Additional lights

[Jonah]

There seems a few different kinds of additional lighting for the 1200gs out there, any ideas on the best for performance and price. Bearing in mind that most people look at cost being reasonable for the product.
Looked at a few and i am astounded at the price. Not all of us can afford big adventures at big prices with all the top toys to go with them.
So lets hear about value for money guys, im not tight just realistic ( and run out of excuses to justify spending when the wife finds out....... we've all bin there !!!!!! )

 

[Decster]

depends what your lighting requirements are really.....

..nightime, offroad????

Les Wassell does the HIDs and they seem to improve the standard beams many fold.

An extra spot and driving light (HID'd)on top of the above i reckon is more than enough...

Others will along shortly to give their opinions

 

[GlynnJ]

I have the superior 1150GS model but the same principles apply...

I have two independently switched Hella foglights which I use as an additional dipped beam when needed (filtering on the motorway) and two Hella spotlights that are wired to come on with main beam. These are all you will ever need. Many other GSers have this same setup. All are mounted on a MiGSel bracket.

The alternative is the HID route which is, no doubt, superior, but possibly more expensive and more difficult to fit.

I live near Rochdale and would be happy to let you see how my lights are set up.

Glynn

 

[Flipfly]

Best value for money...................................easy........HID!!!!

PM Les. For a basic set up of Main beam and Dipped you will not find a system that improves the headlights cheaper.

There are cheaper HID units, but as with everything, there is a point where you are just reducing quality to get a cheaper price.

I know roughly what Les makes out of doing these and trust me, I wouldn't bother myself especially when you see the lengths he goes to to fit them.

Even colour matches his zippy ties now

I had HID on my dipped beam on the 1150. My cheap ebay one blew whilst I was in France and I had to go back to standard bulbs for the rest of my trip. I ended up following my wifes Transalp (which has HID also) because I couldn't see bugger all.

Came back and replaced the dipped beam with HID and also did the main whilst I was at it. WOW. Now I just want the FF50's and the De's doing. I don't need them, but really want to see how much light 6 HIDs can make

 

[Phil Clarke]

I'm in the process of fitting a set of hella micro DE's to my 12 and I have to say they are rubbish. Cheap die cast cases (with a nice brown coloured finish...), crappy self tapping screws to hold them to the mounts and no way of getting into them if they get full of water / mud or something. The rubber caps on the back don't have enough room for the wiring and are just a loose push fit on the cases. The whole unit just looks and feels cheap and nasty. I reckon the HID conversion will at least eliminate the rubbishy bulb connectors (live wire off the standard H3 bulb has a bare spade and there is nothing to stop it touching the earth wire = instant short circuit) but for the money I'd avoid them. you'd be better off with cheapo 'ring' lights from halfords - no worse quality and less than half the price. People who paid touratech £200 for their hella fog lights should consider themselves thoroughly ripped off.

 

[ROLLINSDAN]

The alternative is the HID route which is, no doubt, superior, but possibly more expensive and more difficult to fit.

Not really true, the HID is all plug and play. Very easy to install, even easier to get Les Wassall to do it!!!!

The extra lights mounted on a light bar are okay, but I'd go for HID first

Looking at the cost side of things, it is possible just to do the dip beam to start with, if you went down the Les route and had the mounting bracket it makes the main beam an easy upgrade at a later date.

 

[GlynnJ]

I don't have HID, so to your superior knowledge. What I would say is that having Micro DEs as well as the headlight (HID or not) definitely makes you more visible due to the unusual triangular shape presented to oncoming traffic.

As for Micro DEs being crap, mine have been on the bike for 2 years and look as good as new. The bike is used in all weathers and lives outside.

 

[Flipfly]

There are bits on the De's that are a bit naff, but they do work and are better than the ring jobbies.

When Les HID's them they are superb. The fit is spot on where the wiring goes through and no issues with the earth spade (which broke on mine).

Still consider them the best VFM where fogs are concerned, although that depends where you buy them

 

[Vern]

Go to halfords,get some 20 quid, ring driving lamps,bolt them on and have light wherever you go.HIDs ain't all they're cracked up to be,my 55w hellas put them to shame,just ask sgt bilko

 

[Les Wassall]

The DE's are really good quality lamps, there shell I thought was a magnesium mix , other than the crap ally plate inside for the H3 if you tap the holes at the side and do not use there self taper you get a much better finish.
And if they are HiD'd they are about the best lamps on the market IMHO

Vern are those 55 watt hellas those big monster ones I sold you I would like to see them with HiD

 

[DoctorZippy]

There seems a few different kinds of additional lighting for the 1200gs out there, any ideas on the best for performance and price. Bearing in mind that most people look at cost being reasonable for the product.
Looked at a few and i am astounded at the price. Not all of us can afford big adventures at big prices with all the top toys to go with them.
So lets hear about value for money guys, im not tight just realistic ( and run out of excuses to justify spending when the wife finds out....... we've all bin there !!!!!! )

Hi Jonah,

Quick vote for a simply HID job on the dipped beam - cost me £78 to do my 1150GSA, and the difference is staggering. Suspect I don't really need anything else, but like others here I also have Hella Micro DEs (not yet HID'd, waiting for Les to give me a big discount after all the plugs I'm giving him ) - I use them when filtering to create a more noticable light pattern, or when on dark country lanes to illuminate the side of the road better (useful on the twisty bits!).

So - contact Les, HID your dip and away you go...

 

[MiGSel]

If you want to see and be seen, I think nothing beats aux lights.

And the 11xx and 1200 light bars are cheaper now.

Have look here.

Cheers,
Michel

 

[dlevett]

50W HID's in Main and Dip and HID'ed Micro DE's (35W) - a good price (sort of), much better than expensive high output halogen bulbs (that have a very short life!).

My advice is not to go with the trend of high 'colour temperature' - 4,600 to 6,000 is the best range to go for! and I went for different 'colours' in the main/dip and the micro DE's (makes you even more visible).

In my opinion, this is the only way to go!

 

[mavis cruet]

wots the diference...

as a slight side issue, wots the technical difference between a 'fog' light a 'driving' light and a 'spot' light?

 

[Les Wassall]

as a slight side issue, wots the technical difference between a 'fog' light a 'driving' light and a 'spot' light?

The fog is used as a drive lamp and the spot is the clear lens for high beam use.

 

[King Rat]

Finally made it to Les' emporium today - after 6 months of trying to find time

What a revelation - 50 watt HID in the dip beam on the 1150 on its own and the whole world is a stage. It was a gloomy day today, but even at lunchtime I could see the light on the road ahead - and I just had to go out for a try tonight......rabbits are ready cooked by the time you get to them

The gloomy rides home from working away are a thing of the past - instead of suffering the evening ride, I am now looking forward to it. Don't hesitate like I did - just get this mod done. Thanks Les - you have probably saved my life - and lots of others too.

 

[patzx12]

This was my home made setup using cheap Ring lamps, Adds a bit of extra light but really just wanted to be more visable to cars.