led kit and visability at night

[dannylightning]

those led kits to light up your wheels and engine at night.

any one know how viable those kits are when driving down the highway at night. i don't know about you but would want to be as visible as possible, and that seems like that might help out big time. i work nights and would like to start riding my bike to work eventually.

some of thise kits are kind of cheep 15-40 bucks im not really in it for the looks but i feel it could be a good safety feature

[Easy Rider]

those led kits to light up your wheels and engine at night.


Check with your local police before you put anything like that on......that you intend to use while riding. MANY of them are NOT legal on a moving vehicle
AND
The GZ electrical system won't support much in the way of extra lights. 50-60 Wats is about it.

[dannylightning]

those little led lights don't even drain your battery the use so little power, i was reading you could leave them on for days and your bike will still start up.. if cars can have neon lights under them i don't see why this would be a problem..

[Easy Rider]

those little led lights don't even drain your battery the use so little power, i was reading you could leave them on for days and your bike will still start up.. if cars can have neon lights under them i don't see why this would be a problem..

The low current drain is true......but if you add up enough small drains, it could be significant.
You will also note over time that "general rules" about bikes often don't apply to something as small as a GZ.

AND that was the point; those neon lights are probably NOT legal on the cars either.....if they are moving down the street. Your money and your license points; it's just a heads up. Do with it as you please.

[dannylightning]

i don't know about here in tennessee but in ohio the neons were legal on the cars at least years ago when the first came out every one had them. come to think of it i have only seen one car with the neons out here so it could be illegal best off the call and find out, 12-15 of those little lights should light up your bike pretty descent i guess and thats if you want them all over.. just the engine you could probably get buy with 4-6 of them. not sure how much drain that would have..

any other good ideas to keep you viable at night besides reflectors

[patrick_777]

Bright reflective gear.

ATGATT.

[Water Warrior 2]

Bright reflective gear.

ATGATT. Yup. Bright reflective gear and pick up some 3M reflective tape for the bike. Also put some tape on your helmet.

[Easy Rider]

any other good ideas to keep you viable at night besides reflectors

A bright yellow over-vest with reflective stripes on it.

A few LEDs would be no problem.....up to 20 or so.
I just wouldn't want to test the "leave it on overnight" theory.

[dannylightning]

ill just get some glow in the dark paint for my helmet hahah

[mrlmd1]

Depending on where you put those lights and how many and how bright you light up the bike, (if they are legal where you are), if you can see them in your field of vision, it could distract you or disturb your forward vision and night vision while driving. That may be why they are illegal.

[dannylightning]

well it's summer weather here finally and there are bikes all over the place. at night just about every one and there brother is riding bike around with those led kits on them. so it must be legal

[Dupo]

INDIRECT light is usually legal. DIRECT light is what will get you busted.

Thats the laws here in PA.

I currently have 138 led's on the shadow, if you havent seen the video in "other bikes" forum. There is virtually zero current draw on the battery. I've left them on for hours just pulsing away and the bike starts up just fine.

I also had LEDs on the GZ (engine compartment) ... and had NO trouble. Left them on for 3 days .. on the 4th day, it finally drained the battery. So everyone who DOESN'T have them installed who replied, is just guessing. Take it from someone who had them installed ... you will be just fine installing LEDs on the GZ.

If you are STILL unsure about the legality ... ask a cop ... you can usually find them at the donut shops and 7-11s.

I took a chance on my shadow all lit up AND pulsating .. had two cops kinda look, give a nod and keep on going. So i guess im good to go lol.

[dannylightning]

If you are STILL unsure about the legality ... ask a cop ... you can usually find them at the donut shops and 7-11s.

i have a few good friend that are cops, they play in a punk rock band called drop gun so there not all big fat donut eating slobs haha. they live back in ohio where im origionally from. if i decide to go with a led kit ill call the police dept first just to make sure. but im pretty sure they are legal since i see so many bikes driving around with them.


i saw that video of your bike and the led kit.. that's a pretty rockin kit im pretty sure saw those for sale on ebay, can you also make those stay one solid color.

[David Bo]

I put some on this weekend... 18 on the left and 18 on the right. All held on by double sided sticky tape. I chose green to match the color of my bike. Here is a photo.
http://www.postimage.org/gx24py0A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx24py0A)


They are actually not quite as bright as the picture shows. I am not very good at night photography. They light up the engine perfectly and really brighten up the road beneath you.

[dannylightning]

I put some on this weekend... 18 on the left and 18 on the right. All held on by double sided sticky tape. I chose green to match the color of my bike. Here is a photo.
http://www.postimage.org/gx24py0A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx24py0A)


They are actually not quite as bright as the picture shows. I am not very good at night photography. They light up the engine perfectly and really brighten up the road beneath you.

damn dude that thing is lit up like the 4th of july.. that would really get noticed at night..

looks good, i don't think i want to go quite that bright. im thinking 3 or 4 on each side of the engine and 4 of them under the rear fender. just enough to get noticed.

if you hook these thing direct to the battery with a toggle switch to turn them off and on it wont put drain on the battery when there off right?? seems like the easiest way to hook them up. when i was younger i had some neon lights in side of my car and i think that was how i hooked them up to the car.

i love things that light up for some reason. if its got colorful lights i'm in love ahahah

[Dupo]

i saw that video of your bike and the led kit.. that's a pretty rockin kit im pretty sure saw those for sale on ebay, can you also make those stay one solid color.

What i have is NOT sold on ebay. DO NOT buy LED kits from ebay!!! They are junk. Plain and simple. All you get is single LEDs on 8" leads, control box and some wire connectors. Total garbage and a wiring night mare!!!

If you REALLY want good LEDs ... contact me via PM or email me and i will show you where to go to get what i have. You can get any amount of lights you want in many different lengths.

What they are ... are flexible LED strips. Totally encased in clear plastic with 4' leads with connectors already built in, control box with soldered connectors for simple click n play, wire ties, 3m double stick tape ... its one of the BEST and cheapest kits i can find. They are comaprible to the flex lights sold on Custom Dynamics website http://www.customdynamics.com/stingerz_ ... lights.htm (http://www.customdynamics.com/stingerz_led_accent_lights.htm) The guy that i deal with, makes them custom and is MUCH cheaper than custom dynamics prices .. big time.

The dude is from the shadow forum i frequent and makes these custom for whatever your needs are. For what you want, it would prob cost you about $10 per 2.5" light strip, $15 per 4.7" strip and up depending on the lengths. Im sure you could get away with spending only $60 or less and do what you described above and have some kick ass flexible, weather durable, bright leds :)

I just finished off the shadow tonight (did the wheel wells) with that guys kit ... and man it looks amazing. I'll post video this week ...

Oh and yes, you can stop it at any color you wish. He also sells solid colors too.

[Dupo]

if i decide to go with a led kit ill call the police dept first just to make sure. but im pretty sure they are legal since i see so many bikes driving around with them.
.

I'm sure the police station will just tell you that they are illegal. You'll get some dumbass who thinks you'll be talking about neons which are mostly illegal everywhere.

Best bet, grab one of your cop buds who play in that band and ask them. I'd say if you see bikes galore around you that are lit up, its legal, same as around here. Theres a bunch of choppers and a few big cruiser types with them on all the time. Bike nights they'll pull in, cops and all ... and no one says anything. Thats why i just slapped mine on and rode off. I figured whats the worst that can happen .. they say its illegal and i turn them off when im in town ;)

[alantf]

if you hook these thing direct to the battery

If you do that PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE AN INLINE FUSE. If you don't, any short circuit (including scraped wiring) can/will cause some very nasty things to happen to the battery. Also, the effects of these "very nasty things" can have other "very nasty things" happen when they mix with petrol vapour!

[Easy Rider]

but im pretty sure they are legal since i see so many bikes driving around with them.


But that is just a guess; somewhat of a risk unless you know for sure.

My guess is: If the lights are red or blue, you are taking a chance; even more of a chance if they flash.

Enough preaching; it's your $50 at risk. :biggrin:

[David Bo]

I agree with Easy... Red or Blue in the state of Massachuseets means Fire Dept, Ambulance, or Police. That is why I chose green. If I get pulled over, I'll just tell them I'm a tree-hugger.

[dannylightning]

i see red and blue here. looks like they like to match the color of their bikes with the lights. i would either want to go with blue or orange or one that changes colors. if i start doing a lot of night driving im definately gonna get a kit of they dont cost too much. and i can take it off and install it on the next bike i get.

at one point in time in ohio the red and blue were illegal. but now all colors are legal there. looks like they are legal here in tennessee too.

my chain guard fell off today guess the screws vibrated out of there some how. i had it off a bout a week ago and thought i had it snugged down pretty tight.. i still have the chain guard but the bolts are gone. glad i heard a clanking sound and pulled over before that fell off and got lost.

[Water Warrior 2]

Loktite is your friend.

[music man]

Loktite is your friend.



But not the red kind, unless you NEVER want it to come back off. :2tup:

[dannylightning]

[quote="Water Warrior":1z7yqvqz]Loktite is your friend.



But not the red kind, unless you NEVER want it to come back off. :2tup:[/quote:1z7yqvqz]

i will buy a vat of locktite and dip the bike in it. nothing will ever come loose again haha..
I wonder if i reversed the screws when i put them back on.. but i don't see why both holes wouldn't have the exact same thread pattern..

but that is probably good advice i have never used it before so im glad you said not to get the red kind..

[Easy Rider]

at one point in time in ohio the red and blue were illegal. but now all colors are legal there.

Danny, buddy..........

You can put whatever you want on a vehicle......as long as they are not turned on while the vehicle is on a public street.

I can pretty much guarantee you that RED and BLUE lights are ***NOT*** legal on a moving vehicle anywhere in the U.S., if they are visable from the front or side. If they flash or change color it's 100% they are not legal....on a moving vehicle.

You can absolutely do whatever you want. Providing bad advice to others, however, is not good.

[dannylightning]

I can pretty much guarantee you that RED and BLUE lights are ***NOT*** legal on a moving vehicle anywhere in the U.S., if they are visable from the front or side. If they flash or change color it's 100% they are not legal....on a moving vehicle.

You can absolutely do whatever you want. Providing bad advice to others, however, is not good.


Bad Advice???????? in ohio it was fine to have red and blue neon lights while driving, flashing ones would be a different story or if you had red and blue lights on at the same time that would be a porblem.. but regular solid color neon lights are fine.... i have 4 good friends that are police officers and detectives in ohio, i think they would know the law on that kind of thing... unless they have changed the law again since i have left that state. if you want i will email my police friends and ask them again..

[Easy Rider]

Bad Advice????????

Yes. I'm sorry but it IS bad advice.

Some things are NOT different by State because they are mandated at the Federal level by the Federal Uniform Vehicle Code.
Some of those things have to do with lighting.....like red lights must NOT be visible from the front of a vehicle....and blue lights are not allowed anywhere on a vehicle, once again....while the vehicle is moving and/or on a public roadway.

If the cops in a given juristiction elect not to enforce it, that is a WHOLE different matter and can change with no notice at all. And "Danny said it is OK" would not be an acceptable defense !!! :cry:

[dannylightning]

i found a page on neon lightning vehicles laws in ohio, it states that neon lights are legal in ohio.. as long as the bulbs are hidden and have less than 300 candle power, if they have more than 300 candle power they must be directed to strike the pavement and must not exceed 700 candle power, red and blue lights are also legal under a vehicle in ohio as long as the light is directed to the pavement and they do not flash or pulsate. neon lights are only illegal if they are mounted any place on the top of the vehicle, how ever the revised code for neon lights in ohio states that no color neon lightning is allowed to flash or pulsate while driving due to a distraction to other drivers..

i found this information on a police site for driving laws. i have emailed 2 of my police buddies to confirm this is correct. ill let you know when i get a answer back.

i cant seem to find any thing on the net for these laws in Tennessee


i did find another site that said most states encourage lightning kits for motorcycles due to better viability at night witch helps reduce the number of motorcycle accidents. i do not know how creditable that site was it was not any kind of official site law enforcement or court system site. but that is what it claimed. how ever i would not rely on that statement even tho it sounds perfectly logical..

[Dupo]

Pennsylvania allows LEDs but not neons. Again, they must be indirect light, not direct just as danny pointed out. Any color is legal ... red and or blue cannot pulse or flash.

I have also seen on PA's website that they encourage lighting on motorcycles 'to be seen better'. They, of course, do not say "what" kind of lighting ... but we'll assume 'any' lighting within the laws are suitable, including LEDs.

so...Pennsylvania says its OK.

[Easy Rider]

i found a page on neon lightning vehicles laws in ohio, it states that neon lights are legal in ohio..

Good info........for anybody in Ohio.
It probably means that you will be OK if you are careful (and use a little common sense) about how you mount them.

Two potential problems remain, however.
How is one to know if the lights exceed 300 cp AND if any LEO wants to get you, the law you looked up is specifically for neon and not for LEDs. Probably OK 99% of the time but that remaining 1% could be a big pain in the ass.

Definitely need an OFF switch just incase!

[dannylightning]

i found a page on neon lightning vehicles laws in ohio, it states that neon lights are legal in ohio..

Good info........for anybody in Ohio.
It probably means that you will be OK if you are careful (and use a little common sense) about how you mount them.

Two potential problems remain, however.
How is one to know if the lights exceed 300 cp AND if any LEO wants to get you, the law you looked up is specifically for neon and not for LEDs. Probably OK 99% of the time but that remaining 1% could be a big pain in the ass.

Definitely need an OFF switch just incase!

i don't think the police would be able to tell if it is more than 300 candle power either unless they have some meter to monitor it but that is doubtful, i guess they best way to look at it is if yo were using one or two led's to accent something than you shouldn't have a problem. if you are using a lot of them point them to towards the pavement and you should be a ok in ohio as long as they don't flash.

only problem with a off switch is by the time you see the cops at night they have probably already saw your neon/led's

[Dupo]

I have an on/off switch mounted under my side cover. I go by the mentality that if they see it, turn around, and i turn it off quick, they'll write it off as just seeing shit :)

I agree with Danny .... very doubtful anyone would be carrying cp metering equipment. About as much chance as them carrying db metering equipment for pipes.

I think all you'd see is possibly getting pulled over for excessive light and even then, they'd prob just tell you its 'too much' and/or turn em off with a warning if you treat them respectfully. Just as with loud pipes .... a general ticket for excessive noise or erratic driving. Those specific laws were written to protect who .. the cops .. in a court case if necessary.

I've been running my LEDs in rotate mode .. which you've seen in the video, while riding. I havent had a problem yet.

[dannylightning]

I have an on/off switch mounted under my side cover. I go by the mentality that if they see it, turn around, and i turn it off quick, they'll write it off as just seeing shit :)

I agree with Danny .... very doubtful anyone would be carrying cp metering equipment. About as much chance as them carrying db metering equipment for pipes.

I think all you'd see is possibly getting pulled over for excessive light and even then, they'd prob just tell you its 'too much' and/or turn em off with a warning if you treat them respectfully. Just as with loud pipes .... a general ticket for excessive noise or erratic driving. Those specific laws were written to protect who .. the cops .. in a court case if necessary.

I've been running my LEDs in rotate mode .. which you've seen in the video, while riding. I havent had a problem yet.

i got pulled over once for a loud stereo, they oviously didnt have any metering equipment or i would not have been pulled over. the car had one of those 20 dolor low power tape decks in it. that did not get loud or sound good at all. and the stock speakers were like 4 inch pices of crap woofers. you could hear it out side of the car but it was not capable of producing blaring loud music.

this guy used to pull me over on a weekley basis for soemthing it was in a little country town where they only had 4 police cars. he never gave me a ticket once. i had one of those merkur xr4ti's so either he was pulling me over cus i had a crazy sports car or he just wanted to talk to me. he always wanted to bs when he pulled me over. he did seem a little funny if you know what i mean.

[Easy Rider]

....... even then, they'd prob just tell you its 'too much' and/or turn em off ......

Which would be kind of hard to do IF you don't have an off switch !! :biggrin: .....which WAS my point to start with. :)

[Dupo]

Thats why i said i had one installed ;)

[goneoutflying]

I have two sets of LEDs that have two lights .each, on set is green and the other white, they do increase the viability of the bike especially from the side.
I found out that here in Florida they are fine as long as they are not distracting ie. flashing changing colors etc.

As far as power consumption they can be powered by a small 12v camera battery so I think the gz can handle it.