Lighting question R850R or R1100R

[Hotspice]

A little while ago Amy decided to share garage space with my GS by adding a, new to her, R850R :dance .

One of the first things we'll be adding to it is a set of driving lights. She's thinking something fork mounted like MotoLights but the dead presidents aren't there to add actual MotoLights.

I have a few ideas but thought I'd see what others have done for the R bikes and aux. lighting.. Pictures would be cool of ya have them.

:buds

[bikerfish1100]

http://cyclegadgets.com/Products/LightKits/detail.asp?bike=R1100R&kit=MFL-R1100R
these are listed for the R1100R, but is suspect they would be a direct fit for the R850 as well. i've got the PIAA 1100Xs on my R11S, and they do a very nice job. I have used Motolights in the past, and the PIAAs are superior in all regards; except for the "free replacement bulbs" deal that Motolights gives.

[nortonrt]

I had a friend in the lighting mfg. business make up several sets of caliper-mounted brackets out of 1/8" Aluminum for my R850R. I bought a set of Pilot lights for about $30 on eBay and the setup worked just great for me - still do for the new owner of the 850. You can mount the lights below or above the horizontal plate. I'm attaching (with fingers crossed) some pictures. If you need a drawing with dimensions, email me and I'll email them to you as an attachment.

[Hotspice]

I had a friend in the lighting mfg. business make up several sets of caliper-mounted brackets out of 1/8" Aluminum for my R850R. I bought a set of Pilot lights for about $30 on eBay and the setup worked just great for me - still do for the new owner of the 850. You can mount the lights below or above the horizontal plate. I'm attaching (with fingers crossed) some pictures. If you need a drawing with dimensions, email me and I'll email them to you as an attachment.

Something like that was one of my ideas. I haven't looked at the bike closely in about a week but I think the reason I was unsure of doing it this way was the caliper bolt is recessed IIRC .

Did you just get a longer bolt and a shim to bring the surface up over the recess?

[nortonrt]

...I think the reason I was unsure of doing it this way was the caliper bolt is recessed IIRC .

Did you just get a longer bolt and a shim to bring the surface up over the recess?

Yes - longer bolt and a couple of stainless washers to fill the recess. Your BMW dealer probably has the bolts and aluminum plates without the horizontal "wing" - they're used to display inspection or tax stamps. I used those dimensions and added the "wing." I have a pair on my 1150RT - this time with Hella Optilux lights. Works like a champ. Let me know if I can help.

[Hotspice]

Yes - longer bolt and a couple of stainless washers to fill the recess. Your BMW dealer probably has the bolts and aluminum plates without the horizontal "wing" - they're used to display inspection or tax stamps. I used those dimensions and added the "wing." I have a pair on my 1150RT - this time with Hella Optilux lights. Works like a champ. Let me know if I can help.

Cool... Sent you a PM

[nortonrt]

Several people have asked for pictures of these brackets, so I'll just post them here.

[nortonrt]

Primed.

[nortonrt]

Left bracket with notch for front brake line.

[nortonrt]

Pattern drawing.

[nortonrt]

Front view

[r11rs94]

Cool... Sent you a PM

How about a picture when you finish. You have to :heart this forum. That is a great idea for the lights.

[bmwnewviews]

Wow! this is great, many thanks for the work. I copied the diagram and have one question: could you locate the hole for the brake calipher bolt? I know I could figure it out but if you have already done so.......:whistle

thanks
Patrick

[bmwnewviews]

Well I am in the process of making brackets. One question: how are your brackets doing as far as remaining in a fixed position with just one bolt holding them?

[nortonrt]

Well I am in the process of making brackets. One question: how are your brackets doing as far as remaining in a fixed position with just one bolt holding them?

I torqued them according the book and they haven't moved yet.

[th0ffman]

I got some small Hella drving lights today for my '96 R1100R. I was thinking of just using a couple small 50 cent angle brackets placed between the fork and the front fender to mount them.
See the front view picture on post #11 from NortonRT. There is a hex bolt on the outside sdes of the fender.
Anybody see a problem with that?
Thanks
Tim

[Hotspice]

I got some small Hella drving lights today for my '96 R1100R. I was thinking of just using a couple small 50 cent angle brackets placed between the fork and the front fender to mount them.
See the front view picture on post #11 from NortonRT. There is a hex bolt on the outside sdes of the fender.
Anybody see a problem with that?
Thanks
Tim

I guess I'd be worried about cracking the fender from tightening it enough that the bracket didn't rotate.

In the same pic you mentioned there are two threaded tangs lower on the fork that are threaded. That's where a local rider with an 1100R has hers bolted to.

I'm still going back and forth as to if that's too low for my needs or not .

[dougfollett]

I'd like to jump in here and ask a lighting question. Why are the commercial lights so expensive? I have seen them upwards of $500? I realize that some of that is the type of light source used. One manufacturer offers a $130 system and a $300 system. Both are identical except for the light source. One is bright and the other is really, really bright. I just want a little bit extra light at night on dark lonely roads. I found myself coming over a mountain pass at night last fall in the pitch dark and some of the turns were a bit scary with my single headlight. Would a $50 set of lights and a home made bracket do what I want? I noticed at a vendors fair last week that the accessory light set that one guy was selling had a transformer or ballast unit as part of his system. Is that necessary? Obviously I'm a dunce when it comes to electronics. Thanks,

Doug

[bikerfish1100]

the more expensive units that run a ballast are (most likely) HIDs (high intensity discharge). their light output is, in a word, ree-freaking-diculous! amazing output, and run on less wattage than anything else out there.
if you don't go HID, whatever you get is just an auxilliary lighting system; quality varies, as does price. do a search- this topic has been discussed a gazillion times before.

[th0ffman]

HS.. Good point about possibly damaging the fender. So I put a neoprene washer between the angle bracket and the fender. Also painted the angle bracket with some touch-up paint in case anyone looks close and notices I used a cheap metal angle bracket. Had to drill out the hole on the bracket a hair to get the bolt through it.

I have not finished wiring. Can someone tell me if its ok to just connect the ground wire from the light to a close by metal bolt or nut. Leaving just the positive wire coming from the light switch?

The previous owner had already installed huge bright driving lights the diameter of a dinner plate and used a ton of wires. They were mounted to the upper fork with muffler brackets. Not exactly good looking but EXTREMElY BRIGHT. Although, his switch is better looking than the one that came with the lights I bought so Im going to leave the switch and the birds nest of wires under the seat alone. I don’t know whats going on there. However I would prefer to run just one wire to the lights instead of the tree trunk he installed. Let me know if that’s possible.

Thanks
Tim

[Hotspice]

Yes - longer bolt and a couple of stainless washers to fill the recess. Your BMW dealer probably has the bolts and aluminum plates without the horizontal "wing" - they're used to display inspection or tax stamps. I used those dimensions and added the "wing." I have a pair on my 1150RT - this time with Hella Optilux lights. Works like a champ. Let me know if I can help.


I'm baaaaaaaack :p

You wouldn't happen to have a part number for the bolts. I called my dealer and they don't have a number and I can't find it on the online fiche's I looked at.

:scratch

[bikerfish1100]

I'm baaaaaaaack :p

You wouldn't happen to have a part number for the bolts. I called my dealer and they don't have a number and I can't find it on the online fiche's I looked at.

:scratch
just remove the bolt, bring it to your local ACE Hardware, match up the bolt (they WILL have it), and get a longer one. anyone know the size of said bolt?

[th0ffman]

Im forced to admit that the cheap angle bracket placed between the fork and fender did not hold up. After a few hundred mile the bracket broke at the only unused hole, right above the fork/fender insertion. Apparently the vibration just wore out what little cheap crapy metal there is around that hole.

Just in case someone out there thought about doing the same thing... dont.

Tim

[RebeccaV]

Just saw this thread - congrats to Amy on the new bike!! :clap

Glen Bishop made a set of light brackets for me that mounted to the engine guards. I've had cheapie lights and now my PIAA 1100s on them for like, 60K miles and they have held up really well.

I can take some pics if you want. Extra lights good. :nod

[knary]

As to the kind of light, Hella FF50's can be had for cheap and are very good lights. Do a search and you'll pull up a couple threads.

For wiring, I used their included wiring harness, a switch plate from BMW for their police bikes ($12?), and a water resistant switch used for RC stuff.

[Hotspice]

Just saw this thread - congrats to Amy on the new bike!! :clap

Glen Bishop made a set of light brackets for me that mounted to the engine guards. I've had cheapie lights and now my PIAA 1100s on them for like, 60K miles and they have held up really well.

:wave RV.. Yea, she's excited and really happy at how much better this rides than her 750.

I think we're going to try to do something like nortonrt at first and see how that goes. I've procrasinated too long and we have to have it ready and tested for the Bonzai :p . I also plan to talk to Glen and Ernie at Pecitonica and see what they think.

For wiring, I used their included wiring harness, a switch plate from BMW for their police bikes ($12?), and a water resistant switch used for RC stuff.

DOH!! We already did the official BMW RT switch that fits right in the fancy slot for a paltry $50

:banghead

[knary]

DOH!! We already did the official BMW RT switch that fits right in the fancy slot for a paltry $50

:banghead

Even better. :D
The one I mention hangs down just out of sight behind and below the left turn signal switch.

http://www.conary.org/bike/post/lights/IMG_1912.JPG

[Hotspice]

Finally took some time and did the install this weekend :dance .

BIG thanks to nortonrt for the pattern. We used it but trimmed it down a bit to work with the lights that we had gotten.

We haven't takend them out at night to adjust them yet but in the daylight we can already tell it's going to be a big improvement for visibility.

:buds