Number Plate Light Mod

Well I've never liked how the number plate is lit on the 'cat (I know it's common on a lot of older bikes) so I decided to change it.

Thoughts?






Basically I sprayed the clear part of the rear light black, drilled some holes, and installed the 4 LED's. Now the rear plate doesn't get brighter under braking and gives it a much more modern look I think.

Regards

Mike

Think it's nicely done and looks very neat. Good job  

Any reason why you haven't changed the whole thing for an LED unit?

Thanks.

I quite like the standard look and not a fan of the LED unit because it combines the indicators as well as the tail/brake and makes them less visible. Currently thinking of a way to turn this to an LED unit though.

Regards

Mike

Did you have to add any resistors to the LED's before fitting them ?

Yes, 1 resistor per pair of LEDs. But depends on how you're doing it and how many LEDs you're using and what colour etc.

Regards

Mike

My rear light is full LED and does not have the indicators in there (I don't like this either).  I got a couple of complimentary comments on it at BC this year.  I got it off of German eBay; search my posts and you'll find a thread I did on it (sorry I can't post the link for you; currently posting this on my phone in Menorca).

Just checked German eBay... here's one without indicator and fully legal:
eBay-Item

Nice suggestions. Just out of curiosity, because I like the standard red look, does the old red cover fit over the new light?

Regards,

Mike

Hmmm... no idea to be honest.

It says its a straight swap so would think dimensions are the same and if the cover can be removed it might be possible.

Though dont know how it would affect visibility... red LEDs under a red lens  

Recent changes to the MOT rules have rendered to LEDs with integrated indicators illegal and an instant failure. I think DaiSan recently found this out, something to do with the percentage of the brake light function taken by an indicator. (Don't quote me on that part though).

Think the look you've got there is pretty sweet, I'm a fan of the mostly unmolested cat myself, though the plain LED is a nice aftermarket addition and not too blingy.

Snowcat wrote:Recent changes to the MOT rules have rendered to LEDs with integrated indicators illegal and an instant failure. I think DaiSan recently found this out, something to do with the percentage of the brake light function taken by an indicator. (Don't quote me on that part though).

Think the look you've got there is pretty sweet, I'm a fan of the mostly unmolested cat myself, though the plain LED is a nice aftermarket addition and not too blingy.

I have the LED rear light with integrated indicators, but I have left my original indicators on the bike (well, not original, they are aftermarket small smoked lenses). when indicating, the originals and the LED's flash, alternately. Not sure about this being an MOT fail. Bike passed its MOT in May this year with that set up.

If it does prove to be a failure, I will have to somehow look at disabling the LED indicators. I reckon this would be a simple task, bit no doubt turn into a right nightmare!!!

BlueZed wrote:Hmmm... no idea to be honest.

It says its a straight swap so would think dimensions are the same and if the cover can be removed it might be possible.

Though dont know how it would affect visibility... red LEDs under a red lens  

I thought that, but apparently red LED's through a red cover offers more light than white LED's through a red cover because it doesn't have to filter any light with red LED's. It just passes through. With white LED's, it has to filter out all the other colours and just allow red through, reducing light output.

Regards,

Mike