Couple of Lighting Questions Re: "DRL" / "Spot" / "Fog" / "Marker"

[PhaedrusMC]

Couple of Lighting Questions Re: "DRL" / "Spot" / "Fog" / "Marker"

My understanding:

DRLs

• Primarily to increase visibility to other road users
• Also to provide some degree of extra road illumination for rider in the dark
• Augment crappy OE headlights (a la 1100GS, for example)
• Wired to headlight, comes on with dipped beam (permanently on)

SPOTS

• Primarily to increase road illumination for rider in the dark
• Also to increase visibility to other road users
• Augment crappy OE headlights (a la 1100GS, for example)
• Wired to headlight, comes on with main / high beam

FOGS

• Increase visibility to other road users in shitty visibility conditions
• Also to provide some degree of increased road illumination for rider in shitty visibility conditions
• Wired independently, with stand-alone on/off switch

MARKERS

• Increase visibility to other road users
• Provide little if any extra road illumination for rider
• Wired to headlight, comes on with dipped beam (permanently on)

Am I wrong or mistaken with any of that?

What kind of spread & throw patterns are best for these different types of lights? Wide/narrow-angle? Long/short-throw? High/low-power?

I understand LED is the way to go.

I've read a few threads on those BikeVis Bullet marker lights, and I really like the idea of them as a means to increase the bike's visibility on the road. Regarding the legalities of modulated marker lights (like the Bullets), I'd personally be happy to use a modulator on them - I imagine any reasonable cop or judge would be quick to understand their intended purpose (safety, not bling). My understanding is that the speed of the modulation is a very rapid flicker, (unlike the flashing as with emergency services lights), so regardless of being illegal or not, it really - effectively - only fulfills its design purpose (increase visibility) and doesn't dangerously distract other road users or impersonate any emergency vehicle.

Being budget-conscious (ie, of limited means... ), I'm always looking for good value. BikeVis' auxiliary LED lights seem to be great value compared with similar equivalents from Touratech, Wunderlich, SW Motech, etc. IMO, discreet / subtle lights (in terms of physical form, rather than light output), well concealed or integrated into the bike is better than half a dozen big yokes bolted on all over the place. Any of you guys use these BikeVis lights? http://www.bikevis.com/bikevis-cree-motorcycle-auxiliary-lights

When endeavouring to meet two requirements (optimum road illumination and visibility to other road users. Forget bling - not my thing), what's appropriate and what's overkill? I'd certainly want to avoid blinding other road users with any lights - all well and good if you can see four towns ahead, but if oncoming traffic is blinded, they could drive into you... I'd also want to avoid looking like a GoldWing coming in to land.

So...

1. OE headlight with your favourite bulb(s),
2. LED DRLs
3. LED Spots
4. LED Fogs
5. LED Markers front (modulated, white)
6. LED Markers rear (modulated, red)

OTT? Leave out the DRLs? Or the spots? Or the fogs? Or the front markers? Would there be superfluous or excessive lighting if using all 5 front-facing lights in that list?


Thanks for any replies.

 

[Kritou]

I have had those Crees on my RT for a couple of years. Mounted high up, above the morrors in my case, I can reach forward and adjust their tilt according to conditions. That position also makes them well visible above the bonnets and boots of ambient traffic

Mates have commented that the can be a bit aggressive in their mirrors unless adjusted correctly (lights that is)

Build quality seems good and they come with plenty of cabling - have not really tried them out in the dark

Mine are hardwired to the parking light with no in-line switch

https://www.flickr.com/gp/58940759@N07/7420r8