FJRiders.com

On my '09 VMax the bike came with LED brake and tail lights. WOW! You got to be blind not to seem them! On my 2015 FJR1300ES the brake and tail lights are incandescent bulbs. What's up with that Yamaha? With a lot of manufacturers now going to LED tail and brake lights, other than the cost factor, why did Yamaha implement such an archaic system when they already have LEDs in the front and in the dash of my bike?

Is there a web site that you can recommend that have plug and play LED tail and brake lights housing?

As an alternative, I know of LED replacement bulbs available online. Can you recommend any that are bright enough to see from the rear to make you happy you switched?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Mike

I like incandescent a little more I think. It fills up the lens better, at least to my eye VS with the current generation LED.

But LED is definitely going to overtake them very soon I feel. LED's are a better option if you can get their light the right temperature.

Jealous that you have a new 2015. So I'm not going to talk to you anymore.

If you stick leds into a FJR with cruise control, the cruise will not work.
Leds do not work with a McCruise on a Gen2 or with the cruise on a Gen3.
The ABS ECU monitors leakage current of the bulbs.

Maybe the Gen4 will have a led tail cluster ?

I put an Admore lighting bar on my R1200GS which was in addition to my normal tail and turn signals. That was a CAN-BUS system which complicates things too. That unit is great and could be mounted above or below the license plate. It is very bright, but IMO the stock tail lights on an FJR aren't all that bad. Ken, do you know if an addition like the Admore will have the same effect as a replacement by LED's?

Not sure if its apples to oranges or not, but I put an Admore LED kit in my Givi case and it's tapped into the harness using their adapter. Seems fine as far as ABS goes, but I don't have CC to verify that side of it. Also have had Hyperlite LEDS in since almost the day I brought it home, no issues there either. of course, these are in addition to, not replacement of, the stock incandescents, so maybe that's the key here. The bike's systems still have the stock lamps to 'read'. But to be clear, I have no idea electrically of what I'm talking about!!

These strips cost about $10 at most automotive places. The standard tail lights are real good because they have large reflectors. This setup is cheap and you will be seen, provided the moron isn't in the middle of text session.

I have an additional LED brake light with a programmable flasher unit, works fine.

I know it sounds silly, but the ABS ECU knows when the the fuses or bulbs are blown.
There is a better writeup in chapter 1 in the Gen1 manual, however it's listed in wiring diagrams & the ABS ECU error codes.

Be careful with LED for tail light. I have seen bikes that replaced OEM with LED and they are not visible during the day time which might create a problem of rear ending.

If you want more light, I would suggest putting a relay that flashes your current lights and if you want add another LED panel just below plate. I have done it on my FZ and it works GREAT