Kawi Green City Lights

[maxtog]

It seems if you want the exact same bulbs/LEDs in white that the price goes way up. [illegal] green or blue $6~$7, white $48.88.
Whats up with that?

That is odd.  The white ones should not be more expensive.

I have LED street lights, but even accounting for how inaccurate some LED photos can be for depicting real world brightness, I gotta say that R'BellChain's [illegal] green ones seem very bright. I'd like those in white.

You can't really tell how bright they are from a photo like that.  Only if you had the original ones next to it would a comparison be valid.  Otherwise, there is nothing to compare to- anything will look bright if the camera opens the iris up.  Angle is another important consideration.

Anyway, I would want them in YELLOW, which is not only legal, like white, but an excellent idea, because displaying the contrasting color will help with visibility.   But I tried yellow LED city lights a long time ago, and they were pitiful- considerably less bright than plain incandescent yellow bulbs (which is what I ended up using).  I am happy with the color, but want something at least double the brightness.  That is when I changed the turn signals to stay on full time on the front, acting as running lights, then blinking OFF to act as turn signals (I searched for the thread but the broken search on this forum can't even find it anymore   ).  I tried LED in those too, and it was also a miserable failure, so still waiting for someone to make something reasonable.

Much of the LED lighting out there is really crap- poor quality, poor light distribution, and full of outright lies and misinformation.  Take this for example:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-pcs-Amber-Yellow-T10-7W-Cree-High-Power-Projector-License-LED-Light-Bulbs-194-/171071351546?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d4a5aafa&vxp=mtr

Do you REALLY think they are 7 watts?  Of course not.  7 watts in a T10 package is highly improbable  due to lack of heat dissipation, plus this show only ONE LED, no single LED at that price is 7 watts.   Then right below that they claim "180 degree light output", and if you look at the photos, it is obviously less than 45 degrees.  Makes me angry.

[just gone]

You can't really tell how bright they are from a photo like that.  Only if you had the original ones next to it would a comparison be valid.  Otherwise, there is nothing to compare to- anything will look bright if the camera opens the iris up.  Angle is another important consideration.

I agree, and I mentioned that, however I sorta/kinda trust R'BellChain's description and I know roughly how bright his other lights are
and I know the pitiful LED city lights that I have would never show up like that in comparison unless some time lapse and other photo magic was involved.

.....as for the search feature Max', you'll be much happier with the results from the advanced search: Maxtog's runnin' lights

and if you've got time on your hands, and are willing to add LEDs, and you don't want ballast resistors: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10335.msg126212#msg126212

I have to agree about the poor quality of the item descriptions, most likely due to the carelessness of massive websites selling
a boat load of crap, and the usual translation errors associated with asian/English translations. Can you say "Subblebags" without giggling?

[ZG]

and if I do get pulled over, I'll tell that cop that ZG likes it...and I'm sure he'll say "Have a great ride!"

 

 

[maxtog]

I know roughly how bright his other lights are and I know the pitiful LED city lights that I have would never show up like that in comparison unless some time lapse and other photo magic was involved.

Since none of US know how bright that white light is, doesn't help most of us, though!  The best comparison would be to take a photo with just one city light replaced (and the other stock) in outdoor illumination from several feet away.

.....as for the search feature Max', you'll be much happier with the results from the advanced search: Maxtog's runnin' lights

I bow to your much superior searching skills    

and if you've got time on your hands, and are willing to add LEDs, and you don't want ballast resistors:

My setup already uses ballast resistors, so I could keep everything else stock.  But the resistors are only used when the lamp is off, so as strange as it sounds, I can use LED blubs OR Incandescent.... so I am ready to go as soon as I can find something that will replace a turn signal AND throw off more than 22watts worth of incandescent yellow light.

[OCK913]

Because it is [illegally] displaying a color

That was never proven ....

[maxtog]

That was never proven ....

Nor disproven either.  So I will go with common sense.

[OCK913]

Nor disproven either.  So I will go with common sense.

Max, I am not trying to debate this...... but some might say that mistaking 2 micro sized green lights, positioned 3' off the ground, for a traffic signal would be more like a lack of "common sense". I understand the example your giving, but you are claiming it to be universally illegal and it isn't. You are a respected member of this forum and you are spreading misinformation just because it sounds logical to you and that is wrong. If you don't like it or think it is a bad idea, fine, share that info as your opinion .............. but don't tell people it is illegal when you really don't know that for certain.

It may be illegal in VA

And probably all other 50 states

BTW, there are only 49 other states. 

[gPink]

I thought there was 57.

[maxtog]

I thought there was 57.

Are you sure it isn't 42?

[maxtog]

you are claiming it to be universally illegal and it isn't.

We can agree to just disagree   That does happen sometimes.

Neither of us has time (or desire) to research the code in all 50 states, and even then it depends on how it is interpreted by the courts and police (for example, based on my interpretation of the Florida code, I *believe* it is illegal there or certainly could be interpreted that way).  I *believe* it is illegal in most if not all states, since traffic laws are fairly standardized.  And even if not, I still *believe* it is unnecessary, possibly dangerous, and just asking for confrontation with the police.

[Conrad]

Max, I am not trying to debate this...... but some might say that mistaking 2 micro sized green lights, positioned 3' off the ground, for a traffic signal would be more like a lack of "common sense". I understand the example your giving, but you are claiming it to be universally illegal and it isn't. You are a respected member of this forum and you are spreading misinformation just because it sounds logical to you and that is wrong. If you don't like it or think it is a bad idea, fine, share that info as your opinion .............. but don't tell people it is illegal when you really don't know that for certain.

You'd be wise to never underestimate the stupidity of people in general.

[RideBellChain]

Because it is [illegally] displaying a color reserved for traffic lights that universally means "go".  If you are sitting at a traffic light in the front row [illegally] displaying a green light, someone opposite might glance up and see it and decide to go.

Oh you have no idea about the traffic I have to deal with.  This is nothing... I live in Palm Beach - the old people capital of Florida for sure...they can't turn their heads, they point and shoot to go where they want, and they're so old that they just don't care if they get killed in their cars. Most can't see over the dashboards, and the worst part of all is that the cops don't want to give "grandma and grandpa" tickets.

If you want to talk about laws, maybe they should require hearing and eyesight testing for people over 65 every time they renew their licenses.  In my wonderful state, if you haven't received a ticket, you send them money and they mail you a new driver's license.

(Rant finished)  LOL!

Ride Safe!

[maxtog]

[...]If you want to talk about laws, maybe they should require hearing and eyesight testing for people over 65 every time they renew their licenses.  In my wonderful state, if you haven't received a ticket, you send them money and they mail you a new driver's license.

(Rant finished)  LOL!

Oooh, don't even get me started.  Most of the requirements for getting and keeping a license are a joke.  I think people should have to pass a reaction test of some type regardless of age.

[gPink]

oh yea, well in my state they give illegal aliens drivers license.

[Pokey]

Who gives a flying crap whether "technically" illegal or not, put whatever lights you want on until told otherwise by the po-po.

[chuck2010]

Hey guys, not sure if it's technically illegal or not so I'm not going to chime in on that argument.  I do have green LED city lights and I have had them since I got my 2011.  I have been through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas (where I live), New Mexico and Colorado and not once have I been hassled for the green lights.  They aren't the easiest to see in the daylight but at night they look awesome.

On a side note, love the forum.  Lots of good information here.

[RBX QB]

Hey guys, not sure if it's technically illegal or not so I'm not going to chime in on that argument.  I do have green LED city lights and I have had them since I got my 2011.  I have been through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas (where I live), New Mexico and Colorado and not once have I been hassled for the green lights.  They aren't the easiest to see in the daylight but at night they look awesome.
...

Isn't there a saying to the effect of "it's only illegal if you get caught"?

Like others have stated, do what you want to your bike, and decide IF it becomes an issue. I have "illegal" signals on my Duc, but never been a problem. Technically, I think my smoked marker lenses on the 14 are illegal. Again, never been a problem.

...

On a side note, love the forum.  Lots of good information here.

Welcome.

[twowheeladdict]

I bought some of those license plate bolt reflectors in blue at a dealership.  Haven't had a LEO comment about them yet.

[kennqc]

what utter claptrap!!  since i am over 65 and have a perfect driving record and have been driving evidently long before you were born i guess i must be durn lucky having shitty eyesight an all.  this is a very slippery slope, why not folks over 60, hell why not 40!  if you really want to do something enforce the laws on texting and outlaw handheld cell phone use while driving. 

and as an aside, i have purple city lights and just for the fun of it checked with my local MA police chief who thought they looked good!

ken

Oh you have no idea about the traffic I have to deal with.  This is nothing... I live in Palm Beach - the old people capital of Florida for sure...they can't turn their heads, they point and shoot to go where they want, and they're so old that they just don't care if they get killed in their cars. Most can't see over the dashboards, and the worst part of all is that the cops don't want to give "grandma and grandpa" tickets.

If you want to talk about laws, maybe they should require hearing and eyesight testing for people over 65 every time they renew their licenses.  In my wonderful state, if you haven't received a ticket, you send them money and they mail you a new driver's license.

(Rant finished)  LOL!

Ride Safe!

[maxtog]

this is a very slippery slope, why not folks over 60, hell why not 40!

I agree.  I think there should be vision, reaction time, and skills testing for ALL drivers of ALL ages at reasonable intervals.  It is true that the older a person is, the more likely he/she is to have poorer vision and slower reaction time, but that rate is all over the spectrum, starting at any age and accelerating at vastly different rates from person to person.

There are a lot of REALLY **** POOR drivers out there of ALL AGES/gender/race/religion/creed/size/shape/color/etc.