Make sure your lights are D.O.T. approved.
I have not installed one. I have only have one caution. Check your State's laws about them. Here in MN, the overly restrictive laws forbid modulated brake lights. I've seen youtube videos from California, and any light modifications from stock are illegal.
I think modulated brake lights on a motorcycle should be allowed nationally, and a federal requirement. I have seen them in action, and they really do draw attention.
Since I have no experience wiring the modulators, I'll let others chime in.
A word of caution: The traditional way that turn signals work, have an added benefit to us. If one turnsignal starts flashing more quickly than it did, it tells us at least one of our turn signal bulbs has burned out. With LED's, we don't have that. So be sure to test all your lights before every ride. I may know what I'm doing, but why not ensure others around us know what we're planning too. I'm a big advocate of testing ALL the lights on every vehicle I drive operate -- my car, once a week -- my bikes,
Every Ride. My favorite for testing car brake lights, if no one else is around to help, is to back in to a spot by a store with a glass front and look at the reflection. I used to be a school bus driver. Checking every light, every day is part of the routine.
There are two ways you can use LED turnsignals on our bikes.
1) Leave the flasher alone.
-Requires the use of resistors to increase the "LOAD" so the flasher thinks
there is a functioning traditional bulb. The resistor is installed in parallel to the LED. And only on the Turn Signal wire and ground, or negative wire.
2) Replace the flasher with an electronic [not controlled by current] one. Use the LED's without resistors.
Both of these require a pair of diodes, one each for left & right turn signals at the dash for the turn signal indicator. Our indictor has 3 wires: ground, left turn & right turn. The diodes are installed in-line [in series] with the left & right wires. The diodes are polarity sensitive, and will only work installed the right way. The end with the radial band on it is the negative end. When you cut the wire at the signal indicator, turn on that turn signal, and use a meter to find out which end is negative and which is positive.
You likely know this, but if this is your first trip into DC voltage, bear with me. The black lead of a meter is negative. The red is positive. When you cut a wire, and connect the leads, if you get a postive voltage reading, the red lead is touching the positive side. The black lead is is the negative side.
The band of the diode connects to the lead that black lead is touching. If you get a negative voltage, reverse the leads. You'll see positive voltage.
For any light that does not have a flasher,
if it is designed for motor vehical use, you will not need a resistor. So your tail/brake light can be just installed. It will work fine.
Again, use lights that are D.O.T. Approved!
