Anyone installed a LED Taillight ? I'm looking at the Kuryakyn smoked Laydown for my 05, its suppose to be a simple install, has the module inside the lens so there is no splicing of wires to get the module in line.just wondering if theres any issues with these and how long the bulbs last, one down fall I see is, if it burns out while your on a trip... your screwed because this probably isn't a stocking item for most dealers. Thanks

 

Murf, I have had one on my 07 Fatboy for about 5 months now, now problems so far, looks way cooler than the stock item. Reccomend you team it up with the smoked indicator lenses from HD to make it all tie in.

 

LED's don't "burn out" like normal filiment bulbs. In theory a LED has an unlimited lifespan, being self regenerating unlike the heated element ina normal bulb. But they can be damaged by overloading the circuit or putting too much voltage through one. Otherwise they are virtually imune from the normal wear and tear issues. If they are mounted solidlythey are also blessed with being virtually imune from the kind of vibrations that would destroy normal bulbs in seconds. Not a bad thing considering how much a bike like a Harley can vibrate if it wants to.

Most of the LED tail lights are also made up of a large number of smaller LED's, so the loss of one or two won't have youlooking for a new one a couple of hundred miles from nowhere. The better known and higher end makers also use higher grade LED's that are both of a better grade and brighter. They will also stand behind their products if you do have a problem.

Kuryakyn is one of the better makers and if you do decide to get one from them it should give you a good long trouble free lifespan. But if you do have a problem they have a good reputation for standing behind their products.

 

I have the Kuryakyn smoked laydown tailight that has the chrome doodad running down the center like the panecea tail but without the built in turns. First of all, to make this light look right (IMHO) you have to paint the inside of it black behind the circuit board (masking of coarse for the licence plate window) otherwise you can see all the wiring inside of it through the lens, this also blacks it out further adding to the cool blacked out look. EVERBODY I RIDE WITH complains that they can't see my taillight during the day! WHY when leds are supposed to be so much brighter? because this (and all other led solutions I have found) has no supporting molded plastic chrome plated reflector to support the leds like an OEM led light (or for that matter incandescent light) would have. dead on or at night the light is plenty bright but in the day it is barely noticable. My solution...I'm going to add the HD module that turns my turn signals into tail brake and turns. I figure if the Nightster can live on them as it's only lights in the back I am safe using them and the led Kuryakyn tail. I will of course be using normal bulbs in the turns when I do this. If someone machined or molded a custom chrome reflector to support each of the leds in the Kury (or anyone else's led tail) this would not be needed.

P.S. this light collects condensation in a bad way also.

 

I have the Kuryakyn tail light and agree, it isn't bright at all. But LED's are not created equal. In fact, they can be significantly brighter. If you want some bright ones, check out Radiantz LED's. I have them in my turn signals and they are way brighter than standard lamps; and way out of Kuryakyn's league. I bought them through biketronics.com. Give them a call, they are very knowledgeable.

 

I did the HD Tri-Bar LED tail light and these LED lights on the turn signal stems from Harley:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US

Very bright and looks sweet as hell together.
The turn signal lights in the stems are dual density to work with the brake lights too.

 

HD Tri-bar taillight at night with no brakes.





HD tri-bar at night with brakes on.

 

I've got the kuryakyn smoked LED also and get the same complaints from guys I ride with about not being able to see itwhen it's bright and sunny. At night, andon overcast days it's fine. Am also going to install the stop/run/brake controller so my rear turn signals act as brake lights.Light looksgreat and install was simple plug & play as I remember, it just mounts up to the stock tail light base. Here's what it looks like with the kuryakyn turn signal bar and large silver bullet turn signals...

 

GADAVE,

Love the look of the bike.

What did you use to cover the holes where the original licence plate holder came off?
Do the bullet lights touch / rub the standard bags of the Heritage?

 

Hey Murf1,

I have the new HD LED tail light with a smoked lense cover. It is very bright during the day and at night it is just sick-bright. The white light topside for the license plate is also very bright at night and it really lights-up my white Florida tag well.

This was a plug & play install, no load equalizer was required.

The only down-side is that it is exacly the same size as the ugly original red one. I wish it was a little more low-profile, but I'll take the extra brightness back there anyway!