Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are all the rage at the moment, so I
thought it was time to upgrade the Hawk and see what I thought. I picked up some 12 LED 1156
replacements, and some 24 LED 1157 replacements on
eBay
from the seller velocityleds_1, and planned to put them into the
Buell turn signals
and the tail light.
First, the amber turn signals, as this was easy...
Before - incandescent
After - LED
I think they're duller as all the light is thrown out, rather
than hitting the reflector in the back.
Next, the red tail lights, I had to trim a little plastic from the
bulb holder surround on the lens unit with the
Dremel,
to allow the LED lights to fit...
Before - incandescent
After - LED
I quite like the rear light, but I'm not sold on the turn signals yet.
If I were to run these, I'd have to get a variable load flasher relay, too, as depending on
how many you have plugged in, they're doing anything from the "you've blown a bulb" (1 LED)
fast flash to not flashing at all (4 LEDs). The standard bulbs are 21W, and these are
drawing significantly less than that :o)
I tried the brake light in the turn signal, and that's much better, so I might try and get
a set of 24 LED amber 1156s, and a new flasher relay
I had a spare red LED strip lying around from the
plane, so I mounted it on the rear mudguard,
under the number plate and above the big reflector I've stuck on there. While it's not the most
visible during the day, it's not bad at night. Every little helps, I guess :o)
