Indicators - Bulb vs LED ?

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

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Looking to replace the indicators on my hornet as they look huge, plus one of the rear ones is taped together from previous owner so a good time to change.

There are lots of aftermarket indicators , bulbs and LEDs

I know the LEDs ones need a relay but interms of safety and being seen are the LEDs indicators any good in day light ? I've been reading conflicting info on the Internet.

Some say LEDs have a very directional view unlike bulbs , night time they are spot on but in daytime they are not very good.

Also what halogens if a car hits you and they says I couldn't see your indicating as they are so small?

So my options are:

1. Stay with stock (put up with ugly but be seen, be safe)
2. Fit LED indicators (look amazing but maybe not as bright as bulbs?)
3. Fit smaller bulb indicators ( best of both worlds sort of!)

What are your thoughts ?
 
Modern day LEDs are perfectly fine and do not have visibility issues. Those DRLs you see? LEDs. Every single modern car on the road? LEDs.

Most modern motorbikes? LEDs. If designed as an LED housing then the light is omni-directional by way of lenses and/or LED arrangement. It HAS to be to be type approved/E marked.

Nothing prevents you from buying reasonably sized LED indicators, you do not have to buy the smallest ones available. The stock LED indicators on my S1000R are big enough and have 2 LEDs in them each.

Just put LED ones on.
 
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id choose led,they tend to be more vivid than an ordinary bulb,plus they don't have elements in them that can vibrate and break/blow like an ordinary bulb,ideal for vibey motors

they are plenty bright enough in the daytime to be seen well
 
Decent led indictror (cree) have multiple leds and lenses.
And in the day are far far brighter than an incandescent bulb.
 
Anyone recommend any decent led indicators?

I know there is an oberon brand but at £61 for a pair they are a bit rich for me lol

How about any of the Oxford ones?
 


for what its worth I have some cheap Chinese ones that are £10 a pair fitted and I find them fantastic,very bright and they have slits in the plastic at the back so you can see them from the front of the bike aswell

so I don't think it really matters tbf? just depends how much you wanna spend
 
wazza300 said:
Led,they are on ebay
Click to expand...

Thanks. How's the indicators sturdyness? Are you able twist the arrow part around easily when the nut is tightened up? Or is it quite secure? I've read the cheap ones can be easily twisted. Which means it can slowly work its way around so the light flashes towards the floor

Seems "bike it" brand make the originals and Chinese have copied it

Does yours have a screw at back of the indicator?

Copies


Originals
 
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I'll have to check,they came fitted with my tail tidy I bought then I saw them for sale on eBay,I think they rotate but someone's put some black electrical tape round to stop them,they seem sturdy to me,how much are the bike it ones? The screw will stop them rotating round

I could drill the plastic stem and put my own self tap screw in but they are fine atm
 
My rear lights are LED as standard, pretty cool, might look at changing the front indicators to LED as well, already planning on replacing the headlights with the LED unit you can get, as the standard headlights are crap, like riding around with a candle in a jar on the front.
 
I had little LED indicators on my bike, but I still got rear-ended because my lights got lost in the headlight glare of the oncoming cars I was stopped waiting for.

I swapped back to the older, larger original bulb ones with the massive reflectors and longer stalks. Not had any problems since.

By contrast, even I have nearly ridden into someone because I couldn't see his BS little LED indicator. I only knew to take action when he came swinging into my lane pretty sharpish...
 
My rear indicators are now LED (stock is bulb still for some reason). Apart from the reliability, brightness, etc. they look way better and can generally be smaller, which again can add to them looking nicer.

Just don't forget resistors or a new relay thingy :D. R&G do resistors pretty cheap for theirs which work nicely and easy to install.
 
Decided against expensive indicators in the end, was nearly ready to pull the trigger on some rizoma indies but if I was to drop the bike or break an indicator it will be costly to replace.

Instead i have gone for a pair of genuine bike it arrow indies with bulbs (23w), £10 will see how it goes for now.

Thanks all for your suggestions
 
you'll find them good quality,you can always buy an expensive pair later on,but like you say they are the first thing to smash if you drop it ect
 
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