LED Lighting

Badbob · 11-10-2006, 07:54 PM

Is anyone messing around with LED lighting on their GZ250?

Anyone interested in this sort of thing?

I want to add some additional lighting to my bikes as well as replace as many of the lights as I can with LEDs. They are much more durable, use very little power, and can be much much brighter than conventional turn signals and running lights. I know there are lots of companies out there that will sell me very expensive solutions for this like $95 brake light replacement. This is not what I'm looking for.

I was an electronics technician for 20 years. I can read schematics, use test equipment, and do precision soldering. I also have tools I know how to use. Making my own LED lighting or modifying something to work is not out of the question.

For example, I was in WalMart today and saw a small LED light that was designed to plug into a cigarette lighter that could easily be modified to work on a bike. The only real problem I saw with it was that it was bright yellow.

If any of you have done anything like this or knows of someone else who has rolled their own I would sure like to know about it.

If you have any ideas post them here and lets discuss it.

Dupo · 11-10-2006, 09:32 PM

Only thing i did on the GZ was add some red LEDs under the chrome covers on the engine to light up the heads. I was going to get some LED bulb replacements off ebay (which really arent that much if you can find the guys who sell cheap). I want to replace the signals on my shadow with LEDs and will probably take that route (replacement LED bulbs).

Bill · 11-11-2006, 06:37 AM

Try a search at VolusiaRiders.com. It seems to me there was a fair amount of discussion on LED lighting there. I'm totally in a fog about anything electrical but it seems like there are quite a few folks at that forum that could help.

Cheers!

Badbob · 11-12-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

Try a search at VolusiaRiders.com. It seems to me there was a fair amount of discussion on LED lighting there. I'm totally in a fog about anything electrical but it seems like there are quite a few folks at that forum that could help.

Thanks Bill I'm going to give them a look. I probably need to check out some of the KLR forums as well. Those guys are pretty creative. I saw one the other day with fuel cell mounted on the luggage rack so he could increase the range. Like 400 miles wasn't enough.

oneyunguy · 11-15-2006, 10:27 PM

Why yes, I have, and I do! I purchased around 50 Blue leds (5000MCd brightness) direct from Hong Kong off of Ebay for super cheap. I have used them for many things, even the bike. I wanted to "light up" the engine bay and wondered for sometime how to do it. I had some ABS strips lying around and thought they would work well. I ran them down a table saw to make a channel up the middle to run the wiring, and drilled holes to poke the LEDs through, 4 per side. I then took a small swith and mounted it to a small square of thin ABS, and attached to a screw holes on the frame that werent populated.
It gives off a nice glow to the engine (the photos dont do it justice) , as well as on the road right around where the front tire meets the road.

Next, I want to change the rear brake light to brighter leds, possibly white behind the red lens. Then, I want to to accent the bike some more with more LED's and use a remote to be able to turn them on and off at will.

oneyunguy · 11-15-2006, 11:21 PM

My two EBAY favorites. Ultra fast shipping to my door from China!

http://stores.ebay.ca/LCK-LED-LIGHTING- ... esstQQtZkm
http://stores.ebay.ca/Hkemart_W0QQssPag ... esstQQtZkm

Badbob · 11-16-2006, 04:00 AM

The blue LEDs look great. Thanks for the links. Looks like a good source.

Dupo · 11-16-2006, 01:23 PM

Theres always this place too

http://www.customdynamics.com/index.htm

I just wired red LEDs along the chrome engine covers with some zip ties. Worked great on the bike. Didnt go too nuts, 2 per side. Nice glow but not to overbearing. My next venture is to get one of those kits on ebay that fade and change colors for the shadow

Water Warrior 2 · 12-30-2006, 12:38 AM

Dupo, replacing your regular signal bulbs with LED's may not work. If the signal flasher is not an electronic flasher or reasonable facsimilie then there will not be a load to make it function. What # is the bulb in the signal and the wattage ???

Dupo · 12-30-2006, 10:27 AM

Not sure of the part number for your turn signals. But i do know they make direct replacement LED bulbs. Going to get some for my spirit in the spring actually.

11-10-2006, 07:54 PM	#1
Badbob Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 945	LED Lighting Is anyone messing around with LED lighting on their GZ250? Anyone interested in this sort of thing? I want to add some additional lighting to my bikes as well as replace as many of the lights as I can with LEDs. They are much more durable, use very little power, and can be much much brighter than conventional turn signals and running lights. I know there are lots of companies out there that will sell me very expensive solutions for this like $95 brake light replacement. This is not what I'm looking for. I was an electronics technician for 20 years. I can read schematics, use test equipment, and do precision soldering. I also have tools I know how to use. Making my own LED lighting or modifying something to work is not out of the question. For example, I was in WalMart today and saw a small LED light that was designed to plug into a cigarette lighter that could easily be modified to work on a bike. The only real problem I saw with it was that it was bright yellow. If any of you have done anything like this or knows of someone else who has rolled their own I would sure like to know about it. If you have any ideas post them here and lets discuss it. __________________ My GZ250 Blog Facebook Pinterest Google+ Tumblr YouTube Lumber Jocks Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-10-2006, 09:32 PM	#2
Dupo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Allentown, Pa Posts: 1,255	Only thing i did on the GZ was add some red LEDs under the chrome covers on the engine to light up the heads. I was going to get some LED bulb replacements off ebay (which really arent that much if you can find the guys who sell cheap). I want to replace the signals on my shadow with LEDs and will probably take that route (replacement LED bulbs). __________________ Photography Gallery *updated url - new site! Motorcycle Blog Facebook
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11-11-2006, 06:37 AM	#3
Bill Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 174	Try a search at VolusiaRiders.com. It seems to me there was a fair amount of discussion on LED lighting there. I'm totally in a fog about anything electrical but it seems like there are quite a few folks at that forum that could help. Cheers! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-15-2006, 10:27 PM	#5
oneyunguy Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 79	Why yes, I have, and I do! I purchased around 50 Blue leds (5000MCd brightness) direct from Hong Kong off of Ebay for super cheap. I have used them for many things, even the bike. I wanted to "light up" the engine bay and wondered for sometime how to do it. I had some ABS strips lying around and thought they would work well. I ran them down a table saw to make a channel up the middle to run the wiring, and drilled holes to poke the LEDs through, 4 per side. I then took a small swith and mounted it to a small square of thin ABS, and attached to a screw holes on the frame that werent populated. It gives off a nice glow to the engine (the photos dont do it justice) , as well as on the road right around where the front tire meets the road. Next, I want to change the rear brake light to brighter leds, possibly white behind the red lens. Then, I want to to accent the bike some more with more LED's and use a remote to be able to turn them on and off at will. __________________ 1999 Suzuki GZ250 SOLD 2006 Yamaha XVS650 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-15-2006, 11:21 PM	#6
oneyunguy Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 79	My two EBAY favorites. Ultra fast shipping to my door from China! http://stores.ebay.ca/LCK-LED-LIGHTING- ... esstQQtZkm http://stores.ebay.ca/Hkemart_W0QQssPag ... esstQQtZkm __________________ 1999 Suzuki GZ250 SOLD 2006 Yamaha XVS650
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11-16-2006, 04:00 AM	#7
Badbob Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 945	The blue LEDs look great. Thanks for the links. Looks like a good source. __________________ My GZ250 Blog Facebook Pinterest Google+ Tumblr YouTube Lumber Jocks
	0

11-16-2006, 01:23 PM	#8
Dupo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Allentown, Pa Posts: 1,255	Theres always this place too http://www.customdynamics.com/index.htm I just wired red LEDs along the chrome engine covers with some zip ties. Worked great on the bike. Didnt go too nuts, 2 per side. Nice glow but not to overbearing. My next venture is to get one of those kits on ebay that fade and change colors for the shadow __________________ Photography Gallery *updated url - new site! Motorcycle Blog Facebook
	0

12-30-2006, 12:38 AM	#9
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Dupo, replacing your regular signal bulbs with LED's may not work. If the signal flasher is not an electronic flasher or reasonable facsimilie then there will not be a load to make it function. What # is the bulb in the signal and the wattage ???
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12-30-2006, 10:27 AM	#10
Dupo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Allentown, Pa Posts: 1,255	Not sure of the part number for your turn signals. But i do know they make direct replacement LED bulbs. Going to get some for my spirit in the spring actually. __________________ Photography Gallery *updated url - new site! Motorcycle Blog Facebook
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