Bright LED tail lights - a negative observation
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,190
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Bright LED tail lights - a negative observation
Been behind some BAL setups recently. They are bright! No doubt about that. Which leads to a few problems.
(1) The tail lights are so bright they appear to be brake lights. Makes it appear you're just riding your brakes all the time.
(2) The increase in illumination from the brake lights is tiny in comparison to the blindingly bright tail light. It does not stand out at all.
(3) The flashing of the turn signals is also tiny. Again, easily not detected.
All worse when squarely behind the bike. A little less so when off to the side in the next lane over. Worse still in bright light, like a sunny day.
Just want to put this out there for some of you to think about. Super bright tail lights are not inherently 100% better. There are some downsides.
(1) The tail lights are so bright they appear to be brake lights. Makes it appear you're just riding your brakes all the time.
(2) The increase in illumination from the brake lights is tiny in comparison to the blindingly bright tail light. It does not stand out at all.
(3) The flashing of the turn signals is also tiny. Again, easily not detected.
All worse when squarely behind the bike. A little less so when off to the side in the next lane over. Worse still in bright light, like a sunny day.
Just want to put this out there for some of you to think about. Super bright tail lights are not inherently 100% better. There are some downsides.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Milford, CT
I would find out whose brand of BAL those were that you are commenting on. Some personal observations of my own are;
1) The Harley-Davison LED tail light/turn signal kits are NFG! Especially those that have the turn signals bright all the time! That is distracting and makes if difficult to distinguish when the brakes are applied.
2) Kuryakyn Panacea lights may be brighter and sharper than stock bulbs, but, those little amber arrow incorporated in the brake light are useless, and almost impossible to see. I like the flash feature when the brakes are applied, it draws your eyes to the brake light and wakes you up if you are following them.
3)The Custom Dynamics set up is the best that I have seen. I'm a customer, (not an employee), they look stock, and can be programmed to flash, etc on application. They are brighter than stock, but not annoyingly so. The turn signal lights are bright and sharp.
4)Brighter is better if it draws attention to you and you bike. BTW, my horn gets a workout too when I ride! Most cars on side streets, driveways, etc hear my toot and turn their head.
Just my opinion.
Scoop
1) The Harley-Davison LED tail light/turn signal kits are NFG! Especially those that have the turn signals bright all the time! That is distracting and makes if difficult to distinguish when the brakes are applied.
2) Kuryakyn Panacea lights may be brighter and sharper than stock bulbs, but, those little amber arrow incorporated in the brake light are useless, and almost impossible to see. I like the flash feature when the brakes are applied, it draws your eyes to the brake light and wakes you up if you are following them.
3)The Custom Dynamics set up is the best that I have seen. I'm a customer, (not an employee), they look stock, and can be programmed to flash, etc on application. They are brighter than stock, but not annoyingly so. The turn signal lights are bright and sharp.
4)Brighter is better if it draws attention to you and you bike. BTW, my horn gets a workout too when I ride! Most cars on side streets, driveways, etc hear my toot and turn their head.
Just my opinion.
Scoop
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 63
From: westland Michigan
I have the cd on my 14 sg and some say the leds look like I'm riding the brakes until I actually hit the brakes and then there really bright. Being a daytona blue pearl with the sunshine blasting on the factory lights I was told you couldn't see the brakes unless you were really paying attention. So I'll take extra bright lights before I get rear ended again.
Batman
Batman
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 23
From: Michigan
That is one reason why I wired my plasma rods as break/turn only.
Expecially at night, people behind me know when I am turning or hitting the breaks.
I have been behind bikes that you just can't tell expecially during the day.
Expecially at night, people behind me know when I am turning or hitting the breaks.
I have been behind bikes that you just can't tell expecially during the day.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
You have to set the running light on the second position for greater contrast to the brake light. At that setting they match the intensity of the tail lights with the R/T/B set-up. I'm very pleased with my BAL.
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
I don't care much if it does look like the brake light is on (BAL) all the time. It does what it is intended for and keeps the cages WAY back. Daytime really well. Nighttime extremely well.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 1,606
From: Eastern Ohio
I have tried to make the rear of my bike so that I have a triangle of lights similar to a car. Now I'm not running a bal, I have the Cycle Visions eliminator. It is very bright when on running, flashes 4 times and goes bright for brake. I added a tour pak spoiler and replaced the factory brake run light in it, with a radiantz led tube. It comes on brake only. Then I add radiantz tubes on my saddlebags for brake and turn. When in turn mode the brake light goes out and they flash on off on off. Gives a lot of contrast. I also have a CD tribar light, but it's hardly noticeable compared to everything else.
I had only one bag light mounted when I took this video. The left side would be on constant with brakes.
I had only one bag light mounted when I took this video. The left side would be on constant with brakes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
Yup, me too! I can't believe that someone is complaining about tail lights that are too bright...