| Author | Message | ||
     Fastfxrs |
Does anyone have any experience with mounting cheaper,automotive driving lights on Buell XB? If so, any pics? Are there any Uly specific mounts or interesting hand fabbed brackets? Just curious. I know I'm gonna need more light up here in deer country. Thanks, Tim | ||
| Fastfxrs |
Bump. Bueller? Anyone? | ||
| Aeholton |
If you come up with a solution, please share. I thought about getting some of the cheap sets they have at the auto parts store and fabbing something up to fit. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Just got my bike, and I will be looking for a solution soon. I like lots of light on my bikes, the more light, the better. I have an idea, but have to see if it is possible. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Me too. I have been looking at the driving lights in Wal-Mart for months now. | ||
| Fubar |
Mine is showing a bit of rubbing a bit on the corner of the rocker cover. Odd but not a big deal. Must happen when she's hoppin' around at idle. | ||
| Fubar |
Oops. Wrong thread | ||
| Bondo1007 |
I just installed the Motolights (http://www.motolight.com/) and they are great, lights, wiring, and quality, just not cheap. $340.00+/- with shipping. The wiring setup with relay and switches is worth a bunch alone. I'll try to post photos tomorrow. I was searching for a install on the cheap auto parts lights and could not find a safe or reliable method to hang them. | ||
| Aeholton |
Bondo, they are nice lights. I just can't spend $340 for a couple of lights. I can just see trying to justify it to the wife when she was with me looking at car driving light for less than $50 at the auto parts store. | ||
| Fastfxrs |
After looking at the Motolight website pics of the Uly, it looks like making a mounting tab for a cheaper set of automotive driving lights and attaching to the fork sliders with stainless steel muffler clamp would be possible ( I know, it sounds ugly already). They have a nice wiring diagram on the website. My uly hardbags just came in today so I have to get those on before I start a light project. | ||
| Titus |
I put some PIAA lights on my Uly. I will try to get you some pics if you like. I bought and took back several cheaper lights before realizing that you get what you pay for under a certain dollar amount. It is not just the wattage or size but the quality of the reflector and lens as well. I bought the PIAA XTs on E-Bay that are rated at 55w=85w. Cost for the kit with shipping, $125.00. The light is focused and not going all over the place. The result is that I have been able to use them in traffic without annoying oncoming traffic (only 1 person flashed me and that was a tractor trailer: go figure). These lights are a huge improvement. I tried all the cheaper lights trying to save a few bucks but the quality and quantity of light is light years behind (pun intended). The cheaper lights from W-Mart, P-Boys, Advanced etc were more style than function. The beams were scattered and yellow. In general the cheaper lights don't come with the harness so that is an added cost. For a cheaper alternative put in some quality up-rated headlight bulbs. I put some Osram 65w H7 bulbs in that are rated at 2100 lumens. They are also an improvement over stock. Cost: $48.00, E-Bay. I hope this info brightens your day... I mean night. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Titus, That is exactly why I have been looking at them for months. I figured they would suck and I would be stuck with $20 worth of shit bolted to my bike. $125 is way better than $340. I know those MotoLights are awesome, but dammit, I have children!  (Message edited by lowflyer on February 25, 2006) | ||
| Lorazepam |
I have an idea for a bracket, and will report back. It will be able to use any light system with a flat mount. I would make sure that when mounting lights, that if the fork bottoms out, the fork guards will be way up near the upper fender. I wouldnt want a set of lights to cause me any trouble if the forks are compressed that far. | ||
| Bondo1007 |
Yes, I know that $340.00 is not cheap, and I had to squeeze the budget to get them. However. . .One of the places I considered to mound a set of lights was in the headlight adjustment holes on each side of the lower windscreen. This location could take a simple bolt type mount with rubber bushings. Has anyone looked into that? Also, I had several emails to Motolights, as I wanted to mount the lights low on the fender brackets, but they did not feel the left side, lacking a caliper mount, was strong enough. Thoughts? | ||
| Keyser_soze |
After riding the Uly tonight, I find a definite deficiency in the lighting department. Has anyone done an HID conversion on the lowbeam yet? If so what type of setup and cost? I am guessing it will be a mater of time before someone comes up with a driving light kit or mounts. I like the look of Motolights but the don't put out the amount of light my former PIAA 1100X's put out. I would like to find an compact HID driving light setup that could be mounted in a similar position to the Motolights (up high on the fork legs). | ||
| Brat |
I put two lights in the headlight adjustment holes, works for me!  | ||
| Gamdh |
"Has anyone done an HID conversion on the lowbeam yet? " I haven't done it just yet...but pretty close to pulling the trigger on these: 4300k Motorcyle HID Conversion Kit http://www.xenondepot.com/category.php?category_id=10 | ||
| Chadhargis |
I understand that HID is a "whiter" light, but will it help with the dispersment pattern on the Uly? That's my issue. I can see straight ahead just fine, but they cast NO beam to the side. Even the high beam is pencil thin. | ||
| Bomber |
cheap driving lights are definately an area that proves you get what you pay for -- lot's of places to hang lights (Brat show one great example) -- you could also spin up some mounts that encircled the fork uppers (just below the lower triple tree), and mount some wide beam lights there -- | ||
| Gamdh |
"I understand that HID is a "whiter" light, but will it help with the dispersment pattern on the Uly? That's my issue. I can see straight ahead just fine, but they cast NO beam to the side. Even the high beam is pencil thin." I have the same concerns, maybe thats why I haven't spent the money yet for the HIDs.. keep wanting to, but just haven't done it?? Regardless, I will also be adding additional driving lights that will help with lighting the sides a bit better as well. Maybe between the 2 I'll be able to see.....or maybe just blind on coming traffic  | ||
| Brat |
Mine are like daylight on high beam, when I pass a car and hit them it put's theirs to shame, they're 55w each and set wider than the headlights, which seems to be plenty! | ||
| Lorazepam |
I am working with a fabrication shop and coming up with a bracket to mount a set of driving lights of your choice. If it looks good, I will order around 10 or so if folks are interested. | ||
| Fastfxrs |
Hey Brat, what brand of lights did you mount? Any other info would be appreciated. Looks like a clean place to mount them. tim | ||
| Titus |
I finally got around to getting some pictures. The lights are Pia 004XT 55watt. They are mounted on the turn signal shaft with stainless screws (ace). I pre-drilled the plastic on a drill press in order to get the screws as close to the metal shaft as possible. These lights work well and as I stated before were purchased new off E-Bay. The switch is mounted via 3m tape to the inside of the hand-guard. I just poke my finger out to turn them on and off. Another alternative is found at http://www.autoswitch.com/index2.html I think this would work well on a Uly. I am using the switch that came with the lights for now. Other considerations: fabricating a bracket that would mount between the upper front fender and the fork tubes; ATV bar mounts; marine mounts; zip ties; muffler clamps; orange/black duct tape (model specific) and coat hangers. Methods listed in order of desperation. I was unable to locate orange coat hangers but I did see some black ones. | ||
| Titus |
It seems that I am having trouble with the pictures... need to be smaller... |
