Tidy Tail Facts and troubleshooting
Tidy Tails, Decoded.
First, know your year
This is the big one. The year of your bike completely changes how LEDs behave, and buying the wrong kit is the number one reason people end up frustrated.
Simple and forgiving
A plain relay handles your blink rate. Going LED is easy, but it does take a couple of parts to keep the blink normal. See the callout right below these cards.
Covers KTM 250-500 EXC-F, Husky 250-501 FE, and GasGas EC. On a 2012-16 KTM or a Beta? We build those too, just search "tidy tail" on the site.
Smart, and a little picky
KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas moved to a solid state computer that controls the blinking and expects the load of a stock bulb. Plug in plain LEDs and it gets confused: fast blink, four-way hazard mode, error codes. Our 2024+ bundle is built to bypass that computer so everything just works. This same kit also covers 2025 and 2026, and you reuse your stock under-fender, nothing extra to buy.
Any time you go to LED signals on one of these bikes, both of these have to happen or the lights misbehave:
- Install the LED flasher relay. It gives you a standard blink rate. Without it, your signals flash fast. LED Flasher Relay Kit
- Handle the dash indicator: either remove the turn signal indicator bulb, or add the LED indicator. Skip this and the green dash light can push everything into a hazard-style flash. LED Indicator Harness
About the under-fender
- 2024 and newer (including 25 and 26): you reuse your stock under-fender. Nothing extra to buy.
- GasGas on 2024+: for the slimmest rear, grab the EC or EW under-fender, part number A59008015000, since the GasGas one-piece molding sits differently.
- Older 2017-23 kits: these come as a full kit or a light-unit-only version. The light-only unit is built to mount to a Sicass under-fender.
Which plate holder?
Enduro Plate
Most crash resistanceA hinged flap held by rare earth magnets. It breaks away and swings free in a crash, stays tethered to the bike, then snaps back into place with the magnets once you pick the bike up.
Moto Minded Flex Plate
Good crash resistanceA rubbery 3D printed band that secures the plate to the fender and lets it yield and flex when the plate hits the ground or an object.
Sicass Holder
No crash resistanceA plastic plate that rigidly bolts to the bikes under-fender. Clean and simple, with no give in a crash.
Which under-fender?
On 2012-2023 bikes you have two under-fender options. They do the same job, so it comes down to the look you want. On 2024+ you reuse your stock under-fender, so there is nothing to pick here.
Rtech
Same fitment and function, with Rtech's own styling.
Sicass Racing
Same fitment and function, with Sicass Racing's own styling.
All the parts
Divide and conquer. When something acts up, swap your stock parts back in one at a time, not all at once, and test after each swap. The moment the problem clears, the last piece you changed is your answer. If it clears when a stock part goes back on, the issue is the kit or that connection. If it sticks around no matter what stock part you run, it is on the bikes side of the harness. One change at a time is what tells you a bike issue from a harnessing issue.
Blinking too fast
Classic LED hyperflash. Your bike reads the lighter electrical load of an LED, assumes a bulb is out, and speeds up the blink to warn you, even though nothing is actually wrong.
2017-2023 Drop in an LED specific flasher relay and it goes right back to a normal pulse. LED Flasher Relay Kit
2024+ There is no simple relay to swap. The solid state computer expects a stock bulb load, so a plain LED swap confuses it. The fix is the bundle built to bypass that computer. 2024+ Bundle
All four flash like hazards
Every signal blinking together in a four-way pattern is its own thing, separate from a simple fast flash.
2017-2023 This is usually the dash indicator bulb fighting your LEDs. Pull the dash indicator bulb, or install the LED indicator upgrade harness so the green dash light plays nice. LED Indicator Harness
2024+ This is the solid state computer doing its thing, and it is exactly what pushes some 2024+ bikes into an unusable four-way mode when a 2017-2023 kit is forced onto them. The answer is the 2024+ specific bundle that bypasses it. 2024+ Bundle
One side acts up
When only one side flashes fast or behaves weird, you want to figure out whether it is the signal itself or the wiring feeding it. Easy test:
Swap your left and right signals. Physically trade them side to side, then hit the blinkers again.
If the problem follows the signal to the other side, that signal is the culprit. It is covered under the lifetime warranty, so send us a note and we will get a replacement out.
If the problem stays on the same side after the swap, it is a wiring or connection issue on that side. Head to the dead or cutting out steps and recheck those connectors.
Dead or cutting out
Start with the golden rule: swap your stock lighting back in one piece at a time. The moment it works again, the last part you touched is the problem. Working with stock parts in? The issue is the kit or a connection. Still dead with stock? The bikes wiring needs attention.
Then check every connector is fully seated. The common gotcha lives behind the headlight mast, where the factory plug holders can sit not-quite-snapped-in. That keeps our harness from clicking all the way home, and you get lights that work, then quit, then work again. Reseat everything until it truly clicks.
Still stumped? Grab the pinout below and confirm each wire is landing where it should.
Brake light stuck on
A brake light that stays lit is almost always the front hand brake micro switch, not the Tidy Tail. Check that the little switch under the lever is not hung up in its rubber boot, and clear out any mud or debris packed in there. Free it up and the light lets go.
Fogged up or water inside
Condensation or water sitting inside the lens means the light lost its seal. Do not try to pry it open. That light unit carries the lifetime, no questions asked warranty, so snap a photo and email support@tacomoto.co and we will get a replacement headed your way.
Tidy Tail pinout
Still blinking weird?
Email support@tacomoto.co with your bike year and model plus a quick video of what it is doing, and we will get you sorted.