Additional Lighting/ front and rear

[Mr Steve]

I recently upgraded all my lighting, front and rear, with some pretty good results.  I thought I'd share:

For $17.99 with $8.99 shipping I got these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OPTRONICS-Round-Driving-Lights-W-Chromed-Housing_W0QQitemZ300338072380QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45ed8b4b3c&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

I then purchased two 6mm x 40mm bolts.  Then take the top front fender bolt out (stock is 6mmx32mm and may work, I just wanted to be safe so got a longer bolt) and mount them right there.  Each is 55 watts and they mount well and definitely add a lot of light in the front, looking almost like caliper mount lights  (I also went 100/80 on headlight bulb and replaced my 20 watt Cobra spots with 55watt spots).  Took a little bit of proper aiming on all, but now nobody flashes me and I light up the road quite nicely.

For the rear I replaced my turns with '59 caddy bullets for run/turn (not yet working as brake, see other post), replaced the brake with the 128 LED radiantz, and for $6 shipped got a flexible 48 LED strip:

http://cgi.ebay.com/48-LED-Strip-Car-Lights-Flexible-Grill-Light-Red_W0QQitemZ370246650431QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item56346b8a3f&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

This I used double-sided tape to tape them along the inside of the backrest bar (like an upside down horseshoe).  These are very bright and with the chrome backrest plate really light up the back when i brake.

/steve

[waterboybpf]

sounds cool.  i'd love to see a pic of the fork mountes lights

[woefman]

sounds cool.  i'd love to see a pic of the fork mountes lights

Ditto

[Printer Mike]

I'm disapointed with the brightness of my spots, also. Not sure what brand, can't find a name on them. I hope the bulbs can be upgraded...

I like to ride at night, so this info. is interesting. Thanks.

[Mr Steve]

I'll see what I can do about pics, camera currently among the missing in this mess I call my office, but the fender bolt mount spots look good (the ebay picture does not do them justice, they are about the same size, spread, and brightness as motolights) and I've started a bit of a trend with the people I ride with, they are now adding them too.  

As for the light bar spots, I understand you can replace the sealed beams on the Cobra's with a brighter set.  I found a couple that looked like they'd fit the cobra's when I was researching.  However, I ended up going with a complete set from a Harley dealer (insert jokes here) that are not sealed beam and take h3 bulbs.  They are a little deeper than the cobra spots, which I think looks good, bulkier is better on a valk, I was able to adapt the visors to fit, and they still fit with my windshield.  I think the spots were $59 for the set.  Definitely far brighter than the cobra's.   I ride a lot at night too in very rural wooded areas and wish I'd done this years ago, more light from the bike than my truck now.

[waterboybpf]

(I also went 100/80 on headlight bulb and replaced my 20 watt Cobra spots with 55watt spots).  Took a little bit of proper aiming on all, but now nobody flashes me and I light up the road quite nicely.



/steve

did you rewire you headlight through a relay? 

[scoobydoo]

That was my question also  How did you wire them up, I have  heard about the wire that turns them off like the headlight when starting. Did you find it?  I bought the same lights and also was going to mount them on the fork. The bolts are recessed on mine and I bought a longer bolt and made a spacer to mount
Thanks  Scooby

[Mr Steve]

The stock wiring and starter switch (assuming it's well maintained and not corroded) will take up to a 100/90 for headlight without mods, I used a 100/80, you have to use the relay mod in the shop talk and upgrade the wiring if you want to go higher.  As for the spots, I added a 65 amp fuseblock (overkill) and a relay bank (relays and sockets that snap together with a slide to form one long relay block) for those and some other accessories (horns, etc.  Horns are Porsche horns because the two bros sound a little like a Porsche, so I kept the theme .  I control the relays with a three switch reservoir cover mount that I got from HDL.  One switch is used for each spot and the leftover switch I use to control power to a three socket cig lighter (also through a relay) that I mounted to my risers.  You can use the headlight wire or the accessory wire as a relay trigger for the spots if you want, I just wanted individual control of them and so did not do that.

[KCvalk]

i have used the same lights now for about 2 years  ( got em at Wal-mart) for about $12 nice and bright and decent chrome that matches the bike well.  They aren't Piaa lights but for the price they are pretty good and very bright and have not rusted at all.  Comes with all wiring and hardware.  (Hint seal the back where the wires come out with plumbers putty).  This will stop any moisture from getting into the
housing and corroding the bulb contacts.
http://www.optronicsinc.com/competition.htm

I mounted them with rubber/plastic bicycle reflector mounts on the stalks of the turn signals and they work great.  I wired them thru one of the three switches on the Kuryakyn master cylinder mount.

http://www.goldwingcountry.com/detail.cfm?model_ID=0&Category_ID=141&manufacturer_ID=16&product_ID=18259&sblid_name=Kuryakyn_Accessory_Switches_for_Master_Cylinder_Reservoir_Covers

I wired it so they don't come on at startup only when i flip the switch works great!!!

I also bought flashing red 20 light led bars that i attached to the top/back of the passenger back rest that fire up when i apply the brakes.  Very bright and right about the height of car hoods.  Lots of comments
from cage drivers that the "light show" is neet!   as long as they see it.......