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General => Bike Chat => Topic started by: Mrg on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 01:50 AM

Title: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: Mrg on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 01:50 AM
So guys and ladies

I am thinking about an bit of extra light  on the bike

These lights from amazon. Cost ten pounds. 27 wats and out put is 55 wats

We're is the best place to wire these in if I go ahead. there red and black wire one of each .

To the main bike switch on the handlebars or not or separated as running lights .

And I could mont them were my horns did go ( now under the tank )

Any input is welcome cheers guys
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: KiwiCol on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 01:59 AM
If it were me, I'd wire them up through a switched relay direct off the battery. Take the relay feed / trigger off your park light wire, that way they only come on when you turn your lights on, unless you want to be able to have them on a will, then I'd take the relay feed / trigger off a switched permanent live (ie horn)

Installing them like this doesn't overload any existing circuits / fuses, as all you're drawing is enough to trigger the relay, not run the lights.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 02:18 AM
As Col says, you'll def need a relay to run those lights and wiring them the way suggested gives switched power. I would suggest you'll also want some sort of separate switch on the dash so you can switch them on/off as required.

Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: seth on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 04:19 AM
if anyone looking for the adventure bike style side/fog lights
have a look on
www.banggood.com



http://m.banggood.com/1500Lm-U8-Motorcycle-Bike-LED-Spot-Fog-HiLow-Beam-Driving-Light-Lamp-Headlight-p-1124589.html

you canget them in 4 colours black,gold,silver or blue for $11 not sure if that includes postage
a friend has them and apart from checking the wiring which was ok had no problems with them .

http://m.banggood.com/U5-Motorcycle-LED-Headlight-Waterproof-High-Power-Spot-Light-p-941300.html

these ones are $17

:cheers:
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 09:09 AM
Legally you would probably have to wire them so they came on wroth high beam only.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 09:33 AM
Quote from: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 09:09 AM
Legally you would probably have to wire them so they came on wroth high beam only.

Maybe in the Southern Hemisphere but not in the UK.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 10:00 AM
Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:19 AM
http://m.banggood.com/1500Lm-U8-Motorcycle-Bike-LED-Spot-Fog-HiLow-Beam-Driving-Light-Lamp-Headlight-p-1124589.html

What's with the weird housings on that ?!  Looks like a hinged thing for no purpose???

Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:19 AM
http://m.banggood.com/U5-Motorcycle-LED-Headlight-Waterproof-High-Power-Spot-Light-p-941300.html

That might be waterproof but that lens is... cheap. I can't imagine it'd be that effective, certainly not at any great distance, BUT if it gives a good pool of light to the sides, that would still be useful.

Has anyone actually GOT these fitted and can offer real world experience ?!
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: seth on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 04:50 PM
there more about being seen than being spotlights
a couple of folk i know have them fitted as marker lights for use when commuting.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 05:02 PM
They'd be good for that, probably.  The rules are retarded down here about what extra lights you can have and when and how they have to be wired in.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: KiwiCol on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 05:22 PM
Quote from: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 05:02 PM
They'd be good for that, probably.  The rules are retarded down here about what extra lights you can have and when and how they have to be wired in.

Must be an Aussie thing Mike, we'd be allowed to bung these on, and run them during day & on low beam.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 05:27 PM
Well Col you also have sensible gun laws. If your economy was better Aussies would be going THAT way rather than the other way around.  In fact, I think the days of mass Kiwi exodus to Aus is over....

anyway, back to our regularly scheduled programming
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 06:01 PM
Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:50 PM
there more about being seen than being spotlights
a couple of folk i know have them fitted as marker lights for use when commuting.

Its all about width. We base a cars speed on how wide it gets as it approaches us to determine whether or not it is safe to pull out. With a motorcycle, that is a lot more difficult, as they are narrow in the first place, so anything one can do to enhance width is a good thing - which is why on many adventure bikes you see the spots way out to the sides. The wider we can make our bike appear in the first place, reduces the risk of accidents.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: Mrg on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 06:15 PM
guys a big thank you for the input and the helpful guides as to wiring

yes the aim is to be seen and the back roads i use to get to work are country lanes so a bit of extra light will help

just got to check as to the legal side of the bike and for mot as well and pointing in the right direction 

but i will post latter when its done ohh and pic to  :onya:
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: seth on Tuesday, 14 February 2017, 07:08 PM
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 06:01 PM
Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:50 PM
there more about being seen than being spotlights
a couple of folk i know have them fitted as marker lights for use when commuting.

Its all about width. We base a cars speed on how wide it gets as it approaches us to determine whether or not it is safe to pull out. With a motorcycle, that is a lot more difficult, as they are narrow in the first place, so anything one can do to enhance width is a good thing - which is why on many adventure bikes you see the spots way out to the sides. The wider we can make our bike appear in the first place, reduces the risk of accidents.

i think that someone did research and side marker lights like you see on adventure bikes subconsciously looks like a childs face making drivers notice them more and slightly more safety aware
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: Mick_J on Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 07:12 PM
Riding straight causes a phenomenon called looming, when you approach a junction with a car at it move over to give yourself more clearance.  This sideways movement catches the eye of the driver but if you stay straight it's very difficult to predict distance as the light prevents this, especially if you happen to be backlit.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 07:47 PM
Given you are adding extra lights, might be worth browsing this topic  :onya:

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=432.0

Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: Ktmjunkie on Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 08:04 PM
Quote from: VladTepes on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 10:00 AM
Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:19 AM
http://m.banggood.com/1500Lm-U8-Motorcycle-Bike-LED-Spot-Fog-HiLow-Beam-Driving-Light-Lamp-Headlight-p-1124589.html

What's with the weird housings on that ?!  Looks like a hinged thing for no purpose???

Quote from: seth on Tuesday, 14 February  2017, 04:19 AM
http://m.banggood.com/U5-Motorcycle-LED-Headlight-Waterproof-High-Power-Spot-Light-p-941300.html

That might be waterproof but that lens is... cheap. I can't imagine it'd be that effective, certainly not at any great distance, BUT if it gives a good pool of light to the sides, that would still be useful.

Has anyone actually GOT these fitted and can offer real world experience ?!
Yes I have these fitted to my 1400 wired directly to the low beam in the headlight no relay needed. Very well made metal casing and very bright .have lasted well so far.
Title: Re: Side fog or extra lights
Post by: VladTepes on Thursday, 16 February 2017, 10:08 AM
Here is Aus we have to have our low beam on all the time (hard wired) so can't wire any unswitched aux lights into low beam.