Auxillary lights?

[deilenberger]

I just installed some powerful driving lamps this weekend.

In searching eBay for the Hella FF50 lamps that Don recommended, I found a guy that does HID conversions for $299. I went with them because of the huge light output for 35W per lamp, and also because, with no filaments to break from vibration, they should last much longer when mounted to my Hepco & Becker engine guards.

The lamps are here:

http://tinyurl.com/23are9

(He doesn't seem to have any current eBay listings)

Snippage..

I spotted the same chap when I was looking on 'da'bay for lights. His prices are reasonable, and I see to recall his feedback being excellent. At $300 - not a bad deal IMHO.

It would be interesting to do a side by side comparo of the standard halogen FF50's and the converted HIDs for light output.

The reason I'm curious - one of our local clubs LD riders did an HID conversion to his FJR headlights, and we did a side by side comparo to his setup with Motolites and the HID headlights to the R1200R with standard headlight and the standard FF50's. The R1200R was brighter and had a better pattern. Not that the FJR wasn't bright - it was, but the FF50's with the driving light pattern and 55W bulbs is pretty darn impressive. If the FF50 HID conversion put out more lumens and keep the pattern intact - it would be a very impressive set of lights.

I now find it difficult to believe that I've driven without auxiliary lights for all those years.

It's one of those once you've experienced it - you don't want to go back.

FWIW - I did add a handlebar switch (of a /2 actually.. worth enough that a friend who is a /2 collector cringes whenever he sees it..) and have a habit of turning the aux lights and my headlight modulator off as I shut down the bike, then flipping them back on after the bike is started. That avoids the excess current draw on startup from the aux lights (and prevents the headlight modulator from thinking I'm reprogramming it..)

I think we'd all like to see some photos..

Best,

[ShinySideUp]

<snip>

It would be interesting to do a side by side comparo of the standard halogen FF50's and the converted HIDs for light output.

FWIW - I did add a handlebar switch (of a /2 actually.. worth enough that a friend who is a /2 collector cringes whenever he sees it..) and have a habit of turning the aux lights and my headlight modulator off as I shut down the bike, then flipping them back on after the bike is started. That avoids the excess current draw on startup from the aux lights (and prevents the headlight modulator from thinking I'm reprogramming it..)

I think we'd all like to see some photos..

I haven't figured out how to embed photos, Don, but here are some links:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10852133@N02/1526916201/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10852133@N02/1527660080/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10852133@N02/1526792851/

The wires on the engine guard go down to the Stebel Nautilus air horn which looks pretty funky in its mount location, but is nontheless LOUD. (And I like that it's on the right side aimed at the next lane to the fast lane!)

It doesn't surprise me that your comparison came out ahead for the R12R, because I have no doubt that the FF50's have more effective reflectors than the Motolites. I'd love to compare yours and the HID's but I don't get back to Jersey often (at all!). Ever come to the left coast? Can you see my lights from where you are?

I don't trust myself to remember to switch my lights on and off anymore, so I rewired the Hella's relay trip wire into the low-beam of the headlight hot wire. The starter gets full juice now and all 3 lights come on afterward.

One of these nights I'll take the camera on the road and post some pics of the road from the driver's view.

I can also report a definite improvement in splitting lanes even during the daytime. Cars actually move over sometimes as I patiently wait while searing the glass on their sideview mirrors.

[parkec]

Just added Caliper Mounted Moto Lights in black


look great!

[Dan-A]

Pics at this post:
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=12635

[parkec]

Caliper mount Moto LIght update...coming up on two years.

Not to happy.

Moisture leaks resulting in condensation on the inside of the lens' .
Short amber bulb life..could be result of condensation.
Amber bulb cost.
Cheesy lens removal tool. Pins fall out, ultimately relaced with mini bolts from Ace Hardware.


They look neat, but I wouldn't purchase them again. I would purchase either the Hellas or the PIAAs and would mount them low on the forks. Without a doubt I am much more visible/observed, thanks to the auxillary lights.

[stogiepuffer]

I use LightForce 140s mounted to my SW-Motech engine guards. Have them wired to an Eastern Beaver PC-8 fuse block. They are switched at the handlebars with a separate switch so I turn them on after I start the bike and can turn them off whenever. I attached the fog lense filters and adjusted them to reach out as far as the stock light, puts out a beautiful sheet of light and I haven't been flashed yet. No pics yet because I am waiting for my city lids from A&S (5 weeks and counting). Also, Hyperlights on the rear and some black reflective tape on the bags. Once those lids get here I'll post pics.

[crazyhorse]

so does lumalight now manufacture proper mounts for our bikes or do we still have to use the GS ones and improvise?

i need mounts for some hella ff50s and am not sure of which route to go. the ones from scootworks worry me...

wes

[deilenberger]

Wes,

The split-link ones will work just fine on our bikes.

[ka5ysy]

Wes: Here is what the split-link mounting looks like on the bike:










Since the original mounting, I have removed the yellow reflectors and moved the brackets fully down to the bottom of the forks. Don Eilenberger discovered that the lamps mounted above the bracket can contact the tank at a full-lock turn. I checked after he mentioned it and discovered that my HID lamps would touch also, and so moved the brackets down. The Lumalink brackets are top quality and the company is very high on customer service.

[crazyhorse]

excellent, thanks for the pics, that helps a lot.

i wish they had pricing on the website, but i guess if you have to ask...

i'll order up a set.

wes

[deilenberger]

Wes,

They aren't cheap, but they are quality and quality people to deal with. They've been offering packages on Ebay that include lights - and seems pretty reasonable. Search under motorcycle parts for R1200R. Dunno if they have an ad at the moment, but they have been posting them pretty regularly.

[celticus]

Luma Link has an add in this month's ON with an R1200R modeling their Split Link mount.

Stogiepuffer can you post a picture of your lights mounted on the SW-Motech engine guards? I have been thinking about doing that.

Mark

[Mike H]

You might want to take a look at this site: http://www.lumalink.com/ He is an AR, Tool and Die maker that has gotten off into light mounts and other M/C items. His workmenship is top quality. Ask for Brian, if he is not there ask for Randal. This is the BMW gallary: http://www.lumalink.com/gallery.php?c=BMW the third to the right is an R1200R that was featured in the MOA a year or so back.
Mike Hilton

[deilenberger]

I'll just add - mounting the FF50's under the mount totally eliminated any chance of light/tank interference - plus gives a bigger triangle of lights for better daytime conspicuity.

[ka5ysy]

BTW: I have mounted a set of the 16-led Hyperlite ultra bright white running lights to the underside of the Lumalink mounts on my RR. I am going on the road with them tomorrow and see how the car drivers react to them. Report to follow !

[celticus]

"16-led Hyperlite ultra bright white running lights "
Can you give us some photos please?

Mark

[Dan-A]

If ur lookin fer LED's I just had a set of these put on my F800GS.

http://www.clearwaterlights.com

They are adjustable for brightness and draw about 1 amp. A bit pricy but they survived my Baja ride. They help with your visibility more than adding to your ability to see.

Pic by Nader on our recent Baja trip (near Mike's Sky Ranch).


They used my F800GS for the fitment, and I have promised them the use of my R12R so they should soon have a kit for it.

[parkec]

Motolights Update.

I called Moto Lights today to buy some replacement light bulb sockets.

I was asked to send my lights back to Motolights to be rebuilt or replaced. They want to know why condensation formed, and why a socket failed?

Wow

[bill the cat]

Wes,

The split-link ones will work just fine on our bikes.

Just looked at your post. I have the Lumalink brackets on my bike and have been very satisfied. Might want to look:

http://picasaweb.google.com/fmh3469/200 ... 2678548578

I was personal friends with the original designer, James Gordy, he has since passed away. His company, Gordy Tools, is still in business and are making the Lumalink products: http://www.lumalink.com/

Mike Hilton

[Caroanbill]

Y'know, I find these fork mount arrangements quite attractive but they aren't readily available in Australia so I never pursued them ...

I went with the Wunderlich Microflooters, mounted under the tank, plus the GSA switch a la Don's great webpage.

And now (and only now) I realise why fork mounts would be stooooopid where I ride. On Aussie backroads (my favourite hunting ground) the surface is never, ever smooth. Not within cooee of smooth. So fork-mounted lights would bounce around like a two-year-old on chocolate. Quite apart from how disconcerting the lightshow would be against roadside bush, I simply coudln't get the nice, steady light I want on along the road edge - where brown sealed surface meets brown gravel in a ragged, sometimes unpredictable wiggle (it intrudes into my cornereing lines at times).

Your US roads must be as smooth as a politician's pickup line!

So, for all my unsatisfied Martin Fabrications / Lumulink / Microlight farklelust (just made that up - like it?), there's no doubt I get a more suitable outcome from my setup. Even if it looks a bit naff.