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1Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:08 am

mcadieux

mcadieux
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Hello everyone, I live in the country and I am commuting with my K. During spring and fall I come back home and it's pitch dark for the last 20km on back roads.  There is quite al lot of traffic  and several 53ft trucks. I feel very small and would like to improve front and back lighting, to see better and to be seen.  Was thinking of adding two long range lights in front and a led strip under the license plate in the back.

I read on the forum that many of you upgraded the headlight. Any of you improved the tail? What did you do? Happy with the change? Any of you added spots instead of changing the bulb of the headlight?

    

2Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:39 am

charlie99

charlie99
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try using the "search" function "lighting " in the main forum central list box search

many ..many posts about lighting upgrades

and personal outcomes contained

good luck


__________________________________________________
cheezy grin whilst riding, kinda bloke ....oh the joy !!!! ...... ( brick aviator )

'86 K100 RT..#0090401 ..."Gerty" ( Gertrude Von Clickandshift ) --------O%O
'86 k100 rs.. #######..  "Fred " (f(rame) red ) ( Fredrick leichtundschnell ) - -
bits and pieces from many kind friends across the k100 world ...with many thanks ..
1987 k100rs ########   "Red"  - (red sports rs TWB style )
1989 K100rt #009637   "Black Betty"  (naked rt ala Nigel , now sporting an rs main fairing )
    

Motorbike Mike

Motorbike Mike
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Life time member
I've recently fitted an LED H4 bulb in my K11. Night has become day, I can see and be seen.

Mike.

    

92KK 84WW Olaf

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Not wanting to hijack the thread but can you post or PM a link for the H4 LED bulb. I tried a few and they were not good and went back to the standard halogen bulb.


__________________________________________________
1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

Motorbike Mike

Motorbike Mike
Life time member
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92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Not wanting to hijack the thread but can you post or PM a link for the H4 LED bulb. I tried a few and they were not good and went back to the standard halogen bulb.
Hi Olaf,
I'll post here and then we all know.
I actually saw these LED bulbs mentioned on here somewhere so bought 2. They're from Cyclops in the USA.

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html

They're not cheap but I like them. 

I also bought another 2 from the well known Chinese outlet of all things shite, Banggood.com

http://www.banggood.com/H4-32W-3000LM-6500K-COB-HiLo-Beam-LED-Motorcycle-Headlight-DC-9-16V-p-1006317.html

I haven't tried one yet but I thought for a tenner a bulb, I'd give them a go.

It's a very easy way of getting brighter lights on older bikes....and yes, I've heard all the arguments that the reflectors aren't designed for LED placement and could be illegal but if I'm honest, I don't care. I want to see where I'm going at speed on dark roads. I need to be seen and if a car driver coming the other way takes offense, that's great, at least he's seen me!!
There is some margin for adjustment by moving the bulbs further back in the reflector by fitting thick heat proof washers if you want to play with the beam pattern.

Enjoy,
Mike.

    

JR_K100RS

JR_K100RS
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Thanks Mike , is there enough room behind the stock reflector for all the extra hardware ( cooling fan ) ?

Thanks

John Re


__________________________________________________
Diamond Grey ( 617 ) 1987 K100RS ( European Delivery ) Original owner
    

Motorbike Mike

Motorbike Mike
Life time member
Life time member
Hi John,
Yes but I can only comment on the LT model but thinking about it sensibly, if there's room on the LT, there must be enough room on an RS too. I had to make a slight modification to the rubber cover to accommodate the new bulb but that was it.

Mike.

    

JR_K100RS

JR_K100RS
Life time member
Life time member
thanks Mike , might get myself one

Ta

John Re


__________________________________________________
Diamond Grey ( 617 ) 1987 K100RS ( European Delivery ) Original owner
    

Rick G

Rick G
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Gaz80 put a 10W bulb in the tail light and once I saw it I put one in both the K1100 and K75 my wife rides. The tail light is now visible in daylight and much better at night. I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.
As for stop lights I have fitted 2 small 4 x LED lights in either side of the taillight lens and that has made a worth while improvement.


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

10Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:27 pm

Inge K.

Inge K.
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RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.


__________________________________________________
Inge K.
K100RS -86. (first owner), K1100LTSE -94.
    

11Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:27 pm

92KK 84WW Olaf

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According to my book the stock rear bulb is 10W not 5W but a lot of us have the 5W fitted and you cant see it. I only found it in the small print when I was looking for something else.

Check it out because most cars seem to only use 5W but the K needs the extra light.


__________________________________________________
1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

12Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:32 pm

Inge K.

Inge K.
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Motorbike Mike wrote:Hi John,
Yes but I can only comment on the LT model but thinking about it sensibly, if there's room on the LT, there must be enough room on an RS too.

It's a lot more space behind the bulb on a K11LT than a K100RS due to a very different holder/frame for the upper fairing.
The upper fairing on a K11LT is also moved slightly forward (~30mm) compared to earlier models.


__________________________________________________
Inge K.
K100RS -86. (first owner), K1100LTSE -94.
    

13Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:50 pm

Rick G

Rick G
admin
admin
Inge K. wrote:
RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.
Ah I see. What happens in Aust is that the max allowed light for a tail light is 6W so a 5W is used probably because 6w is not available in the small globe style.
That explains why a 10W works well, it is designed to use a 10W bulb.
In this case an LED is probably the thing to use.


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

14Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:03 am

indian036

indian036
Life time member
Life time member
RicK G wrote:
Inge K. wrote:
RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.
Ah I see. What happens in Aust is that the max allowed light for a tail light is 6W so a 5W is used probably because 6w is not available in the small globe style.
That explains why a 10W works well, it is designed to use a 10W bulb.
In this case an LED is probably the thing to use.
Interesting about the 6W limit. I wasn't aware. The standard tail light in my friend's Honda CX500 is 3x 10W if I remember correctly. 

Bill


__________________________________________________
1985 K100RT  VIN 0028991  My original Very Happy ROB the Red Old Bike   (Historic rego)
1985 K100RT  VIN 0029036  BOB the Blue Old Bike  (Historic rego)
1990 K100LT  VIN 0190452  Work in progress
1984 K100RT  VIN 0023022  Work needing lots of progress

1986 K100RT  VIN 0090542  Work needing lots and lots of progress
1993 K1100LT  VIN 0183046  Work in progress
1993 K75S  VIN 0213045  Tom the Triple (now on Historic rego too.)
    

15Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:06 am

Gaz

Gaz
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I'll take my chances on a copper pulling me up and telling me that the maximum size bulb I should have is a 6 watt not the 10 watt that I have fitted. I'm fairly sure the 10 watt rating is moulded into the tail light assembly as I think I became aware of it when I was washing the dust out of the inside of the tail light.

The 6 watt thing might explain why I couldn't find an auto accessories store in my region here in Oz that had the 10 watt bulbs so I bought a pack of 10 from the UK. Rick it would be interesting to see what is fitted to a BMW when it comes from the dealer brand new - I'd doubt that the dealers would change from a 10 watt to a 5 watt on assembly of a newly imported bike - but strange things happen in bureaucracies.


__________________________________________________
Gaz
1990 K75 6427509; 1987 R80G/S PD 6292136; 2010 G650GS ZW13381; 95 K1100LT 0232224
    

16Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:08 am

indian036

indian036
Life time member
Life time member
I've bought 10W in Goulburn for the CX500. (Auto 1)

Bill


__________________________________________________
1985 K100RT  VIN 0028991  My original Very Happy ROB the Red Old Bike   (Historic rego)
1985 K100RT  VIN 0029036  BOB the Blue Old Bike  (Historic rego)
1990 K100LT  VIN 0190452  Work in progress
1984 K100RT  VIN 0023022  Work needing lots of progress

1986 K100RT  VIN 0090542  Work needing lots and lots of progress
1993 K1100LT  VIN 0183046  Work in progress
1993 K75S  VIN 0213045  Tom the Triple (now on Historic rego too.)
    

17Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:02 am

Rick G

Rick G
admin
admin
Gaz80 wrote:I'll take my chances on a copper pulling me up and telling me that the maximum size bulb I should have is a 6 watt not the 10 watt that I have fitted. I'm fairly sure the 10 watt rating is moulded into the tail light assembly as I think I became aware of it when I was washing the dust out of the inside of the tail light.

The 6 watt thing might explain why I couldn't find an auto accessories store in my region here in Oz that had the 10 watt bulbs so I bought a pack of 10 from the UK. Rick it would be interesting to see what is fitted to a BMW when it comes from the dealer brand new - I'd doubt that the dealers would change from a 10 watt to a 5 watt on assembly of a newly imported bike - but strange things happen in bureaucracies.
I doubt very much that a copper would know let alone recognize the bulb was 10W and if it came to that drag it into court and show the beak the tail light moulding with 10W on it.
With the rise of LED lighting the ADRs will need upgrading so the pollies will do something by the end of the century.


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

18Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty Re: Winter project: improving lighting Mon Dec 07, 2015 3:14 am

indian036

indian036
Life time member
Life time member
RicK G wrote:I doubt very much that a copper would know let alone recognize the bulb was 10W and if it came to that drag it into court and show the beak the tail light moulding with 10W on it.
With the rise of LED lighting the ADRs will need upgrading so the pollies will do something by the end of the century.
Which century?  
Bill


__________________________________________________
1985 K100RT  VIN 0028991  My original Very Happy ROB the Red Old Bike   (Historic rego)
1985 K100RT  VIN 0029036  BOB the Blue Old Bike  (Historic rego)
1990 K100LT  VIN 0190452  Work in progress
1984 K100RT  VIN 0023022  Work needing lots of progress

1986 K100RT  VIN 0090542  Work needing lots and lots of progress
1993 K1100LT  VIN 0183046  Work in progress
1993 K75S  VIN 0213045  Tom the Triple (now on Historic rego too.)
    

19Back to top Go down   Winter project: improving lighting Empty added Leds Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:18 pm

DB1964

DB1964
active member
active member
have installed an led strip light, and a bank of 4x LED eagle eye lights on my LT... fits neatly in the recess just below the headlight.
 I have linked then to a switch panel  with independent switches for either set. Brilliant in the day and even more powerfull at night. The LED strip acts as a running light, for daytime visability.

The eagle eye also makes small red powerful Leds which can be used for visibility on the rear.
 To avoid interfering with the wring harness, I have installed them to mount to a 12v outlet source , powered from the accessory socket.
.

PS; eagle eyes are waterproof and available on ebay... got 12 for approx. $8.00 including postage.

    

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