Hey All!

Thinking I might add some aftermarket driving lights and was hoping for some feedback from the group about what works great! I've looked at the LED lights but I don't think they throw the light out 50 -100 feet (ish). Anyone have some suggestions? cheers B

Hi Bruce,
First thing to do to any of our K Bikes is to fit one of the Eastern Beaver Relay kits for the headlights, the increase in light output is significant AND it reduces the load on the handlebar switches to a negligible level. The other thing it allows you to do is fit an uprated bulb without overloading the wiring, still 55 watts on the dip but 100 watts on the main beam. Don't get sidetracked by any of the BS about special filaments and ion crystals or blue bulbs just buy good quality uprated bulbs at your auto store from a well known manufacturer and make sure they really are around 100 watts and 55 watts you will be surprised how good our headlights are with a high power bulb. Not strictly legal in some places but as the lights have good patterns they do not attract any undue attention if they are correctly adjusted. Eastern Beaver are at http://easternbeaver.com/ J

Jim the owner of Eastern Beaver is a really nice guy to deal with and the quality of construction and components is perfect http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

There is a lot of useful info on his site as well.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Bruce I fitted some aunger 2000 Series driving lights on my RT and have 2 x 55w xenon globes along in them along with upgrading the bikes main headlight globe to a xenon 55/130 globe. They most certainly do light up not only just down but also out wide across the road from the front of the bike too, so am more than happy with the result after some 2-3 yrs usage now. The only thing I did find when initially mounting them under the upper fairing section was they need to be mounted outside the forks otherwise under heavy brake compression they could possibly cause damage from the front wheel guard as I initially mounted them in between the forks.

This is good stuff. Really enjoyed the website. I learned a lot and plan to try the relay set up for the headlight. Thanks for the information...Love this site.

K-Bike - I found this post of yours and went to the website but was totally lost on which one I should buy. There seems like many to choose from. Tonight was my first time out at night. I used to my Gold Wing. I feel sort of blind and unseen on the K. You suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks

K-BIKE wrote:Hi Bruce,
First thing to do to any of our K Bikes is to fit one of the Eastern Beaver Relay kits for the headlights, the increase in light output is significant AND it reduces the load on the handlebar switches to a negligible level. The other thing it allows you to do is fit an uprated bulb without overloading the wiring, still 55 watts on the dip but 100 watts on the main beam. Don't get sidetracked by any of the BS about special filaments and ion crystals or blue bulbs just buy good quality uprated bulbs at your auto store from a well known manufacturer and make sure they really are around 100 watts and 55 watts you will be surprised how good our headlights are with a high power bulb. Not strictly legal in some places but as the lights have good patterns they do not attract any undue attention if they are correctly adjusted. Eastern Beaver are at http://easternbeaver.com/ J

Jim the owner of Eastern Beaver is a really nice guy to deal with and the quality of construction and components is perfect http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

There is a lot of useful info on his site as well.
Regards,
K-BIKE

good advice kbike !!!

For the DIY people, you can find a schematic of the headlight upgrade in the download section.
From my experience, I would not recommend to install a 100w bulb in the headlight unless you can find the old ceramic socket type. On my k75, the original plastic sockets melted because of the heat generated by the bulb and the lack of air flow on the back of the fairing.

CF

+1...

Though PIAA bulbs don't generate as much heat as 'other' brands with higher output than stock. The problem is that they're quite fragile for motorbike use and the price they want you to pay is like getting rooted with the rough end of a pineapple. To use a local colloquialism.

Been looking for some driving lights and as Mule has recomended them I will check them out.
If they are as good as his pies then they will be good. Mules pies is an old Ulysses Club joke.

Two Wheels Better wrote:+1...

is like getting rooted with the rough end of a pineapple. To use a local colloquialism.

I have to ask. How do you know?

Steve

shaftdrive69 wrote:

I have to ask. How do you know?

Steve

we couldnt possibly disclose that here steve ....thats "secret mens buisness" and requires face to face contact with more than 1 brew to explain .
as you would know, us aussies are planning a get together in a weeks time and i suspect a little male bonding is on the cards

(wheres that toungue in cheek emoticon )

Good response Charlie.
I should probably be grateful you chaps are a long way down under!
Joking apart, I like the Aussie sense of humour and general attitude - bit like you find here in Yorkshire - no bullshit!
The ragman's trumpet is used in similar context in the UK, although I'm sure it is a long time since any of us saw a rag and bone man and still longer since one blew a trumpet to advertise his presence! I did have two goldfish from one with a horse and cart when I was a boy; say 50 years ago. All outlawed now.

Steve

You mean you aren't allowed goldfish or horse and carts in Yorkshire!
That's a bit rough.

I have an English friend here (one of my prison guards I guess) who just upgraded a headlight on his Guzzi with a UK white light called SPYE. I cannot find any info on the net, it runs cold and is mind bogglingly bright. Ring any bells up north??
RT

crikey that sounds like something worth chasing up rt ....

this might be it...

http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/1/Spyke-Motorcycle_Headlight_related-ST7_S11201.php

shaftdrive69 wrote:Good response Charlie.
I should probably be grateful you chaps are a long way down under!
Joking apart, I like the Aussie sense of humour and general attitude - bit like you find here in Yorkshire - no bullshit!
The ragman's trumpet is used in similar context in the UK, although I'm sure it is a long time since any of us saw a rag and bone man and still longer since one blew a trumpet to advertise his presence! I did have two goldfish from one with a horse and cart when I was a boy; say 50 years ago. All outlawed now.

Steve

Christ Steve, them where the days rag & bone men and folk running out in the street with a bucket and shovel after the horse had done a dump for manure to put on veg patch [prefer gravy on mine ]

BIG D

Absolute proof that the cruiser crowd will buy anything, just so long as it is chromed.

Nice setup Mule. What did you use to mount them?

OG

Don't think you will get an answer from mule, he doesn't come here often.
I know him from another club.

Bruce, Not sure if you want driving lights or "day-time running lights" of you are after day time running lights, have a look at the Hella LED range. Not cheap but well made, most kits come with everything needed and they have almost no effect on your battery (low current draw). They are no good as driving lights if you are looking for more light at night to see by.

Like Mule, Bruce is not here often either. I lost contact with him last season as he took a job in UAE flying airliners for Emirates. Last I saw, he was selling his RS; I knew he was lusting after a newer BMW.

BTW, I retrofitted some LED bulbs into a set of PIAA 1000X driving lights I bought. I'll be fitting those to the bike soon and will doa writeup in the howto section. Below is a photo of the lights ready for installation:

Hi Fellas sorry not been in here for a while too many other commitments and recovering from injury (not bike related) anyway to oldgoat I simply made up a couple of aluminium brackets to match the heavy cad plated ones that came with it and mounted them to the lower fairing and whats this about pies just because I took some across to albany last year a mere 5000ks and indulged with like minded disgraceful party central goers. Intend going to Mildura so could well be some travelling there too with the mules chili salsa too. Ross

I will keep an eye on how it goes as they look loke a good size and the price is comming down on a lot of the led gear now.
Don't put too much chilli in as Peter M has trouble running and the loo is bound to be a fair way from party central.

Was in Jaycar this arvo getting fixed up with some Deoxit and spotted some serious-looking HID H4 lamp kits for between $99 and $149! Also, for under a hunnerd you can get some bloody great big whacking LED 'running lights' complete with harness and relays, in pairs. I was gunna make a strip of white LEDs for just under the nose of the fairing below the headlight, mostly so that the other idiots (not me!) see me when they're driving with their eyes closed, a Big Mac stuffed in their gob and a mobile stuck to the side of their fat head.

i find those under fairing ones of mine seem to work pretty well twb ....i havent been run over since i started using them when comming into busy bits of road ....yet .......(touches wood)
but good to hear jaycar has led lights

Two Wheels Better wrote:Was in Jaycar this arvo getting fixed up with some Deoxit and spotted some serious-looking HID H4 lamp kits for between $99 and $149! Also, for under a hunnerd you can get some bloody great big whacking LED 'running lights' complete with harness and relays, in pairs. I was gunna make a strip of white LEDs for just under the nose of the fairing below the headlight, mostly so that the other idiots (not me!) see me when they're driving with their eyes closed, a Big Mac stuffed in their gob and a mobile stuck to the side of their fat head.

They won't see ya no matter wot coz they don't bloody look.

ok k freak you got the better of me and Peter M likes my chili salsa with the pies also. recall he was even going to dig one out of the garbage at Tassie agm

the mule wrote:ok k freak you got the better of me and Peter M likes my chili salsa with the pies also. recall he was even going to dig one out of the garbage at Tassie agm

Rick G from the Ulysses forum I met you at coffs AGM.

ahhhh ok long time rick maybe catch up at mildura next year

Will be keeping my eyes open for the writeup Rob. I really like the look of those Piaa's!

OG

Some years back I had been debating on a list about making bikes more visible and brighter lights etc. One poster summed it up, there are plenty of instances where cars have pulled out side roads in front of huge fire engines which were rushing towards them at speed on a main road with sirens going, all lights flashing and still they pull out into the path of the fire truck as a result they are usually destroyed by the fire engine.

When you are dealing with some people who fails to see a fire engine with all they have to make them visible, one has to accept we can sometimes find our lives threatened by unbelievably stupid and or dangerous people. That's not to say don't make yourself as visible as possible that is a must but don't rely on it and think "they are bound to see me coming".
Regards,
K-BIKE

I wear black; helmet, riding jackets, trousers, boots, gloves, are of them all low colour tones, except for a red bike, but my two other bikes are black and grey. 'They' don't see me, even with my headlight on. I am invisible man. A phantom. An apparition in the blank gaze of the average vacant, distracted motorist. I count on that, so I ride defensively, and each and every day I throw a leg over I am aware, I say a prayer of sorts, and I take my chances.