Flashing brake bulbs

8322 Views 37 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Borregofjrman, 2 mo ago

Randy_B

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago (Edited)

I have Hyperlights on one of my FJs and wanting to add a flashing brake light to another one. I'm wondering if anyone here has tried replacement LED brake bulbs with built in strobe like this one

I did a search but all the threads have dead links and the tech has changed.

BTW: Can we use 1157 bulbs for the brake lights?

21 - 38 of 38 Posts

Whooshka

· #21 · 3 mo ago

Together. Had them in mt ST1300. Worked well. Flashed for 4 seconds then stayed on steady.

DesertBike

· #22 · 3 mo ago

rbentnail said:
Do they flash together in sync or more of a wigwag?

Definitely wigwag. There is no means for the bulbs to coordinate.

I suspect that's for the good. Even more eye-catching than a synced flash, I would think.

Whooshka

· #23 · 3 mo ago

Both brake light bulbs feed off of the same circuit/wire. They both go on at the same time. What makes you think they'll wig wag?

DesertBike

· #24 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

Whooshka said:
Both brake light bulbs feed off of the same circuit/wire. They both go on at the same time. What makes you think they'll wig wag?

The flashing function is internal to each LED array, and there is no means for one to signal the other. Any synchronization would be coincidental at best.

The timing would probably be "about" the same, but wouldn't be identical. Whether the difference would be perceptible to the human eye is another question.

Let's call it an unintentional "wigwag." If you want a really noticeable effect it would likely require some special circuitry.

Whooshka

· #25 · 3 mo ago

Go and look at your bike right now. Apply the brake. Tell me if it looks like both bulbs light at the same time. If you can see the micro-seconds delay in one then you must be Robo-Rider.

DesertBike

· #26 · 3 mo ago

...it doesn't really matter anyway. Flashing = good.

RafalB

· #27 · 3 mo ago

It looks almost dentical. You can see it working here: Watch

TownsendsFJR1300

· #28 · 2 mo ago

Randy_B said:
BTW: Can we use 1157 bulbs for the brake lights?

I believe their using the same bulbs as my 2004...

The Yamaha running / brake light bulb is different than a standard 1157. It has as EXTRA STALK holding the filaments...

Also, when I tried replacing a standard bulb next to the adjacent Yamaha bulb, the Yamaha bulb was brighter. Not a lot but noticeable...

Product Automotive lighting Font Rectangle Engineering

IS

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RaYzerman

· #29 · 2 mo ago

The extra stalk is for heavy duty or vibration applications..... you can get HD 1157's.....

Reactions: 1

DesertBike

· #30 · 2 mo ago

I see the same product photo for the same bulbs, linked to the 2015 FJR-1300ES parts diagram ("Taillight", #3, same part number as above):

This is one of the brake light/running light bulbs from my 2015 -ES, that I recently swapped for the flashing LEDs.

Seems to be a standard 1157 lamp. Dual filaments, but no middle reinforcing arm.

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BigOgre

· #31 · 2 mo ago

Yet another argument for why the Gen Is were superior.

Reactions: 1

DesertBike

· #32 · 2 mo ago

It does look as if Mama Yama decided they could save a few pennies by sticking a "regular" 1157 in there vs. an 1157 HD. As far as I know, all of the bike's bulbs were original. It is a 2015 with only ~25k on it when I bought it, so that would make sense.

I suppose that means that the wrong photo is being shown on the parts websites. Either that, or when you order a replacement bulb, you do get the HD version of the 1157.

For the price, you should. $9.31 per bulb is about four times the going rate for Sylvania 1157 "Long Life" bulbs.

TownsendsFJR1300

· #33 · 2 mo ago

My 04 came with the 3 stalk bulbs... My current '07 FZ has the 3 stalk bulbs (OEM) as well.

They were much cheaper back then, I still have a spare 3 stalk bulb.

I also have the Hyperlites but even W/O that, I'd still pay a lil more for a heavier duty, more reliable bulb. Especially since my FZ has only one tail light, not two like the FJR..

.

Reactions: 1

DesertBike

· #34 · 2 mo ago

I swapped out the OEM brake bulbs in my Suzuki Vstrom a few days ago.

Those were the ones that were in the bike since it was made in 2003/2004, as far as I know. They have the mid-filament reinforcing arm.

Along with the bike I got a spare set of genuine Suzuki brake light bulbs. They don't have the reinforcing arm, just like the original 1157's off my 2015 FJR. Curious.

An update on the "Flash or Wig-Wag" situation: Rode the FJR to get coffee with a riding buddy today.

While we were coffee-ing, he reported that my tail lights had sometimes done a wigwag, sometimes a seemingly in-sync flash, on the way over.

Before we headed out, I turned on the electrics and had him pull the brake lever.

Yep, sometimes the bulbs aren't quite synced up, sometimes they are. Seems to be random.

I tried to video the effect, but my phone's camera saw the LED bulbs as flickering all the time. Probably because they are doing some form of pulsewidth modulation, to achieve the desired brightness. It's common in LED lighting-world.

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rbentnail

· #35 · 2 mo ago

The wigwag is exactly why I would not use them. It confuses people, giving them a moment to wonder "WTF?" instead of having the brain see brake lights. If I wanted flashing I'd use regular LED bulbs with an added flasher module or replacement flasher relay.

DesertBike

· #36 · 2 mo ago

If drivers are "confused" they are paying some attention. Mission accomplished.

Reactions: 1

zwartie

· #37 · 2 mo ago

I purchased the following LED brake light bulbs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07VB1SVRQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Installed them this evening and they seem to work pretty well. They flash 5 times and then stay on solid:
Flashing LED Bulbs

Zwartie

Reactions: 1

Borregofjrman

· #38 · 2 mo ago

I’ve always used them from klr to Africa twins to dl and fjr you don’t need to do anything special just buy 1157 bulbs on eBay or amazon for under $20 a pair, I’ve logged over 100,000 miles on several bikes with these bulls and won’t ride without them.

Reactions: 1

21 - 38 of 38 Posts