Light bar LED driving light install

[chicagorandy]

I saw an inexpensive pair of LED driving lights at WalMart and they followed me home so off to the garage for yet another adventure in tinkering.



First I shaped a length of aluminum bar stock to suit the project:





Then out to my NASA clean room paint booth for some flat black rattle can paint:



Once the paint dried I attached the two lights:



Then I attached the bar to the bike under the headlight using the rear-most two screws (I needed to use longer ones which by luck I had on hand):



I found a waterproof switch at Menards and drilled one hole in the left fairing to house it. I also added a separate relay for the lights and zip-tied it to the frame.:



I used some 1/4" cable routing corrugated plastic to protect the wiring going under the fairing:



And voila! It works! I won't know how effective they are until I take a night ride if nothing else they will increase my visibility and swapping for a brighter pair will be a couple minute job max should I opt to upgrade at some point:



While I was out there I also changed the headlight for a "Silver" class H-4 bulb that is supposed to be 35% brighter than standard.

[SgtSlag]

Lumens and watts? Inquiring minds want to know...

Love the NASA Clean Room Painting Booth -- you can never be too careful when painting stuff for exposure in the ultra-caustic terran atmosphere! Love the mounting bracket. I installed a couple of 100 Lumen/3 Watt LED's down on the engine guard bars, using C-clamps, and straight aluminum bar stock [cut-to-length, drill, paint, mount, done -- no metal bending involved, and, "No small animals were harmed during the testing of this product." (Fingers crossed behind back...)].

Really a very nice, professional job. It looks so easy, even I could do it! Seriously, thanks for sharing! Cheers!

[chicagorandy]

No tech data (lumens or watts) is on or in the packaging nor on Optronics website. These appear to be more like bright enough to get noticed but not bright or focused enough to light up the road.

I got what I paid for I reckon. For under $25 I should not expect much more. I will keep on the lookout for a pair of true high powered LEDs to go on sale. For now these will serve just fine. I don't do much night riding to begin with.

[chicagorandy]

Suspicions confirmed - did some night driving this evening out in the forest preserves - the LED lights are GREAT for being seen, not so much for seeing.

On a plus side, they do not draw much electricity so while they may not do any great good, they do little harm.

[Lucasind]

......Another nice install .....You're XII is coming along nicely !

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

................ while they may not do any great good, they do little harm.

Oh but I disagree, they help you be seen!
Knowledge of your existenceon the roadway is a huge help when it comes to staying alive when preventing fools from turning left in-front of you! That's why I have a headlight modulator on my XII.

[debron]

................ while they may not do any great good, they do little harm.

Oh but I disagree, they help you be seen!
Knowledge of your existenceon the roadway is a huge help when it comes to staying alive when preventing fools from turning left in-front of you!

+1

[davidl]

+2 anything that can make me be seen better is a +

[chicagorandy]

I am 100% behind ATGATT and being SEEN by the cagers.....had one do the left turn in front of me while I was on my Honda GL500I....WITH the running lights on, while wearing a reflective vest.

When she hit me the bike and I took separate slides about 50' down the pavement. Broke my left leg in a few places, about $60K in damages not counting all the therapy sessions afterwards...and NO of course she did not have any insurance or assets to sue. I now do get to set off all the metal detectors in airports.

To the direct issue, I was 'hoping' that the lights would serve a dual purpose and improve night driving as well. I know the Voyager doesnt have a huge amount of spare watts available so I'm staying away for the more affordable halogen driving/fog lights, but quality LEDs are out of my budget range.

[Tonyvdb]

If you take a look at this post,
http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... =15&t=8245
I found these Cree LED driving lights on Amazon for a very reasonable price and they do light up the way at night quite nicely.

[chicagorandy]

Thanks for the lead - I'll give them a try soon.

[chicagorandy]

The pair of Cree driving lights (also called work lights) arrived late this afternoon. Tested one - CRIKEY! - these bad boys are BRIGHT!

Excellent - it will be simple enough to swap them in place of the lower output LEDs now on the bike.

FWIW - The housings are VERY sturdy and heavily made - I am stunned that they are able to sell this product for only $10 more than the el-cheapos I got at WalMart.

[Tonyvdb]

Ya, aren't they great for the price!

You will be noticed on the road thats for sure.

[chicagorandy]

Done and done - hope the machine can handle the 36 watt extra load.





VERY bright.