Low-Cost Driving Lights

[JustinNck1]

So I have been wanting a set of LED driving lights for awhile, but I just haven't spent the money for quality lights like LR4s or Clearwaters and the fancy light controllers. I thought I would give a low cost alternative a try. I bought a set of cheap Ebay flood lights and a push button switch. Totals were $22.59 for the lights and $7.79 for the switch. I had all the wiring materials as well as some scrap metal for brackets. Got everything bolted up and wired today, and after a short spin through town and down the highway, I am very pleased. Someday, I may finally upgrade to some nice high dollar lights, but these aren't bad for their price point.

Switch Mounted


Lights Mounted


And.....They Work!


Here are the links to the products I used.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/322184351379?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PU ... UTF8&psc=1

[raYzerman]

I use a set of 10W LED's for visibility lighting, as they don't really throw that much light down the road. I also installed Evitek LED headlamp bulbs and with the amount of night riding I do, that is plenty of light. I've never felt the need to spend the big money on lighting.

[JustinNck1]

I really wanted for edge of the road lighting more than anything. These work great for that.

[Hppants]

Mine are the Mondo-motos and they look very much like Nicks. 10W, IP68 standard. I did have one exhibit a driver failure, but I replaced it and so far, so good. Like you, I ran a cheap waterproof switch, and the circuit goes to my fuze-block. Since the lights draw such a small amount of current (less than 1 amp each), I simply used the switch to break the hot wire, and since the switch is rated for up to 20 amps, I have no problems.

[JustinNck1]

Mine are the Mondo-motos and they look very much like Nicks. 10W, IP68 standard. I did have one exhibit a driver failure, but I replaced it and so far, so good. Like you, I ran a cheap waterproof switch, and the circuit goes to my fuze-block. Since the lights draw such a small amount of current (less than 1 amp each), I simply used the switch to break the hot wire, and since the switch is rated for up to 20 amps, I have no problems.

Yeah, that is basically what I did (Minus the Fuze-block. Gonna get one of those soon). I contacted the manufacturer of the switch, explained my situation and they said their switch could handle that load easily.

[Steel_Gin]

Very nice! LED day time runners are next on my never ending continually growing Farkles list.

[wheatonFJR]

Good post Justin.

[Redfish]

Well I don't like it. I think it sucks.

If you did not spend hundreds, or better yet thousands of $$$ then your stuff simply cannot be any good.


Seriously, this is Very Good Stuff.

Fork mounted LEDs have made my bike much more noticeable to cars and the safety factor of that cannot be expressed in dollars. Pop has told me that he thinks some drivers mistake him for a police bike based on how they get out of his way.

I get a good deal of useful light while making low speed, driveway entrances and also some help seeing the deer standing in the ditches on the side of the road.

The fact that you did yourself so much good for so little money and also showed others how to do the same is wonderful. This forum definitely needs more of these kinds of posts.

[Uncle Hud]

Just curious, JustiNck1, about aiming these guys left/right. I'm thinking of aiming each of mine a little 'outboard' to illuminate critters (or people) on the sides of the road.

Keeping the up/down aiming horizontal, but considering the left/right to spread a little from straight ahead.

Any insights?

[JustinNck1]

Just curious, JustiNck1, about aiming these guys left/right. I'm thinking of aiming each of mine a little 'outboard' to illuminate critters (or people) on the sides of the road.

Keeping the up/down aiming horizontal, but considering the left/right to spread a little from straight ahead.

Any insights?

These definitely have a good bit of adjustment outward if desired. I have mine mostly inward and it is very close to touching the fork leg, so not much more inward was available. I went with the Flood over the spot for this reason, it lights up areas past the guardrails.

[Redfish]

Just curious, JustiNck1, about aiming these guys left/right. I'm thinking of aiming each of mine a little 'outboard' to illuminate critters (or people) on the sides of the road.

Keeping the up/down aiming horizontal, but considering the left/right to spread a little from straight ahead.

Any insights?

Well you didn't ask me so...

But I will tell you anyway. I keep mine pointing ever so slightly downward because they are bright enough to make oncoming vehicles "flash" at me when I ride in the dark. It is unfortunate that I do ride to work in the pre-dawn darkness, but that is part of why I got these in the first place.

I keep the left side pointing straight ahead so it doesn't shine directly into oncoming traffic and the right side pointing outboard to help illuminate any critters that are on the side of the road.

The LEDs are still very bright and make the bike very visible during the brightest sunlit days. If I never rode at night I would turn the lights upward and more straight ahead since their sole purpose would be to make me more conspicuous.

[Hppants]

Agree with Redfish. I rarely ride at night. My driving lights are pointing right in your face, and I make no bones about it. At night, I switch them off.

[wheatonFJR]

Coming from the Ramble, the first hour or so was in the dark...atleast it was an interstate. I couldn't see squat except the halos around the reflective signs and pavement reflectors. Totally sucked.

I see why people want more light.

Of course the temps in the low 40s and helmet fog didn't help too much either.

I will not be riding at night unless it's an emergency...or an extremely long day.

[JustinNck1]

Well I wear a tinted visor all the time. I carry clear safety glasses and leave my shield open if I need to see better, but I don't mind riding with the shield down in the dark, but this extra light helps significantly.

[Uncle Hud]

<snip, snip, snip> I will not be riding at night unless it's an emergency...or an extremely long day.

Jeez, what a wussie! (Now that we've gotten the obligatory insult out of the way ...)

Wheatie, that's exactly why I have these: it's harder to see at night with aging retinas and bifocals and eyeglasses fogging and what all else -- ESPECIALLY if it's been a long day. I ride a lot in the dark, especially commuting in the winter, and I want the extra candlepower. Ride together to EOM this fall? If we start an hour or two before sunrise, I'll be happy to lead the way for a little while.

Oh yeah: Thanks Redfish, that's precisely the aiming scheme I was planning.

[Allen_C]

Looks like my setup, I like it!

[FTL900]

Well I wear a tinted visor all the time. I carry clear safety glasses and leave my shield open if I need to see better, but I don't mind riding with the shield down in the dark, but this extra light helps significantly.

Good write-up on the lights... for the helmet visor, I have a transition visor on my Bell helmet and I love it!! The Bell visor is around $120 IIRC.
I bought a Shoei GT Air recently, and I'm going to upgrade to the transition visor for that too. As expensive as it is ($180 for the Shoei visor), you only spend it once, and I've been enjoying my Bell helmet with that visor for over 2 years. it's great to have a tinted visor in mid-day but a clear one to ride home at night and not have to think about it. As far as I know, Bell and Shoei are the only two helmet companies that have the transition visor. I won't buy another helmet that doesn't have this option available.

In this picture, I had just walked outside to get on my new (to me) bike, so it's just starting to darken.
It's tough to spend that much money on a visor, but it's a purchase that I don't regret.



Here's the same helmet and visor during an afternoon ride, and you can see that it's pretty dark. My passenger had a regular tinted visor and mine is actually darker.

[Allen_C]

Well I wear a tinted visor all the time. I carry clear safety glasses and leave my shield open if I need to see better, but I don't mind riding with the shield down in the dark, but this extra light helps significantly.

Good write-up on the lights... for the helmet visor, I have a transition visor on my Bell helmet and I love it!! The Bell visor is around $120 IIRC.
I bought a Shoei GT Air recently, and I'm going to upgrade to the transition visor for that too. As expensive as it is ($180 for the Shoei visor), you only spend it once, and I've been enjoying my Bell helmet with that visor for over 2 years. it's great to have a tinted visor in mid-day but a clear one to ride home at night and not have to think about it. As far as I know, Bell and Shoei are the only two helmet companies that have the transition visor. I won't buy another helmet that doesn't have this option available.

In this picture, I had just walked outside to get on my new (to me) bike, so it's just starting to darken.
It's tough to spend that much money on a visor, but it's a purchase that I don't regret.


Here's the same helmet and visor during an afternoon ride, and you can see that it's pretty dark. My passenger had a regular tinted visor and mine is actually darker.

Do you realize the GT Air has a retractable sun shade built in? You will always have a sun shade available AND the clear faceshield!

[JustinNck1]

I won't be going away from a modular any time soon. After many years of riding with a full face, I have now grown to enjoy the convenience of the modular. I figure someday Shoei may release a modular with a transition shield.

[FTL900]

Do you realize the GT Air has a retractable sun shade built in? You will always have a sun shade available AND the clear faceshield!

I know- I've used it once or twice, but I'm not a fan of internal flip-down shields, I don't think the optics are as good and I don't use it much. I also always ride with sunglasses, and could just remove those at night, but I really like the transition shield, so I'll part with a bit of my expendable income for it.