Installing Aux. Lights

[nonskid]

Today I tore by bike apart to install a set of Hella fog lights. I wasn't sure where I wanted them, fork mount (I'd have to make a bracket) or under the oil coolers. I decided on the oil coolers. This is the first time I've removed the gas tank. After reading about all the trouble people had with the quick disconnects I was a little apprehensive about taking them apart. They came apart with no problem. I'm glad I had my brother around for an extra set of hands. Everything is wired and zip tied and tomorrow I'll put the tank back on and reassemble the rest of it. I sure like this bike!

[Airman]

Today I tore by bike apart to install a set of Hella fog lights. I wasn't sure where I wanted them, fork mount (I'd have to make a bracket) or under the oil coolers. I decided on the oil coolers. This is the first time I've removed the gas tank. After reading about all the trouble people had with the quick disconnects I was a little apprehensive about taking them apart. They came apart with no problem. I'm glad I had my brother around for an extra set of hands. Everything is wired and zip tied and tomorrow I'll put the tank back on and reassemble the rest of it. I sure like this bike!

Excellent, Let's see some pictures !

[nonskid]

I got everything back together and everything still works. The lights are right above the exhaust header and they get HOT!! I can't hold my hand on them for more than a few seconds!! I hope the bulbs don't burn out fast. I would post pics but I have a problem with that. I can tear down a bike or car but can't post pics on any forums?

[Sunbeemer]

Ride faster! More airflow will cool them...

Congrats- you have a better chance of being seen, and less of a chance of being hit!

[towerworker]

" I was a little apprehensive about taking them apart. They came apart with no problem"


The problem with QD's is that it seems few have trouble getting them apart. It's after the taking apart and then putting them back together and making sure they stay that way!

Wayne

[ALFREDO]

Hello there nonskid. I just got a pair and was thinking about the best place to put them. I'll probably go with the installation under the oil coolers just like you did, but I'm somehow afraid of oppening holes in the stock parts :-), by the way, the bottom part of the oil coolers is not flat, how did you solve it?

How has been your experience so far with the heat from the exhaust header affecting the lights? Would you recommend it?

Thanks and happy riding!

[Twempie]

Check out Gord's installation
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1471#p12533

I have 1100 PIAAs on my bike, mounted like Gords bike. Except I painted the brackets silver to match the bike. The only problem I encountered was the PIAA mounting hardware didn't exactly fit the RCU brackets. There are four holes on the horizontal part of the RCU bracket to hang the PIAA lights, none of the four holes were of the correct size for the PIAA "universal" mounting hardware. The PIAA bolts were either too big or too small so I had to drill one of the RCU bracket holes to a larger size to accommodate the PIAA mounting hardware... and also use a smaller bolt and nylock than what was provided by PIAA.

It's an easy installation. The only option with the provided PIAA universal mounts was to hang the lights from the front of my forks. I decided this was a terrible solution because, no matter what, the lights were able to be inadvertently swung without much effort.

As for wiring, I simply ran the white-colored switch wire to the tail light. It was my preference to have the lights available when the ignition was on.

[rdsmith3]

I also used RCU brackets.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13723&p=122794&hilit=+RCU#p122794

[Twempie]

Here's some pics of my PIAA setup.

[Buckster]

Turned out very nice!

[929bladerunner]

Hey Twempie, like the look of those lights and their location. Can I ask how much they cost and where you bought them from please.
Where are you located, UK by any chance ?

[bransan]

Here is pic of My very inexpensive implement lights with aircraft landing lights installed. These lights cost about $14 for the sealed beam lamp and $10 for the implement housing. I have tried many different lights,and these work the best for My type of riding,(lot's of late night rides through the north woods of Minnesota).

[Twempie]

Hey Twempie, like the look of those lights and their location. Can I ask how much they cost and where you bought them from please.
Where are you located, UK by any chance ?

I'm originally from Northumberland but now call Seattle my home (the England badge on the windshield was from Halfords - picked it up the last time I was home to see the family).

The lights are PIAA 1100s and the brackets are by RCU. I got the brackets from A&S Cycle http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1670
Funny thing about the brackets, they looked silver on the website but when I got them, they were brown.

These are the lights. http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/Lamp-pages/1100x.html
Should you ever need to contact PIAA, they're a great company to deal with. I bought my lights from local dealer, but they can be had just about anywhere. They're not the cheapest lights, but I've owned PIAAs before and there's something to be said about trusting your kit, and they work well during the short days of the northwestern winters.

I steered away from utilitarian look. I'll save that for when I get a GS or KLR or the like.

PS: Thanks, Buckster.

[ALFREDO]

I installed the Hella F550 under the coolers (just to keep the roadster look), here are a few pictures.









Vss

[rdsmith3]

Alfredo

You did a good job -- it looks great.

[ALFREDO]

Thanks, the link to the complete installation photos: [url]http://picasaweb.google.com/alfredomule ... 1150R#[url]

Ráfagas

[ALFREDO]

"I shall preview all my posts" http://picasaweb.google.com/alfredomule ... htsR1150R#

[rdsmith3]

you just need a / before the second "url"