Might want to check local regulations. If I recall, I looked at one of these and the package stated "for off road use only". Don't know if local LEOs would say anything or not.

http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Spinning-Flashing-Taillight-Bulb-p-16983.html

 

Good point. It does seem like it would be more safe for motorcycles though.

 

I'm pretty sure that Snooze is right about the offroad use only thing. The other thing is that that LED cluster is way too small to be very bright in daylight. If you are looking for improved visibility from the rear, check out this thread:
http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29627&highlight=led+tail

 

One other thing to keep in mind is that LED's only have a 15 deg view angle, a few have 20 degs and unless the viewer in in that degree area the light is very dim if seen at all, the reflector doesnt help because LED's emit their light in a narrow beam out the front like a flashlight. There is one seller that makes a complicated LED light that has 3 to 4 arms that are spring loaded and when inserted into the light socket spread out in a attempt to make the light more visible, how well it works I don't know, the price tells me that I won't find out any time soon.

 

I have one on my bike, and it drives the guys riding behind me nuts. which............ if my point they see me even if it annoys them.

coupled with turning my rear turn signals into running lights/brakelights and I am much more visable.

As far as regulations our local District attorney rides with me and says he things its a safety feature and he would throw any ticket out that someone tried to claim was in violation of the law.

My experience in Alabama at least is minor infraction (and I am not saying this is one) are overlooked if riders arent doing other stupid things.

 

I use one like that and have video of it if ya'll would like a demonstration.
I have never gotten any flak from the cops about it, but it is not street legal.

The bulb is not approved for use by the DOT.

 

You have to shop around for a good led. Lots of the ones you see on ebay and other places are not very bright at all.

There are a few that have a cluster of leds all angled differently to overcome the narrow view angle of a single led.

You only want to use a flashing light as a brake light, anywhere else might make people think your a motor cop and get you a ticket.

 

At this time LED's are only offered in 5, 8 and 10mm, the 10's are referred to as Giant's, for the most part the lights are offered in white to go behind the red lens which brings up another point, wave length, the white light wave length thru a red lens only shows as a bright spot, Led's are used on the Big Rig trailers but they make up for the lack of emitted light with a large number of LED's, that, because of the trailer height put them in the degree angle of visibility, this is why tail lights for cars and some bikes are showing up with a clear lens with red LED's , they are a lot brighter but IMHO look out of place and downright ugly and you still have the degree angle thing going, if you want a really bright tail, turn what ever light, line the reflector with tin foil, when you put it there it gets crinkled and the diffusion of light makes them very bright, try it and you will see what I mean.

 

At this time LED's are only offered in 5, 8 and 10mm, the 10's are referred to as Giant's, for the most part the lights are offered in white to go behind the red lens which brings up another point, wave length, the white light wave length thru a red lens only shows as a bright spot, Led's are used on the Big Rig trailers but they make up for the lack of emitted light with a large number of LED's, that, because of the trailer height puts them in the degree angle of visibility, this is why tail lights for cars and some bikes are showing up with a clear lens with red LED's , they are a lot brighter but IMHO look out of place and downright ugly and you still have the degree angle thing going, if you want a really bright tail, turn what ever light, line the reflector with tin foil, when you put it there it gets crinkled and the diffusion of light makes them very bright, try it and you will see what I mean.

 

I went for a group ride on Sunday. In front of me were a 2001 Sportster 883 and a 2007 SuperGlide. The sportster had a rotating bulb that came off of Ebay. The SuperGlide had the stock bulb. The stock bulb was so much brighter than the rotating bulb. In the sun it was hard to even see the rotating bulb.

 

I'm not the type of guy that would say I told you so, if I was, I would say I told you so but I'm not, so it won't be anytime soon that I say I told
--- --. :lol:

 

Mine came with the bike - two of 'em. They rotate counter each other and then switch. The ride back from getting my bike was long and we got stuck in a traffic jam. My dad had the pattern down but I forget what it was. My dad got a single replacement. Does the same thing, but only one circle.

Both state "off-road" or "parade use"
Never been pulled over for them.

A friend said that mine seem to wash in the sunlight, but he may have been making an excuse for not paying attention when he nearly ass-ended me once.

 

I have had a rotating/flashing bulb in one of my tail lights for about three+years. I know that it helps keep many tail gaters back. Last week it didn't do its job and I went down, ker plunk, but wouldn't ride without it. Have not had any problems in Nebr., Kans, Iowa and Mo. with leos. When I get off my lazy parts I am going to use something more conspicuous. On I-80 at night cagers start switching lane a long ways back so it must be visible. On a second line that little read end job has convinced that a small bumper with appropriate springs might be helpful.

 

Most of the time when it says "off road only" it normally means that they maker just didn't bother to get the DOT approval. Doesn't allways mean that they are inferior, just not "approved" rubber stamped.

 

A friend of mine who rides a harley softail has one in. I was behindhim on a group ride, and it almost completely was washed out in daylight. Not bright at all...I had to really watch him to see if he was slowing or not. It has been my experience that most L.E.D. lights end up not as bright as the incondescent ones. That being said, I have tried a few in my '89 shadow, putting an L.E.D. on one side, and incondecent in the other...the L.E.D. is a spot, and the conventional bulb is brighter, lighting the whole side up. I have seen L.E.D.s that have rings of LED lights around the periphery, and they seem like a better choice with all the different angles. Never tried those, and "testing" is prohibitively expensive! I believe the right LED may be a great idea, but I have yet to see one good, consistent brighter unit for general application. I run one behind my sissy bar's metal spiderweb as an extra tail/brake light, though!-----Metalguy :wink:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/metalguy/019_16A.jpg

 

Spinning LED Bulbs

I live in SE North Carolina and when I had my Shadow ACE 750 inspected, I asked the guy at the shop if those were legal and he said no problem here. A fellow I ride with gave me an extra that he had and I popped it right in and it works like a charm. The best feature about it I like is the flashing when you apply the brake handle.

 

Snooze -

Can't find anything in the Washington RCW's that prohibit flashing or rotating red light to the rear, only that the light be visible from 1000 feet.

Personally I wouldn't hassle anybody for trying to make their bike more visible, as long as the correct color is used, and it doesn't impair the visibility of any other driver on the road.

 

Just got one of these off ebay. 13 bucks shipped, so i figured what the heck. I originally saw one of these on a sport bike (think they had 2 though?). Couldnt figure out what it was until I got closer. I thought it was a great idea personally. I'm more worried about night time riding than daylight anyways. if its too light during the day its only 13 bucks wasted. if a cop hassles me, i dont care. i also drive around with my high beam on all the time too. guess i need to bet me a modulator. price of a ticket is a lot less than getting smashed because some clown didnt see you.

heres the one i got: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e.../ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT&viewitem=&item=230278878806

 

LED's are very directional in that there only viewable in a 15 to 20 degree angle so unless it's at eye level it can be hard to see and other mistake that's made is useing a white led behind a red lens, the led's have to be red, if there white the white produced by led's is actually in the blue white wave length and the red lens will filter out most of the visible light and you get a very dim red light.

 

ill look into it when i recieve it. worst case i could try bending the LEDs in different directions a bit, or if possible, maybe try change to RED ones if its not bright enough.

 

I use one of the rotating bulbs. Correction to an above post...they are rotating while the brake is not depressed and then once the brake is applied all 10 led's light up.

I like mine. Like previously stated - i'm not nearly as worried about day time rear ends as I am night time riding and there is not issues with seeing this thing at night.

At least with the Aero tail light it has some cuts in it that defract the light in several different directions so the 15' angle thing (while it is probably true) isn't noticable once you have the tail lens sparkling everywhere.

 

Why skimp with the LED bit when you can just go with a proper taillight modulator that also comes with a much brighter halogen bulb, that can be seen from far more (any) angles and also pulses fast, then slower, down to a stop?