Triumphrat

Rider14 · 10-06-2011, 08:51 PM

So, I've researched and read and most of the good discussion on improving the black hole encountered when leaned over is well over a year old.

Other than some very radical projector replacement mods, and using the sides as high beams and upgraded to HID's cross aimed to maximize lighting, it looks like auxiliary mounts are the best solution.

I've added HID's to my regular low beams, but not the high.

First option is to upgrade the high beam to an HID as well, but I can't seem to find any detail on this improvement beyond it's better but not perfect. Can anyone give a more detailed description of whether an upgraded HID (this is in a 2006) high beam helps in the twisties?

Second option - auxiliary lights - are another possibility. Read about PIAAs and motolights and some $30 lights one guy used. Is the caliper and/or front fender still the best way to mount, and what are currently the best kits?

LED's should be much cheaper these days, as should HID's.

Anyone done the research recently?

Thanks fro any suggestions.

- Dan

(OnD - no preconceptions here - I only know that what I have is not sufficient for twisty riding at night).

tomsmith30 · 10-06-2011, 10:49 PM

Go to this website called .. www.ddmtuning.com the make a dual hid high and low bean kit in a 55w kit get the 4500k ones and then do the relay mod where you have two low beams and two high beams its what I have and when I feel the need for lights when leaning over at night I use hi beam use the search feature and search hid. I believe there is some info in the subject along with pics. If you still need more light then spend $300 on some led aux lights and cross beam them or just aim them where you need them

Rider14 · 10-06-2011, 11:21 PM

I've got ddm tuning HID's in my low beams, 5000k, but stock high beam. Is the 'dual' high beeam something that could work on an '06 Sprint? With the projectors, my understanding is one bulb per projector.

Might as well upgrade the high beaam - I don't use it to flash anyone, only for night riding when I'm not following anyone.

Love me some ddm. Did a great job, buut again, in a straight line.

-Dan

SprintST · 10-07-2011, 02:07 AM

You've probably already seen my solution, I'm pretty sure I posted it here. I've hung a pair of FF50 Hella fog lamps from the top brake caliper bolt. I've set them to parallel the fork legs, and adjusted them to point slightly out, so they will fill in the corners once the lame headlight cutoff darkens where I need too see. So far so good. If I were to do it over I'd figure an extra mount to use both caliper mount bolts, to 1) maintain aim once it's set, and 2) allow me to get a good torque wrench on the bolts again.

I'm not sold yet that the LED lights can reach out and illuminate enough area to be useful. Plus they are still a bit too expensive for me to experiment with.

I've tried to figure a way to make a mount located under the mirrors, using the mirror mounting bolts as the base, but seemed like a lot more work for me. I've seen kits on FJR1300s, ST1300s, and various BMWs that do much the same thing.

147sprint · 10-07-2011, 05:54 PM

I dismantled my headlamp and replaced the two stock dip beam projectors with replacement Hi/Lo projectors together with HIDs. These projectors have a solenoid in them that moves the cut-off shield down when switching to high beam, therfore giving you 3 main beam lamps, 2 of which are HID.

The main beam is now really impressive but although dip beam has a lot better spread of light and is way brighter than standard, the problem of the cut-off when leaning into a corner is still there. Still, I'm really pleased with the outcome and just ride a bit slower in the twisties at night (not a bad thing anyway)

Rider14 · 10-18-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 147sprint

I dismantled my headlamp and replaced the two stock dip beam projectors with replacement Hi/Lo projectors together with HIDs. These projectors have a solenoid in them that moves the cut-off shield down when switching to high beam, therfore giving you 3 main beam lamps, 2 of which are HID.

The main beam is now really impressive but although dip beam has a lot better spread of light and is way brighter than standard, the problem of the cut-off when leaning into a corner is still there. Still, I'm really pleased with the outcome and just ride a bit slower in the twisties at night (not a bad thing anyway)

Don't think i"ll be dismantling the headlamp assembly, so I'm thinking auxiliary lights.

Any new suggestions? Any better place to put them besides the forks? Anyone figure out how to put them on the mirror mounts? Would prefer them to be on the fairing, as the forks turn the opposite direction of the turn in deep leans...

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

- Dan

Bruce C · 10-18-2011, 05:09 PM

Dan
I use a 35w HID hi-beam. For my use it's a great way to go (for great light, going straight ahead). I would only recommend this route if you live/ride in mostly rural areas where you can leave the hi-beam on mile after mile. The long re-lite time after dipping the hi-beam in urban settings is a problem with the HID.
That said, look at the PIAA 004XT 35w(also comes in 55w) aux. light. Cost is about $125 a set W/ sw. and relay on eBay.
I mounted a pair of these under the front cowl on my K1200RS. We don't have the room to do this on the Sprint, but it's still a nice light.
And you are on the right track, the higher on the motorcycle you can mount aux. lighting the better.

Rider14 · 10-19-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce C

Dan
I use a 35w HID hi-beam. For my use it's a great way to go (for great light, going straight ahead). I would only recommend this route if you live/ride in mostly rural areas where you can leave the hi-beam on mile after mile. The long re-lite time after dipping the hi-beam in urban settings is a problem with the HID.
That said, look at the PIAA 004XT 35w(also comes in 55w) aux. light. Cost is about $125 a set W/ sw. and relay on eBay.
I mounted a pair of these under the front cowl on my K1200RS. We don't have the room to do this on the Sprint, but it's still a nice light.
And you are on the right track, the higher on the motorcycle you can mount aux. lighting the better.

Thanks Bruce - good suggestions. I don't do a lot of flashing to pass, so an HID in the high beam is likely to be a great improvement. BUT - my biggest concern is not seeing where I'm going when turning.

I bought some inexpensive lights at Walmart - $18. They are 50 watt halogens and look nicer than they are. With a little silicone sealant, they should be fine. Unfortunately, I can't really find
anywhere to mount them other than the front calipers, maybe the front fender bolts (haven't checked, but saw online that it's sometimes used).

What about right up against the fairing on the front most fairing bolt (on 2005 and up Sprints, there are 3 bolts that connect the side fairing)? Not sure if the light will angle properly due to the angled nature of the fairing, and I'll need a rubber washer to make sure I don't scratch up the fairing, but has anyone tried this?

- Dan

oldndumb · 10-19-2011, 07:46 PM

Not sure what the comment in your first post of this thread meant, but here goes anyway.

Fork or fender mount lights will not address your concern re road lighting while turning. Depending on the turn direction, the inner light will be aimed towards the ground, about a foot or so in front, and the outer light will be in possum hunting mode.

I used to run caliper mounted MotoLights for daytime visibility. I rarely turned them on at night because they were of no use in anything but a very slow turn.

I expect that a fairing mount will be the only lighting arrangement that will illuminate your direction of travel when leaning into a turn, or at least will be better than the stock lights or fork mounted units.

Rider14 · 10-20-2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldndumb

Not sure what the comment in your first post of this thread meant, but here goes anyway.

Fork or fender mount lights will not address your concern re road lighting while turning. Depending on the turn direction, the inner light will be aimed towards the ground, about a foot or so in front, and the outer light will be in possum hunting mode.

I used to run caliper mounted MotoLights for daytime visibility. I rarely turned them on at night because they were of no use in anything but a very slow turn.

I expect that a fairing mount will be the only lighting arrangement that will illuminate your direction of travel when leaning into a turn, or at least will be better than the stock lights or fork mounted units.

First comment referenced on/off times for HID's being a problem for high beams where you flash to pass or turn the high beams on and off with high frequency. That wouldn't be a problem for me - I only leave them on when there's no traffic in front of me or coming in the opposite direction, so an HID in the high beam would likely be an excellent improvement on my lighting (although when riding in a straight line, the HID low beams are excellent).

As for the auxiliary lights, I am thinking I may aim them way up to avoid their pointing towards the ground in leans, but they would then be in 'possum hunting mode' pretty much all the time, and would have to be off unless needed for no-traffic twisty riding...

My other thought is to mount them to the front most of the three bolts holding on the side fairings with some rubber washers to protect the paint. This would probably work much better than caliper or brake mounting; I just don't know if it's feasible. The lights are very lightweight, but the angle of the fairing may preclude proper adjustment of the aux lights...

Thanks,

- Dan

EDIT - OND - if you were referring to my comment directed to you about no preconceptions, I was referring to your opinion that I generally look for someone to agree with my preconceived notions (e.g., my inquiry as to whether our brake lines are actually steel braided lines sparked by my being told by someone I trust they were not) as opposed to just accepting the expert knowledge available on the forum at face value. Trying not to invite your ire, pointing out that I've researched up and down this site, and was looking for some new knowledge. That's it.