License plate light

[greer]

Well I have a light, but no lens or housing:





I've been doing some digging and found a post by jpv7: "Ditched the nasty licence plate light and now use the tail light to illuminate plate (the way it should have come)  To do this, i removed the opaque insert in the tail light and made a clear plastic one from a CD case using a heat gun.  Works good."

jp, could you expand on that just a little, please?  We have a heat gun and old CD cases laying around, but beyond that it's apt to get scary.  Yours sure sounds like a neat solution, though.  Thanks!

Sarah

[John A]

Can you post a picture of the taillight, especially the underside?

[jpv7]

Take the opaque insert out of the tail light assembly (remove the lens to do that).  Then you can make a template for it.  Then cut the CD case (carefully!) to match. Then heat gently to match the curve of the opaque insert.  Then trial fit and adjust if required.

there is supposed to be a transparent lens available in europe but i never could track it down...

[malik]

Over here, in this neck of the woods, our tail lights have that transparent window on the underside of the light, and no separate light for the number plate.  But I note that the Spares manual shows that number plate light for CA-USA models only. It may well be a requirement. I've found in the past, that dirt bike shops keep cheap ones in stock (dirt bikes either seem to have a problem with losing or breaking them, or they are part of the add-ons for registering them for the road). Perhaps cheaper at your local auto parts store. Usually so cheap, it's easier to replace the whole light than finding a cover to fit.

[jpv7]

Over here, in this neck of the woods, our tail lights have that transparent window on the underside of the light, and no separate light for the number plate.  But I note that the Spares manual shows that number plate light for CA-USA models only. It may well be a requirement. I've found in the past, that dirt bike shops keep cheap ones in stock (dirt bikes either seem to have a problem with losing or breaking them, or they are part of the add-ons for registering them for the road). Perhaps cheaper at your local auto parts store. Usually so cheap, it's easier to replace the whole light than finding a cover to fit.

thanks Malik.  We Canucks get the usa version...lol.  Yes i did think about replacing the whole thing, but opted to run a bright LED bulb in it instead.

[anthracer12]

I bought mine from a salvage yard in Italy. The whole tail light assembly cost me only a few dollars and best of all there was no cutting or forming; OEM part, OEM fit. Just slid the old opaque one out and slid the new transparent one in. Now it looks like it was always meant to look and I have a spare tail light lens just in case I ever need it too.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Heres a few inexpensive options from Superbrightleds.com
Check out their motorcycle section
https://www.superbrightleds.com/search/led-products/licence+plate/

[greer]

Can you post a picture of the taillight, especially the underside?

Here you go:








Thanks for the ideas, everybody.  That clear lens insert is the slickest solution by far.  First off I'll do as Malik suggests and look around town to see what AutoZone and such have to offer.  I know some folks like to tidy up, but I don't mind the tail plate, so maybe I can find something cheap and simple right here at home.  Thanks again and I'll report back.

Sarah

[Demar]

I bought one of these led plates but haven't put it on yet. It has clear leds to light the plate and a red led strip above as a second brake light. I plan to couple the red led strip to a backoff unit that will blink on and off the red led strip as rear brake is applied. I try to tap my rear brakes at a stoplight when cars are coming in behind me. With the backoff I can just stay on the brake and it will blink on and off automatically. I figure a little extra brake light can't hurt. With the led specific backoff unit it looks like you can directly connect the brake wires to the backoff. I'm not sure you can directly connect the tail lights to the clear leds. I have to research a bit.

Link removed..... it was for "LED Motorcycle License Plate Frame"

[SIR REAL ED]

Sarah,

If the clear lens proves to be a hang up, you can always go with some clear shipping tape in the short term.  Might need to replace it every 6 months.
Then again, might be something that last a long time out of direct sunlight and weather.

Lots of plastic adhesives are out there.  Might not need to do any plastic welding.

[greer]

Gosh, there are a zillion license plate lights out there once you start looking.  I picked up a little $4 deal at O'Reillys, stay tuned.

Sarah

[larrys]

Sarah,

If the clear lens proves to be a hang up, you can always go with some clear shipping tape in the short term.  Might need to replace it every 6 months.
Then again, might be something that last a long time out of direct sunlight and weather

Superglue or model car styrene glue will work on lenses.
Larry

[SIR REAL ED]

I don't wear contacts, so I will take your word for it.   

Is it just me, or is this thread the width of 14 computer monitors for anyone else?

[Demar]

I don't wear contacts, so I will take your word for it.   

Is it just me, or is this thread the width of 14 computer monitors for anyone else?

That's my fault because of the link. I will remove it.

[SIR REAL ED]

Gosh, there are a zillion license plate lights out there once you start looking.  I picked up a little $4 deal at O'Reillys, stay tuned.

Sarah

Good deal Sarah.  Nothing like finding new stuff out there to help one personalize their bike.  Stimulates creativity.

[SIR REAL ED]

That's my fault because of the link. I will remove it.

You didn't have to remove the link.  I just wondered if I screwed something up.

But I do appreciate the education!  Thanks!

[Bulldog9]

I have a Stornello that has a black plate in the bottom of the tail light, and has that fugly bar light below the plate. I removed the barlight and replaced it with an AUX brake/tail light, and bought a new tail light housing from AF1 (I think) for $15 that has a clear plate to illuminate the plate from the tail light.

[greer]

Thank you Bulldog, that's just the ticket.  Could I pick your brain a bit more regarding the source of that tail light lens?  I've searched AF1 every way I can think and haven't found a thing related to tail lights other than the expensive tail tidys.  I apologize if I have overlooked something obvious.  Thanks again.

Sarah

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thank you Bulldog, that's just the ticket.  Could I pick your brain a bit more regarding the source of that tail light lens?  I've searched AF1 every way I can think and haven't found a thing related to tail lights other than the expensive tail tidys.  I apologize if I have overlooked something obvious.  Thanks again.

Sarah

This one?
https://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=53538&sku=GU03740930&description=Tail+Lamp+Eur+%2D+GU03740930

[SIR REAL ED]

Thank you Bulldog, that's just the ticket.  Could I pick your brain a bit more regarding the source of that tail light lens?  I've searched AF1 every way I can think and haven't found a thing related to tail lights other than the expensive tail tidys.  I apologize if I have overlooked something obvious.  Thanks again.

Sarah

Sarah,

If you can't find a suitable lease, you could always go the po man's route of drilling a few holes in the bottom of your existing lens, and then sealing them with the material of your choice.  Clear tape, CD storage box etc.  I would use a tapered sheet metal drill bit to minimize the chance of breaking the lens.

Of course if you don't have one, the drill bit will probably cost almost as much as a new lens......

[Bulldog9]

Thank you Bulldog, that's just the ticket.  Could I pick your brain a bit more regarding the source of that tail light lens?  I've searched AF1 every way I can think and haven't found a thing related to tail lights other than the expensive tail tidys.  I apologize if I have overlooked something obvious.  Thanks again.

Sarah

Sarah,

I went to the parts diagram on one of the models that has the clear plate and came up with this.  I just went through my orders and confirmed.  Price went up, $I  It is the whole taillight. I just swapped the lens.

https://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=53538

I really like the ability to look at the OEM parts fiche, and search by part number. Much easier to find stock parts.

[greer]

There we go.  Thanks so much for your time and trouble, I wasn't getting anywhere.

Sarah

[Bulldog9]

There we go.  Thanks so much for your time and trouble, I wasn't getting anywhere.

Sarah

No trouble at all.  I find it amazing they went to the time and cost to stick that terrible extra light on, instead of the clear lens. Probably some safety Nazi thing.