More like #2.

 

My battery supplier for work turned me on to a Halogen tail light bulb that's at least twice as bright as the 1157. Don't have a part number but it's available at Batteries Plus Bulbs.

 

Twice as bright? On my way there!

 

Careful on the halogen replacements. Check the current draw. Our electrical systems are not exactly designed for heavy over use.

I put some 1157 LED replacements from amazon:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo-c...ight-bulb.html

Took a bit of modding to get them to work in the tail light.

 

Hey DrHess,
Glad you chimed in and thanks for the link. I was on my way out the door to go shopping. I'll be sure to take my calipers with me

 

I use Sylvania LED bulbs from autozone or walmart in my rear lights. My front turn signals are actually a bulb that's also used for household accent lighting, which walmart sells in an LED.

But you can get a stock replacement LED bulb that won't require you to gut your headlight assembly to install, just replace the bulb with one of these. There is a catch though, your headlight has to have either the cone shaped reflector inside, behind the outer glass, or the glass on your headlight needs to be diffuser type (you can't see thru it clearly) for these to work well. Also they are bulky, they have a cooling fan housing on the back side, so room may be an issue.


My 96 Road King uses a 9003 headlight bulb, but they have em in other types as well.

 

Thanks for all the advice/info guys.
My headlights are 5 3/4 sealed beam and there's NO room in my Tour Glide fairing for alternations depth-wise so I knew from the get-go that was out of the question.
Today I tried each style of LED 1157 and 1156 they have in town which are basically what I posted in photos earlier, in the turn, tail/brake lights. The original incandescent bulbs (made in USA) were 30-40% brighter. I guess it's just the way the reflectors and/or lens are focused. Yes, every bulb on my '87 is original except the headlights which I've replaced twice. Good news is, I won't go spending 120.00 bucks to replace turn, brake and running light bulbs. That'll buy me about 1800 miles worth of fuel

 

Been using the same bulb for 2 years now, two cross country rides and plenty of weekend travel. No issues so far, but I do have an upgraded alternator. Come to think of it I'm also running a 100/80 halogen headlight bulb and that's been in there for many years without issue. got it from a Jap bike dealer.

 

I put LED's in my brake /tail lights and they worked. Tried them in my turn signals and no go. (2000 Ultra)