Greg Masters switches on Christmas Lights

[Popeye]

I've recently suffered a spate of rear light failures which in winter and at night is not good, to put it mildly. I'm pretty sure it's just down to natural bulb failure but the two which have failed recently both happened mid journey in the dark and left me with no illumination to the rear of the bike whatsoever.

So I thought I'd undertake a winter review of the lighting on the bike.

I already have a main and dip HID set up on the front along with some Hella Micro DE's and for a while now I'd been wanting to do the white LED mod to the front indicators courtesy of Greg Masters' excellent thread in Fount of all Wisdom, "How to install wide sidelights".

I figured on having these as running lights to come on with the Micro DE's via an Autoswitch. This I think gives the bike improved frontal visibility. The work to do the mod was very easy, took about 2 hours in total and cost about £8:00. Bargain. Thanks Greg

So with the front done I thought I'd go with two options to the rear.

Firstly, a Lite Blazer from Nippy Norman fitted to the bottom of the rear number plate which would be wired via the Autoswitch so would come on independently of the standard rear light.

Secondly some Light Buddies fitted into the rear indicator housings, again from Mr Nippy, wired into the standard rear light circuitry to give the bike a bit more illuminated width.

I have now have peace of mind, knowing that I have two independent light setups to the rear of the bike, so even if one failed completely I still have the other one.

 

[Greg Masters]

I'll have nothing to do with Christmas lights, thank you!



Greg

 

[davegs]

Xmas lights.

Interested to hear about your hid main beam how does this perform, does it
light up quick enough?. I've been thinking of this ever since i put one in the dip as this makes the standard main beam redundent!.
dave (only half alight) GS.

 

[Popeye]

Interested to hear about your hid main beam how does this perform, does it
light up quick enough?. I've been thinking of this ever since i put one in the dip as this makes the standard main beam redundent!.
dave (only half alight) GS.

There is a very short warm up period on the main beam - what I tend to do is fire it before I know I will need it then switch it off and that almost seems to "prime" it as it then comes on instantly when needed. The step up in illumination performance is as big again as the gain made between standard dipped and HID dipped. If you do much unlit A/B road riding I would definately recommend the extra upgrade. Both ballasts will easily fit under the beek.

 

[Popeye]

I'll have nothing to do with Christmas lights, thank you!



Greg

Merry Christmas Greg