25 views and no thoughts?

 

Angle cuts could help transmission of light and allow for you to smoke the lenses. Unless the white is what you want. Assuming you are using bulb type LEDs or you could groove the back and use flat strip type LEDs across the entire back side. I've thought about pulling my lenses and cutting it to shorten its length as I hate how far out it sticks.

 

At least you have the 2020. the pre 17 tail light is way worse.

The sanded (smoked) plexi would give a more even light (like my integrated headlight). The light doesnt need to throw like a headlight does so the more the plexi dissipates the light the better. I thought about the led strips as well but how would they be attached? With single 5mm bulbs I can drill holes and glue them in. If I used the strips I would need 2 red ones at 5" and 2 amber ones at about 2". Hmmmm... more to think about

 

Strips can be glued in as well. If you grooved the backside you could glue in the channel or onto another piece that is then glued to the back. Too bad my solidworks is expired. Could build it for you. Like your rendering. I prefer strips over bulbs for light output and reliability. At least in my experience that's the case. You could always round out the inside so the strip runs in a half circle giving 180 degrees of light. Then you split the strips from the center (one half each side of center) so you can run a programmer for lighting sequencing.

 

I will have the plexiglass on monday

 

LED strips coud be used , if the depth of the plexi could be adjusted to allow the strips be inserted from behind or within, without having to carve the plexi. If I understand the project.

Ride sane

 

The LED strip lights are to wide as I'm using 3/8 and 1/2 Plexi. Will just drill holes and glue in 5mm leds

 

So....

This is cut to the contour of the plastics and to the angle of the seat. Waiting on LEDs before I get to a final fit up as I have to cut off the bracket that holds the factory tail light so I can make this sit flush with the plastics.

 

Very nice! Hows it look lit up? Try holding a flashlight behind it yet?

 

Not yet. Will be red and Amber LEDs. Top strip will be brake, middle two are turn signals, bottom will be running. Will see when I put the lights in if its gonna stay smoked or may flame polish it. Can't tell from pics but there is aluminum foil between each layer to stop the lights from going into the other layers. The middle (signal layer) is 2 pieces with foil separating them as well

 

So I did my integrated headlight so now I'm trying to figure out the tail light. The factory one is huge and ugly and I don't care much for the aftermarket ones. Most just don't fit the bike in my opinion.

So here's my ideal...
Layered Plexi, from top down
1/8 black
3/8 for brake light
2 x 1/2 for signals
3/8 for running light
1/8 black

There would be layers of aluminum foil or thin metal between all layers and to separate the two blinkers.

Would cut it to the shape of the whole in the factory plastics and frost it with 320 grit sand paper. Cover it with clear vinyl wrap to protect frosted area.

Drill holes for 5mm LEDs and wire them all up. Not sure if I would do it on the sides or rear but with that small of an area it shouldn't really matter.

Make a mounting bracket to hold it in place.

Here are a few SketchUp drawings I did to get an ideal of what I think I want.

Any thoughts? I'm open to ideals.
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TNT industries makes one all integrated

 

Mine will have more lighting area and be flush with the plastics instead of sticking out. And all for about $35. Oh... and no one else has it.

 

It’ll change the whole ride. Crushed up on the tank ain’t it

 

leds finally came in. Now to do some wiring

 

Well that was a fail. Gonna try another kind of lights

 

What happened

 

1. I got the wrong LEDs so you can see each individual bulb which I didn't want.

2. I broke a few of the wires so I have a few dead spots. Didn't notice untill after it was soldered, heat shrinked, harnessed.

3. The housing I made is to deep and hits the frame.

Solution... Cut it down, groove each layer, and use string lights.

 

I would suspect not enough density and/or brightness. Take a look at the smd leds. A lot more precise work getting them soldered up but that is what all the oems use...because you can get the high density and brightness you need.

There is a guy that does custom car lights with a YouTube channel that is pretty detailed on how to make stunningly good custom brake lights.

 

Tail light

Tail and blinker

Tail and brake

Tail, brake, blinker

It looks brighter in the pics but you can see dead spots and the difference in colors in person

 

Not a bad first try.

Ride Sane

 

Part of making one off stuff. The Joy's or redoing it over and over and over until it's perfect. Looks really good!

 

The LED light strips came in. Will get it wired tomorrow. Still need to make a bracket to hold it as well. Got the fit real nice now though. Also polished out so it's crystal clear

 

All installed. Probably gonna refrost it as it doesn't light as well with it all polished up. Will post more pics on my build page after I frost it out

 

plus some shots of it lit in daylight and dark? Looks really nice!

 

Will do. It's not as brite as it was with the individual lights because they're diffused but I like it better as you can't see the individual lights. Will post pics after I frost it

 

What type of strips did you end up using? There are about 1000 options of different chips/spacing/voltage/width/ etc. If you're happy with it that is the important factor - if not I wonder if you would get better output using 'white' LED's and tinting the plastic for the proper color - I know a lot of the color LED's aren't as bright as the white ones.
Also, what did you use to accurately cut all the angles on that plexi?

 

The LEDs are led neon rope. Clear lights with colored filter.

Rough cuts with with chop saw. Main shaping with 4.5" grinder with flat sanding disc. Trued with flat file. Sanded with 120, 320, 500, 1200 sandpaper. Little polish.

Will probably going back to the 320 or sandblast for frosted effect

 

The strips I used. Came in 3' pieces so I just cut and wired what I needed. Can be cut every 3 LEDs which is 3 led per inch

 

Do the LED's come out of the colored tubes? HOw do you know where the line between the 3rd and 4th leds are?

 

No you can't pull them all out without messing them all up. There is a faint line on the back so you know where to cut them. They were cheap ones from eBay. Like $12 for both strips

 

I love how contoured to the bike it is. Why I have not changed out my rear light. Most look funny to me sticking out so far. I may have to venture out like you did and make my own

 

In full sun. Definitely not as bright as I wanted it

 

In the garage