Decent aux Light

[pessimal]

Can anyone help with this.

Rode my bike into work this morning at 7am and discovered just how bad the lights are on it.

I have already put in a better bulb, but the dip beam may as well be a candle in a jam jar.

I keep thinking that a pair of aux lights may be an answer, and there seems to be plenty of ebay specials knocking around, but i would like something thats got a bit of spread to the beam to light the road, rather than just being a spot light, or something thats going annoy other motorists.

If anyones got any suggestions please let me know.

many thanks

[Rubin215]

Take the car?

[LuS1fer]

I just bought one of these off ebay for my old MSX125 which had a candle for a headlight. I bought the two LED one that clips to the handlebars and put the battery pack by the clocks. It was twice as bright as the standard headlight. You might want the third one for a bit more speed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10000Lm-2-3-CREE-XML-T6-...

I suspect you can hard wire it but I didn't bother.
As for dip, you just nudge it down and pull it back up. Crude but effective.
Downside is you need suitable handlebars facing the right way, so to speak so to improve mine, I bought a piece of plastic pipe, carved a U out of each end and wedged that in the middle of the bars which raised the light and gave me a straight trajectory.

[pessimal]

I bought a similar light for my bicycle, but with a single led and len's and managed to buy a different lens on eBay that gave the light a more horizontally spread beam, was wondering if you could do the same with the bolt on eBay lights

[gareth_r]

One problem with "styling" is that you cannot easily improve the lights. In the (very) old days, when all bikes used standard 7 inch or 5.75 inch lamps, you could just swap the crap headlight for a better one from Cibié or Hella or Marchal, or even Wipac.

What's the bike? That will affect the options.


Also, strictly speaking, it's legal to have two dipped headlights, but it's not legal to have auxiliary lamps on at the same time as low beam (except in poor visibilty, i.e. fog lamps). I'm not saying that should bother you , but just so you know.

[CaptainSlow]

gareth_r said:

Also, strictly speaking, it's legal to have two dipped headlights, but it's not legal to have auxiliary lamps on at the same time as low beam (except in poor visibilty, i.e. fog lamps). I'm not saying that should bother you , but just so you know.

The police instructors on my bike safe course said my aux light was a great addition for safety and wondered why I only had one not two.

[pessimal]

any other help on this??

what about
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2pcs-125W-U5-Motorcycle...

or
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-125W-Motorcycle-CREE...

or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Spot-Fog-Lamp-Motorc...

as i say, i dont want to be blinding other road users, but i really do need to be able to see where i am going!

[Max5476]

What's the bike?

It might be as simple as re-wiring the headlight directly to the battery, and using a relay to switch it on and off, as well as fitting a super bright halogen bulb, i have had good luck with the osram nightbreaker bulbs. You could make the rewiring kit, or you can buy standard ones online.

[Mud_]

pessimal said:

any other help on this??

what about
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2pcs-125W-U5-Motorcycle...

or
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-125W-Motorcycle-CREE...

or
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Spot-Fog-Lamp-Motorc...

as i say, i dont want to be blinding other road users, but i really do need to be able to see where i am going!

Those first ones are naff - very tight bright spot. I would assume the second ones are the same.

[pessimal]

its a 2005 BMW F650cs

from what i understand the lights are pretty naff full stop, so i figure the easiest way is a relay and some aux lights.

I have already fitted a brighter bulb into the head light, so i can at least tell its on now, but the beam pattern is bad, so short of pulling the reflector apart and re-chroming or re coating it, i dont think its going to improve much.

[gareth_r]

Your original post mentioned a poor dip beam.

Will you be able to find auxiliary lights that won't dazle oncoming traffic?

[pessimal]

gareth_r said:

Your original post mentioned a poor dip beam.

Will you be able to find auxiliary lights that won't dazle oncoming traffic?

dunno, thats why i'm asking!

[gareth_r]

pessimal said:

gareth_r said:

Your original post mentioned a poor dip beam.

Will you be able to find auxiliary lights that won't dazle oncoming traffic?

dunno, thats why i'm asking!

I don't think you will.

Unless you modify/remove the plastics and mount a decent light, it looks as if the best you can do is fit better bulbs, and run thicker wires, through relays, directly between the battery terminals and the bulbs.


http://www.f650.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?30465-...

"Easiest upgrade is to fit better bulbs - not higher wattage rated, just better quality halogen cool white light.
F650CS is H1 for the high beam and H3 for the low beam from your local auto store - may have to buy twin packs for best price and have a spare. I fitted these to mine and it's better for not much $ but still not wow awesome lights...
...The lighting circuit in the bike has no relay for the lights, just the handlebar switch, which has been known to give issues. If you up the wattage or power draw then new large wiring direct from the battery and switched by a relay is highly recommended.
Part of the problem seems to be the reflectors and small lamp shell size."