Hello everyone I'm new as a member to the site but have been reading many of your posts on projects alike. It's great to finally have a bike again to mess around with and this site is an excellent guide to many questions. So, I've just torn apart the rear end of my 96' Savvy that I purchased exactly a week ago. I will be putting new tires, brakes, fender and rear lights on as part of a bobber project. My question, if I've filled out this page correctly, was...What lights, LED OR NOT, work best. I'm not well educated in the electrical arts but am willing to learn anything (soldering, etc). I was hoping to minimal work electrically and buy lights that I could practically plug and go. I'm looking for a sleeker shotgun/egg design and am not sure what to look for exactly. Any information would help greatly..thank you in advance for your time.  

I am not sure a poll will work. I have the stock lights... but I want the LED,  but:
a) I am unwilling to pay some of the crazy prices
b) I am NOT willing to have less light or less effect to the other motorists
c)I am not up on actually, working with electronics at this level

Incandesent is easy...mostly. The Savage is like most others, it uses resistance to cause the flash. LED's by their nature do not have that "level" of resistance, and therefore it has to be introduced artifically or an electronic flasher has to be used.

If money and time were no object.. I would build a double tail light, such that amber LEDs would flash at the normal rate and a high power "cree" type bulb would pulse, much like the new police lights.

One (sorta) benefit to moving to LED lights for the turn signals and brake lights, is that it leaves that much more "juice" for a better/brighter headlight. It seems the Savage charging system is pretty much running at max in its stock state, making adding MORE lights a dodgy idea. Also the charging circuit does not not really produce much until the engine is under load at a good speed. A short trip can zap more juice than is put back into the battery. By going to the LED, less juice is used up to begin with.

Sorry, I didnt vote.

Really depends on how much effort/money you're willing to throw at the project.

cheap led lights will leave you with less than satisfactory results.
even payin' big bucks may not ensure the required results.
so you're gonna have to see the lights demo'd not to get snookered.

I've seen truck led lights that were very visible in daylight so I know they are out there.

I'm not so sure I like this moderator-editing of user posts. I was editing my post adding that I liked how new emergency vehicles added a rapid-flash sequence and while annoying when following one of these vehicles, the idea is absolutely brilliant and whomever conceived of this idea deserves commendation.

My edit was lost because someone else was editing my post at the same time.

Sorry Cavi... I did it to save thread space,.. rather than quote you, and then add the comment... -Serow...

I wasn't sure if I HAD to use that poll option but I don't care at all about that. Just looking for friendly advice. I personally cannot stand LED lights on cars/trucks but they seem okay on bikes. I'm leaning more towards the traditional incandescent but my main concern was being able to attach whichever I decide right into the original wires and them work without any issues, or if I have to look for specific wattage etc.

Thanks!

I have to go with the LED's as well, as long as they are a good quality one, and not the cheap ones.  The good quality LED's are far more visible then the incandescent lamps plus they use much less current from the Savage's barely adequate electrical system.

Thank you all for your input. I'm still debating but will post pics when I get to that. right now I'm figuring out the best way to mount my rear fender (courtesy of Northern Tool). I'm more than likely going to use the bottom holes for the original fender and then find struts that will work to support the rest. The lights will have to wait until this is sorted. Unfortunately I am very limited on tools and have been buying as I go by convenience and need. This is meant to be a cost effective project (but I'm not cheaping out) at least not intentionally.

This site has some very good options available - both in LED and regular bulbs.  The prices for turn signals is very affordable.

http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/