Driving lights on the Valk

[lilzaphod]

I'd like to put some driving lights on my '99 standard Valk, and I'm not sold on a light bar.

Does anyone have experience with putting driving lights on the engine guards?  i was thinking on the bottom of them hanging down and angling out the sides to light up the roads and ditches.  I do a lot of early morning pre-dawn riding and I want to get a jump on the deer.

Thoughts?  Brands to look at?

Thx

Chad

[98valk]

I have mine in top of the crash bars. good triangle light pattern for the cages.  hanging below they might scrap leaning over in a turn or hit in a driveway.

look for lights that use the MR-16 style bulb google mr-16 many wattages and can be either flood or spot and different angles , this style won out a light comparision in motorcycle consumer news. walmart has a set for about $20 that use the MR-16, that was over yr ago, most likely they still carry them.

[lilzaphod]

I have mine in top of the crash bars. good triangle light pattern for the cages.  hanging below they might scrap leaning over in a turn or hit in a driveway.

look for lights that use the MR-16 style bulb google mr-16 many wattages and can be either flood or spot and different angles , this style one out a light comparision in motorcycle consumer news. walmart has a set for about $20 that use the MR-16, that was over yr ago, most likely they still carry them.

How did you wire them?

Thanks!

[Redline +]

Does anyone have experience with putting driving lights on the engine guards? 

Yes, I could take a close-up picture if your interested. I used Par 36 size aircraft landing lights with Cobra housings mounted with Kury Magnum clamps. If you plan on turning any corners I don't think you want to mount any lights under the engine guards.

Redline 

[98valk]

always with a relay.
see chet's site.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

[Hoser]

These are chrome one wire 35w sealed beams, wired on a relay from the accessery outlet under the rt hand side cover with power for the lights from the battery.  They come on when the ignition switch is turned on  I also have a separate switch on them so I can turn them off if I want. The ground circuit is the housing when it attaches to the crash bar.  Hoser  

[lilzaphod]

always with a relay.
see chet's site.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

Heh. That was just rude.  It'd be like if I threw up a network diagram with IP addresses and ports and expect people to know what that is.

I'm kinda stupid.  What's a relay?  Is that another name for "fuse"?

[Bullgoose]

If you mount them low, you can be guaranteed they'll get broken by road debris. Mine did within weeks.

[9Ball]

always with a relay.
see chet's site.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

Heh. That was just rude.  It'd be like if I threw up a network diagram with IP addresses and ports and expect people to know what that is.

I'm kinda stupid.  What's a relay?  Is that another name for "fuse"?

you're kidding, right?  Seems all the learning you need was provided in the link...

good luck....

[toetruck21]

Its hard to help those that can't help themselves!  Take some time and study the link that was given, you'll figure it out!  If not the first time then maybe the second! 

[lilzaphod]

you're kidding, right?  Seems all the learning you need was provided in the link...

good luck....

There is an assumed level of knowledge there that is not explained.  That's a bunch of flowcharts with no actual key.

Sorry for asking what appears to you to be a stupid question.

[bassman]

These links may provide some helpful basics on relays.....

http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/automotive-wiring.htm

http://www.ehow.com/video_4874551_wire-relay.html

http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

Also, check out Motolights for additional upfront lights...they can be mounted on the downtubes or brake calipers....I know you were asking about mounting on crashbars but this provides another option although pricey.....

[bassman]

Oops....forget the link to Motolights.....

http://www.motolight.com/

[lilzaphod]

These links may provide some helpful basics on relays.....

http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/automotive-wiring.htm

http://www.ehow.com/video_4874551_wire-relay.html

http://www.bcae1.com/relays.htm

Also, check out Motolights for additional upfront lights...they can be mounted on the downtubes or brake calipers....I know you were asking about mounting on crashbars but this provides another option although pricey.....

Thank you.

[9Ball]

you're kidding, right?  Seems all the learning you need was provided in the link...

good luck....

There is an assumed level of knowledge there that is not explained.  That's a bunch of flowcharts with no actual key.

Sorry for asking what appears to you to be a stupid question.

that's not the point at all.  calling someone posting a good link as being rude is what I see as a problem.  Asking for help is not.

But if you read the link and look at the relay and do some basic googling, then this should be a good start to your learning process for wiring in some lights.

Ask away, but be careful of biting the hands that feed you...that was my point.

[lilzaphod]

you're kidding, right?  Seems all the learning you need was provided in the link...

good luck....

There is an assumed level of knowledge there that is not explained.  That's a bunch of flowcharts with no actual key.

Sorry for asking what appears to you to be a stupid question.

that's not the point at all.  calling someone posting a good link as being rude is what I see as a problem.  Asking for help is not.

But if you read the link and look at the relay and do some basic googling, then this should be a good start to your learning process for wiring in some lights.

Ask away, but be careful of biting the hands that feed you...that was my point.

The word was used in jest - hence the 'heh' in front of it.  Sorry to offend.  No bite was intended.

[Hoser]

always with a relay.
see chet's site.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

Heh. That was just rude.  It'd be like if I threw up a network diagram with IP addresses and ports and expect people to know what that is.

I'm kinda stupid.  What's a relay?  Is that another name for "fuse"?

A relay is a small electrical device that uses a low amperage power source to control a high amperage power source, such as a battery, for an independent circuit requiring high amperage flow, such as two 35 watt driving lights.  Using a relay allows use of the lites so power will be cut when the key is off.  An inline fuse should be used on the high amperage battery circuit as a safety device to prevent an overload to the wiring, which could cause a fire.  That is my attempt to explain what we were discussing.  Hope it helps  Hoser

[Steve K (IA)]

Chad, these are on my I/S.  Been there for 9+ years.  No problems at all.   



I don't have a picture, but have had them on my Std also...different brand.  Both sets elliptical.  You should be able to mount them on the underside of the crashbars using 2 "P" clamps (Kuryakyn) each side.  The ones on my I/S are Chris bought at J&P's.  Can't find them anymore.  The ones on the Std are Pilot brand.  Should be easy to find.  They are bright and inexpensive.
Just seen these at JCW  Walmart my have something similar 
http://www.jcwhitney.com/optronics-halogen-driving-lights-with-special-spectra-lenses-oval/p2025259.jcwx#

"P" clamps  http://www.kuryakyn.com/Products/688/P-Clamps

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PILOT-PL-1066C-SMALL-OVAL-SHAPE-CLEAR-DRIVING-LIGHTS-/190532827464?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c5ca43948

[X Ring]

always with a relay.
see chet's site.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/circuits.html

Heh. That was just rude.  It'd be like if I threw up a network diagram with IP addresses and ports and expect people to know what that is.

I'm kinda stupid.  What's a relay?  Is that another name for "fuse"?

A relay is a small electrical device that uses a low amperage power source to control a high amperage power source, such as a battery, for an independent circuit requiring high amperage flow, such as two 35 watt driving lights.  Using a relay allows use of the lites so power will be cut when the key is off.  An inline fuse should be used on the high amperage battery circuit as a safety device to prevent an overload to the wiring, which could cause a fire.  That is my attempt to explain what we were discussing.  Hope it helps  Hoser

Let me try to explain what Hoser said a different way.  A relay is basically a switch.  It uses a low power source to turn the switch on or off depending on the type of relay.  When the relay is activated it allows a higher power to flow from a source (your battery for example) to what you want to send power to (your lights).  As Hoser also said, you should have a fuse between the power source and the relay to protect the relay and your lights.  I also like a small fuse on the low power wire to also protect the relay.  That may be overkill but as they say an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.

On my Valk, I used the wire taking power from the start switch to the hi/lo beam switch as the power to turn my relay on and off.  The reason I used this wire is my spots are always on with either headlight beam and when I push the start button, the spots go off with the headlight.

Marty

[Hoser]

Good point, Marty.  I have a seperate switch on mine so I can turn them off at night when I am on high beam, when they are on they seem to distract my attention to the reach of the high beam.  My voltage light  starts to flicker sometimes, and turning them off brings the green light back to solid on.  I have a new alternator to install on order BTW.  I still have the original at 84000 miles. I plan to rebuild it as a spare.    Hoser

[9Ball]

you're kidding, right?  Seems all the learning you need was provided in the link...

good luck....

There is an assumed level of knowledge there that is not explained.  That's a bunch of flowcharts with no actual key.

Sorry for asking what appears to you to be a stupid question.

that's not the point at all.  calling someone posting a good link as being rude is what I see as a problem.  Asking for help is not.

But if you read the link and look at the relay and do some basic googling, then this should be a good start to your learning process for wiring in some lights.

Ask away, but be careful of biting the hands that feed you...that was my point.

The word was used in jest - hence the 'heh' in front of it.  Sorry to offend.  No bite was intended.

it's a bit hard to read sarcasm in print...the smileys are a big help.

as I said, good luck.  It's not too hard once you figure out the basics.

[Lil D]

Love the motolights and they are durable.....

[Piper]

I placed mine on the crashbar just past where it starts to curve downward.
Used some foil tape to cover the wires.
Used a relay and ran it to a switch box on the handlebars.
Also have a lightbar on it's own relay and switch.

And yes I understand PPS: Ports, Protcols, and Services.

How many Valk Geeks are going to DefCon?

[Walküre]

Chad, these are on my I/S.  Been there for 9+ years.  No problems at all.  

Man, I'm sorry, Steve!!! I looked, and I looked, and I looked!! Kinda like "Where's Waldo?" - I can't see any lights!!

Blinded by the chrome, yeah...lights? No...

Very nice! (and I'm not a chrome kinda guy!)

R

[bassman]

Not Steve but m'be the small gray piece (probably the only non chrome piece on the bike!) just in front of the forward foot peg and at the bottom of the roll bar?

[Jess from VA]

These.  http://www.jpcycles.com/product/ZZ33255

[bigguy]

Chad, these are on my I/S.  Been there for 9+ years.  No problems at all.  

Man, I'm sorry, Steve!!! I looked, and I looked, and I looked!! Kinda like "Where's Waldo?" - I can't see any lights!!

Blinded by the chrome, yeah...lights? No...

Very nice! (and I'm not a chrome kinda guy!)

R

Hey walkfire. Glad you asked because I was having the same problem. Glad I'm not the only one. That is some good looking chrome by the way. I also noted the temp gauage in the dipstick. Looks good. 

[John U.]

Check these out. They're not cheap but won't strain your alternator.
http://www.customdynamics.com/billet_led_light.htm#Cool_Magic"_Driving_Lights_