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LED update
- Thread starter ohhcrap
- Start date
senseamidmadness
Neglected Bike Adopter
Knowing what I know about my own R850R but not having done an LED update yet:
The headlight, most of the dashboard lights (with one exception), and the brake/tail light are all simple switched circuits so there should be zero issue.
The exception is the turn signals and turn signal indicator light on the dashboard. I believe our bikes came with an analog flasher relay. LED's don't put enough load on the circuit to trigger the relay's correct flashing pattern. To upgrade turn signals to LED, you'll have to change that relay to something that's digitally controlled.
One warning as well: unless it's been retrofitted in, the headlight/tail light circuit that turns on with the bike's ignition has no fuse. Unscrupulous sellers of LED lights (Amazon/Ebay mostly) sometimes either fail to list the wattage draw of their lights or outright lie about the numbers.
On another bike, a vintage Honda, a generic 7" LED headlight my dad bought on Amazon blew out a 10 and then a 20 amp fuse and only stayed lit with a 30. I immediately said "no way are we keeping this thing on the bike. It has to be drawing over 240 watts at its peak!" Perhaps that bulb only had a huge current spike when it was first turned on, but I'd much rather be safe than potentially catch a wiring harness on fire.
To ensure safety you can either measure the amperage draw of a suspicions light with a current clamp, or buy your LED headlight from a reputable source.
The headlight, most of the dashboard lights (with one exception), and the brake/tail light are all simple switched circuits so there should be zero issue.
The exception is the turn signals and turn signal indicator light on the dashboard. I believe our bikes came with an analog flasher relay. LED's don't put enough load on the circuit to trigger the relay's correct flashing pattern. To upgrade turn signals to LED, you'll have to change that relay to something that's digitally controlled.
One warning as well: unless it's been retrofitted in, the headlight/tail light circuit that turns on with the bike's ignition has no fuse. Unscrupulous sellers of LED lights (Amazon/Ebay mostly) sometimes either fail to list the wattage draw of their lights or outright lie about the numbers.
On another bike, a vintage Honda, a generic 7" LED headlight my dad bought on Amazon blew out a 10 and then a 20 amp fuse and only stayed lit with a 30. I immediately said "no way are we keeping this thing on the bike. It has to be drawing over 240 watts at its peak!" Perhaps that bulb only had a huge current spike when it was first turned on, but I'd much rather be safe than potentially catch a wiring harness on fire.
To ensure safety you can either measure the amperage draw of a suspicions light with a current clamp, or buy your LED headlight from a reputable source.
pauls1150
MOA #24991, south of Los Angeles
Not for an 850, but possibly of some use -
https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...LED-Headlight-Conversion&highlight=speedmetal
https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthrea...LED-Headlight-Conversion&highlight=speedmetal
