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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 24, 2016 6:25:40 GMT -5
I agree with the idea of using the LED strips. Your single headlight, however bright, is merely another point of light to a cager pulling on to a busy road at night. oldchopperguy has mounted auxillary lights on his scoots in quite a variety of different ways and configurations since I have been a member so he speaks from plenty first hand experience.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! I actually HAVE probably had more than my fair share of "good luck" with LED's on scooters. I do try my best to make good solid wiring, and ensure the LED's only run when needed. In the old days, I rode Hogs with enough reserve battery and charging to light up Las Vegas... So I never worried about "too many lights" on the old Harleys. Now, SCOOTERS (especially Chinese) are known for having somewhat "minimal" electrics, requiring one to be more cautious about adding much more draw on their already marginal charging capabilities.
My first scoot, a Xingyue Eagle 150 was the "quintessential generic Chinese 150"... To make it more visible from the rear, I illuminated the wide, fake light in a "spoiler" atop the factory trunk. (Nice trunk, too). That was if I recall, an old-fashioned bulky 20-light white LED strip I glued behind the removable red lens. Wow! Did THAT grab attention when I hit the brakes. (I only connected it to the brake-light).
I also added an auxiliary headlight (25 watt I believe) which was fabulous. Run through a bridge-rectifier (because the Xingyue HEADLIGHT was AC and LED's like DC) it was literally the difference between day and night... Pun intended... I connected the bridge-rectifier through the factory bright-switch, while disconnecting the factory bright bulb filament. These LED's ran only when the brakes were applied, and/or the headlight bright activated (at night only, when needed). But I had no problem with the battery running down. On my "new" old '07 Kymco 250, I have added several LED strip lights on the trunk, both running lights, brake lights and turn signals. Probably 50 small LED's in strips, total. I must mention that I've found the old Kymco to be "over-built" from radiator hoses to wiring. It is EXTREMELY heavy-duty, which I find most comforting...
My new auxiliary HEADLIGHTS concerned me a little, as they draw 15W each (an extra 30W when lit).I now have a couple of months running them, with no apparent problems. My factory headlight runs any time the engine is running... no switch except for brights. The new LED's are connected directly to the battery via a 12 gauge hot-wire, and lit by a switched relay connected to the factory low-beams (so the LED's can't be accidentally turned on with the ignition off).
So, I have had no problems associated with extra LED lights. I have made every attempt to see that they don't run except when needed, and that may help preserve the battery (or not)... But the added visibility they provide is MORE than worth any effort involved with their installation.
Here in my town of Grapevine, TX I have seen a HUGE increase in scooters on the road this season. Yesterday it was over 100 degrees and I noticed a dozen or more scoots from 50cc to big 600cc+ all over the place, from back-streets to the highway. That is good, since other drivers are becoming more aware of our little rides. On the "downside" not ONE helmet or other protective gear seen... Every rider was wearing shorts, and no shirts (except for the gals... Phooey...)... LOL! A few were even barefoot.
Obviously a LOT of new riders who have never made intimate acquaintance with "mother asphalt"...
So my feelings about added LED's is "go for it". If your teensy battery seems to run down, remove a few, or better yet, make sure they're switched in some way so they only run at night when you need them. This is often simply a matter of running them through existing switched lights; bright headlight, stoplight and turn-signals.
For the record, all my LED's have come from eBay, from dirt-cheap Chinese sources. None have ever burned out or given trouble in 8 years.
Ride safe, light yourself up, and at least wear a helmet...Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 23, 2016 9:30:40 GMT -5
Leaving aside the police misconduct for a minute (which I think is despicable)... These words trouble me: "Though her son’s bike is illegal, she notes that there are no places for he and his friends to ride like there are in other states." What? If you live in a CITY, places to ride dirt bikes, ATV's, and off-road (non-registered) vehicles DON'T EXIST, by definition. If "he and his friends" want "places to ride", then they are living in the wrong place! No one should EVER be "riding a dirt bike in the Bed-Stuy part of Brooklyn"! There are no taxis and city buses in the Iowa heartland! Sorry - but I am sick and tried of people doing illegal stuff, and then complaining when they are stopped from doing so. It is the law - no ATV's or dirt bikes in the heart of the city, on streets where licensed drivers are - is that so hard to comprehend? What is the problem? Obey the law!!! [img style="max-width:100%;" src="[img style="max-width:100%;" src="[img style="max-width:100%;" src="  [img style="max-width:100%;" src="[img style="max-width:100%;" src=" 
Absolutely! Whether a cop is right or wrong, being lenient or acting like the Gestapo, you're required to obey. Deal with legalities later. Regardless of the incidents on the TV news, cops in general are MUCH more lenient than when I was a kid.
In the fifties, it was well understood, and accepted, that if you ran, a cop was only obligated to yell "stop or I'll shoot." Once. If you didn't stop, you got a .38 slug in the back. The cop's GUN was not so much to protect him or her, it was to STOP a fleeing offender.
If you were a kid, and mouthed off to a cop in a traffic stop, you got the daylights beat out of you by the cop. Then again by the desk-sergeant when you were dragged in. Then again by the other guys in your holding cell... and FINALLY one more time by your Dad when he got you home after bailing you out.Right or wrong, do what you're told by the cop and you usually wont' get shot... No guaranties, but it increases your chances. Best of all, don't do stuff that will automatically get you stopped; and that's good advice REGARDLESS of your skin color. Contrary to the media, stats prove the police are "equal opportunity butt-kickers".
Keep your NOSE clean, and your BUTT will not suffer... LOL!  Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 23, 2016 9:07:10 GMT -5
I think this is an excellent topic, and great advice, which oldchopperguy has pointed out many times here. One thing everyone should be aware of is local laws regarding added lights. In most jurisdictions, there are limits on which colors you can use, and in some there are limits to where they can be mounted. Call your local DMV and/or Police Dept and find out the local rules. It would be ironic to get ticketed for trying to save your own life. And don't forget ATGATT!
JerryScript,
EXCELLENT point! Have a bone!Most states DO have stringent laws concerning light height and colors. RED (facing forward) BLUE and GREEN are definite "no-nos" nearly everywhere since they are used exclusively on Fire and emergency vehicles. I often see bikes, cars AND trucks with red, green, blue, purple, etc. "halo" lights around the headlights. Also, bright color lighting underneath the vehicle. Sure, it's very common, AND usually overlooked by police since they have better things to do. HOWEVER, in this anti-cop atmosphere police are using any excuse to pull over vehicles, ESPECIALLY if driven by young males... Do they profile young guys in blingy vehicles? ABSO-FREAKIN'-LOOTLEY. And honestly, I can't blame them.
"Yeah, Bubba, I saw those pretty lights so I pulled your butt over'. NOW I'm gonna find your stash, your money, your gun and check for a green-card, AND verifiy the VIN number... And your butt is GRASS and I'M the LAWNMOWER.Last year, before the rash of cop ambushes I talked with a local officer about the weird lighting phenomenon. Even back then, he told me they absolutely "profile" vehicles with bling-lights. He said when stopping vehicles with those oddball lights, MOST of the time (like,  %) the driver is a young male (could be any race...) with a bad attitude and no I.D., and has contraband in the vehicle including narcotics, illegal firearms, stolen goods, cash (which they're happy to confiscate if over $300) etc. and about a third of the time the VEHICLE itself is stolen. I'm all for backing the police... God knows they are under major attack these days, but... Police don't exactly love bikers or performance/custom car jockeys of any genre, and it just doesn't make sense to give them a legitimate reason to check you for ticks from head to toe, TRYING to find cause to vent their pent-up frustration on you. Running prohibited lights is like giving the bird to cops. Not a good idea.
As for light HEIGHT, many states DO have requirements. I've been told my factory Kymco front turn-signals are TOO LOW to pass California vehicle code. Street-rodders are always griping about CA light-height rules against their T-buckets and Deuce coupes headlights at front axle level. Cops have a miserable, dangerous, often thankless job to do. I'm not going to give cause for one to take out his/her bad hair day on me... LOL!
Ride safe, ride legal!Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 22, 2016 18:35:48 GMT -5
I absolutely agree on the LED strip lights! I added them to my old Chinese 150, and now to my old Kymco 250 and they have prevented several collisions.
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I put a LARGE trunk on my small Kymco... LOL! and it actually blocks the stock tail-lights from many drivers (especially tall RV's and trucks) if they are tailgating me.
The trunk has a built-in running light, but a common fake wide red light (lens only) into which I installed a strip light of white LED's connected to the brake light. I also added yellow strip LED's to the turn signals, mounting them onto the red lens. Numerous times, I've had a car/truck roaring up on me at a red light, and had them hit the brakes hard when my huge LED stop-light comes on.
Yes! LED strip-lights DO increase visibility and safety a LOT! They're inexpensive, easy to install and don't use much juice... Have a bone on The Ole Chopper Guy!Leo (lit up like Vegas on Saturday night) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 21, 2016 16:53:05 GMT -5
Hard choice...
But I'll go with the didgeridoo since Australian Aborigines play 'em, and THOSE guys are pretty MACHO... Neat sound too. Although the bassoon is a magnificent instrument. Sorta like the clarinet meets Godzilla... LOL! But I can't envision an Aborigine playing a bassoon...
As for me, I'm more of a kazoo guy!
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 21, 2016 1:52:13 GMT -5
Ouch indeed! I guess that comes under the heading of "doo-doo occurs"... LOL!  Have a bone!I've had two such adventures during my 55+ years of riding. Once, when I rode my pal's new Ducati Darmah in the seventies when I yawned and a wasp went into my open pie-hole. I didn't know what it was, and involuntarily swallowed and he stung me in my throat! It swelled up and nearly choked me to death... then, a year later on a dark night while on my old Harley chopper, SOMETHING hit me in the face HARD. I was really moving on the freeway, well over ninety and I ALMOST went off the Hog backwards. I was woozy, and "limped in" to a Fred Harvey oasis where I headed for the men's room. By the looks on the patrons' faces, I figured I must be nearly dead... LOL. In the mirror, I was horrified to see my face covered in blood and shredded tissue... and FEATHERS. Yup, I had collided with a BIRD. Dead-center in the forehead. Poor Tweety-Pie literally EXPLODED upon impact and most of the blood was not mine. Next day, I was PURPLE from my forehead to my neck... Some years later, there was an incident with a skunk (thankfully skunks do NOT fly) but THAT'S another story... LOLOLOL!  Heal fast, ride safe... Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 18, 2016 15:02:17 GMT -5
Actually, I know someone that sells electronics on eBay. He buys stuff wholesale (and also disco'd stuff, demos, open-box, etc) really cheap, tests it, and resells it. He will sometimes make 2-3 functioning items (especially computers) from 4-5 dead ones. My wife got her laptop from him...it was a warranty replacement from (of all places) Rent-A-Center with a bad screen. He replaced the screen, and it worked perfectly...for about a quarter what it cost new.
Yes, I also have bought computers and refurbed cameras, phones, etc. from legitimate eBay sellers. That is fine, and a bargain... I actually got a 14 MPX Nikon camera direct from the Nikon refurb center for an opening bid of $8... Sweet! However, I usually use my trusty old Olympus 12 MPX "beater" I also got off eBay for $2 plus $5 shipping... It's SO simple, and if I lose it, I'm not out much. All my posts are shot with that old plastic wonder... LOL!
The ones I'm irritated with are the individuals with no "store" who have a never-ending supply of NEW-IN-THE-BOX items from retail stores listed... I've watched the local Wal-Mart rear-delivery area when a truck shows up... The vultures hang around in the shadows and in the past, usually manage to grab several TV's, PC's and especially AMMUNITION between worker's trips from the truck to the store. That habit has been curtailed lately by an old geezer with an AR-15 watching the unloading process...
Then, inside, I've been behind some lowlife buying high-buck items with a credit card with the picture I.D. of the wrong sex, and wrong ethnic persuasion... A white guy using a black woman's card, or vice/versa. For what they're paid, I can't fault the checkout clerk for not making waves. Whatever the source, the stolen goods always end up on eBay... It's the new "American way"...  This once-great nation I love needs its leash jerked up SHORT and a boot in its butt. Hang in there, Leo in Texas PS: On a related thought... "If you don't like cops, next time you're in danger, call a protester..." My 2-cents worth.  |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 17, 2016 9:37:41 GMT -5
JR,
Yeah, TX pawn shops seem to operate under some really strange laws, allowing tongue-in-cheek "approval" to buy and resell stolen goods... And, charge interest rates nobody can meet. Just ONCE I found myself out of gas with no cash or credit card. My fault, but I had a nice .38 Spl. revolver with me. I hit the first pawn shop I saw, and they gave me a whopping $35 for the $250 gun. I "redeemed" it 2 weeks later for $195. Never again!
The "Quick Cash" cash for your car title money mills operate under pawn shop laws too. Go get $1,000 borrowed on your paid-for $10,000 family car title, and you'll probably pay $10,000 in interest... or more likely, you'll lose your car. And, of course there are the shelves of various guns in the pawn shops with the serial numbers ground off... along with other serial numbered goodies with the numbers obliterated... even Rolex watches. I've even seen brand-new bicycles and electronics in pawn shops, with Wal-Mart or other store tags STILL on them... Cheesh!
It is a little like eBay... Ever wonder how sellers with an apartment address always seem to have a never-ending supply of big-screen TV's "new in the box" listed week after week? Easy! They hack credit cards, go to Wally World and buy $1,000 TV's at one store after another. Then toss the card and list the TV's on eBay for 2/3 of retail price. Then, hack another card and just keep on. It's their full-time job... And they're PROUD of their hard work.
It's the "new American economy"... And it's just quietly "accepted" as a dirty little (but quite OK) way to make a living... or, bump up your $18K job income to the $50K it takes to live in a little better state of poverty... Ask folks at work, at the restaurant... even at CHURCH... and they'll shrug their shoulders and mumble... "well, EVERYBODY does it". Heck, it keeps us in condoms and rolling papers... You just do what it takes to get by. Well I don't do it. My friends don't do it. And when somebody does it to me, I get really unfriendly. Sorry Dorothy, but we are NOT in Kansas anymore...  Keep yer' locks locked, and yer' guns loaded...Leo in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 17, 2016 7:53:48 GMT -5
,,,getting back to the savage,,,a more simple stone has not left Japan ever,,,it's not everyone's cup of tea,,,I'd have one i ,,,it would be under the knife for some major surgery ,,,, The Savage is like an old Volkswagen -- easy to modify to fit. Like Morley's Light Tourer, Gargoyle's Bobber, Hog Hunter's Chopper, or a Cafe racer:     If you want a lightweight bike that is wickedly quick, it is a good start.
You said it brother! Have a bone! What a VERSATILE ride. All those examples are VERY appealing, and, that black bobber is right up my alley... I do believe the appeal of our scooters today is directly related to their torque, sound and general similarity to "thumper" single motorcycles. As for cosmetics, the big singles resemble a Brit vertical twin, but more narrow and nimble. When I was a kid, before purpose-built dirt-bikes (when Evel Knievel was jumping Harley twins for lack of a real "bouncer")... we had "scramblers". These were most often BSA big singles. Many times, they were Brit twins (Truimph, BSA, Norton, Royal Enfield 500, 650 and 750, etc.) with high-pipes and knobby tires. These were usually daily drivers only slightly modded to go over bumps off-road. Like the VW Beetle, the big singles will probably never go completely out of favor with bikers of all types. Thanks for reminding us of the versatility of these great rides from the early 1900's which still have a loyal following, and, can outrun the 400 hp rockets in many venues! Leo (happily ridin' Minnie-Thumper-Mouse) in Texas |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 16, 2016 14:12:23 GMT -5
Also, keep a lookout locally as you go about your daily business. Sometimes these thefts are just "thrill" activities by rotten little kids. You may find the bikes simply laying around in a vacant lot, or a yard.
One SMALL ray of hope... I've found high-end stranded-steel cables available at RV stores are as the most theft-proof devices in my experience. Hard steel chains can be easily cut today with cordless disk-grinders. Probably the cables can too, but my Kymco remains chained to a support under my carport with a Coleman cable and lock. It bears NUMEROUS "nibbles" from some pretty hefty bolt-cutters. But, it is still intact.
I also keep a silver tarp over the scoot, which blends into the surroundings. "Out of site, out of mind" is a real help...
When you replace the rides, you might want to keep them in the back of your place, and chained to something (even to each other). Every little bit helps.
Best wishes for sure,
Leo in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 16, 2016 13:55:07 GMT -5
Floridagull,
I'm SO sorry to hear of your bikes being stolen. You are right though. If someone really wants them, they will be gone.
Back in the seventies, I rode a brand-new Harley Electra-Glide. It was parked under a covered parking space, chained to the supporting pole with a supposedly unbreakable titanium chain and gov't. padlock. The Hog was also blocked by my full-sized dinosaur Olds sedan. My neighbor watched as a maxi-van pulled up, 8 or 10 outlaw bikers jumped out and six of them (three on each end) picked up the Olds and moved it out of the way... Two of them sprayed Freon on the "unbreakable" chain and hit it with a sledge-hammer. It shattered like glass. Finally, four of the cretins picked up the Hog and unceremoniously threw it into the van.
They were gone with my pride and joy in less than one minute.I had full-coverage insurance, and had just moved here from Illinois. The "Good Hands" people informed me that the coverage was null and void in Texas. Oh, yeah... Thanks a pant-load. Today I ride with the lizard... GEICO. Cheap, and probably as good as any. I never again was able to afford a bike until eight years ago, when I discovered Chinese scooters. I bought a new Xingyue 150 for $600. Now it's scooters for me. Too much arthritis to climb on and off the big cruisers and choppers now. The only "justice" about my bagger's demise is that the same crew returned later to steal another Harley. The owner was a Class III firearms dealer and had the Hog silent-alarmed. He interrupted the thieves and received a shotgun blast in the belly, but survived and managed to return fire with an M-60 machinegun, killing EVERYBODY and their cat. Amazing how even the most experienced crooks SOMETIMES pick the WRONG guy to rip off.  Hope you can replace the stolen goodies, but there is little you can do to prevent a repeat of the theft, unless the bikes can be completely out of sight. Hang in there,Leo (The Old Chopper Guy) in Texas
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 15, 2016 21:29:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcomes and tips/ideas. I found that you were correct that they don't like the system. Well the tail/stop anyway. I had it in there for less than 2 days and it is fried. Turn signals are still going well. I will take your information and run with it seeing I tend to find myself out a ways when the sun goes down, would rather not meet any animals in my travels. Thanks again.
You're most welcome!
Yes, using LED's on AC usually doesn't work out. They often flicker and don't last. I wish the ads would not say they work fine on AC. If you're going to use LED's in the factory sockets, and those are AC, you may have to do some serious re-wiring and use bridge-rectifiers. That, in turn, may cause OTHER problems with the factory wiring/charging. My old Xingyue 150 used AC for the headlights, but DC for the tail and brake-lights and turn signals. Fortunately, my "new" old Kymco uses DC for ALL the lights... So, in theory, I could just replace the bulbs with plug-in LED's. I have not, since the stock incandescent lights are excellent (except for the headlight, which is still a tad weak for my taste). Using a pair of LED driving lights did add 30 extra watts draw to the system, so to be safe, I did run a 12 gauge fused wire direct from the battery rather than splice into the factory headlight wires. This is tripped by a relay with a push-button, which IS wired into the factory headlight low-beam wire, to prevent the LED's from coming on without the headlight on. (The headlight comes on with the ignition, and has no switch).
I do hope you are able to upgrade your lights. I am truly amazed at the difference it made with mine. Ride safe!Leo in Texas
PS: I do KNOW what you mean about meeting animals at night... Sometimes, I find myself in the very dark Texas rural "wilderness"...
For that scenario, the long-reaching spot, or "pencil" beam LED's are phenomenal. On one pitch-dark stretch near my place, the LED's have shown me a deer, several squirrels, a few armadillos and numerous jack-rabbits a full football field away! Not to mention one truck muffler laying directly in my path... Oh, and YES, those pesky unpainted curbs in the road which serve no purpose (except to kill bikers)...
Good stuff those LED's! |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 15, 2016 9:30:23 GMT -5
Mrsunsett,
So... you said that if the lights come on when you just turn the ignition to start, but the engine is not on, it is a dc current?
My wifs taotao zummer is like that, and she has not awful but not the best vision, even with her contacts, so i wanted to make it a bit safer for her on the road. What do you suggest for lights on the zummer??
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As far as I know, yes, if the lights come on with the engine not running, they should be DC. For AC, I believe the engine must be running to use the alternator. Having DC factory lights makes hooking up LED's fairly easy.
My recommendation would be to check eBay under LED driving (or motorcycle) lights. For 8 years I've bought numerous Chinese LED's from eBay; strip-lights to illuminate fake tail-lights on scooter trunks, add driving lights and decorative LED's. Not one ever failed. they use little juice, and they are cheap!
On the Zummer I'd stay with just one auxiliary light so as not to overwork the charging system. And, put a switch on it so it's not running in the daylight. Just turn it on as needed in the dark.
These lights come in "flood" and "spot" versions, costing around $10 to $20. For riding below say, 50 mph, the flood might be best as it really lights up a wide area. For faster night riding, or, riding in total darkness, the spot version will reach farther, but with a narrow beam. This is good for precise aiming.
You will need to mount the light. Usually you can do this under the nose, with large "fender washers" inside the plastic to prevent cracking the nose. The LED light-cans are a tad heavy.
On my Chinese 150, I disconnected the high-beam wire near the switch, and connected it to the new LED. This made use of factory wiring and relay which made hookup very easy (once I got to the buried wires... LOL!). All I needed to do when riding in very dark areas was to engage the stock bright-beam switch.
By carefully aiming the LED, you can prevent it from blinding oncoming traffic.
You might be able to find an LED replacement bulb for the stock headlight. That would be fine, but for me, I like to use an auxiliary light that I can easily aim for my personal riding style.
Hope this may help! Chinese scoots are known for "marginal" headlights and even my Taiwanese 250 is only a little better. Most bikes other than high-end cruiser and sport motorcycles can be made safer with better lights.
Please do post pix if you upgrade. Lots of scooter-jockeys are interested in upgrading their lights. Poor headlights are a major complaint with scooters. I know I feel much more comfortable now at night with brighter roads ahead! I just HATE those pesky unpainted curbs sticking out for no reason...
My young neighbor (with perfect eyesight) just totaled his new Jeep on one...
What they will do to a scooter is pitiful! NOW I can actually SEE them!
My night vision isn't what it once was either. Cataracts, glaucoma... My scoot is getting "chicken strips" on her tires as I get less adventurous in my riding... Old age sucks...
Best wishes on your scoot upgrade... Keep the Missus safe!
Leo in Texas
PS: Somewhere, I have a nice 2-bulb LED from my old Chinese 150. If you'll message me with your address, I'll find it, and send it to you. Might be just the one for your Wife's scoot. Small, oval and bright! It's a "flood" which should shine much farther and wider than her stock light. Should mount under the nose just fine. I'm not using it, and maybe you could.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 13, 2016 21:43:16 GMT -5
I've recently have upgraded my tail/stop and blinkers with led replacements 1156 Amber and 1157 red tail/stop if you haven't already done so but what I Was looking for throughout the forum with no success is Upgrade for headlights. I am thinking that a set of superbright leds might be leaps and bounds brighter than stock but has anyone modified a different bulb to fit or have found a brighter replacement? Thanks .
First, welcome to the forum! Have a bone on the old chopper guy...Replacing incandescent lights with LED's is a good idea if you can find LED "bulbs" that will plug into your existing sockets. They are BRIGHT and use less juice. I found that LED's do NOT like AC current however. So if the lights you're replacing run off the battery, or off a DC circuit you're "good to go". If, as with some headlights, they run off an AC circuit, you may have to run them through a bridge rectifier to convert to DC current for them to run right. This usually causes a slight loss of current but not enough to be detrimental. My rectifier cut the voltage from 12.5 to 10.5V but the LED was still like the sun! You can tell if your lights run off DC if they will come on without the engine running.
I used a bridge rectifier to run an LED driving light on a Chinese 150 some years ago. I now ride an old 2007 Kymco 250, and the factory lights are quite good "as-is"... Except for the headlight. It's better than most Chinese scoots, but still leaves a lot to be desired. So, rather than change out the headlight, I added small LED driving lights which make a MONUMENTAL difference. At 15W each, they put out about four times the ACTUAL light of the stock 25W headlight! I'd guess their output at around 75W of useable light!  
Please note: I've now run these for more than a month and have experienced no weakening of the battery, and no oncoming traffic flashing brights at me. I now have SERIOUS headlights that show potholes, unpainted curbs, junk on the road, etc. SWEET!!!
In my case, it was easier to upgrade the headlights with auxiliary LED's. Some members have had good results with replacing their incandescent bulbs with LED's. The only issue I've heard is that LED's run pretty HOT... So, if they're in a tight plastic enclosure, they may overheat the plastic. That issue is one reason I went with external auxiliary LED's instead of risking melting my stock headlight reflector.
My Kymco uses DC current for all the lights. That makes it easy to change out to LED's. Some scooters use AC current for headlights and/or other lights. You do need to get any LED's running on DC if possible. The ads for LED's often say they can run on either AC or DC but some others and myself have tried running LED's on AC and it just doesn't usually work. Hope this may help... Ride safe!Leo |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jul 12, 2016 10:26:36 GMT -5
While I whole heartedly agree the cops should be the ones dealing with these issues, I don't have a hands free set in my helmet, and the motorcycle did not have plates. If nothing else, I hope the passenger at least got the message, and will not ride with that idiot again. Although I believe I should not have opened my mouth in this case due to the circumstances at the time, I do not fear opening my mouth, to cops, gang bangers, or anyone else. I miss the land of the free and the Brave!
Hey, bro, you're one of our favorite ItIsTheRide site pals... We want ya to be around a long time! So please consider that opening our mouths (no matter HOW right we may be) no longer starts a "boys will be boys" fist-fight ending in a friendly handshake afterwards... even though wearing a helmet in a fray definitely gives us an advantage... LOL! HeHeHe... Woo HOO!
Confronting a drunk redneck in a 4x4 is rough, a soccer-mom raging on diet-pills is worse... but a pack of genuine "gangstas" (unlike the whimsical KIA "hamstas") is whole different animal. 12 to 18 years old, no I.D., no known address, no morals, no remorse and used to killing folks for little or no reason, from the age of 7 or 8 with less care than stepping on a cockroach... Usually in a stolen car with a posse of equally brain-dead, drug-encouraged pals, he or she is truly dangerous.
You can bet your baggy pants and teardrop tattoos the little miscreants will stitch you nose-to-toes with a full-auto AK-47 or MAC-9 just for giving them a "look" they consider as "dissing" their "rep".Pick your battles, friend, but be sure of your enemy before starting something that may put you in a body bag long before your time.
Ride safe, and LIVE LONG!Leo (turnin' 70 and not done yet) in Texas |
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%) the driver is a young male (could be any race...) with a bad attitude and no I.D., and has contraband in the vehicle including narcotics, illegal firearms, stolen goods, cash (which they're happy to confiscate if over $300) etc. and about a third of the time the VEHICLE itself is stolen.
