The other day, an ambulance was in front of me and when they hit the brakes, the brake lights would flash really fast for about 2 seconds before staying steady on. I seen a few motorbikes do this too, but they were the same brand, so initially I just assumed it was that company did it.
I see online you can buy many different brake light modulators that does this. They look to be an easy install, some even have wire harness so no cutting needed.
Has anyone used these before, or are planning to install on your Vulcan S? If so, what one are you getting?
I recently replaced OEM brake light bulb with LED bulb with build in flasher. When you press brakes it flashes 3 times and then goes solid. No wire slicing requires. It's very bright. I'm pretty happy with it. Best $20 mod I ever made.
Here is the link. https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...ion-1-high-power-led-bay15d-retrofit-car/923/
So this sounds like the same thing. Hit the brakes, brake light blinks 3 times then steady on? Seems even easier than the modulators, as it fits where the bulb goes. No need to cut any wires.
Sounds like a very good idea. Saw one the other day and it was very visible in traffic. Looked into getting one but the dealer said they could not install the taillight flasher because the tail light is a sealed unit. Let us know if you learn something different.
Separately, recently installed a headlight modulator and what a difference it makes. Have noticed a dramatic reduction in the number of cars crossing my right of way. Anything you can do to be more visible is a good thing.
I investigated this a few months ago when I got the bike. As someone else said, the tail light on the Vulcan S is a sealed unit. It does not come apart to get at the bulb.
There are units available that you can splice into the wiring. I acquired one, then discovered that they were failing within 3 years resulting in NO brake light.
I did not install it thinking it was better for me to flash the light manually if I could, than have no brake light at all, and no indication that it has failed...
I have not looked but no one is making a tail light you van not open to replace a bulb. I will check today for sure. Also a poster said he has done it so how can that be if it is a sealed unit?
I had looked at the diagrams and was able to find part numbers for the headlight and turn signal bulbs but on the diagram for the tail/brake light, there is no listing for a bulb, just for the LED unit/housing. This led me to believe that it was, in fact, a sealed unit, as others had posted.
You are saying that it is possible to open the housing (p/n 23025) and replace the bulb?
Stripped mine down to the tail light. It appeared to be glued together. There are no screws. I pried gently between the front and back. No movement. I asked parts man at the dealer... He said it was a sealed unit. The parts diagram does not appear to show a bulb...
Others collaborate my suspicions.
I'm convinced, but am happy to be proved wrong!!!
There are wire-in units available. If I hear of one that will fail safe I will investigate further...
The thread started about brake light modulators. Then some people suggested using an LED bulb that has the same flasher capability of the modulators, without the need to cut any wires.
However, there are doubts if the tail light (which is already an LED in this case), can easily be changed on this bike.
Based on the wiring diagram, the existing LED is not mentioned. It appears to be one sealed unit, so swapping the existing LED to the flashing LED doesn't seem easily done.
I don't think anyone is missing that fact. At least in my case, it was one of the first things I checked. The hope was that the LEDs in the tail light were in arranged in bulb form so that we could replace it with something like the LED bulb that is linked in a previous post.
Yea,
I think I jumped the gun here when replying to OP. My bad
Should have done my research before hand. I was "bragging" about this mod to my neighbor who owns 2014 HD Road King and he said that tail/brake light on his bike is LED and it's a sealed unit. I guess this is the way now.
I wanted to restart this topic as I couldn't understand if there were any legitimate answers to the original question. From what I read, there were 3 people that changed the bulbs to the flashing LED bulbs and 10 people who saying that that's not possible as the brake unit on the Vulcan S is LED and sealed. My manual said that it is LED and that it should be done by the dealer, no mention of a bulb type. Is it different based on the year? Can anyone share what they done as an alternative if that is the case. I would think a lot of people would be interested in making our rides safer for $20
I just installed a Beeper that is working great....loud enough to hear when you are taking off and kicking it up....was forgetting the blinkers all the time....here is the link to the one I got and installed, less than $10 delivered.
I simply bought a specialized bulb from brightlights. Unscrewed the old bulb, installed the new and now it flashes 3 times and stays on.....and super bright. Bike is a 2004 Nomad
Got this one from amazon in 2 days for $8.. Could have went Ebay for $3 but who has time to wait for a shipment from China?
Make sure you buy one that say for LED's. The Black/Yellow is your negative and Blue is positive. I spliced right in the middle and mounted under the rear fender/seat area. The unit is no taller than the wire clips so it should be all good when it put it back together. I am currently wiring up a LED kit and have the bike all tore apart.
The flash pattern on this unit is 3 fast, 3 slow and then solid every time you hit the brakes.
Got this one from amazon in 2 days for $8.. Could have went Ebay for $3 but who has time to wait for a shipment from China?
Make sure you buy one that say for LED's. The Black/Yellow is your negative and Blue is positive. I spliced right in the middle and mounted under the rear fender/seat area. The unit is no taller than the wire clips so it should be all good when it put it back together. I am currently wiring up a LED kit and have the bike all tore apart.
The flash pattern on this unit is 3 fast, 3 slow and then solid every time you hit the brakes.
So today I was going to install my brake light modulator. I opened up the wiring harness under my seat. (the one that goes to the back of the bike) wouldn't you know it, I found the blue wire, (with a red tracer) and 4 black and yellow wires. How did you know which black and yellow wire to cut? Or did you take the fender off and trace it back to the light?
Here's what my bike looks like at night. Sorry for the bad pic. I put the LED strobe bulb, Then added a strobe flasher that stays on as long as I hold the brakes. as far as the 650 sealed light can't you add some kind a relay to make it flash?
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