FJRiders.com

Clearwater or Denali for crashbar mounted lights?
Should be dimmable and switch to full power when high beams are on.
Any ideas or experiences?

I have Clearwater Darlas, but they are fork/fender mounted on my 15ES. They could be mounted on my T-Rex bars, but, I like them on the forks for better conspicuity. I use the yellow slip covers.

Clearwater. Not the cheapest, but IMHO the best option.

0face wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:55 pm Clearwater. Not the cheapest, but IMHO the best option.

Plus 1, love my Darlas on the the S10. They are rugged too, just ask Poolboy.

Rugged with exceptional customer service. And freaking BRIGHT! (till you dim 'em). Don't know much about the Denalis one way or the other.

Me, I'm for less expensive. Those things are a ton of money.

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:49 pm Me, I'm for less expensive. Those things are a ton of money.

Bob - look at these Rubymoto R4's - https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/li ... roducts/r4 and https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/ac ... ight-mount


A single R4 is rated at 4,296 lumens, 8,592 lumens as a pair.
SPECIFICATIONS, per single light:
-290 grams
-33 watts, 2.4 amps (@ 13.4v)

bigjohnsd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:50 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:49 pm Me, I'm for less expensive. Those things are a ton of money.

Bob - look at these Rubymoto R4's - https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/li ... roducts/r4 and https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/ac ... ight-mount


A single R4 is rated at 4,296 lumens, 8,592 lumens as a pair.
SPECIFICATIONS, per single light:
-290 grams
-33 watts, 2.4 amps (@ 13.4v)

Lights - $399
Wiring harness - $99
Mounts(FJR) - $30
Yellow slip covers - $25
Totals - $553 + Tax@7% $38.71 = $591.71 + out of stock

Clearwater Darla set, harness, mounts, slip covers, with $15.35 shipping = $539.35
This is my 3rd set of Clearwaters, very satisfied, no issues.

I am avoiding ordering Darlas, to compliment my Ericas, by the skin of my teeth. The leads are already there. It’d take 20 minutes to install them.

Praying for strength.

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 6:38 pm I am avoiding ordering Darlas, to compliment my Ericas, by the skin of my teeth. The leads are already there. It’d take 20 minutes to install them.

Praying for strength.

I put the Krista/Erica hybrid set on my 21 GS. One spot one flood. Very pleased with this setup. I don't think Darlas would add much to your Erica's, but more is always better. Maybe give you better conspicuity with the larger triangle. Would definitely recommend the yellow slip covers. Fork mounted does turn with the front wheel.

I had the Krista/Erica hybrid set on a previous bike. They’re great lights, with wicked low draw for the light they provide.

Toter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 7:08 pm

bill lumberg wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 6:38 pm I am avoiding ordering Darlas, to compliment my Ericas, by the skin of my teeth. The leads are already there. It’d take 20 minutes to install them.

Praying for strength.

I put the Krista/Erica hybrid set on my 21 GS. One spot one flood. Very pleased with this setup. I don't think Darlas would add much to your Erica's, but more is always better. Maybe give you better conspicuity with the larger triangle. Would definitely recommend the yellow slip covers. Fork mounted does turn with the front wheel.

Toter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 5:51 pm

bigjohnsd wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:50 pm

raYzerman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 4:49 pm Me, I'm for less expensive. Those things are a ton of money.

Bob - look at these Rubymoto R4's - https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/li ... roducts/r4 and https://www.rubymoto.com/collections/ac ... ight-mount


A single R4 is rated at 4,296 lumens, 8,592 lumens as a pair.
SPECIFICATIONS, per single light:
-290 grams
-33 watts, 2.4 amps (@ 13.4v)

Lights - $399
Wiring harness - $99
Mounts(FJR) - $30
Yellow slip covers - $25
Totals - $553 + Tax@7% $38.71 = $591.71 + out of stock

Clearwater Darla set, harness, mounts, slip covers, with $15.35 shipping = $539.35
This is my 3rd set of Clearwaters, very satisfied, no issues.

I don't think they are going on an FJR, the mounts for his new bike come with the lights as do the harness and the yellow covers

I don't think they are going on an FJR, the mounts for his new bike come with the lights as do the harness and the yellow covers

Lol….sssshhhhhhh it ain’t a done deal yet

CollingsBob wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 8:23 pm
Lol….sssshhhhhhh it ain’t a done deal yet

Oh, it’s a done deal. You might not think so, but we all know

Well, pictures, or it never happened. Which brand of Kool-Aid has seduced you?

Toter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:47 pm Well, pictures, or it never happened. Which brand of Kool-Aid has seduced you?

I’m seriously considering a BMW R1300 GS..A road version as opposed to off-road..triple black.

I've owned both Denali and Clearwater lights. My 2007 had a set of Denali D2D lights on fender bolts that got destroyed in 2019 when we got hit at EOM. On the 2014 when I set it up I went to a set of Clearwater Darlas to go with the Kristas I had. The Denali lights were good and I would say I could recommend them to someone. The CLearwater lights are even better though IMO. The wiring harnesses, mounts, and instructions from Clearwater were just better put together and the light pattern an improvement over the Denali.

CollingsBob wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 12:13 am

Toter wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 10:47 pm Well, pictures, or it never happened. Which brand of Kool-Aid has seduced you?

I’m seriously considering a BMW R1300 GS..A road version as opposed to off-road..triple black.

I think when your BAT ad says "I'm selling this Vincent to buy a BMW R1300", we're past "considering"

By the way, that R1300 looks amazing!

CollingsBob wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 1:03 pm Clearwater or Denali for crashbar mounted lights?
Should be dimmable and switch to full power when high beams are on.
Any ideas or experiences?

Mainly for conspicuity or for riding at night?
I have mirror mounted Clearwater Ericas and fork mounted Glendas (with amber lenses) and they are flawless. The Ericas will turn night into day. Both dimmable and both go to full with high beam (or horn). The Glendas on the forks provide a good lighting "triangle" that makes you very noticeable to other drivers without being annoyingly bright.

That said, these lights came with my 2011, but I would not likely have bought them. I don't ride very often at night and when I do it is usually in the city where the eye-searing brilliance isn't needed so they stay dimmed. Clearwaters are very expensive and if your main objective is to be seen as opposed to being able to illuminate Bambi at 500 meters then I think there are many cheaper options.

I would look for something in the size (and luminance) of the Darlas. Dimmable, but with a controller that goes to max with the high beam. The horn interface is fairly effective as well. I can't even begin to suggest any particular make or model. Personally, I think I am going to dive into AliExpress for some lights for my F700GS - mainly for conspicuity. If they don't work out there isn't any great loss. I would probably step it up a bit for a new R1300GS... I assume you have delved into the relevant BMW forums on ADVRider and elsewhere?

I do not have Clearwater lights, but there are plenty of positive comments about them above.

On my '09, I have a (old) set of LED's from (the now closed) LEDRyder.com site. These were cheap. I've run them on the FJR for many years, and ran one on my DRZ.

For wiring / control, I set up a Skene controller. Lights are connected to a relay that is only energized after start up. With the Skene controller, you can have up to 3 light (power / brightness) settings plus full (100%) power via a signal from the highbeams. You program the percentages, and switch it via a 3 position switch. I have mine set to run at 20%, 40%, 60% and then 100% when highbeams are on. I can run them at 20% all the time without blinding oncoming traffic (no flashed headlights).

I have 2 switches mounted on the left side where the OE factory grip heater knob would go on a Gen 2. One is for power to the relay (so I can turn the lights off completely) and the other is a 3 position (on / off / on) that provides the signal to the skene controller for the programmed power levels.

I used marine grade (boating) switches. No issue with rain causing issues with the sealed switches - and they are biggest enough to operate by feel with gloves on.

Mine are mounted under the mirrors. Their purpose for me was the illuminate the road when tipped into a corner at night. Think roads like the dragon, Skyway, BRP. They throw light in a cone pattern (no DOT cut off), so the light up the road when the bike is tipped over. when I key the highbeams, it is like standing in a football stadium bright...