Installed Amber Passing Light Bulbs (pics)

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Sep 6, 2014 | 06:12 PM

Joe_G

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From: St. Louis, MO

Installed Amber Passing Light Bulbs (pics)

The Trucklight LED light is awesome for lighting the road...but it's nearly invisible to other cars unless you are right in front of it. No good for riding on FL roads during the daytime. And while I'd like the LED passing lights too for the matching looks, I'm afraid their side visibility would be just as bad.

I have seen a few amber passing lights so decided to install the 55w 2500K H3 lights below. $17 and free shipping on Amazon. One of my cheaper mods.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013J...&robot_redir=1

I think I like it. The camera does not do it justice but I can really see these bright yellow lights in the daytime. Here are some pics.

One yellow and one original bulb. The camera doesn't pick up the difference like your eye does.

One yellow and one white from the side. Note how invisible the headlight is. This is the problem I'm trying to fix.

Both yellow bulbs.

Side view with high beam on.

Front view with high beam on.

Notice the high beam is a lot more noticeable during the day. I've wired my passing lights to my Aux circuit so I can and do run the high beam in the day. I did it for a long time on my road king and never a flash from a car, it's still not annoying to them but more visible than the low beam.

Sep 6, 2014 | 07:26 PM

ecsjr

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Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Chicago Suburb, Illinois

That's amazing how invisible the headlight is.
Are all the LED headlights like that?

I was thinking of upgrading, but this has me re-thinking

Sep 6, 2014 | 08:37 PM

Joe_G

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From: St. Louis, MO

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecsjr

That's amazing how invisible the headlight is.
Are all the LED headlights like that?

I was thinking of upgrading, but this has me re-thinking

I think the Harley Daymakers are a little better but double the price compared to Trucklight. IMHO no led is as visible in the day as an incandescent.

But they shine (no pun intended) at night. They are so much better it's amazing. If you have passing lights I'd suggest you leave them incandescent.

Here is my upgrade thread, you can see the difference.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...cs-inside.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe_G

First of all, I'd like to thank SRV_Fan for his good price and quick shipping on the 7' light and bracket. He is a great vendor indeed.

I had a 7" LED Trucklite on my Road King and the LED is night and day better than halogen or sealed beam. SRV hooked me up with a 7" "Big Friggin Headlight" and bracket. It was a very complete kit, nothing else needed, and a quality kit. The bracket is a very nice piece and SRV thoughtfully includes all bolts and washers needed.

The install is super easy; I soldered the factory wires to the socket that SRV included in the kit, the wires are color coded and it's very easy to install.

Now to the important stuff - the results:

Here is the factory light:

Here is the new Big Friggin LED Headlight. Tomorrow I will purchase the Harley Frenched headlight ring as the LED sticks out farther than the stock headlight ring. Common mod for all Trucklite installations.

Here is the factory bulb low beam:

Factory bulb high beam:

Trucklite low beam:

Trucklite high beam:

These pictures don't do the difference justice; it is like night and day. The LED is so much better than stock that it is really unbelievable. Took a ride tonight through the everglades and it was fantastic. I learned on my Road King that I can run the high beam on a 4 lane without blinding oncoming traffic, and it lights up the night like you cannot believe and is so directional that other drivers don't flash the brights.

The downside of the directional beam of the LED is that it's hard to see from a side angle. For safety reasons, in the daytime, I always run my passing lights which are very visible from the side...and I don't install LED passing lights as they are also very directional.

It's my 2nd favorite mod (straight pipes are #1 favorite). I highly recommend the mod for those like me that like to drive at night.

Sep 6, 2014 | 10:59 PM

dandrumheller

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Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 1,091

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From: Southern Maine / Seacoast NH

Thanks for posting this. Been considering doing the amber passing lights mod with film - but I like the option of swapping lamps better. I'm still running the stock incandescent headlight, but I like the idea of being a little more noticeable to other vehicles with the amber passing lights.

Sep 7, 2014 | 06:10 AM

PikeAl

Cruiser

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 112

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From: Miami, FL

When i looked through the pictures the first though that came to my head was...you wired them wrong...the passing lights are on but there's no headlight...then I started reading.

Holy Crap! Really has me rethinking the LED headlight thing as most of my riding is during the day...

You saved me a few hundred bucks for now

Bike looks great. Those passing lights will definitely get some attention.

Sep 7, 2014 | 07:06 AM

Badbagger09

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Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 1,227

Likes: 30

From: FL

I put amber passing lamp covers on mine to get more visibility on the road.

Sep 7, 2014 | 07:42 AM

Joe_G

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Joined: Jan 2013

Posts: 2,721

Likes: 103

From: St. Louis, MO

Quote:

Originally Posted by PikeAl

Bike looks great. Those passing lights will definitely get some attention.

Thanks for the props. I think that springer looks like jewelry with all the chrome...I really like it.

Well I might let your wallet down here. The led light is so good at night you could achieve the visibility with either or both LED headlight ring or led turn signal bulbs...

http://www.customdynamics.com/high_i...d_headlamp.htm

http://www.customdynamics.com/harley...rn_signals.htm

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Sep 7, 2014 | 07:13 PM

nikonf8

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Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 2,429

Likes: 26

Lights

I recently installed a truck phase 7 head lamp and I have to tell you there is a world of difference and it's a pleasure riding at riding at night I can see the pot holes before I hit them and I can also see the shoulder of the road . The price has dropped on the truck light and you can get one for as low as 169.95,. As far as the amber passing lamps I know guys who bought amber passing lamps and they are always blowing on them. I have been running the yellow film on my for a few years now and I would go with that before the bulbs. I upgraded my passing lamp bulbs to 50 what LEDs from a place in so cal. They are great real bright and match the color of the light coming off the truck light which is I think 6000K which is day light or better with the combo of the truck light and the 50 what LEDs I am super happy and the price was right . I paid 179.95 for the truck light you can get it for 169 I got free shipping plugged them right in . If you have an 05 deluxe you will probably have to upgrade your passing lamp assembly first they made a change in 06 and are still using them to date on most bikes .the 50 watt LEDs for the passing lamps cost me 70 dollars for the pair with shipping. So for 250 dollars I got a nice set of lights . HD day maker is over priced and I heard the truck has a better light if you go HD with there passing lamps your looking at close to a thousand dollars

Sep 8, 2014 | 02:21 AM

#10

DK Custom

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Joined: Nov 2010

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From: Hickory Flat, Mississippi

I recently put an amber film on my passing lights...for the purpose of being more visible.

I'm happy with it and have observed more people notice the bike more quickly.