more light on my RS?

[26667]

I re-read an old article from "Airmail" today about the importance of horizontal lighting rather than just a single spot like the headlight. In short, it makes us more "recognizable" to cagers.

I'm thinking about either something like Run n Lites or maybe a set of driving lights. Given the RS fairing what apps do you think might be the easiest and neatest install? I knda don't have a preference between changing the turn signals to running lights or the additional two white lights. I feel like either of those triangles of light will help. For me, simple tidy ez install and improved conspicuity are the winners.

Maybe the rear turns, too. I've added an led brake/tail light.

[sumran]

I am considering the same question on mine. Running lights would be an easier install. I think driving lights would give more visability, with some benefit of additional illumination. Mounting location and wiring method can be tricky. Mounting on the caliper or lower fork seems like the cleanest and most effective install, but wiring is a challenge. Running the wires along the brake lines is the best option I have come up with.

On the rear, I installed hyperlites. I mounted the LED clusters on the exterior of the turn signals. I ran the wires along the back of the turn signal stems and drilled a small hole (just big enough for the wire) in the bottom of the tail light housing. I cut the connectors off of the hyperlights and crimped a new one on, after I had trimmed to length and threaded them through the tail light housing.

The effect of the lights on drivers has been very noticable. The flashing brake light gets their attention.

[lkchris]

Best for RS is one fog light on right, one driving light on left, i.e. the way the factory did it with R100RT flipouts.

[26667]

Best for RS is one fog light on right, one driving light on left, i.e. the way the factory did it with R100RT flipouts.

Sounds good, but I'm confused. My RS doesn't have the RT 'flipouts'

[Boxerkuh]

The way the picture looks a custom bar was build to add the lights and it is incerted between the upper and lower fairing. I think another way to go is to install a set of Moto-lights with the caliper mount right off one of the bolts off the brake caliper. You can do that if have dual front calipers? On the rear I run running lights....

[26667]

maybe I'm dense, but there is no "between" between my uppers and lowers. They bolt together pretty snugly. Can you explain a little more?

Does anyone have experience w something like Run n Lites in the front turn signals? ...on an RS or RT

If I could "plug and play" and simply run the wires back thru where the existing cables run I think I'd be a happy guy. No plastic cutting, the wires would be hidden, and I'd be lit up, wouldn't I?

Pro'ly I should look at the Run n Lites website.

[jbcollier]

Simple way to have your signals double as running lights:

http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=4

There several versions depending on style of flasher you have. I use a SM-6 on 1995 R100R. It is very easy to toggle through three different bightness levels.

[26667]

This Kissan unit seems great. Not only 4 running lights, but flashing brakes as well. i sent them an email to 2ble check. Thanx. I'll report back

[535is]

I re-read an old article from "Airmail" today about the importance of horizontal lighting rather than just a single spot like the headlight. In short, it makes us more "recognizable" to cagers.

Do you not have a Hella Q-I lamp in your RS? I use the same thing on my cars because it has great horizontal spread as well as a nice sharp cutoff. There isn't much that would help me see better. OTOH, if you're concerned about cars, remember they can crash into police cars with flashing lights ... :dunno

[26667]

not only do I not have one, I don't even know what one is. :dunno


...ok I'm familiar w Hella lamps, but what's a Q-I, and "in" where?:scratch

[Bob_M]

My brother-in-law told me that I needed to craft the shape in heavy card stock. I made about 5 of the boomerang shapes in card stock before getting one just right. I marked all of the places that needed to be milled out to clear the brake lines and fasteners, and then sent him the template. He cut the light bar from a plate of 5/16 alloy plate on a band saw and milled the required shapes into it and the ornamental band as well.

I took it home and removed a bit more material and polished it and it fits great. I put black electrical tape on the metal as a gasket against the fiberglass.

On the back side, inside the fairing, I took cedar fence board and carved it into a doubler. The inside of the fairing is really a complex shape. I smeared toothpaste on the contact points of the fairing and removed the wood that picked up the “marking paste”. This required about 100 trips from the bike to the workbench where I had a wood chisel and sanding tools.

When the wood was fitted I fiberglassed it so that it could take loading and painted it black. 4 machine screws on each side bolt through the light bar and through the fairing lip then through the wood/fiberglass doublers.

The down side is that it makes oil changes even more complicated because the central fairing panel and the lowers are sandwiched between the light bar and doubler.

[26667]

nifty install!!

It's got me thinking.....then I think. Nah. i'm just not that much of a crfatsman. But still, that's a nice set-up.

[Radar41]

Bob;

Can you send more pictures of the 910 install?

Also have you increased the output of the charging system to handle the additional load?

thanks,

radar

[Bob_M]

I am not doing anything now that requires taking all this apart (at this time). It will take a few days to get more photos, and I will make the photos focus on fit and fittings. When I do take it apart I will get more shots.

I have upgraded to the Omega 400W alternator. I run 35W bulbs in the 910s in the winter so that I can also run heated vest and gloves. In the summer I swap to 55s. The bulbs came with 85W bulbs, and they overwhelmed the system. (About 325W total draw on the charging system - melted connections) Rick @ Mororrad Elektric said that he had gotten a bad batch of diode boards and he sent me a new one free of charge. I suppose the system with proper diode board would run up to about 400W, but once bitten / twice shy: I like to leave about 100W buffer between what I have the system draw, and its maximum output.

With 35s, and vest and gloves the charging system (now) works perfectly

[535is]

not only do I not have one, I don't even know what one is. :dunno
I think you do. It is the stock headlamp on mine, anyway. I don't think US bikes came with sealed beams, did they?
...ok I'm familiar w Hella lamps, but what's a Q-I, and "in" where?:scratch
QI = Quartz-iodide - it is the H4 bulb they use. I think it is standard in all airheads (I know for sure it is in Euro bikes, since that is what mine is). I was saying, the stock headlamp has a pretty good beam pattern to begin with. It is by no means a "spot" beam.

[lkchris]

Sounds good, but I'm confused. My RS doesn't have the RT 'flipouts'

Nor does my picture show them.

It's about the electrical system, which can't handle two auxiliary lights at the same time.

[lkchris]

I think you do. It is the stock headlamp on mine, anyway. I don't think US bikes came with sealed beams, did they?

No BMW US bike EVER came with sealed beam light.

[26667]

Now I get it. and yeah, you're right. The lighting is pretty good, and the led tail is an improvement on the backside. And while I'm a big fan of helping the mopes see me and perhaps choose not to run into me, I think it's mostly the weather. When is this ****e going to end???

I still like the deal Kisan sells tho'. Running lites plus a flashing brake light? Dude!
I used to have one of those Cyberlites. man! did that freak people out! I might as well have been shooting at them. But the poor thing got broke when my bike tipped over in the Northridge quake.

i think the best all time number one hi-viz item however, is a black and white oilhead RT w lights mounted over the mirrors. I tried to follow two CHiPs as they split lanes up the 405 one day. The cars parted like the Red Sea for Charleton Heston...and then closed right back up again in front of me.:laugh

[Bob_M]

attached

[Bob_M]

backing doubler

[Bob_M]

lite bar underside

[Bob_M]

lite bar front

[26667]

Hey, thanx for the nice pix! That's a really neat install. Looks like it has the added benefit of an improved brake lione holder, too.

[Boxerkuh]

That is a neat, custom light bar. Well done!!! :thumb You will not see that duplicated a lot!!