upgraded sidelights?

[jetblack]

I'm looking to improve my sidelights (I always ride with them on to make me more visible) but as we know the stock sidelights on the nc30 are fairly low wattage and an odd size bulb.

So I'm thinking of getting some 501 bulb holders and wiring them in in place of the stock holders and then running 501 bulbs or possibly LEDs ( to reduce the load on the charging system and to run cooler than incandescent bulbs)

Any one else done this?
Any possible issues/suggestions.

[V4beermonster]

I've soldered led bulbs direct into the loom, led take hardly any current. Much brighter and easy to do

[jetblack]

Cool. So LEDs get your vote? Are they Clearly visible in the daylight? I was looking at those cree projector LEDs but as the bulb is at an angle in the headlight it won't be facing forward so I reckon one of those smd tower ones might be a better bet.

The bulb holders are only a few quid so I've ordered them. Should be a very straightforward swap with the stock holders. Quick job with the soldering iron and away we go. I gather polarity needs to be right with leds but I'll just wire the holder in and then turn the led bulb around if its the wrong way round!

[bikemonkey]

I've used angel eyes in my headlights works well.

I recently had to change from LED form to CCFL though as my headlights melted the LED rings.

I got some 85mm ones from these guys: http://www.driven2automotive.com/

You'll have to message them if you want some.

If you do get them, you'll have to take off the plastic casing as it'll melt, and just use the glass CCFL tubes. Also you'll have to find somewhere to mount the invertor, I just zip-tied it to the headlight bracket.

Can get some pictures if you want, but I forgot to take any whilst I was doing it.

Here's the thread I followed for the LED install, it's just the same for CCFL really: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=37895&hilit=angel+eyes

[jetblack]

To be honest I'm not really a fan of the angel eye look. I want to keep it stock looking but just give myself more choice of bulb, hence the 501 sidelightholders. Smd LED bulbs are cheap enough that I'll give it a try and if its no good I'll go back to an incandescent bulb but just with a larger 5w bulb rather than the poxy OEM bulb. ( only worry then is that the stock wiring/housing can't cope with the higher wattage/heat.)

[V4beermonster]

here's mine, think they where ice white and cost about £3 from evilbay delivered

[V4beermonster]

Remember LED's use less power than any normal bulb and last many times longer, I've just replaced all. My gu10 bulbs at home with LED's which give instant light and are more energy efficient than energy saving bulbs! Plenty on eBay look here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VFR-400 ... 2ec1e2bece

[jetblack]

Ace. Yeah those are 501 fitment bulbs. They dont fit in the jap bike bulb holders so once ive fitted the new holders then ill be able to fit these or similar.

[mo haggs]

I've soldered led bulbs direct into the loom, led take hardly any current. Much brighter and easy to do

Any pics of how you fitted them

[Sunnyday]

If you want to be seen put your headlamps on its safer.