tail light bulb

[AliceInChains02]

hey, i'm still pretty new to DIY on motorcycle so I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what kind of bulb to use in the tail light of a 92 katana 600 or where to look for that answer. thanks.

[Knucklehead]

It takes a 12V21/5W bulb. Easy find at your local parts store or probably even Walmart.

[BarMatt80]

i think it might be a 1257 or which ever is the dual fillament or it might be 1157

[The CyberPoet]

Standard atuomotive brake light, dual filament, dual lead on the bottom, type 1157. You can find them in any auto parts store, all walmart/target/kmart, and most gas stations/drug stores/grocery stores/etc.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[fixer]

or there's this-

1157-PCB-R36 Red LED lamp
12VDC 1157 Base (dual intensity) with 1-1/2 square LED cluster
36 Red LED lamp designed for restricted access and right angle applications
Wide 100 degree beam pattern
$ 9.95

$10 each, might be able to fit two or three in the taillight... dunoo i haven't measured yet.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=OTHER

unfortunately the pre-98 Kats only have one bulb in back... don't know about the newer bikes.

i had my tailight go out on me once, on a dark back road.. not a fun night.

[The CyberPoet]

unfortunately the pre-98 Kats only have one bulb in back... don't know about the newer bikes.

98 - 02 have 1 bulb; 03+ have two bulbs in the tail light. Simple way to tell:
Bumblebee style cone rear lens takes one bulb... The newer rear lens style takes 2.

Words of caution on LED's:
Although LED's are highly visible from directly behind the bike, many are dimmer at off-angles and in running-light mode (when the brake light isn't on). I replaced my rear bulb with a 48-LED mod about a year and a half ago -- I'm getting ready to return to the standard (incandenscent) bulb in the near future because of visibility. At the time I switched to the 48-LED bulb, I had already gone through 8 different LED bulbs to compare them to stock, and none of the others had been brighter. Sooner or later, someone will build an LED brake bulb that uses the large-scale LED's (the square ones used in extreme high-power applications, like certain semi-truck lights). Meanwhile, I'm taking the brightest option available for my own safety.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[Black_peter]

Words of caution on LED's:
Although LED's are highly visible from directly behind the bike, many are dimmer at off-angles and in running-light mode

While I totally agree with cyber's thoughts on visability,
I am planning to improve my LED mod, one note:

Pre 98 750s have very little side visability on the tail light as is.
(maybe a 3/16" strip?)
Swapping to a properly designed LED rear light will improve
this bikes visability. I have 9 LEDS for running (brighter than stock)
and 29 for the brakes (also brighter)
But I think I'm going to build the next one with 16 LEDs for running and
40 for stop.

[AliceInChains02]

got it changed out. thanks everyone.