Tail light R & R

[RedNigel]

OK
I'm going to ask for help and I don't want to hear how much a shop manual costs and where to get one.

I need to replace a tail light bulb...so, if you know the answers

Where do I gain access to the tail light bulbs?
How do I do it?
Can I buy the bulbs at the corner parts house?

Are there any tips, tricks or lessons learned that will save me some heartburn while doing it?

???

Thanks in advance
Clay

 

[skiper]

Be sure to keep a cheeseburger nearby in case of delays and detours or to celebrate cause you did it easily and well ..

 

[JQL]

You could use LED tail lights but check the brightness of the brake light beforehand as some aren't very bright...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/tail-brake-turn/

 

[RedNigel]

Thanks, for the tips!
I dont have big hands, but they ain't little either...I hate tight spots, but I'll Git R Done

 

[Phil Tarman]

I did it. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

 

[Warren]

If it makes you feel better its 100 times easier than replacing the headlight bulbs although I do have small hands

 

[RedNigel]

I did it. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

I wouldnt dare pay someone to change a light bulb. I just wanted a leg up on the 'how to'

 

[JQL]

2 ways...

1. Check the rating table on their page
2. Ask someone who's already installed them

Simples:smile:

Have a look at these http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1157-led-bulb-dual-intensity-45-smd-led-tower-/814/ They get good reviews as well.

 

[skiper]

Confuscious Ask - How many NT - Owners does it take to change a light bulb ? only joshing - guys .. it's actually quite a skill to write clear instructions and it's cool to ask , rather than blunder things up .. don't forget to laugh alittle today , go for a ride and -or spread some cheer. If you can't then have a drink ..

 

[RedNigel]

go for a ride

Now that I am back working 7:00-3:30 I am riding to work every day and having fun doing it
Nothing like bookending a workday doing something you love
Hopping on the bike to ride home is the thing I count down to every afternoon

 

[JQL]

Looking at the pictures of the bulbs on the site they actually look brighter than stock...

 

[JQL]

"Ask someone who's already installed them" is not the same as "read customer reviews"...

Subtle difference.

 

[Rich]

I recently changed out the stop/tailight bulbs on my FJR with LEDs. Harder than the NT, actually as Yamaha was more skimpy with slack in the wires, though the procedure is the same. (In the case of the NT I was just replacing burnt-out incandescents with new incandescents)

Anyway, to get back to the LEDs: I put one in and then turned the bike on and satisfied myself I had the exact same illumination in both running and stop light mode from the LEDs as with the incandescents, by comparing the two side by side (neither bulb was burned out in this case). But there are different replacement bulbs available, and some will no doubt be unsatisfactory. Mine are 1157 equivalents that I got from Vizi-tec, with red LEDs. They have 4 LEDs on each of 5 stalks around the sides, and 6 LEDs more facing straight back through the lens. For a total of 26 each. The rationale behind using red ones is that, if you use white, the lights are made red by dint of filtering some of that light energy out, allowing only red wavelength(s) through.

 

[daler]

Like Phil, if I can do it you can too. I replaced mine with LEDs and also installed on of these http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/strobe-controllers/brake-light-strobe-module/195/845/
Clint

 

[Phil Tarman]

Last summer at the Pre-National Rally Rally, Kevin ("Artemedes" on the Forum) was there on his DR-650. He'd replaced the incandescent bulbs on the DR with LED bulbs and they were much dimmer than incandescent bulbs and you could barely see an increase in brightness when he hit the brakes.

 

[JQL]

So subtle it's insignificant :tongue:
Which is why I said I'd rather actually see them in person than trust someone either in a review or in an email who's afraid to admit they made a bad purchase.

Sorry but you've lost me there. You speak to someone who's actually installed them or you read a review which the website owner may have written. A world of difference!

 

[Warren]

The stock bulb rating of 21/5W is generally not available at your typical retailer. The auto LL (long life) bulbs like the 1157, 2357, 2397 and 2057 will work and can be an improvement over the stock rating. See this web bike world review for comparisons on these. While not as sexy as the LED bulbs they are inexpensive and readily available.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/triumph/brake-lights/light-bulbs.htm

 

[RedNigel]

I changed both bulbs just so they would start out even

I used 2057s based on Rick's earlier post...$5

 

[Phil Tarman]

But not everyone is as mechanically inept as you are, my friend.

 

[SuperDave]

You could hold your breath for the small amount of time it takes to change those bulbs.

SuperDave