After looking at many different manufactures and products, I finally settled on the “BRAKE!†brand. (This decision was based on many different factors, including my experience with LED warning lights for emergency vehicles).
The “BRAKE!†light costs more than other brands, but the price is worth it. Not only does it use later generation LED’s (brighter, better off angle light) but it also is compatible with ABS equipped bikes.
http://www.homebody-design.com/catalog/brake/brake.html
Along with the LED taillight, I decided to compliment it with a new clear lens. LED’s emit a very specific spectrum of light, in this case red. All the energy is gone to producing only the color you want, if you were to shine the LED through a red lens, you would loose some of the spectrum and the light wouldn’t appear as bright or “intense.â€Â
I ordered both products from Pirates Lair and was very pleased not only with the fast shipment but with the personalized email I received from Jerry Finley shortly after my web order. (Note that the taillight for my r1150r is the same as the k1200rs)
Okay… on to the install!
As I said, I ordered the “BRAKE!†LED and a “Clear Alternatives†clear lens. (Jerry even doubled check that their aftermarket lens was compatible with the LED brake light)
The first step is to remove the stock taillight assembly.
There are two screws on top of the taillight towards the front that hold the light in place. (The passenger seat must be removed to access these screws)
Pull the taillight straight back. There are two prongs inside rubber grommets towards the base of the lamp.
Twist and remove the bulb from the reflector housing.
The stock BMW reflector assembly is glued together and makes assembly of the LED taillight more difficult. Luckily for me the “Clear Alternatives†lens is screwed together.
Unscrew the two screws towards the base in the rear and pull the clear lens away from the reflector.
Now we can open up the BRAKE! package and see what we got!
The main unit is a rectangular board with the LED’s on them connected to a round resistor board by a ribbon cable. There is also a small bag with 2 screws, 2 plastic spacers and an allen wrench for the screws. There is also a one sheet set of instructions and two other cards with warranty and registration information along with a disclaimer for bikes equipped with cruise control.
The BRAKE! unit has 3 settings controlled by small dip switches on the main circuit board. The three settings are:
1) Standard. Low intensity running mode and high intensity brake mode when brakes are applied.
2) Fast blink. Low intensity running mode and when brakes are applied the unit flashes about 3x a second than about 9 times a second before finally staying on at full intensity.
3) Just like #2 except the flashing sequence lasts for a longer time.
Because the switches are on the main board, it is important to remember to choose which mode you want before the unit is totally installed in the reflector assembly.
Although I was treated to a screwed-together reflector, I did find that I had to trim two prongs on the inside to make the BRAKE! unit sit correctly.
You can see the two prongs protruding from either side with screw holes in them. If you try to install the BRAKE! unit it will be apparent which prongs need to be cut off. I am not sure why they are there, as they are not in the OEM assembly, but the plastic is soft enough that a pair or wire cutters will make short work of them.
Next step is to insert the BRAKE! unit through the light bulb hole.
Pass the main LED board through the whole from the back to the front.
There is a ribbon on the main board to allow placement of the unit if you are installing it on the OEM reflector assembly that can’t be taken apart. I suppose it’s possible, but I would not want to try it. Between the clear lens allowing more light to shine through and the easy of assembly it allows, it was well worth the extra cost.
Once the main LED board is oriented correctly, take the screws and spacers supplied and thread them through the small round board. Then take the screws and thread them into the main LED board through the opening in the reflector assembly.
Tighten down both screws. The two boards will sandwich against the reflector assembly and hold the unit in place. (Careful not to tighten too much as it may twist and crack the circuit board)
With the outer lens off of the reflector, we can see the placement of the BRAKE! unit. It is important to make sure the board is situated so it will be perpendicular with the ground with the unit is installed back into the bike. An inherent problem with LED’s is that they only shine in a narrow-ish field. Unlike an incandescent bulb that has the use of the reflector to spread it’s light in the right direct, we must take care that the LED’s are pointed towards the drivers behind us (and not as the ground or to the sky for instance).
Looking at this photo again we can see the three leads that connect to the original incandescent bulb unit. These three leads slip off of their respective prongs and reconnect to the BRAKE! unit with ease. The three wires are color coded and the BRAKE! unit is well labeled and has clear instructions.
Reassembly is the opposite of disassembly.
Here are photo’s of the originally incandescent bulb compared to the new LED unit. Of course they do not do the unit justice trying to take a digital photo of it… but here they are anyway.
OEM Running Light.
OEM Brake Light.
BRAKE! Running Light.
BRAKE! Brake Light.
The whole conversion set me back about $200 (for BRAKE! and Clear Alternatives reflector unit) and about 1 – 1.5 hours labor. Granted it is pricey, but with the added security it offers, it was on the top of my accessory list.
This install should be appropriate for all skill levels and only required a Phillips head screw driver and a pair of wire cutters on top of the allen wrench included with the BRAKE! unit.
