Posted 10.23.26 in Tips & Instructions
Harley underglow is about the whole silhouette: light pooled under the frame, the engine lit from beneath the tank, and color running from the saddlebags to the front wheel. A long, low cruiser gives you room for all of it, as long as every light has a place.
XKGLOW's XKmax LED Motorcycle Underglow Light Kit puts Harley-Davidson first in its fitment line. The kit is "compatible with all types of bikes such as Harley-Davidson cruisers, Yamaha baggers, Kawasaki sport bikes, Honda trikes, and more."
You already know why riders love underglow. On a Harley, the craft is in the fit, and XKGLOW draws its own cruiser layout for every tier of the kit.
What the XKmax Kit Brings to a Cruiser
Every light in the kit runs on addressable RGBW LEDs. You get 16 million RGB colors, a dedicated pure white LED, and chasing patterns that move from one light to the next. XKGLOW rates this generation up to 60% brighter than the last.
The hardware comes as Moto Pods and flex strips. The pods are compact, and their integrated connectors let them tuck into tight spots near the engine. The low-profile strips, 10 or 16 inches long, take the long surfaces such as frame rails.
The kit is IP67 waterproof, and a single two-channel controller drives the whole kit.
This kit is universal: the product page prints no model or year chart for any bike. Measure your frame and bodywork against the layouts below before you choose a tier.
Where Each Tier Puts Light on a Cruiser
The instruction sheet for each tier draws a cruiser install on a bagger with a fairing and saddlebags. Each tier carries more hardware than the one below it. In all four drawings, the controller sits toward the back of the bike, above the saddlebag. Here is what each step adds to each side, read from those drawings.
| Tier (SKU) | What the cruiser layout adds, per side | List price |
|---|---|---|
| Engine (MX-MOTO-MINI) | A short strip under the tank, two pods at the engine, one pod low on the front end | $233.99 |
| Engine + Under Glow (MX-MOTO-STA) | A long strip low under the frame, plus a pod high on the front end | $341.99 |
| Engine + Under Glow + Accent (MX-MOTO-ADV) | A long strip along the bottom of the saddlebag, plus a pod on the fork | $437.99 |
| Engine + Under Glow + Wheel (MX-MOTO-PRO) | A third long strip, plus a pod at the back of the saddlebag | $539.99 |
List prices at the time of writing.
What stays constant across the four tiers: two 10in strips, the two-channel controller, and one RF key fob.
Choose your Harley underglow lights by the look you want at the curb:
- Engine glow at a bike night: the Engine tier lights the motor and front end with the fewest parts.
- Light on the pavement: Engine + Under Glow is the first tier with a long, low strip along the frame.
- A lit bagger: the Accent tier adds a strip along the bottom edge of each saddlebag.
- The fullest coverage: Engine + Under Glow + Wheel carries 12 pods and six long strips.
Making the Chase Flow on a Long Frame
A cruiser's length works in your favor with a chasing kit, as long as the color travels the right way. The kit wires up as a daisy chain, light to light, and XKGLOW's aim is color that flows from the rear of the motorcycle to the front.
The instruction sheet's custom-install example splits a cruiser into eight numbered sections, rear to front. The chain starts low at the back in sections 1 and 2, each next light goes one section forward, and the last one lands by the front wheel. Each side of the bike is its own chain on its own channel.
As shipped, the controller is set up for XKGLOW's cruiser and sport bike drawings. The closer your lights sit to the cruiser drawing, with each strip facing the way it is drawn, the better the stock themes look.
A cruiser also stacks light at two heights: beneath the tank and down along the frame rails. A Y-splitter branches the chain so both runs carry the same pattern side by side. Splitters are not included in the Engine kit, and the product page's kit table lists none for any tier.
Your frame may not match the drawing, and you are free to mount lights anywhere. A custom layout can leave some lights dark until you rebuild the light map in the XKmax app. Our guide to motorcycle LED strip lights walks through the mounting and wiring sequence step by step.
Planning a bigger build? The product page sells extra pods and strips as add-ons, plus wires from 6 inches to 3 feet and a Motorcycle/ATV Extension Wire Kit.
Color and Control: XKmax App and Key Fob
Color lives in the XKmax app. The 28+ pre-built chasing themes are the starting point. Any of them can be retuned for color, pattern, speed, and brightness, and the DIY builder lets you make your own. One solid color can echo your paint, while a chasing theme shows off the rear-to-front chain. Music sync turns a parked bike into a light show, and acceleration sync ties the glow to how the bike moves.
For quick changes, every tier includes a 4-button RF key fob. By default, buttons A, B, and C call up three presets and D switches the lights off. The buttons are customizable.
The controller accepts up to four paired fobs, and spares are a listed add-on.
Night Rides: Brake and Turn Sync
Lit up, the bike turns heads at a bike show and lights up a night ride. On the safety side, the underglow syncs with your brake and turn signals for night rides.
The sensor wires are color-coded: red goes to the brake circuit, yellow to the left turn signal, black to the right; all three are programmable. Tapping them in is optional; T-tap connectors come in the box. Tap each wire into its matching circuit and the triggered actions come preset in the controller.
Prefer your own setup? In the app, you assign a light sequence to each sensor wire by its color. You can also give a wire another job, such as a courtesy light.
Want the signals to match the glow? XKGLOW's MotoTurnz Pro turn-signal inserts come in bullet and flat style versions for Harley signal housings, and their looks change with the included magnet keychain.
Install Time and Help
The listed install time is 2 to 3 hours. A condition comes with it in the instruction sheet's warranty section: "Installation of this product must be performed by a licensed professional." Damage from improper installation voids the warranty under the same section.
For a shop install, XKGLOW's dealer locator lists installers. The product page also hosts an install video for the kit. For coverage terms, read the warranty details on the product page before you order.
Once your plan is set, pick the tier that matches your build and browse XKGLOW's motorcycle LED lights for the rest of the bike. Build yours today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to put underglow on a motorcycle?
On a cruiser, follow XKGLOW's layout: a strip under the tank, pods around the engine and front end, and a long strip along the lower frame on the underglow tiers. Bigger tiers add strips along the saddlebags. Run each side as its own chain, from the rear to the front wheel.
Is installing underglow hard?
Plan on the listed 2 to 3 hours; the layout is the part that decides the result. Tape every light loosely in place and test the chase before you press anything onto its 3M tape. For a pro install, XKGLOW's dealer locator finds an installer.
What are the best LED lights for a Harley Davidson?
For a Harley cruiser, start with the XKmax LED Motorcycle Underglow Light Kit: each of its four tiers comes with its own cruiser drawing, and the chase runs rear to front. Control it from the XKmax app or the key fob. For the signals, add MotoTurnz Pro inserts for Harley bullet and flat housings.
