The Quest for Better Lighting

[combatwombat]

@Plane_DR - I didn't know you had this on your DRZ? Got a picture?...fyi - your "road side fix" on my bike in OK last year - is now off my bike and on my wall of shame (I mean fame) in my garage...

[KenH]

HIDs don't take kindly to being flipped on and off. Incandescent dual beans have two separate filaments. Dual bean HID lamps either have 1) HID low and convetional halogen incandescent high, 2) HID arc with a shutter/reflector to modify pattern, 3) HID arc that moves between two positions for high and low, or 4) entire lamp tilts to effect high and low. Option 1 is adequate for offroad, but options 2 and 3 involve often fragie internal components. Option 4 tilt mechanisms are often not robust enough for offroad.

There are bolt-in LED replacements for the 4 most common sealed beam headlight types. They are pretty much bullet proof, brighter than HID with better light patterns than most HID conversions, no moving parts, and polycarbonate lenses. They fit standard headlight buckets. Expensive, but no wiring mods necessary.

[Plane Dr]

No problem so far with the DDM but yes there are the moving parts. Basic selenoid though so it is fairly reliable. I haven't seen a reasonably priced LED yet but until I have a problem with the HID I'm not too worried about it. That said I am considering a couple advmonster lights to do away with the stock assembly and shroud all together.

[EnduroRdr]

Wow glad I found this thread, I was considering a HID conversion. I just purchased higher wattage incandesent ( 90 watt high beam on H4 bulb) but I have the extra output from my stator. I'm considering the HID now.

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showpost...3&postcount=55

[Rsquared]

Originally Posted by KenH

There are bolt-in LED replacements for the 4 most common sealed beam headlight types. They are pretty much bullet proof, brighter than HID with better light patterns than most HID conversions, no moving parts, and polycarbonate lenses. They fit standard headlight buckets. Expensive, but no wiring mods necessary.

Link?

[hizzo3]

Trucklite makes some. You have to find distributors though and a little pricy. ≈200+ per lamp. If I remember correctly they are on JC Whitney's site.

Btw, I installed the rigid dually D2's (driving beam, 26 watts) and love them as deer spotters. I was leading a group (TimeToRide and SKatZ) down to Gatesville to the Ghost Ranch and was easily spotting deer 50 yards out and getting reflective stuff lit at what seemed to be 1,000 yards. I counted 18 deer and had to explain to the other riders why I was going so slow and kept flashing my brakes while pointing. IIRC the only deer they saw was the doe&baby that were crossing the road that I stopped for and a group running off when they were in my back pocket. They completely outshine my headlights. As far as I am concerned, well worth the $$$ due to color, light output and wattage.



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Plane Dr]

Here is what I'm putting in the new fairing for the DRZ, with his rotary dimmer (PWM)

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hst...off/Detail.bok

It is 600 lumens brighter than the HID. The LED will be "throttled" at low beam though where the HID is just "refocused".

Now if I could find a small housing like the LED I could reuse the HID system as well.

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by Plane Dr

Here is what I'm putting in the new fairing for the DRZ, with his rotary dimmer (PWM)

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hst...off/Detail.bok

It is 600 lumens brighter than the HID. The LED will be "throttled" at low beam though where the HID is just "refocused".

Now if I could find a small housing like the LED I could reuse the HID system as well.

You'll love the lights from ADVMonster. The price is extremely reasonable in my opinion. I had one of the spot and one of the flood (the early models) on my F650GS. The only drawback or complaint I heard from folks was the mounting bracket. Some said it limited your options and others said it was too flimsy..........which is why he now offers a heavy duty bracket.

[Plane Dr]

Originally Posted by BexarWolf

You'll love the lights from ADVMonster. The price is extremely reasonable in my opinion. I had one of the spot and one of the flood (the early models) on my F650GS. The only drawback or complaint I heard from folks was the mounting bracket. Some said it limited your options and others said it was too flimsy..........which is why he now offers a heavy duty bracket.

I love the early model 10s on the BMW. Great for visibility for the cagers.
They throw a nice tight spot as well. With the HID low beam great light! The BMW has piaa 510s as well for floods. I haven't done the high beam hid yet, I never use highs and I'm lazy. To busy mucking with the DRZ.

The light weight bracket is a pain. Once it is set though it seems fine.

[Rsquared]

Originally Posted by Plane Dr

Here is what I'm putting in the new fairing for the DRZ, with his rotary dimmer (PWM)

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hst...off/Detail.bok

It is 600 lumens brighter than the HID. The LED will be "throttled" at low beam though where the HID is just "refocused".

Now if I could find a small housing like the LED I could reuse the HID system as well.

I'm still trying to decide what to put on my 450 and these look good. Please post some pictures of your DRZ, once you get them mounted.

[Plane Dr]

Mine won't be representative I'm installing it into this. I can report on the light though in a couple months when the whole thing is finished. I don't have any Picts of the BMW I. Photobucket.
http://m56.photobucket.com/albumview...2.jpg.html?o=1

[T-FAST]

Any opinions on mounting a 8" or 10" LED light bar?

[Rsquared]

Originally Posted by T-FAST

Any opinions on mounting a 8" or 10" LED light bar?

It depends on the bike, I guess. A friend of mine mounted a Rigid LED light bar at the base of his front cowling on a 990 R. I started to do the same with my Dakar, but was warned that the front fender would hit it, if I bottomed it out. I measured the travel of the forks and the distance from the fender to the bottom of the front cowling, and they were right, not enough room for it. The light bar worked well on my friends bike with the extra travel, and he's very happy with it. So, if you've got room, go for it...

[T-FAST]

I was thinking of doing one on a KLR right above the headlight. Just would need to fabricate a little bracket

[hizzo3]

The sr series is a single row and might fit under cowling. It comes in a combo/hybrid which I tend to feel is the best for motorcycles because of our leaning thing.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[T-FAST]

Yeah, that's what I was looking at. Either that rigid or the Baja Designs bar.

[hizzo3]

I wish they made the sr-m in amber leds (not a colored plexi, which they don't have either) and I would put those on my engine guards as running lights/fogs.

I will say I am very happy with my rigid d2 driving beams though (high mount). I honestly feel safe doing the speed limit at night. In the straights, you don't have to worry about over driving your beam, and you aren't turning into the night on a tight curve. Now I need low beams to suit for when I have oncoming traffic.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Walterlong]

Originally Posted by Tourmeister

Are the peimar led lights all the time or switched?

Are LED allowed in your city here it is banned

[KenH]

DOT-approved LED lights are very expensive. Most LED lights used on motorcycles ARE NOT actually legal.

[hizzo3]

Yep... off road only... rolls eyes... I am very active in making sure I only use my deer finders when no one else is in the road. But outside of that, its my life and worth the risk of a ticket if riding hill country at night the road rats.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2