Modern Vespa

I purchased two amber turn signal LEDs today and I'm very pleased with them. Great side view as well as rear view. I bought the 1156 type and filed down one of the tits on the barrel of each light to fit the bau15s sockets. 2 for $12 + $4 shipping. 18 LEDs facing back and 6 radial.

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Parking-Light-LED/Amber-LED/2-SUPER-AMBER-24-LED-p4481072-1-2.html


These others are the bau15s type LEDs. About 12 or so facing back and lots more on the sides. $50 + shipping. They looked to me like they'd stick out too far in the socket and interfere with the lens. If somebody uses this type. let us know.

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/Turn-Signal-LED/Amber-LED/V-LEDS-AMBER-60-M-SMT-p5746473-1-2.html

Those really look great, definitely look brighter and less power consumed. Good price too. With a mod to have them on as running lights too they'd really add to visibility and conspicuity, something I am after (just added a headlight modulator). Good idea going with the larger lamp.

Thanks for the tip and pics, think I'll get all four as well. Cheers!

I forgot to mention earlier that when you use LEDS, they draw less current and that decreases the load on the the flasher unit which will cause the LEDs to flash quicker. A 50w / 6 OHM power resistor from either Radio Shack or the LED site will fix that. (1 for each side). Mine flash at twice the rate of the old bulbs but that isn't too bad. I may leave it alone.

Nice.

I have wondering if this type would fit. Thanks for taking the gamble. I was looking for some brake lamps, they would probably fit just fine knowing this now.

Just make sure they are visible in the lanes beside you. I installed a tail light led bulb on another bike. It looked great from behind but my buddy said, "You can't see them if you are off to the side." Leds only shine in one direction. They have to be made to show to the sides. I changed back after that. Some are great but some don't do the job.

If you could find fitting leds with the side firing lights,would that take care of the side vision problem? I think so but can't say for sure.

According to the website corsader linked to they have the same LED lamps in white or red, with the side firing arrangement. They look good in the turn signals but unknown how they would look in the tail lights. I would think the refractor in the red tail light lens would be the primary light spreading mechanism and the side firing LEDs would add to that with the reflector in the back of the fixture. I sure intend to try them all the way around.

LEDs have come a long ways in recent years and are showing up everywhere. Even as marine lights which have to meet tight restrictions on visibility and intensity on a boat.

There are 6 radial mounted LEDs. Three visible from any side angle, of course, and three light up the other side of the lens, which helps a little I guess but more is always better. These are the best I've seen so far. I'm Still always looking for something better though.

Wow.  It seems like LED replacement bulbs may finally be ready for prime time.

The 250 owner's manual unhelpfully identifies the signal and brake light bulbs as "ALL GLASS" and "SPHERICAL."  I've searched the forum without success.  Does anyone know offhand which bulb types the 250 requires?  Are they 1156 all around?

The LED turn signal bulbs should be fine seen from the side. The side view picture of the led turn signal posted seems to confirm this. The taillights/break lights, on the other hand, are going to be difficult to see from the side anyway, at least on the 500, because of the extended plastic lip that surround the break light lens.

Personally I'm not as concerned about people seeing me break from the side as I am from the back.

Corsader, this may be a difficult request, but if you have time can you please post a picture showing where excatly you trimmed the bulb (I tend to be more of a visual learner). When my bulbs arrive I want to get the install right.

Thank You.

OK, with a screwdriver and some web browsing, I think I've answered my own question.

The front turn signal bulb is an amber 7507 (or BAU15s), 1 on each side.

The rear turn signal bulb is an amber 921 (or Wedge T3), 2 on each side.

The rear tail light is a clear 921 (or Wedge T3), 1 on each side.

The rear brake light is clear 1156 (or BA15s), 1 on each side.
(The outer brake light lens is clear, but the bulb is surrounded by a red inner lens.  It seems from FAQs that any LED replacement should be red anyway, though.)

Near the base of the bulb, there are 2 little studs sticking out perpendicular on the barrel, 180* apart on these bulbs. These are what hold the bulb in the socket. File one of them flush with the bulb casing. Enough anyway to allow easy insertion of the barrel into the socket. It won't matter which one you file off.

Perfect! Thank you corsader! I am doing research to find an LED tail light bulb. I don't think you will need to spend $50+ on a pair, but if you bite the bullet, please post more pictures on this thread with updates.

I forgot to ask; did you change out both the front and rear turn signal bulbs or just the rear?

Although the only BAU15S bulbs at v-leds cost $50/pair, ledlight.com offers a $20/pair model that seems very similar to what corsader bought.

That's still more than $12/pair, though.  Maybe the difference is worth a little filing.

I originally just bought the pair for trial purposes. I just put my order in for another pair + 2 for tail and 2 more for brake, ( different types, of course), all from the same website. I'm holding off showing the tail and brake LEDs until I get and evaluate them.

If you end up buying the ones from ledlight.com, Show some pics of installation. They may turn out to be better than the ones from v-leds.
Always looking for the best LEDs at the most reasonable prices.

I'll be particularly interested in the tail light results.  I'd like to find LED replacements that are somewhat brighter than stock but not so bright that they could be mistaken for brake lights.  Annoyingly, neither v-leds nor ledlight.com provide any clear guidance on the relative output of their bulbs. You bet!

corsader: You bought two pair of 1156 amber/yellow for your turn signals and 1 pair of 1157 red for the tail lights right?

My taillight bulbs are miniature push in types, and the brakelights are 1156 based.

Now I am really confused. The first v-led link you posted shows 2 SUPER AMBER 24 LED TURN/PARKING LIGHT BULBS 1156 for the turn signals. So the turn signals are 1156 according to the title/name of the bulb in the link. Are you saying you ordered the same 1156 bulb in red for the break lights?

All 4 turn signals on the 500 use the oddball, offset bau15s based bulbs. The bau15s LEDs on the v-led website were of a completely different style than the 1156s, and that I didn't like. Hence the stud filing on the 1156s. I ordered a pair of white, and a pair of red 1156 based LEDs for the brakeslights, two push-in type LEDs for taillight, and a LED liscense plate bulb. I'm still experimenting so I can't recommend any of them at this point.

Be very careful with those LED's as most are not visible in bright sunlight from above (like seen by a truck or bus driver behind you).

A good reason to have more lights on or near the topcase, high up, like on most cars these days.

Thanx lostboy for posting on 250 bulbs. As a beginner riding I am often followed by a friend in a truck. I've been told that my "brake lights" are barely seen while braking (conditions outside: bright and sunny...hey, it's FL). Just thought I'd mention that. I want my brake lights to BE SEEN!

Your MP3 tail lights should be bright enough during daylight, but the LED replacements may not (as seen by your friend in the truck). If you add LED lights that will improve your visibility although mostly on overcast days and at night.

Maybe it depends on which Leds you get? I know from seeing all these big trucks and autos that have had their lights replaced with led,BIG difference in visibility.I have yet to see led's(correct ones of course) with less visibility over non.I'm confused, are scooters different to you somehow? Finally the pics that have been posted here after led change outs are brighter and the owners seem happy.

I'm confused guys. I just want my brake lights to be seen on a sunny day of riding (and all other times, of course). Leds....or.....stock bulbs....that is the question (sounds like a hard one to answer

I'll let everyone know how well these LEDs I bought work once I have them installed. I'm hoping its money well spent but they could be crap.
I'll show pics and give you my opinion on the results.

The issue is that not all LED replacements are created equal.  Most cars and trucks you see with LED lights are using parts that replace the entire lens and reflector assembly.  LED replacement bulbs that must fit into and work with the stock reflector and lens have a history of lackluster performance (which is why some of us are excited to see bulbs that seem not to have the usual weaknesses).

What lostboy posted is very true. If the entire lens and LED's are designed for a vehicle then they work OK. My Toyota RAV4 has LED taillights that work well, but they are the high output LED's - 1 or 2 watt individual LED's in a group of 10 or so.
Those replacement LED bulbs arent the answer if you want to be seen in bright daylight.
I'd add LED's to my scoot in addition to the stock bulbs.

Okay...things are sounding a bit clearer to me now. Thanks guys.
corsader...cheers to you for forging ahead to figure out these "light" issues! I look forward to seeing "your" results

My Brain Hurts.....

BIGDDY: Crazy isn't it! Based on the above posted pictures, I decided to move forward with new LED turn signals. The pictures seem convincing enough of an improvement. However, as for the tail lights are concerned, I have mixed feelings. I'll wait until corsader has a chance to try his out and post more pictures with an updated review. Either way I am most certainly going to add the StreetFX Electropods; based on the install, review and demo of fellow forum member Bohemian.

Here is a link: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic48010?highlight=electropods

You should see Bohemian's suggestion a few post down from the top.

Well, I finally found time to install the LED bulbs in my rear turn signals tonight. The LED bulbs are not necessarily brighter than the stock incandescent bulbs; the LED bulbs appear to be just a more focused and intense beam. As others have mentioned, the incandescent bulbs do make much better use of the internal reflectors inside the signal housing, but the LEDs are just more intense. Meaning the the look of the LEDs vs. stock incandescent bulbs is, in my opinion, a personal choice.

I'm happy with mine as well. The increased flash rate actually gets one's attention quicker. It was money well spent.

I put 2 of the old bulbs in the seat storage area for spares but don't expect to have to use them.

Corsader you might want to check out this link: https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic46935?highlight=

alba seems to have found the correct tail light/break light bulb (toward the middle of the page).

Thanks, Rex. I think the 1156s I bought are similar to Alba's. I, IMO, didn't think the ones I bought were worth endorsing because they didn't exceed my hopes of being brighter than the incandescant bulbs in bright sunlight. The stock bulbs, (brake, mainly,) are just barely bright enough as it is. Again, just my opinion. My wife thought the LED's were actually brighter than the stock bulbs.
The light just keeps getting dimmer every year. It's a bitch getting old!.

There are electronic flashers on the internet that flash at a constant rate and are not load dependent. Load resistors can get hot and you may need to play with the value to get the right flash rate.

Look at the LED products at this site

http://www.radiantz.com/

I took a brief look at the MP3's wiring diagram awhile back and it looked like the flashing device was integrated in with something else. Might have been the 4 way Hazard system. I didn't want to access or modify it. Otherwise, an automotive type electronic flasher unit would probably work.
The flash rate with these LEDs is about double that of the incandescent bulbs which isn't really too fast.