Hitchcocks Forum

Hey guys. So, I have a rubber mounted tail light unit on my trail 350 Bullet. The brake filament has survived but the tail lamp has blown I guess from the vibrations. There are MILLIONS of results on eBay for "motorcycle led tail lamp" but I'm wondering if any of you have done this and can recommend a specific one? Will they be as bright (some adverts claim that they are but I'm not sure.) Also, will it illuminate my number plate? (None of the LED's face down on most of them and they are some what directional in general.) Anyway. What are your thoughts? Thanks.

Hi Matt
I bought one that will illuminate the number plate and sideways as well. Doesn't seem any brighter and was expensive. I've wasted money really unless it lasts ages, they don't draw much current though. I have LEDs in the pilot lights. They are they sort with a number of LEDs so they light all round and are very much brighter and cheap. I can recommend them. As you say they are directional so you need bulbs with LEDs pointing both ways for the best results.

HiMatt just checked ebay, "normal" stop & tail bulbs 10 for £3.75 inc postage, LED stop & tail 1 for £5.99 + £2.70 postage. So unless you are upgrading your bullet to a high tech bike it seems a no brainer. I agree with Edward about useing LED's for the pilot lights but by far the best use for LED's is for the warning lights in the speedo, if you have them, my goodness you can actually see them in the daylight_____________Regards Fred

Remember you can't use an LED in the blinker warning light

Why not Norm?

Hi PeteF, probably something to do with the total load on the original flasher unit being less, maybe!!!!__________
My LED works fine when I flash. But I’m trying to think back a couple of years when I bought my Bullet sixty-5…. I think, because I was upgrading the flasher bulbs from 10W to 23W I had to buy a new electronic flasher uprated up to at least 50W, off of ebay for about a tenner if buying check your original whether 2 or 3 pin. Maybe lucky warm Norm will explain a bit more _____________Regards Frozen Fred

Matt, try Paul Goff for LED tail lights which have extra leds pointing down to illuminate the number plate. IMHO some led bulbs can be a bit directional, that is visible from immediately behind but less good at an angle but then I am a picky lighting professional!
REgards, Mark

The reason you can't use an LED in your speedo indicator light is because of the way it is wired. By using a globe the factory used the wiring to the oposite side of the globe as the earth but with an Led it can only be powered in one direction because it is what it is, a diode You require a diode wired into each side for it to work

Yeah I see what you mean Norm, I’ve looked at Snidals wiring diagram and I agree completely with what you say………SO Why does my LED work???????....I can’t remember altering the wiring, no diodes or any thing like that, BUT IT WORKS. WHY? If I had looked at the wiring diagram before I fitted the LED I would never have done it on my 2004 Bullet Sixty-5. Can anyone explain why the laws of electrickery work differently on my Bullet……….Regards, Puzzled & cold Fred

Hello cold freddy, looking at the 65 diagram i can see no reason why an LED shouldn't work.... As i see it you have two wires connected to the bulb holder, one connects, or if you like is (teed into) the right hand turn circuit after the switch.... the other into the left turn circuit.... the bulb holder is earthed via the speedo/ cassette metal work back to the battery...... SO which ever wire goes hot on signal it still passes through the LED in the same direction on its way back to earth.... therefore one direction diode makes no odds..... cheers gwilly.