- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 1,765
- Location
- Makefield Highlands PA
- Bike
- 2016 ST1300P
- 2024 Miles
- 003726
+ 1.After you clean the lens, replace the bulbs with LED's. The first picture is with the brakes on, the second is only the running lights.
I imagine the clarity of tail/brake/turn signal lights is not quite as critical as headlights. I'll further opine that headlights get more occluded quicker because of oncoming debris that may be kicked up as well as UV damage. But it is good the kit includes a UV protectant. My concern would be a UV protectant be included to help keep the lenses shiny.Does this kit contain a clear coating to help it stay clear?
Would you know if this stuff can be applied over lacquer paint? (Not automotive paint, but old time lacquer.)All of these restore kits come with terrible top coat, which is the most important part since it is supposed to prevent future oxidation. After all the prep, I spray with a commercial 2-part in-a-can. After nearly 3 years, lenses are still like "new", whereas all the kits fade out in less than a year.
I did our two cars as well as the ST at the same time since once mixed this stuff has a 2 day shelf life.2K Clear Glamour - SprayMax
www.spraymax.com
I'm not convinced the LED brake & rear turn bulbs are better than incandescent bulbs.After you clean the lens, replace the bulbs with LED's. The first picture is with the brakes on, the second is only the running lights.
All of my bulbs are LED too. I put red LED's in the taillight and my wife says that it greatly increased my visibility from behind. However, in NC, you can't have red light illuminating your license tag. So, sometimes they catch it on inspection but most times they don't. When they do, I just go home and put in some clear standard bulbs and then change them back to the red LED's after they inspect it.I'm not convinced the LED brake & rear turn bulbs are better than incandescent bulbs.
I do have LED's in my brake/tail and rear turn signals so my comments are based on my observations on both. (Actually all my bulbs are LED on the ST1300)
Are they brighter, yes. However it's more of a hot spot vs the larger area the OEM bulbs cover. This is due to the LED design and how it works with the bike's reflectors. The reflectors were designed to use incandescent bulbs that throw light in a 360* pattern. LED's throw it in more in 1-2 directions and don't fully utilize the reflector. So brighter, yes, but as large a "footprint" using the full reflector evenly? No, no in my experience.
I'd certainly recommend upgrading the headlight bulbs to LED's (using the proper LED bulbs - there's a thread here about what to choose and what NOT to choose) but I'm not sold on replacing the rear bulbs with LED's and it being an improvement.
If you do the swap and arent happy you can always put the old bulbs back in. If you are happy with the results then that's great too!
Possible $6 fix.All of my bulbs are LED too. I put red LED's in the taillight and my wife says that it greatly increased my visibility from behind. However, in NC, you can't have red light illuminating your license tag. So, sometimes they catch it on inspection but most times they don't. When they do, I just go home and put in some clear standard bulbs and then change them back to the red LED's after they inspect it.
I'll just continue to use my $0 fix.