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Since I removed the Bimmer fairing from my bike, I've hardly used my case guard mounted driving lights due to the reflected glare coming of the shiny bits at the front of the bike, so they're gone now.
^ The way it was
Had a look around at alternatives and came up with a pair of these
^ A pair of 2" projector lens driving lights. I reckoned I could get them to fit just about anywhere, due to their small physical size.
I received the kit, then set about planning their installation............................. and modification.
^ A 50 watt HID conversion kit, complete with some extension leads to get the ballasts away from the already overcrowded under-tank area.
^ Yes, I've been warned! Now down to business.
Fabbed up a bracket to mount the lights just below the headlight (out front, no possible reflection from these), and another to be fitted where the toolbox lived, to mount the ballasts and act as a heat sink for them. I gave them a coat of paint and waited for them to dry so I could fit them, and waited.....................................and waited........................................and waited etc, etc.
While I was waiting, Steptoe rang and we were discussing our projects, and he suggested I stick them in the oven and bake them. A great idea in theory, but we'd gotten a brand new oven this past XSmas, and I really wanted to live for a bit longer, so I dragged out the old BBQ and cooked them on a medium heat for a bit over an hour, then let them cool off naturally.
^ Baked to perfection!
I had thought of swapping triple clamps over, so I'd have a mounting point at the front of the bottom clamps, but decided to stick with the original, and made the brackets loop around from the rear bolts, and across the front.
^ Much harder this way, but I'm happy with the result.
^ After fabbing up a modified (easy access) headlight adjuster, I bolted the lights on and they fit perfect! The adjuster mod was essential, as I'm already running a HID headlight, and now have compliant, long travel shocks on the rear so any change in load - eg, trailer etc, means i can quickly adjust the headlight to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.
^ rear bracket with ballasts mounted, ready for fitting.
^ Bracket fitted straight into the spot occupied by the toolbox. It now lives in my Gearsack bag side pocket.
^ test firing of the lights after finishing off the wiring.
^ Quite bright from the front.
Now, if it will only stop bucketing down outside, so i can take it for a test run!
I'll post the results as they come to hand.
^ The way it was
Had a look around at alternatives and came up with a pair of these
^ A pair of 2" projector lens driving lights. I reckoned I could get them to fit just about anywhere, due to their small physical size.
I received the kit, then set about planning their installation............................. and modification.
^ A 50 watt HID conversion kit, complete with some extension leads to get the ballasts away from the already overcrowded under-tank area.
^ Yes, I've been warned! Now down to business.
Fabbed up a bracket to mount the lights just below the headlight (out front, no possible reflection from these), and another to be fitted where the toolbox lived, to mount the ballasts and act as a heat sink for them. I gave them a coat of paint and waited for them to dry so I could fit them, and waited.....................................and waited........................................and waited etc, etc.
While I was waiting, Steptoe rang and we were discussing our projects, and he suggested I stick them in the oven and bake them. A great idea in theory, but we'd gotten a brand new oven this past XSmas, and I really wanted to live for a bit longer, so I dragged out the old BBQ and cooked them on a medium heat for a bit over an hour, then let them cool off naturally.
^ Baked to perfection!
I had thought of swapping triple clamps over, so I'd have a mounting point at the front of the bottom clamps, but decided to stick with the original, and made the brackets loop around from the rear bolts, and across the front.
^ Much harder this way, but I'm happy with the result.
^ After fabbing up a modified (easy access) headlight adjuster, I bolted the lights on and they fit perfect! The adjuster mod was essential, as I'm already running a HID headlight, and now have compliant, long travel shocks on the rear so any change in load - eg, trailer etc, means i can quickly adjust the headlight to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.
^ rear bracket with ballasts mounted, ready for fitting.
^ Bracket fitted straight into the spot occupied by the toolbox. It now lives in my Gearsack bag side pocket.
^ test firing of the lights after finishing off the wiring.
^ Quite bright from the front.
Now, if it will only stop bucketing down outside, so i can take it for a test run!
I'll post the results as they come to hand.
.
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