signals. The prices for red lens that fit the Valkyrie have doubled.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273138434629?chn=ps



https://www.ebay.com/itm/281352634538

[MarkT]

My circuit above has none of these backfeed problems.