Taillight LED Upgrade #87,245,012

[FJ1200W]

The old 1157 dual element bulb.

Even the heavy duty ones would not last in my FJ.

I've tried a few different LED's and have not really "liked" any of them.

The popcorn looking ones (1st pic) appeared promising, but I could not really tell any difference when I put on the brakes, they did not light up enough. They should be significantly brighter than just the driving lights IMHO.

The last ones I put in worked better, they were a sealed type, but they did not radiate light. They sort of made bright little red circles. But the brake light was brighter.

While prowling the parts store, I noticed the Osram/Sylvania 2357R 12.8V 2.5/0.4W Bulb set which is compatible with 1157/2057.

Two for $25.00 and I forgot my coupon for $5.00 anything.

"Off Road Use Only" is marked on the package, interesting.

Made in Taiwan - I'm good with that.

It's red - my lens is already red. Red is red.

Anyone else try these yet?

[red]

FJ1200W,

White LEDs make very little red light, and do not work well inside red lenses.  They can be bright when outside the lens, but still look dim when trying to get light through a red lens.  A red LED should be much better, working inside a red lens.  The closer the LED light output matches the color of the lens, the brighter they will be, in use.

Why would they be "off-road use only?"
. 

[Charlie-brm]

I don't know why it is so hard in 2020 to find the Lumens specs for bulbs. It used to be all over the interweb.
Taking an incandescent type as a baseline we're familiar with, this style of bulb would be listed at 503 Lumens.

Folks might get something out of watching this brief video comparing the better ZEVO line of Sylvania lamps to incandsecent, both day and night and running vs brake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1CRoPHe0fU. The good stuff is in slow motion so you can really catch the difference in how quickly an LED comes to full brightness. And I can see that the difference of running to brake is greater for the ZEVO. That's a major thing for me; having it very obvious when the light indicates braking after someone has been hypnotized by fixating on your running light, or turned away and missed the transition.

[FJ_Hooligan]

All of my bikes have Hyperlites

[FJmonkey]

I have been using these for the past ten years. https://ddmtuning.com/index.php

HID for the sun facing forward, and dash lamps. They have some kick ass red lamps in single and dual lamps. 

[Motofun]

Why spend big bucks for a problem?  The Yamaha incandescent bulbs last decades.  Of course the junk you buy at the 7-11 or the autozone won't, so pony up a few more schekels for the good stuff.

[ribbert]

The Yamaha incandescent bulbs last decades.  Of course the junk you buy at the 7-11 or the autozone won't, so pony up a few more schekels for the good stuff.

My LED brake light globes have been in so long I don't even remember what type of globe they are but I do remember I bought a few different types before I was happy.

One of the reasons for LED brake lights is the speed at which they light up is as eye catching as the light itself once illuminated, I like that. To add further to being seen I have a brake light modulator that flashes the light when first applied and then settles into a solid light. The duration and rate of the flashing period is adjustable, it is very eye catching and only works with an LED. A rapid flashing, very bright brake light in a sea of tail lights really stands out.
I currently have the flashing sequence set for about 4 seconds, then solid. It does have the option of remaining in flashing mode for the duration.

If I'm going to get taken out on my bike, I at least want a good story to tell, being rear ended at an intersection isn't it.

Quoting globe life can be deceptive. You say Yamaha(??) globes last decades, their life is more closely linked to mileage than years and most bikes don't do a lot of miles.

Charlie, sounds like one of those modulators with LED's would suit you.

Noel

[giantkiller]

It's kinda ironic. But my brother has had the flashing brake light as well as the flashing head light on his bikes for as long as I can remember. And he's been rear-ended twice. The last one really messed up his back. Just goes to show there are idiots that won't see anything.

He's the one who lost his leg. After a teenage girl turned and drove over him from the side, as he rode through the intersection. And that was before there were cell phones

[red]

I have a brake light modulator that flashes the light when first applied and then settles into a solid light. The duration and rate of the flashing period is adjustable, it is very eye catching and only works with an LED. A rapid flashing, very bright brake light in a sea of tail lights really stands out.
I currently have the flashing sequence set for about 4 seconds, then solid. It does have the option of remaining in flashing mode for the duration.

Noel,

What brake light modulator do you have there?  Do you know which LED lamps you have? 
I can certainly do a Search across the market, but your good experience counts, when buying new gear. 
Thanks.
.

[FJ1200W]

Video to bulbs working - they're great.

https://youtu.be/LAGpZc6aF30

Yes, I have a little exhaust leak.

But like the popping 

[FJ1200W]

Ah, the left bulb seems to of failed.
Driving light only, no brake.
2 years ago they were installed, thanks to the forum documentation.
I better check my voltage and the sockets.
Anyone updated to a wedge type bulb? (3157)
I guess the socket tabs to housing are probably proprietary to the FJ?
Fun fun fun

[FJ1200W]

My FJ eats taillight bulbs. It seemed I was replacing them a couple times a season. One would almost always burn out, and it's a twin bulb taillight. 
A couple of years ago, I went with a pair of the he latest, greatest not so cheap LED bulbs.
Supposed to last a lifetime!
Sure, whatever, one of them burnt out!
Luckily I found my old boxes of "vintage" bulbs, and decided to just go back old school.
I have noticed the bulb sockets that twist on to the taillight housing, never would really "tighten" down when you twist them, they wiggle a small amount.
I theorize this may be a contributing attribute to the continual failures. (That was a mouthful)
By placing a small o-ring on the bulb socket, the socket was extremely secure.
Possibly the life of the bulbs will be extended, we'll only know in time.

I can't remember where I got these bulbs. I believe they were a part of an inventory of Suzuki parts I bought in Amazonia, Missouri. Look at those fancy LED bulbs, both have the same crack, you can see one of them. One bulb quit working on the brake side. "Good brake lights are a good thing" or so I remember Kwai Chang Caine quoting Master Chen Ming Kan.

The Harbor Freight assortment of every size of O-Rings that fit nothing finally come through.
I believe this will deduce vibration at the socket, extending bulb life. It may also provide a better seal.

[Ted Schefelbein]

You guys complaining about short life of taillights are probably coming up on a voltage regulator. Been there, done that.

Ted

[Millietant]

It's weird that after 32 years and 86,000 miles I was still on both original stop/tail light bulbs.

After seeing the brightness of a pair of LED's in a friends bike, I switched to LED's in my bike (£10 for 2 delivered) and the difference in brightness for both stop and tail function is great. The original bulbs are wrapped in tissue paper and a plastic bag in my tailpiece, just in case one fails.

Even though my battery will boil dry on long tours in hot weather (unless I top it up once a week) I don't think I'm suffering Reg/Rec issues yet. My batteries usually last 6-7 years on the FJ although they do live on a battery tender as soon as I turn the ignition off at home.

My FZ1 is still on the original battery at 21 years old.

[FJ1200W]

You guys complaining about short life of taillights are probably coming up on a voltage regulator. Been there, done that.

Ted

Thank you for your professional reply.

You could have easily said I was bitchin' and whinnin' like a Karen-eve.

Seriously, I do believe I'm ready for a regulator.

I need to test that ASAP.

Might explain why my blinkers are inop ?