1157 LED replacements for tailight

[Jman]

Has anyone found an improvement over the stock 1157 bulb in an LED direct replacement? I tried the Pilot brand 1157 in bright white, but it was much dimmer instead of brighter - probably due to improper loading in the circuit. Did a search and didn't really find much on this one.

 

[Denver_FZ6]

I like the idea of replacing the brake like with an LED, but most of the reviews I've seen have not been favorable, either not as bright as the incandescent or doesn't light up the entire brake lens.

Webbikeworld.com has some good reviews.

 

[(none)]

with a red lense, use a red LED bulb. Either way though, it won't light as it does with the incandescent bulb due to the reflector pattern.

 

[Motogiro]

I've also noticed that the filament on the OEM lamp is different from a standard 1157 lamp. It has a bridge. The bridge may be for mechanical stability of the filament due to added vibrations that won't be found in a car that occurs on a bike. Maybe check out the OEM lamp from a dealer. I've read of people replacing their tail lamp with a standard 1157and having to repeat replace it very quickly.

Cliff

 

[Motogiro]

Double post....

 

[TownsendsFJR1300]

The factory double post is brighter than a stock 1157. My FJR has 2 bulbs, I had one of each, the 1157 was visably NOT as bright..... I ended up replacing it with a stock yamaha bulb..

 

[Jman]

Damn, I was hoping that there was something out there that was decent. :shakehead:

 

[Mexi-can't]

I have one similar to this and it lights up well. Get a white for a red lens, not a red bulb.

 

[Motogiro]

I have one similar to this and it lights up well. Get a white for a red lens, not a red bulb.

That's a 1156/ 1073 lamp for single signal source. The 1157 is for running light signal and brake light signal. Great design other wise. If they have that same configuration in the 1157 replacement that would be so cool. In fact I'm going to look aroun that sight and see if I can find one. The neat thing about that design is it uses extra LED's toward the stock reflector in our tail lamp. Do you know where you got the one you have that uses the running light signal and brake light signal?

 

[Mexi-can't]

I bought it from ebay too, I'm trying to find the seller right now. Here's what I'm using, it has 5 led pointing back and 15 around the sides. I had a red led with 12 pointing straight back and it's bright but doesn't do anything for projecting light into the reflector just straight back. The pics show running lights then brake lights. It's hard to see just how bright it really is. I'll get some daytime shots later on, I just ran out and took these now.

 

[Motogiro]

I bought it from ebay too, I'm trying to find the seller right now. Here's what I'm using, it has 5 led pointing back and 15 around the sides. I had a red led with 12 pointing straight back and it's bright but doesn't do anything for projecting light into the reflector just straight back. The pics show running lights then brake lights. It's hard to see just how bright it really is. I'll get some daytime shots later on, I just ran out and took these now.

Is it that unit on the left in the picture. I've had the one on the right and though it worked it wasn't bright enough during the day.

 

[Mexi-can't]

Check here they have some 48 led 1157's as well.

 

[Mexi-can't]

Is it that unit on the left in the picture. I've had the one on the right and though it worked it wasn't bright enough during the day.

Yeah the one I use is on the left. The unit on the right is bright but the lack of light on the sides makes it little more than a circle of light inside the reflector.

Forgot to add that blinkers I have also have led's for a brake light. With a standard 1157 bulb the red led's (in the blinkers) only light up with the brakes. With the led 1157 the blinker reds light dimly all the time then brighter with the brakes.

http://www.600riders.com/forum/fz6-mods/16671-led-blinkers-brake-light.html

 

[Motogiro]

Check here they have some 48 led 1157's as well.

Well now you've done it! LOL! I bought that 48 LED! Haha

Thanks for the info. I'll tell you if it'll fit through the hole. If not I'll part the t-lamp assembly.

Thanks again,
Cliff

 

[Chaosratt]

I've got a spare one of these on my desk right now:

My thread about making them received so little attention that I was just about to toss it up on ebay.

 

[Motogiro]

I've got a spare one of these on my desk right now:

My thread about making them received so little attention that I was just about to toss it up on ebay.

I think I remember that PM me with a price. I just bought a 48 LED lamp.

Thanks,
Cliff

 

[alanrim]

I bought it from ebay too, I'm trying to find the seller right now. Here's what I'm using, it has 5 led pointing back and 15 around the sides. I had a red led with 12 pointing straight back and it's bright but doesn't do anything for projecting light into the reflector just straight back. The pics show running lights then brake lights. It's hard to see just how bright it really is. I'll get some daytime shots later on, I just ran out and took these now.

I had one of those (the left one), lasted about 1000 miles and was great... to start with.

Then I noticed it wasn't quite as bright as it was, found the solder that holds all the sections had started to crack meaning whole sets of LEDs didn't work all the time.

I went back to a standard bulb, but I have my spare LED one under my seat, I modified my spare by gluing between all the sections with a hot glue gun which I hope will give it mechanical strength but haven't tried it yet.

 

[AdamDJ]

Ya you need to get an led bulb that has leds wrapping all the way around the sides so they will hit the reflector instead of just like 9 leds aiming strait out the lens.. Also make sure you get a red bulb.. White will come out pink and is not recommended..

 

[brico]

I bought it from ebay too, I'm trying to find the seller right now. Here's what I'm using, it has 5 led pointing back and 15 around the sides. I had a red led with 12 pointing straight back and it's bright but doesn't do anything for projecting light into the reflector just straight back. The pics show running lights then brake lights. It's hard to see just how bright it really is. I'll get some daytime shots later on, I just ran out and took these now.

I'm all stock still but looking at improving visibility of my brake light. I noted that your rear turning signals are on like running lights? My front turning signals are on as running lights and flash when switch the turning signal, but rear are only powered on when turning signal is switched on. Looking at photographs seems that even your turning signals brightness goes up when brake is applied, or is it just appearance on photographs? 5 led pointing back and 15 around is evidently better solution for projecting light. Couple of days ago i saw Brinks serviceman pickup truck with add on LED brake light mounted on the tail gate and even though it was sunny it was very, very bright and visible.

 

[alanrim]

White will come out pink and is not recommended..

:shakehead: The standard bulb has a colour temperature that is close to white, so are you saying that is pink too, think not.

The red lens allows through the part of the spectrum that is near red, if the red LEDs don't happen to be emitting the right part of the spectrum then you will restrict the light output. If however the LEDs are emitting the correct colour then they would be better.

The LED lamps I tried all had white LEDs and no problem with the colour.