Driving Light recommendations?

[NorCalDave]

I may be getting a job that requires me to do an early morning, 3-4am commute through some deer-infested areas - to help give advance warning of the fur-bags, I'd like to fit some quality Driving lights to my TA.

Have been looking at the PIAA 004XT Xtreme White and PIAA 1100 X PLATINUM as prospects mainly because they seem to be compact yet powerful for their size - both good things as I don't have lots of room to mount lights and the alternator on my Transalp isn't a powerhouse like on the big BMW GS's, etc.

http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/Lamp-pages/004xt.html
http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/Lamp-pages/1100x.html

Am thinking of mounting whatever I buy to my Givi crash bars as that seems the most solid place at 1st glance.
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3383/piaamountingpics002dd8.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=piaamountingpics002dd8.jpg)http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/1656/piaamountingpics003xh2.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=piaamountingpics003xh2.jpg)

Anyone have any advice on good compact lighting systems or suggestions on installing a system on my ride?

[Just J]

don't have too much knowledge on what you're asking for but i would highly recommend an HID kit for your bike. i bought mine for $99 and its worth every penny.

www.xenonlink.com

im guessing you run on a single bulb (lo/hi) so look for a bi xenon kit. the installation is "intermediate" but not too bad. compared to stock, my lights are extremely bright and they light up the road well (esp. with the high beams on)

[NorCalDave]

Thanks but I'm thinking if I add a decent set of Driving lights and upgrade my stock H4 to a brighter than stock but still sane bulb, I should be good. I'm no expert on HID but $99 for a "true" HID system just seems to good to be true to me.

[serazin]

Pia 1100x's are very bright but the replacement bulbs are quite pricey.

I bought a HID car kit for my bike and just used half of it for the low beam. (H7 4300K) The high beam is still the stock lamp (H3) and is so feeble I don't even see it against the HID low beam. Finding a place to mount the ballast unit for the HID is sometimes a problem.

[Just J]

I'm no expert on HID but $99 for a "true" HID system just seems to good to be true to me.

i thought the same too prior to buying it. but as amazing as it sounds, its def worth the buy. gluck on your search though

[deathbug74]

Thanks but I'm thinking if I add a decent set of Driving lights and upgrade my stock H4 to a brighter than stock but still sane bulb, I should be good. I'm no expert on HID but $99 for a "true" HID system just seems to good to be true to me.

i was under the impression that other than the "jolt" to start the arc, HID's drew LESS amperage than standard bulbs.

aside from that, a set of driving lights PLUS a higher wattage bulb H4 is going to be that much MORE draw on the alternator.

[NorCalDave]

My alternator should be good for a set of 55-75w lights as I'm not running any other accessories right now. I just don't want to go crazy on the lights and and have no spare power for other stuff I might add later on.

Am leaning more toward a set of Hella FF50's right now as they seem to be widely recommended by other riders.

[AndyM]

Am leaning more toward a set of Hella FF50's right now as they seem to be widely recommended by other riders.


Hella FF50's are pretty good. Used to be able to get them on ebay for $30-$40 but now they're closer to $100 I think.

These are better :cool, used by alot of long distance riders...

http://www.digitalprovisions.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FM+PHID&Category_Code=LIGHTING&Store_Code=FARKLEMASTER

[doctari]

FWIW; I have put many different auxillary lights on my BMW's, and here's what I've learned:
- higher wattage bulbs = very little extra light, but a lot more heat which is bad for the wiring.
- PIAA lights work no better than many other mini driving lights and are expensive.
- Hell FF lights work pretty good, but are bigger & harder to mount than mini driving lights.
- MotoLights are also good, but expensive & the bulbs don't last long.
- Switching the main beam to HID is the best bang for the buck, plus, they (the 35w HID) draw less current than the stock 55w bulb. This is the very best lighting upgrade that I've found so far.

[ucb]

Yes, HID systems are much cheaper now and simply cannot be beat in terms out output per dollar

If you are crafty at all, I suggest a HID projector retrofit

[Happy Hornet]

Dunno if this makes sense but install LED turn signals this will free up some juice for the driving lamps. I've been thinking of fabricating some elegant mount for the forks using an exhaust buffer to dampen the vibration. That way the lights will follow the path of the bike.
Interested in your final choice of product and wher you mount them.
Interested in any pics describing similar set up.

[Razorback]

I added a set of (car) fog lamps to my Speedy and did like Happy Hornet said, switched tail & turn signals to LED's bulbs with a load equalizer. Seemed to work well and I no longer have to put it on the charger every few days.
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/8.jpg
I used a Memphis Shades fork mount kit for a windshield to mount them low, just above the front fender.

[Happy Hornet]

Nice job on Speedy, I'd like to see that set up.

I was thinking of going with a set of Xenon fog lamps I pulled out of a late model Benz but still unsure if my little bike can support the draw

[NorCalDave]

I plan to eventually replace the tail/stop light bulb with a high-intensity LED unit and also replace the incandescent speedo/tach/indicator bulbs with LED units from www.superbrightleds.com (http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html)to free up a little more juice from my alternator. If you think about it though, replacing the turn signal bulbs with LEDs would only help when the signals were being used in turns unless they work as running lights too and were on all the time.

I did find a mount that might work for attaching the lights to my Givi bars - it's a SS 7/8" Hinged Jaw Slider made for bimini tops on boats. I'm going to pick one up from West Marine to test and see if it'll do. http://www.jmsonline.net/SS-CLAMP-ON-JAW-SLIDE-7-8.htm

[Razorback]

Happy Hornet,
here you go:
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/16.jpg
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/15.jpg

I don't know how kosher this is, but here is the write up
http://www.thespeedtriple.com/Forums/index.php?topic=5215.0

NCD, I also changed the taillight/brake light to LED. Picked'em up locally here http://www.revengecycle.com/harley/index.php/cPath/5_56?osCsid=a3f2d7f72d96c9c4cc1c99eefcf88876 they are about 1/4 mile from my work, so it was pretty convenient.

[NorCalDave]

Razorback

That looks like a great way to mount lights to your forks. Did you add those lights for extra conspicuity or to use as fog lights? With most oval fog pattern reflector designs, it seems like they want to throw the light in a wider, side to side pattern so the way yours are mounted on their sides like that, do they throw the light in a vertical pattern?

[Razorback]

Thanks NCD. I may have to remount them, I didn't think about that. I can fab an L bracket to remount them.
I put them on for both reasons... which is funny, because the next day I had someone run a stop sign in front of me and laid her down.:mad And, she kept driving.
I mounted them low so they would sweep with the forks while the headlights (130w offroad and 100w Philips) shoot forward.

[Happy Hornet]

I did find a mount that might work for attaching the lights to my Givi bars - it's a SS 7/8" Hinged Jaw Slider made for bimini tops on boats. I'm going to pick one up from West Marine to test and see if it'll do. http://www.jmsonline.net/SS-CLAMP-ON-JAW-SLIDE-7-8.htm

Watch those bimini top mounts they are prone to electrolysis and many brands are a junk stainless. Good solution but keep an eye on them. You might also contemplate popping into a rig shop and see what they have.

Happy Hornet,
here you go:
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/16.jpg
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/15.jpg



Sweet!!!

This is a great thread since I'm trying to get my little Hornet ready for a long back road camping that I know will involve getting stuck out in the dark.

[NorCalDave]

Recently installed the set of Hella FF50 Driving Lights on my TA. Found a good way to mount them to my 7/8" Givi crash bars that didn't require that any holes be drilled, potentially weakening the bars.

I used a pair of Taco Products F11-1000-1 7/8" SS Clamp On Jaw Slides used for Bimini Tops on Boats - Taco also makes the same mounts for 1" rail. You can get them from West Marine at $60 for a pair or search online and save about $20 - LINK. The mounts worked out real slick except I had to file away some of the inside of the circular clamping area on the jaw slides as the Givi bars on the TA are curved where the mounts clamp and wouldn't allow the clamp to close tightly enough. Didn't take a whole lot of filing to get them to fit nice & tight.

Have the lights slaved to my hi-beam switch so they are only on when the hi-beam is on. Will be installing a Piaa #30034 on/off switch with LED indicator light in line on the trigger wire to the Hella relay so I have the option of turning the Hellas off in the day when using my headlight modulator with the hi-beam.

Overall, I am very pleased with the FF50's as they put out an amazing amount of light, greatly extending my vision range down the road and also to the side. They are fairly compact and are inexpensive at less than $100 a pair found online. They use 55watt H7 bulbs so add 110watts of draw to your charging system but can be modded with a 35watt HID kit to TRIPLE the light output AND reduce the draw to 70watts - You also don't have to worry about vibration killing the filaments in the bulbs as HID have none as opposed to Halogen bulbs. For info on the HID Mod see this thread starting with post #176 - www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5541994&highlight=ff50#post5541994

On a side note - both of the thin steel brackets that Hella includes with the lights broke from metal fatigue caused by vibration transmitted through my crash bars. I fabbed replacements out of 1/8" SS flat stock and haven't had a problem since.

Love that lack of Givi manufacturing quality (L/S lower than Right)
http://norcaldave.smugmug.com/photos/437972577_adYne-M.jpg

Left & Right close-up shots of Taco mounts - I used 1'4-20 x 1.25" SS bolts and made the white spacers out of 1/2" HDPE cutting board material.
http://norcaldave.smugmug.com/photos/437972585_xjD5C-M.jpg]

http://norcaldave.smugmug.com/photos/437972590_RJ97n-M.jpg

[Razorback]

Nice :thumbup Post a pic of them on at night, I'm curious to see how bright they look.

[Happy Hornet]

Thanks for the post-is the draw OK or do you notice a dimming of heaslamp when they turn on?

[NorCalDave]

I've been meaning to take some night shots - need to get that Piaa switch installed so I can do a comparison with the lights on and off.

I can detect no dimming of my headlight or dash lights when the Hella's kick in. Both the Hella's and my headlight are powered direct off the battery through heavier gauge wire kits with relays so don't add any stress to the stock wiring harness.

[Razorback]

Do you have some kind of ignitor or other type set up so it's not always ready to turn on, even with the ignition off?

I believe the relay has the ignition on wire, not this switch
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc253/speedtrip/14.jpg

[NorCalDave]

The relay is energized by a tap wire coming off the hi-beam. I'll wire the Piaa switch to interrupt that tap wire to allow full control over the Hellas.