Modern Vespa

First off I'll say that these LED bulbs are the best quality replacements I've seen so far. They weren't any brighter than the stock setup however, and had viewing angle limitations. Looking down on them at a high angle, like seeing them from a truck cab, the brake LED was about equal in brightness to the stock bulb, but both the stock tail and brake lights could be seen better at a lower angle, which means they could be seen from farther back.

Bottom line is that I can't really endorse the use of the brake and the taillight LEDs. I'll use the turn LEDs, and use one of the taillight LEDs for the license plate light though.

If you're not the tinkering type and just want a no-fuss install, go buy the pod setup and be done with it. If you like the trial and error approach, and a good challenge, (like me), then this could be a fun project. I'm going to poke around at the local commercial truck dealer for more LED ideas. They have lots of LED demo lights in their showroom. My idea of fun anyway!.

Thank you for you time and effort on this. I know it saved me some time and money. Not to mention the safety aspect.

+1, many thanks corsader. I really appreciate your taking the time to write this up and include pictures, very helpful and informative.

+2  This and your earlier LED thread are among the better project reports I've seen on MV.

+3 corsader....you're putting a lot of YOUR time into testing this'n'that led vs stock bulbs, etc. ..... I too appreciate it. Thanks to your "finds", I think I'll leave well enough alone (4 now) on mine. Unless......you come up with something really FAB

Corsader,

Are the ones below available but to costly or are they just not available? Just curious,since these pretty much duplicate the 360 around stock bulbs. No doubt they would work as far as the way their built.Just imagine the intensity.

Thanks Corsader

Thanks, everyone.
I didn't have to spend much and the fun factor made it worth it.
These bulbs that Scootover posted here might be the ticket. wouldn't cost much and my curiosity still has the best of me.

Just put some on the rear of my 500 now I want some for the front but went to the website and there saying all sold out hopefully not long!!!

So what do you think of the LEDs. Bright enough, In your opinion?.

Maybe my eyes aren't as good as yours but the brightness seems the same but visibilty is clearer and catches the eye faster and blinks faster and that's what I wanted but now I want more for the front

Just to be clear, are yours like the ones I bought from V-LEDS, or like the ones Scootover posted?. I plan to check out the web address imbedded in that one photo of Scootover's, tomorrow

Vleds the first ones , the cheaper ones.

Yeh, the amber LEDs looked great to me too, and If I can locate the type of bulb Scootover showed us, I'll probably buy one or two samples, then post my test results. I just won't be satisfied until I at least try one more time!.

Hey do you think 1157 bulb will work went to the website and they are sold out didn't think to buy 2 pairs so I only got the rear now I want the front turn signals too??They have them on eBay.

It's theoretically possible to use an 1157 if you add a puddle of solder between the 2 base contacts to join them, to make a single, centered contact. Then you would have to file off the top-most stud on the barrel in order to be able to fit the bulb in the socket.

It would be kind of fun to try it on an incandescent bulb but if you get your order in at V-led.com for the 1156, you would probably get it within a couple of weeks.

I'm still working with the V-led 1156 brakelight I bought. I think a cheap flashlight reflector around the base of the LED would improve visibility of the bulb. It worked with aluminum foil around the base.

So corsader and g42873t, now that you've gotten some experience with the V-LEDs, what is your comment on using them with the Magic Blinkers setup from Custom Dynamics? The rear would have to be red per law as running lights and then of course would flash red as turn signal... do you think red would be indicative enough vice yellow?

I will also be using a brakelight flasher (probably Comagination) and intend to add additional brake lights with a top case and possibly strips / strobes as well. Just looking for yours, and others' opinions on this.

Thanks again for the great write ups!

Ref:
http://www.customdynamics.com/magic_blinkers.htm
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/816.html (816.080 and 816.120)

The magic blinker device would be a good addition, I would think, and some lights mounted up high would even be better. There are some slick little red LED clusters and strips out there.

That was a thought I had tonight on a ride home too. Add some yellow/amber clusters behind the screens on the side of the front fascia and tie them into the running / turn signal circuit, and I will be adding signal reminders in the upper corners of the console (probably Diallight 20mm dia., will show to me and others nearby as well). I have to flesh out a few details but think I will pursue this route, keep you posted.

Where can i buy those led's?

The LED in the bottom photo looks like the ones I bought from v-led.com.

Not sure if they carry the one in the top photo. Also not sure if there's enough clearance in the taillight housing for this one but the site may show the specs. Let us know if you get these and show pics if you can.

I looked on the site but can't find it. Do you have a link?

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/CornerSide-Marker-LED/White-LED/2-HID-5K-WHITE-SMT-5-p6985865.html

Sorry, I misspelled the web address earlier.

Corsader, hope you don't mind my reviving your thread to show another approach.

Rode with my brother-in-law (Harley rider) recently, and he said he couldn't see my brake lights in the daylight. Turns out the little 6-LED light I added to my topcase wasn't nearly effective as I thought. So I rewired that light to go on with the taillights and installed a new tail/brake combo, the RT-R24 truck light from superbrightleds.com ($16.95). With the brakes on, that light is bright enough to read by!

Left, taillights on; right, brake on.


Grommets are available, but I had to make my own bracket with aluminum stock.

Ramblerdan, am I seeing things, or did you somehow somewhy set up your mp3 with a side stand?

Methinks you're just seeing the kick down arm of the center stand, in its down position. It's deceiving when viewed from certain angles...

Perhaps you've already discussed this in a previous thread but was curious if you would go into it here.

What sidecases do you have mounted onto your 400 and where did you get the assembly for mounting them?

It looks fantastic!

chris

BravoTwoFour is correct: The part of the OEM center stand that you step on is visible; it does look like a side stand. See this thread.

That looks great, Dan. Thanks for letting us know what works and what doesn't.

Can any one tell me what size bulb I need for the front middle light on the fuoco/mp3 500 cheers plus is it the same as the number plate bulb as I have found some ultra bright White LEDs I want to use but do t know what size to use

Rambledan,

Would love to see some nighttime pic(s) of your LED truck lite you have.Wow I was amazed at the cheap price for it.Thanks.....

Will do.

Here we go. Both shot with the same camera and settings. It's not quite as apocalyptic as it appears in the photo, but the light really is flippin' bright!



I wasn't kidding about being able to read by it:

Crikey, yer gonna blind the folks behind ya! Do you have a flasher - modulator, like signal dynamics makes - controlling any of the lights? That would REALLY get attention.

I really like what you did here, good idea.

Thanks RamblerDan for posting pics.Wow I had to put on my sunglasses on while looking at your tail lights.

Anyway I think you may have the best price to performance ratio for your LED truck light vs all other add-ons or accessories.Good find.Bright and very cheap.

Excellent pics, RD. Bright enough to get attention, for sure. Thanks.

I would mow your lawn for life if you could help me make my bike like yours! It is like an awesome goldwing because it's not a Goldwing.