Most vehicles nowadays started off as steam-powered and the motorcycle was one of them. The predecessor to the motorcycle was invented in 1867 by Sylvester Howard Roper, it was the first two-cylinder, steam-powered velocipede. This is essentially an early version of a bicycle with the pedals being at the front wheel.
It was 10 years later that the first petrol-powered motorcycle was made and in the early history of such motorbikes, Harley Davidson was the leading manufacturer. Throughout the decades many different technologies have been added to make motorcycles safer and more fun to ride but one seems to always get away from the spotlight, the indicators, especially LED ones.
Advantages of LED Motorcycle Indicators
Efficient
Although they are just a small light on each side of your motorcycle, LED indicators are still much more efficient than traditional incandescent ones. This is thanks to the absence of a bulb as an LED motorbike indicator has semiconductors that produce light. This is why there is little to no loss of power with LED motorcycle indicators no matter the conditions.
Powerful
You might think that LEDs aren't able to generate a powerful beam just because they rely on a different technology but you might want to hold your horses towards that conclusion. In fact, it's the way LEDs use power that makes them produce an extremely bright light, brighter than most other types of lights. LED indicators are therefore some of the most powerful in terms of brightness.
Colours
You may not be allowed to legally change the colour of your motorbike indicator lights but know that LED ones offer that feature as long as you opt for such indicators. If you plan to ride in a country where different colour indicators are allowed, such as white, you can easily change them to said colour to make your two-wheeler look cool.
Longevity
Because power loss is almost non-existent with LEDs, they are the longest-lasting solution that you'll come across. They can easily reach up to 50,000 light hours and because the indicators are not something you use all the time, this number can be easily surpassed with a pair of quality motorcycle blinkers.
Environment
Something that you can't see with all kinds of lights is that they emit UV and IR rays but this isn't the case with LED motorcycle indicators. This is what makes an LED light better for the environment as there are fewer emissions being put out in the atmosphere and soil.
Reliability
Being a simpler solution than most other new lighting technologies nowadays, LEDs make for indicators that work without hassle. No matter the terrain you traverse, they hold up quite well and don't give you any issues unless you damage the housing or something gets mixed up with the wiring.
Instant
Unlike other types of motorcycle indicators, LED ones don't require a warm-up time in order to start producing their max lumen count, meaning to reach their full brightness. This way you get to stay visible and inform others when you change direction without worrying if they've seen you properly even when there's poor visibility.
Voltage
If anything were to go haywire (no pun intended) with your motorbike's electrics, you should know that having LED motorcycle blinkers can help lower the risk of an electrical shock. That's because LED lights operate at lower voltages with the case here being 12V which is what most motorcycles also operate at or at least when it comes to their auxiliaries.
History of Indicators
Even when the first ever car and motorcycle were invented, it was clear that something was missing and that was a way to show others where you were headed. Although this was initially done with hand signals, it wasn't until 1909 that the first-ever indicators or turn signals were patented.
It was the year 1914 that the first signalling device which led to the invention of modern indicators, was invented. It happened only about 20 years later that the flashing indicator we know today first appeared and it happened in the US. By the year 1945, flashing indicators were found on most vehicles and they were operated by a stalk on the steering column which is roughly the same system we have today.
After that, self-cancellation was added both to cars and motorcycles which weren't required to have indicators up until 1973. This happened 23 years later than when it first became mandatory for cars. In 2016 a smart turn system was invented that cancels turning signals not only after a completed manoeuvre but also at roundabouts and when making a U-turn.
Final Thoughts
New inventions are always seen as unnecessary or as add-ons which was the case with indicators. Because of this, motorcycles were late to the party when it came to their standardisation but that's why today it's easy to add indicators if your two-wheeler doesn't have them. That's especially the case if you go for LED indicators.
