Tri Glide LED Tail Lights

[TNTriker]

I had a Bright Ass tailight on my 07 ultra and now 2 on the 2011 Triglide. One was great, but 2 really light up the rear end. I put 3 flashes and then full stop (you can change the flash pattern with a magnet) It catches lots of attention and probably the best money I've spent for rear visibility. $200 list for each. I have also bought the HD LED rear tour pak light and have sent the frame off for chroming. They should compliment each other.

My dealer said those lights also carry a 5? yr warrenty. That's a good thing. One dealer also mentioned the same thing about, the HD light just mentioned, some people needing to install a load equalizer. That was one reason for the upgrade for the trikes. As Trent said, if you are happy with what you have, that's all that matters.

 

[kyblueultra]

The Brightass lights are plug-n-play, no equalizer needed. I had to send the one off the 07 Ultra back to have lens change and they matched with a new one for Trike. They do match 2 for trikes, not just 2 single ones shipped.

 

[Skeet7373]

Just got off the phone with Bright Ass Lights and the gentleman I spoke with said the only need for a load equalizer is to slow down the flash on the front turn signals. Depending on the flash combination of the BAL, the fronts could flash faster. If you want the fronts to flash as oem then may need a equalizer. Also with the tour pak lights taking extra amps, will not need the equalizer. Only will need if the fronts flash too fast for your liking...

 

[Skeet7373]

Just got off the phone with a dealer that will give a discount, pm me and Ill give the into. Very nice guy wants to help out.

Karen

 

[Memnoch451]

I have a 2010 Tri-Glide and had the Gainesiville Dealer remove the stock tail lights and replaced them with "Bright Ass Tail Lights". They are advertised to say they can be seen a mile away in bright sunlight. They are expensive, but a great safety issue.

Jerry Hobbit
Viet Nam Vet 67-68 Army 44th Medical

Seat Belts are a great safety feature but, I think they come standard on most cars theses days? As unsafe as Harleys are to begin with you would think that they would include a nice bright tail lamp system.. but I guess not. :Shrug:

 

[trikermutha]

Just got off the phone with Bright Ass Lights and the gentleman I spoke with said the only need for a load equalizer is to slow down the flash on the front turn signals. Depending on the flash combination of the BAL, the fronts could flash faster. If you want the fronts to flash as oem then may need a equalizer. Also with the tour pak lights taking extra amps, will not need the equalizer. Only will need if the fronts flash too fast for your liking...

The Bright ass Lights I put on my Tri Glide needed the load equalizer..It made the turn signals go crazy fast..Some Tri Glides need the others will not from what I hear..
If you do put a load equalizer on put it on before the rear converter

 

[trikermutha]

My dealer said those lights also carry a 5? yr warrenty. That's a good thing. One dealer also mentioned the same thing about, the HD light just mentioned, some people needing to install a load equalizer. That was one reason for the upgrade for the trikes. As Trent said, if you are happy with what you have, that's all that matters.

yea when I spoke to the Bright ass light people they guarateed there lights a long time maybe even after the 5 years..I thought that was a plus..Once you get them they have several light pattens to program to your liking..One time I seen at night someone behind me put down there sun visor as it was nice and bright while I had my brakes on..

 

[JohnC]

I think it's important to note that Harley Trikes have a significant difference in the way the rear lights are wired up versus a regular 2-wheel Harley. Our trikes make use of a special tail and turn signal converter module that integrates the rear turn signal and brake lamp circuits. On 2-wheel bikes, the rear turn signals are a completely independent circuit.

Also, the rear tour pak lights are not part of this additional circuitry and have no bearing on nor do they function as turn signals. The tour pak lamps are fed by an independent harness that is tapped off of the main harness "upstream" or prior to the tail and turn signal converter module.

What is unknown to me is whether the tail and turn signal converter module controls the flashing rate of the turn signals regardless of bulb amperage (load) or if the flashing of the turn signals is still dependent on the load of both the front and rear incandescent bulbs.

I would love to convert my tail lamps to LED but I don't like the idea of having to add additional inline modules in order to get them to flash properly. I guess maybe I'm being too anal about this, but I like to be absolutely sure of what I'm buying and that it will work properly before I shell out a couple of hundred dollars or more for lights.

 

[trikermutha]

I think it's important to note that Harley Trikes have a significant difference in the way the rear lights are wired up versus a regular 2-wheel Harley. Our trikes make use of a special tail and turn signal converter module that integrates the rear turn signal and brake lamp circuits. On 2-wheel bikes, the rear turn signals are a completely independent circuit.

Also, the rear tour pak lights are not part of this additional circuitry and have no bearing on nor do they function as turn signals. The tour pak lamps are fed by an independent harness that is tapped off of the main harness "upstream" or prior to the tail and turn signal converter module.

What is unknown to me is whether the tail and turn signal converter module controls the flashing rate of the turn signals regardless of bulb amperage (load) or if the flashing of the turn signals is still dependent on the load of both the front and rear incandescent bulbs.

I would love to convert my tail lamps to LED but I don't like the idea of having to add additional inline modules in order to get them to flash properly. I guess maybe I'm being too anal about this, but I like to be absolutely sure of what I'm buying and that it will work properly before I shell out a couple of hundred dollars or more for lights.

Once I converted to the LED lights and a trailer converter and added all linds of LED lights the load equalzer was a must..No problems useing these items at all..Plus I am not sure but I thought I read a article about the secuirty system acts up without the load equalizer..

Maybe someone who knows more about this issue can chime in..

 

[trikermutha]

My bad ass lights I went with the inverted lens versus the standard lens..
I think they look much nicer in the Tri Glide ThumbUp

 

[Trent]

Hey JohnC.. I can understand your concerns. Since I have installed the LED tail lights and the LED tourpack lights, I have not had a single problem with any function. Nothing gets hot, amp gauge does not move, everything works just fine. When I asked my shop guys about any problems concerning all these electrical upgrades, they told me I would have no issues and said the system will easily handle what I wanted to do and more. So far they have been correct.

 

[Nana]

Trent's pictures for you to see his lights and other additions:

 

[Nana]

Trent's trike:

 

[Nana]

More of Trent's trike:

 

[JohnC]

Trent - Those pics look great.

I really want to learn more about these new "plug and play" lights from HD and whether I will need a load controller or not. I want to change out my front turn signals to LED as well, but once you total up the cost of front and rear LED lights, a load contoller, and who knows what else, the cost seems a little prohibitive.

But then again, that's just me, and coming from a guy who just spent several hundred dollars converting the headlight and passing lights to LED...:Shrug:

Trent - One more question about your LED tail lights. Do they have any kind of "illumination window" either on top or on bottom of the lens for illuminating a license plate?

If so, that might be what's different about the forthcoming lights designed for the TriGlide; they would have no illumination window.

 

[TNTriker]

What would you guys do without Nana? I think we can see Trent coming and going! Nice job! I'll show off next week when I get my lights! LOL

 

[Trent]

Hey JohnC...No.. my lights do not have the license plate light,, but the one that does will fit the Trike also. My dealer has them..And thanks to Nana for gettin' the photos to post!!!

 

[TheBobs]

Trent, pix are awesome. Thanks Nana!

I really love how the visors look on the headlight and passing lights. Had that same style on the SE Road King.

Nice job lighting up the rear end :10:

And last but not least, great choice on the windshield. It works even better than it looks.

 

[Ol' Man]

Thanks Trent. Your bike is lookin good. Thanks for keeping us posted on the progress of making it your special masterpiece..Ride Safe.....Ol' Man..ThumbUp

 

[M.A.T.]

Great Job Bro! It's on the radar for me but far off.

Just wunderin' though, so it's lenses with all the wiring and the chrome plated (ABS plastic) covers for that price?

I can tell you all this, I have had people tell me when the sun hits the OEM set-up they light up and makes it hard tell when you are hitting your brakes or turn signals.

I plan on solving that with covers first.

Man, does it ever end...............

Rob

 

[Trent]

Thanks Guys! M.A.T. Yup... The wiring is all built into the new light. INSIDE the new light is a blue wire that is not plugged into anything,, after reading the instructions, I learned you have to plug the blue wire in to a jack INSIDE the new light. The instructions were very good. Then you just unplug the old, plug in the new, and screw it back together. Took me 15 minutes if that. So far, my ridin Buds have not seen any sunlight caused fade, which I tell them to look for. Hopefully will not have that problem. And...just when I think it is going to end, it dosn't! Cant wait to try out the new shield Bobs...seeing yours on BigBlue is what sold me!..And thnx again Nana!!!

 

[msocko3]

Trent, nice looking trike. I like the HD LED tour-pak lights, wish HD would make those standard on the Triglide.

 

[41inWV]

I have tour pak LED lights from Ride Time Technologies.....they are plug and play for Run-Brake-Turn. I have them so the side marker lights on the tour pak flash with that side turn signal (great side lane turning visibility), I also have the sequential turn signal lights (like the old late 60's Cougar and Thunderbird turn signals). All Ride Times stuff is plug and play to the Harley harness. I used their wiring pigtail for my trailer lights too,

Worth a look see:

Ride Time Technology - Innovative LED Lighting Products for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

Another company I have used their stuff on my Street Rods is Shiney Hiney:

Shiny-Hiney.com

They have inline capacitors etc that can change existing LED to rapid fire flash on braking etc. They also have a page for motorcycle products. I'm actually thinking about the '39 Ford tear drop lights for my TriGlide. I have a pair on my '41 Ford Pickup....VERY attention getting and $ 115.00 a PAIR !! The only catch, and it's not that big a catch is wiring, they are not plug and play, but if you can read a schematic......there ya go. They also sell and '40 Ford chevron style light that might look good on a Tri.

 

[Trent]

Wow!! Those progressive scan lites are way nice!! I would have considered those had I seen them sooner. I do like the way the light bar goes all the way across the tourpack on the HD lights though.

M3...thnx...and yeah it is too bad they don't. I would have paid extra for them when I bought my TG.

 

[trikermutha]

Ride Time Technology - Diablo II LED Lay-Down Tail Light with License Plate Light

These should work too on the Trikes..Just need two of them..

 

[10rhrk]

Kinda surprised that I haven't heard any mention of hand signals used along with light's. I have always and still use hand signals when turning and stopping.

 

[Trent]

I dont like to take my hands off the grips when I am turning and stopping.

 

[10rhrk]

I dont like to take my hands off the grips when I am turning and stopping.

I didn't mean as you are turning, it's a little too late then! I always give a hand signal as I'm approaching a turn or stop. Then have both hands on the bars as I'm performing the turn. Added safety!!

 

[msocko3]

Kinda surprised that I haven't heard any mention of hand signals used along with light's. I have always and still use hand signals when turning and stopping.

My hand signal is kind of rude, I only use it when I feel the need to show my displeasure.

 

[10rhrk]

My hand signal is kind of rude, I only use it when I feel the need to show my displeasure.

I've used a few of those hand signals as well. I got in the habit of using hand signals long before any kind of electronic communication was available. still use them in group rides and between my wife and I riding alone. I feel like my hand wave and signal will be seen as well as any light's. Daylight riding of course!