Modern Vespa

Received my autolumination flashing brake bulb this week and installed it today. It definitely is brighter than the original LX150 brake bulb. I was surprized how fast the flashing was - too fast for me to capture with my digit camera (set to movie mode). All in all, I like it, and it was a cheap and easy safety mod to do.

Now I need to move onto my next winter project!

Congrats-- it's a great easy safety mod! What's your next project?

--Deborah

Which one did you order? I'd like to install one on my LX too.



Mel

Hi Mel - I ordered the braker flashing brake light bulb. It is about 1/3 the way down the web site's page (which is poorly organized). I've included a snap shot so you can see what you are looking for. Installation was a snap. The bulb holder twists off of the brake lens assembly. It needs a little force, but just a little. The bulb is pushed inwards and rotated counter clockwise. Then replace with new bulb, test, and re-assemble. I found that if I put the bulb in one way (there really isn't a top or bottom) then it flashed immediately and stayed on bright. However, once I removed it, rotated it 90 degrees and reinserted it, it worked properly. No idea why, I just did because I basically didn't know what else to do.

I would actually prefer to have a bulb that flashed a little slower, and for about 3 seconds. But for 20 dollars, it is an inexpensive solution that doesn't require cutting wires. And you still have the old bulb as a spare!

I'd post photos of how it looks - it really is fast - but I don't have a digit video camera.

Removing the silver Vespa and LX150 insignias and replacing them with reflective black vinyl ones. I am trying to move towards an all Excalibur Silver and black motif. Still looking for the correct font for the LX150 logo, though.

Cool, thanks for the screenshot!! It really is hard to find things on that site.

I just ordered one. I've been doing some mods to Astrud over the past month and am "almost" ready to debut her new look (waiting on something to come in). This is an easy and cheap add on, thanks for the tips!



-Mel

Has anyone put 1 these on the GT200? I've read that the model should be the 906/921.. and someone else said that the result turned out to be less brigther than the stock...

I'll be doing this project shortly. Thanks for the info. Looks like a good bet.

Anyone know which will fit on a LT150? Thanks

I am not sure if the LT150 has the same rear bulb as the LX150. If it does, then you need the bulb I posted about above. I also can't speak to clearance within the rear lens assembly, but would assume that you have room. You may want to give your dealer a call to see if the bulb types are the same.

Thanks harnadem. The dealer isn't much help can't really blast them, only 2000 made for here in the usa . I think only 2 on the island. Seems that et4 parts are more exchangable with the LT150.

Judy, the ET4 takes model # 1157. It went in without a hitch.

Miko, the GT200 does take another bulb.

There's another discussion of this here:
click here

--Deborah

I recently received my 906/921 replacement (high intensity LED) and the flasher module.
I don't believe they have a "flasher" bulb available in this configuration.

The original incandescent bulb is DEFINITELY brighter than the LED array.

The flasher module failed apparently, after several applications of the brakes.

A caution on the flasher module, it does not go to a fail safe condition, when it craps out.
I was unaware that I had no brake lights 'til I noticed there was no reflection in the garage on arriving home.
I must have been without braking indication for several km in heavy traffic.

I contacted Autolumination, outlinining the failure and they offered a refund for the module. I suggested they develop a fail safe circuit to protect the module.

That is something to consider when installing modulators of any kind. They should be able to operate in a fail safe mode.

Thanks for confirming... Guess I should just pick up a modulator then..

Thsnks Deborah

Best bet.

I just completed a test on the 906 and 921 stop light bulbs for the GT200.
My original bulb was equivalent to the 906 which is an 11 watt unit.

I replaced it with a 921 which is 18 watts and appreciably brighter.

The difference in current draw between the two bulbs is not of sufficient concern to the electrical system, as the brake light is not on continually.

The 906 draws 900mA, while the 921 pulls 1400 mA. The difference in visibility is well worth the use of a 921 as a replacement.

Good to know, thanks! I'll keep my original bulb with a screwdriver with me just in case. I have the 1157 bulb and installation was super easy, it took less than 5 minutes.

-Mel

My brake light flasher bulb has failed me - like it has others. After only one month of road use it stopped working and left me in either one of two states: steady on (like I am riding my brakes), or constant flashing.

I have contacted autolumination and they agreed to refund my purchase price, less a 20% restocking fee.

Once I see what the refund process is like, I plan on writing up a proper review of the product. At this point, and given the frequent similar report by other MVers on failures, I can't recommend this product.

Miko and Carrelo,

I tried two different bulbs from them and even different colors. I have tried the 921 matrix bulb in red and white and neither was bright enough. I just recently tried the 921 Superstar bulb which in that line is supposedly their brightest. It was brighter than the matrix but not as bright as the stock bulb. The angle was also not as good....viewable angle was 180 degrees, supposedly.

I have asked more than one person at Autolumination at other bulbs that might work....194s will work, but aren't even close to being bright enough. The 7440 looks like it would work with more options for bulbs and better intensity, but the base is 5mm too wide for the socket.

As far as Lumens...the stock bulb puts out about 264 lumens....the 921 matrix puts out maybe 150 lumens and the Superstar about 175 lumens.

The 194s are about the same. The LED Arrays would be the best in terms of Lumens at 300, but they won't fit based on the opening in the lens. I think for now we are stuck with the incandescent bulb for now.

I plan on installing a set of after market LED auxillary brake lights from http://www.hyperlites.com/prod.html

My 2 cents for what it is worth.

Scratch that off the 'want list'.

I had 2 Kisan Tailblazers fail within a year. The bad thing is that when they failed they left me without a tail light. I ended up buying Hyperlites and they still work great after 40,000 miles.

Mine failed after about 2 months. Luckily it was in the "brakes always on" position rather than off.

So now I'm back to doing my own flashing lights with the brake lever at red lights. I may do the hyperlites install later on.

-Mel

Sounds like a consensus!

I would be interested in a test to see why these fail. LEDs are fairly straightforward. With the failure being either always on or always blinking then the controller is obviously the problem. I wonder if they just built that bad of a product, or if it was built to lab conditions in that there is a constant known voltage and didn't do enough testing with fluctuating voltage and environmental durability.

It is easy to determine the voltage range of a normal operating scooters, take that range and design the power supply portion of the controller to function properly in that range plus a margin zone. Then the next problem is environmental conditions, proper design and manufacturing techniques for this simple of a product aren't difficult to achieve.

No one probably cares that much (except those of you that have lost money on this product), but I'm an engineer for automotive electronics and I work on designing to, and above, the conditions of an automotive environment. It surprises almost everyone how involved and rigorous the tests we perform really are on automotive products.

I get frustrated when I see consumer/aftermarket products that aren't tested enough, it is a relatively small price to pay to avoid many incidents of product failures and returns.

My LED 1157 replacement failed in always-on mode too.
Autoillumination exchanged it w/o receipt, or explanation of failure.
This second one is working fine on the ET4 and is deffinately brighter than stock.

If the manufacturer stated that there was a problem with their product, but that they fixed it and offered a replacement, then I'd have tried it. They made no such claim, and instead just offered a partial refund. I'd be worried that a "new" bulb is destined to have the same problem as the "old" one.

I still have mine, Uninstalled...I can't get the lens cover off of my Derbi blvd 150.
Now with all the failures reported, I don't know if it is worth installing it.
Maybe I'll put it into my top case somehow or perhaps my girlfriends LX150.

Dave