Motolights or Martin Fabrication lights

[PJBrendel]

I am considering a pair of Motolights and was wondering if they are the sole supplier of the bulbs for there lights? I was also wondering if anyone has used the fender mount H3 lights from Martin fabrication. They do not look to be of the same high quality as the motolights but they are about one third the price and that is a significant savings if they are worth it.

Thanks

Paul

[rdsmith3]

Motolights use MR16 bulbs that are available in many places, including Home Depot. You can easily find replacements while on the road, if necessary.

I don't know anything about the Martin Fabrication lights.

The Motolights are excellent for increasing your conspicuity, especially with yellow bulbs. They also help with cornering. I have mine on all the time. They are not the best for throwing light a long way down the road.



I later added driving lights using RCU brackets

[chibbert]

That's a cool looking setup of lights (daylight photo)

[Dr. Strangelove]

I like my motolights, but you will need to bring the (included) spanner wrench, or some spanner wrench to change the bulbs. However,I have been running mine for over 30k miles without one blowing.

They are not the best for throwing light a long way down the road.

A not mentioned advantage is that by changing the bulb you can change the angle of illumination. The one on the right is wide and on the left has a long beam.

I have the brushed stainless steel ones (you can see them on any of my ride reports). They can be returned to their original luster with the included polishing cloth.

Like them a lot and for the miles and time I have had them, the higher price has been forgotten.

John

[rdsmith3]

Yes, Motolights were one of the first upgrades I got, and I probably have had them for 7.5 years. I still have the original bulbs. In a pinch, I think that needle nose pliers could also get the lens off.

[PJBrendel]

Thanks for the input. I have only heard good things about moto lights but was looking into these as a cheaper alternative. It looks like I'll be getting the motolights after all. I guess you really do get what you pay for.

Paul

PS. Thanks for including the pictures, the bike really stands out especially with the amber lights, which is what I'm looking for.

[tlwood28]

PJ,

For what it is worth, I did a little searching on the various websites when considering some kind of front conspicuity lighting. I heard plenty of good about both Motolight and Martin Fabrication. I think the Motolights are very well done, but very expensive.

Since there were to be seen and not so much to see, I ended up getting Photonblasters. Much cheaper and very bright, although I have never had a change to compare side by side with anything else. They also take little current (not that is a big deal on the RR). I then have PIAA 1100X for seeing mounted higher up on RCU brackets.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Tom W.

[Hottech]

I have been running Martin Fabs for two years with no problems. No way to know if I am missing something from not having Motos but Martins was very helpful and easily accessable to ask them questions. My wallet appreciated the price difference and they look great on my bike.

[PJBrendel]

OK, new info to consider. Glad to hear some positive feedback on the Martin Fabrication Lights. The Photonblasters are totally new to me and seem like a significant increase in visibility, which is all I want anyway. I would really like to get the Motolights but currently my hobby is getting expensive. After having some work done, getting another windshield, a used high seat, new handlebars and probably a new battery (the current one is six plus years old) and still wanting new boots and a new jacket, saving $250 on lights would mean my family could eat in a week or two which would be welcomed news.

Thanks

Paul

[tlwood28]

I know the feeling. I thought I was about done when I bought the bike. Boy was I wrong.

I can't say I ever sensed a reaction by cagers to the photonblasters, and since I haven't compared these to the other options its hard for me to recommend them one way or the other. Hyperlights (hyperwhites?) make a similar and I think less expensive product.

I also have a headlight modulator. I don't know if its the sense of control over it (turns on and off by using the same switch as for the high beams), but for the money I think its the best option. My only problem is I feel people are staring at me when that thing is flashing like crazy. I know that's better than being run over, but I still only use it when I am in heavy traffic and coming up to intersections, etc. Of course, it does nothing for you after dark.

For the rear, I would highly recommend the P3 lights (same makers as the photonblasters). I have compared them to the other options and find them to be the brightest, and with lots of options for changing the flash pattern etc. Expensive, but absolutely worth it.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I think when you've ridden the RR, at night, without accessory lighting you will want the extra illumination of accessory lights. The Photonb's and the Martin F's may do the trick also, just don't know, but my point is that, even if you don't want it now, you will want the extra illumination and not just conspicuity.

John

[marsdog]

Hi, I just wondering what you ended up installing, what they cost, how was the actual install, and how pleased are you with the results? I often ride canyons at night and would love some extra lighting, mainly to see the road better. Will the Martin's or the Photoblasters help with that? If not, what is my best choice. Like many of you, I'm lucky to have my bike and costly upgrades for me are few and far between, so money is a serious concern. If the cheaper alternatives truly help me seeing the road, then that's for me, if not, I guess I'll have to save some more pennies!
Thanks!

[AirForceDirt]

I think when you've ridden the RR, at night, without accessory lighting you will want the extra illumination of accessory lights.

John

Maybe I'm one of the few people in the world with this thought, but I have never needed any extra light to see where I was going with this bike. To get other people to see me, sure, but never for my own sake. The headlight on the RR, with a decent bulb, is like a second sun, and I've found that, when aimed properly, lights up more than I ever need to see at night. I'm probably just crazy though, and don't live out in the middle of nowhere with no lights around and no traffic ever, but even in the mountains (of southern arizona, I know) at night I've never had an issue with not seeing something. Just my .02. I had a pair of Hella FF50s mounted on my crashbars until I crashed, both bulbs broke, then the cheap brackets they came with broke from the engine vibrations.

[marsdog]

Maybe my eyes are old (definitely), but in those twisties at night, any extra light is a blessing! So, I'm not finding much in the way of reviews on Martin Fab lights, except for one on a Burgman. I think I'm going to take the chance and buy a pair, but now the question would be Halogens at $135 or HIDs at over $300. The extra brightness would be awesome, but so would the lower price! Any ideas about either out there? If anyone has installed a pair of these, especially the HIDs let me know. BTW, two cigarette pack sized ballasts need to be hidden somewhere on my R1150R and I'm not sure where that might be!

[rdsmith3]

I definitely like the extra lighting.

Also, because the Roadster has just one headlight bulb, I like to have the backup lighting in case the H4 bulb goes out. It has happened to me twice.

[tlwood28]

I often ride canyons at night and would love some extra lighting, mainly to see the road better. Will the Martin's or the Photoblasters help with that? If not, what is my best choice. Like many of you, I'm lucky to have my bike and costly upgrades for me are few and far between, so money is a serious concern. If the cheaper alternatives truly help me seeing the road, then that's for me, if not, I guess I'll have to save some more pennies!
Thanks!

The Photonblasters will do absolutely nothing to help you see better. For conspicuity they are "good" and have as a major benefit a low power draw which can be important on a lot of bikes (not the RR). I throw them out as an alternative but struggle to recommend them due to the price.

I have seen Motolights (they are bright--unfortunately didn't get to compare them side by side with the photonblasters). Very well made but oh so pricey.

For extra lighting I have PIAA 1100x and am very pleased. They help be a great deal at night. I do weekend trips and also like the backup should might headlight ever fail. From reading on the forums though I get the idea that a cheaper and equally good solution is Hella. Leave them on all the time and you have both extra lighting at night and conspicuity during the day. Seems to be this would be the best cost effective solution.

[marsdog]

I'm seriously thinking about the Martin Fabrication HIDs. From what I've read, they are great, and about half the price of other units. The only thing holding me back at the moment is that they require the mounting of two cigarette pack sized ballasts 20" from the lights. I'm not sure I can find a good spot on the R1150R to do that. I'm also looking into some an HID setup from lumalink.com that features Trail Tech HIDs, the ballasts on those units are built into the lights, a much simpler setup, but obviously more expensive. I'll post my final decision and pics when I have them.

[wncrescue]

can anyone advise what are the RCU brackets? Thanks, John

[PJBrendel]

Marsdog, I got lucky and ended up with a very nice used set of motolights but have not installed them yet.
Paul

[marsdog]

Well, I called contacted Lumalink.com to compare what they had to offer, and though they were more expensive than the Martins, I went with them. The are obviously a well made product,I got great personal service from Brian Gordy and he offered me a solution, though not HIDs, got me two PIAAs mounted on the forks for about $100 less that I was looking at for the Martin HIDs. Budget was a primary concern, but wanted a solution in place before the clock gets turned back and I find myself commuting home though the canyons after dark. I just finished the install, and I've never done anything like this before, so it took me a while to really understand the setup. Now that I understand it, I could probably do it again in a couple hours (including tank removal). I noticed there was a lot of debate whether to tap the "switched power wire" into the Hi (white) or Lo beam (yellow) wire. I was going to use the low beam because I'll be using the lo-beam in the canyon mostly. However, I hated the idea of the PIAAs shutting off when I switched on the hi-beam. I read someone had a good solution and that was to tap into the parking light (grey) wire which is on for both lo and hi-beams. I fired it up and it looks great, nothing exploded or melted! Can't wait to ride home in the dark now!