GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

Cheap Fix For Faded Inner Tails

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Old 04-03-14, 02:33 PM
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03max6mt
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Default Cheap Fix For Faded Inner Tails

My inner tail lights on my 98 GS were fading like most do and when i hit the brakes it lit up white and looked terrible. I tinted them and that made them worse and look a pink-ish white. I didn't want to buy new tails so after searching for a while i found a vendor that sells a dual filament regular non led red 7443 bulb.
I ordered them for the heck of it as a last resort. Needless to say they came in yesterday and i installed them.
Im extremely happy with the way they look just bright red now either with lights on or on the brakes,

Going to do the outer tails to match as the new bulbs are a bit more red. If your looking for the bulbs there on www.motosport.com There identical in every way to my oem's.

Just figured id share. For both bulbs shipped it was $ 25.00 There $8.99 x2 plus shipping.

http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/...7443-215W-BULB
Old 04-03-14, 10:57 PM
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Lutkis
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You have brake lights on your inner tail lights?
They are fog lights in my 430 as far as I know..

I've never seen faded inner tails (nor outer tails) so I don't know who you are referring to as "like most do".
Old 04-03-14, 11:57 PM
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offbad
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Originally Posted by Lutkis
You have brake lights on your inner tail lights?
They are fog lights in my 430 as far as I know..

I've never seen faded inner tails (nor outer tails) so I don't know who you are referring to as "like most do".
Old 04-04-14, 01:25 AM
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Lutkis
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Those look nasty.
I correct my sentence: I've never seen 01+ tails faded.

But I'm still confused of the brake lights. Now that I think of it I've never seen my tails when applying brake but I assume they are just for fogs.
Is that model/country dependent?
Old 04-04-14, 04:52 AM
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Lukas99GS
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I don't think I've ever seen that to be honest, mines got nearly 200k and I park outside, but the taillights are still a shiny deep red, look brand new when car is clean
Old 04-04-14, 06:24 AM
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Debonair
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Originally Posted by Lukas99GS
I don't think I've ever seen that to be honest, mines got nearly 200k and I park outside, but the taillights are still a shiny deep red, look brand new when car is clean
I think only the early 2GS's had this issue. Also if you are not the original owner they may have been replaced already with the newer version.
Old 04-04-14, 06:35 AM
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CharlieD93
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I am very surprised that you guys haven't seen the inner tails fade. I see numerous GS's a day with faded inners, my left one is just now starting to fade. Although, as Lutkis stated, I see it far more on the 98-00 models, which mine is. 03max6mt, good find. I may have to get some soon or just upgrade to 01+ tails, deciding on getting aftermarket led's (can't seem to find any not led style) or OEM 01+ tails, I am leaning more towards the OEM at this point.
Old 04-04-14, 10:05 AM
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at any hobby shop you can get the testors "transparent candy apple red" and its the classic faded tail lights repair tool...lol

its about $6 and easy to apply...

just lightly scuff the lights with scotchbrite, clean, then spray....they will look brand new...

in california almost every gs has faded inner tails...lol
Old 04-04-14, 10:24 AM
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DosyBoy
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My friends girl got a gs 300 which she don't take care of, u think that's bad, hers have NO red left on the inner tails it's all gone, when she hits her brakes it lights up a BRIGHT WHITE it looks awful, hers are the worst I've ever seen , I see this happening all the time it's a common problem...
Old 04-04-14, 10:58 AM
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RMMGS4
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Originally Posted by PantyDropr
at any hobby shop you can get the testors "transparent candy apple red" and its the classic faded tail lights repair tool...lol

its about $6 and easy to apply...

just lightly scuff the lights with scotchbrite, clean, then spray....they will look brand new...
Good suggestion. I have used the candy red for other tail lights as well. You will need to spray the entire lense very evenly or you could see dark / light spots when you apply the brakes.


Originally Posted by PantyDropr

in california almost every gs has faded inner tails...lol
This is VERY True because we are in SUNNY California where MOST DO know about this issue.
Old 04-04-14, 02:22 PM
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Lukas99GS
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I suppose just getting oem inner tails really wouldn't be that expensive on eBay worth not having to look at that.
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