EuroKClub
General forum area => Other (K) Bikes or anything else! => Topic started by: raesewell on December 17, 2015, 06:30:49 pm
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I thought some of you might be interested in my little light project.
I wanted LED fork mounted lights to increase the bikes visibility profile and came up with an idea.
I got the lights super cheap on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-White-LED-Highlight-Car-Motor-Motorcycle-Spot-Light-Fog-Driving-Lamp-Headlight-/331370185258?hash=item4d2733c22a:g:Ef4AAOSwyTZUXHfN
When I bought them they were �1.78 they have since increased slightly in price, but still cheap. The only drawback is the delivery time, I was in no hurry.
Here they are in the process of being given a coat of clear lacquer
(http://preview.ibb.co/cyh4DF/20151217_173832_zpsrbeypyig.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fBb9fv)
I am awaiting a delivery of 30mm X 2mm aluminium flat bar to make some new brackets. The ones that come with them are tinned steel and would probably rust in very short order.
These are the spacers to stand the bracket off of the forks. These are made from 20mm O/D 10MM I/D aluminium tube. There is the section of raw tube to show the before and after difference.
(http://preview.ibb.co/fSjjDF/20151217_165606_zpsyzbvfhv7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eu8BtF)
The more eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed that one spacer is slightly shorter than the others. This is to accommodate the ABS sensor bracket on the left fork.
Here are the brackets (still work in progress) I have the two stuck back to back so that they remain identical.
(http://preview.ibb.co/jm24DF/20151217_174037_zpssqdp1rb6.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kRMaLv)
(http://preview.ibb.co/iGst7a/20151217_174011_zpsjviqa7bl.jpg) (http://ibb.co/bw30na)
I got myself some really nice bolts from Pro Bolt
Clicky Linky to Pro-Bolt (https://www.pro-bolt.com/stainless/stainless-steel-flanged-hex-m10-x-1-25mm-x-70mm.html)
The components so far
(http://preview.ibb.co/mBLfna/20151217_174326_zpsmmopa5ox.jpg) (http://ibb.co/jW19fv)
Edit:
One thing I forgot to mention was that inside the lights is a small circuit board so I filled the lights with epoxy potting compound to make them truly waterproof.
The one on the left is only partially filled, it took a bit more than I expected so I have some more on order.
(http://preview.ibb.co/hZVPDF/20151217_193220_zpshhlunhgv.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cARxYF)
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Nice piccies oh wise one!
Is the green stuff on the front coming off or is it part of the light unit?
Brian (who is avoiding getting on his high horse about bloody motorcyclists dazzling him and waking him up)
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It's coming off Brian it's just blue masking tape to protect the lens and heat sync fins from the lacquer.
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...ah, now I see the light ::)
Brian (who sees way too many bloody lights [STOP it, right now] :o )
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The aluminium flat bar turned up this morning and here it is complete with adhesive residue against one of the original brackets.
I would love to get in the garage and get started but I have to go and do the Christmas grocery shopping with Melanie.
Tomorrow maybe?
(http://preview.ibb.co/c1APDF/20151218_113606_zps0c9lqjcx.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mHjjDF)
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Those look the business Rae. Are they about 50mm diameter? What sort of beam do they throw?
I thought that the DRLs that I did for the K1200S where a little bit too small and I'm interested to see how yours turn out.
BTW the link that you give for your LEDs comes up with the following message. This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available.
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Well, I found a bit of time after the shopping took less time than expected and knocked these out on the quick this afternoon.
The 2 new brackets and one of the old ones in the middle for a comparison.
(http://preview.ibb.co/eYGs0v/20151218_163551_zps08k3c0ra.jpg) (http://ibb.co/g6rQLv)
I have fixed the link Tom. The original link was to the item I had already purchased.
The OD of the lights is 54mm, I'm not sure what type of beam they throw yet.
Bearing in mind the price, I didn't expected them to get out of the box in one piece, so the fact that they work is a bonus. I'm also not sure how long they will last but for the price what have you got to lose. If they blow up after 10 minutes at least I will have the brackets to mount some more lights to. You can afford to but 100 sets of these for the price of some "premium" brands. ;D
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How are you getting on with your lights Rae?
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The lights are ready to go on the bike Tom, however a couple of days before Christmas I binned the bike and broke my shoulder so things are on hold at the moment. As soon as I get the bike back and my shoulder is mended I'll be on the case.
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Ooeer Rae! :o Sorry to hear about your unfortunate event. What led up to the bike binning incident then??
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Piggin' 'ell Rae! :o
Why didn't you say. :-X
What happened? >:(
Hope you are on the mend. :)
Take care :'(
8)
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It wasn't something I wanted to publish but seeing as Tom asked I wasn't going to avoid it either.
The long and short of it was, there was this bend and I didn't go round it.
The bike is being assessed by the insurance company. I have broken Scapula which apparently is a very rare injury. I had a night in an NHS hotel and several Xrays but I'm on the mend now and getting a bit more movement every day. I have to go back in 4 weeks when the physio takes over I believe.
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Effin eck Rae! You can't go killing yerself, you own this site if I go down the tubes :o
What caused it mate, lack of concentration, too much gin, reindeer in the road, not enough lights on the bike? This really doesn't sound like you. Was Mel with you? I bet she's gonna give you a good thumping just as soon as you have healed ;D
On a serious note, how did the Yam fare up to getting binned?
Brian (who thinks there is way too much of this nonsense going on kiddies, watch yerselves out there)
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Sorry to hear about your accident Rae. I broke my scapula many years ago in a cycle accident. You'll be looking forward to the physio terrorist I bet.
Look on the bright side you should be ready to go when the weather gets better.
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I can only guess at lack of concentration, I had had nothing to eat that day which may have caused low electrolite levels which by all accounts can lead to lack of concentration. I'm not making excuses but trying to identify reasons.
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Bloody hell Rae, that was a bolt from the blue ! All that bling on the bike too 8). Get well soon. All the best for your recovery.
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Thank you for all of your kind words. It's not something I want to dwell on so can we move on now please 8)
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Already looking forward to a meet up at the Hawian cafe or some other exotic place come the summer months ;D
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Keep you eye on the Events and Short notice rides.
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Wishes for a Speedy recovery it's all that comes to mind. Sorry to hear about it.
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Thank you Costas, we don't bounce as well as we get older but I'm on the mend being able to do little bit more every day. ;D
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To get back on topic here are the lights ready to bolt to the bike when I get it back. You will notice the empty space in the background where a bike used to be ;D
(http://preview.ibb.co/iq637a/20160108_142008_zpszvr0xhfg.jpg) (http://ibb.co/g24ZDF)
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If Rae hadn't asked us to desist from commenting on his mishap, I would have commiserated and wished him and his bike a speedy recovery. However, I respect his request to talk about other things, so instead I shall say that I like the look of this lighting project; it all seems to be coming together nicely.
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Thank you Dusty all I need now is a bike to bolt them to. I heard from the insurance assessor today, touch and go to write it off.
I asked them to save it if possible.
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I had the call from the insurance assessor and the bike is being written off. Now I have to wait for the insurance company to make me an offer which I can refuse and start playing the haggle game.
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Oh dear Rae. No more red FJRs then.....quite literally as they seem to be like rocking horse poo!
Back to Beemers perhaps. This will sound like heresy on this forum, but I can personally recommend the R1200RT as a great touring machine, and so comfortable.....should you consider that model....
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I have my eye on another red FJR. I have tried the R1200RT and it's not for me I can't find the love for the boxer engine.
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Too many fairing panels damaged Rae?
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ooo err - only just seen this thread Rae, It sounds like your on the mend which is great news, sorry to here the FJR is being written off but glad to here your staying posotive and have your eye on a shiny new one. Hope you get everything sorted and look forward to seeing you and the new bike at the chunnel early April mate.
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A 16 is bike for Rae i recon.
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I have my eye on another red FJR. I have tried the R1200RT and it's not for me I can't find the love for the boxer engine.
Yes, nowhere near as smooth as the four in-line engines, but the RT LC (water cooled) variant has transformed the bike.....well, I think so anyway!
Good luck with chasing up the (only) other red FJR Rae! :)
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http://www.motorcyclesupermarket.com/used-motorcycles/2015-(64)-Yamaha-FJR1300--in-Melton-Mowbray-6398693
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That's the one
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Have you fitted those lights yet Rae?
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Have you fitted those lights yet Rae?
...and more to the point, how the hell are you?
Prod, poke ;D
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I'm fine Brian. I have been busy getting the new bike to the state the old one was in before I wrecked it.
The lights are next on my list but not urgent, I'll post up some pics when they are done.
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Great news Rae! One assumes there were no lasting effects from your off-road excursion.
Brian (who has almost finished doing the same with his new ride but for different reasons :o )
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I do have a bit of limited movement in certain directions but I'm working on it. I will probably have a certain amount of limited movement for ever but you wouldn't know it if you met me.
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I imagine it stops you from extending your hand right down to the bottom of your pockets; at least it would if it were me 8)
Are you riding regularly again yet Rae?
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I do have trouble reaching around to my back pocket to access my wallet. ;D
Riding is fine and all back to normal.
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Well I finally got around to finishing, fitting and wiring my super cheap spot lights. While I was in the tinkering mood I made some brackets for my Bullet lights and fitted some inexpensive handguards.
When I came to fit the Bullet lights I found one of them was not working so I ordered another set. I'll post up some pictures of the Bullet lights and the brackets that I made when they arrive.
(http://preview.ibb.co/eaK4xa/20160305_114829_zpsthplyywq.jpg) (http://ibb.co/f8vcHa)
(http://preview.ibb.co/kAOmAv/20160305_114840_zpsdyjrcbr9.jpg) (http://ibb.co/niyKVv)
(http://preview.ibb.co/nAzhiF/20160305_141406_zpsntdy3vam.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mcO8OF)
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Nice job, big spacious garage, tyres?
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The tyres are Bridgestone Battleaxe 023, they are not my choice, they were on the bike when I bought it. I'll run them until they wear out.
Then I am thinking or Pirelli Angel GT's.
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Looks good Rae. I wondered if it might look better with the brackets flipped and the lights in a higher position.
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I'll give it some thought Tom.
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They look excellent, nice job.
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Mmm
Won't the low down lights like they are a long way away?
I don't mean to knock your excellent work but is there a risk people will misjudge the distance?
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Probably so if they were the only lights on the bike, but they're not.
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GT type A for your black beauty i recon.
Metzeler R1 HWM could be another choice.
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I took your advice Tom and mounted the lights the other way up. It wasn't as straight forward as you might think. As they were designed to be the other way up the arc slot to provide adjustment wasn't long enough in that direction, so I had to elongate the slot as far as I dare which still wasn't quite enough. It was only a gnats knacker and I got the rest by slightly bending the bracket.
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We need a view from the front to see how it compares. What do you think Rae?
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Think is better at that evlevation. When at low position it gave the impresion that there was not enough clearence even for a side walk.
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We need a view from the front to see how it compares. What do you think Rae?
You are so demanding Tom! :D
here you are
(http://preview.ibb.co/dhTmAv/20160310_161456_zpsnqc6ggj7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iiOKVv)
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I think that looks better Rae and more practical. Well done ;)
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When it gets dark I'll take a photo of the spread of light.
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Totaly agree with Tom.
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Here are some comparison pictures of the light spread.
First one shows the street outside with no lights from the bike, just street lighting.
(http://preview.ibb.co/ngj4xa/20160305_203149_zpsixertfuq.jpg) (http://ibb.co/k0QYqv)
Second one, spots only
(http://preview.ibb.co/jkoWca/20160305_203211_zpsveijii8k.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iyWjxa)
Third one Dipped headlights no spots
(http://preview.ibb.co/icuRAv/20160305_203248_zps2lcwodei.jpg) (http://ibb.co/f3aBca)
Fourth one is spots and dipped headlights
(http://preview.ibb.co/kUyWca/20160305_203258_zpsaz7yay0o.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c7Rv3F)
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They do work
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The spot beam looks a tad high.
I suspect they'd dazzle oncoming traffic at night.
Do you want them as DRLs for visibility or are they to supplement your high beam?
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I hardly ever ride at night so I would probably only switch them on in bad weather conditions in daytime.
The beam does look a bit high but if I lower them any more they will be pointing too far down. I'm sure they will be ok for the purpose. When my new Bullet lights arrive they will serve as permanently on daytime running lights.
http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-running-lights/bikevis-bullet-motorcycle-running-lights-v2
I had toyed with the idea of fabricating some sort of peak to fit to the lights to direct the top of the beam down or cut it off.
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I have had this rant in here before, but that is no reason to not rant again ;D
I hate almost every installation of DRL's, auxilliary lights or whatever you call them.
The world is going to hell in a handcart. I actually had to stop my car the other night driving past AWRE Aldermaston because I literally couldn't see where I was going. Unlit, winding road I know well, 50 limit, clear, dry night. No opposing traffic apart from a cyclist. His bike's headlight was so bright it was painful. I stopped the car. The car behind stopped. The car behind him pulled out to overtake and then she stopped. With so many cars across the road, the cyclist stopped. The conversation with the idiot cyclist went something like this.
Wot you all stopped for
You stopped us
Didn't
Did
Didn't
You are blinding everyone driving towards you
Good, now you know how I feel
So you don't care if we can't see where we are driving
No, as long as I can see that's all that matters
With that he pushed past and rode off. One hopes he doesn't last long.
The trouble is that LED lights are totally uncontrolled, the police haven't stopped anyone for a lighting offence since 1974 in Buckingham town centre at 2am on a Monday morning!
It can't just be me that finds even stylised Angel Eyes DRL's blindingly bright and totally unnecessary.
I get so confused by the array of lights on some bikes that even I, as a biker, have no idea what or where they are! I have nothing against lights which can only come on with main beam but the rest should be banned, even the overly-bright, unguarded stuff from the manufacturers.
Also, it really is about time we started telling the truth about 'lights' and instead of confusing one and all with wattage consumption, started quoting light emissions in lumens.
Rant over!
Brian (whose great big solid car has a bad habit of straying across the white line when he can't see where he is going)
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It all started going wrong when we stopped using acetylene I reckon. But more importantly, or less, depending, it appears that a certain blue and white K1200 has been nerfed off into the hedge off by a dastardly K1300 on a certain posters' details. Obviously dazzled in the headlights. Gone to the great MCN in the sky then has it?
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Not quite yet! It has its MoT on Tuesday so it had a quick wash and brush up this morning and I told her I still love her! I think she thinks she has given birth to a cuckoo as she stares at The Beast sitting next to her on the drive. Poor thing!
There is someone interested who has first dibs, but if nothing happens soon it is going in the Trader as the weather is getting ever so much slightly warmer and the days are getting longer too!
Brian (who has only just discovered he can't ride two bikes at once :o )
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The only additional lights I would install would help to define the shape of my motorcycle.
So lamps with a diffused non dazzle light would be my choice.
Where to place them on k13S???
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Bike vis were the first adition , now on somebody else bike.
The Shrodie under the signal lights installed in the panels are the best addition.
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Bike vis were the first adition , now on somebody else bike.
The Shrodie under the signal lights installed in the panels are the best addition.
I rather like the effect of the indicator repeaters under the BMW badge on the side panels that Costas installed. In traffic, there are always times when you are trying to change lanes and there is a car in your rear-three-quarter blind spot and of course, they can't see either your rear or front indicators.
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The Bullet lights arrived this morning and here is the final result of all of the lights.
(http://preview.ibb.co/hY8a3F/20160308_150628_zpsdmc23kmf.jpg) (http://ibb.co/mXKRAv)
(http://preview.ibb.co/hTVoOF/20160308_151233_zpsxhx0ncyw.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c4QNiF)
(http://preview.ibb.co/ggFcHa/20160308_151248_zpsynx9vhio.jpg) (http://ibb.co/dzCPxa)
(http://preview.ibb.co/iCn2iF/20160308_151258_zpsw4tsurjf.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cuhrca)
(http://preview.ibb.co/dCUhiF/20160308_151311_zpsqxmg6wgc.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hS6TOF)
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Not sure that you need the bullet lights Rae. Does look better with the lower lights in the higher position.
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The only additional lights I would install would help to define the shape of my motorcycle.
So lamps with a diffused non dazzle light would be my choice.
Where to place them on k13S???
http://motolight.com/members/motolight/media/259/
I had Motolights for years then they stopped responding to emails and purchase requests so I looked at alternatives. My fork lights are actually mounted on brackets that secure to the fork leg at the calliper mount. The lights are angled down not to dazzle but to pick out the bike and give a reference point to another rod user. Bloody difficult to work on the single point of reference (that single headlight)
My next up are the PIAAs that again are angled down to not dazzle but to show where the bike is when filtering. They are close to mirror height so its rather difficult for the car driver to do the "didn't see you"
Next stage (defcon 2) are the HID spots. They are keyed to main and are aligned for me to see where I'm going. However, they can be powered up on dip as well
The selection of lights means I have redundancy on the circuits. I've had a few close calls when the lights fail in the middle of no where. Because they power independently, its very unlikely I'll lose all of them. And I do have the ability to "make a point" if necessary.
But I don't aim to dazzle ('cept unless I mean to), and I've always aimed (pun not intended) to have the HID slightly lower that if I'd a halogen.
SOme cars still think you're out to get them. I had a run in with a Mazda MX5 when I had my K11LT. He said my light was in his rear view mirror. I said he shouldn't have a car that was that low.
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Now they can see you.
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I am still waiting for Admore Lighting to finish developing a top box kit for the Givi V56 and then I can get the rear lit up.
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I am still waiting for Admore Lighting to finish developing a top box kit for the Givi V56 and then I can get the rear lit up.
You could always fit those LED blocks that I fitted to my panniers...
I have a set on top of the BMW top case
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I'll wait for Admore, they tell me it won't be long now.
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As was pointed out to me the beam spread on the LED lights was a bit wild so I made a peak to try and tame it a little
Work in progress
(http://preview.ibb.co/dLGHHa/20160310_135622_zpsbkhmpycr.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hSB6Av)
Finished atricle
(http://preview.ibb.co/dhTmAv/20160310_161456_zpsnqc6ggj7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iiOKVv)
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Nice workmanship!
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Nice workmanship!
Thank you :D
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You are a very clever boy Rae I am impressed.
Bob
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You are a very clever boy Rae I am impressed.
Bob
Thank you too Bob
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They look slick.
Does it help?
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It helps a bit. As I said before I almost never ride at night and I only really plan to use them in daytime bad weather. I have the Bullet Lights for daytime running lights.
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The Chinese lights finally gave up the ghost so I decided to buy some more up market lights.
I got these
(http://preview.ibb.co/inQSHa/20170510_135950_zps11n3dcz1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cW4yOF)
from Bikevis.com (https://www.bikevis.com/)
I had to fabricate a simple L bracket from stock I had laying about.
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Very nice, pity about the black paint that is not on the disc carrier ::)
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I'll be due new discs in a couple of thousand miles :-[
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I've told you before, stop fiddling with that lever thingy, it only slows you down!
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;D