GSA fog light - cheap LED upgrade?

Those are HB4 - the BMW lamps take a H11 bulb. TTBOMK the HB4 is designed to sit in a parabolic reflector (so most of the light comes out the sides of the bulb) while the H11 is designed to sit behind a BFO lens to focus the beam (so most of the light comes straight out the end of the bulb.

This is only my understanding from other discussions I've seen though - could easily be way "off beam" so to speak...
 
Actually, ignore the above - the HB4 is a different fitting anyway.

Ebay item 310687786067 from the same supplier (same price, too) is what you want :-)
 
The problem with the OEM aux lights is not the bulb it's the lens! I had HID's in my aux lights for a while and even that wasn't great - just chucks the light everywhere. At least with the OEM LED's or an aftermarket light you are getting some focus from the lens - unlike the stock lights. Change the complete unit.
 
I want to fit some long range LED spots in place of the standard fog lights. For daytime use I'll fit and LED dimmer so they can work as marker lights without dazzling people.

However, the LED lamp suppliers give minimal information about their light patterns so to date Ive not made the move.
 
I fitted the Cree H11 LED's to mine and as said, it's the Lense design that interfere's. The LED's work fine, and are a great match for the HIDs, but I ended up taking them out and fitting the standards as they gave more light on the road.

They looked good head on though, so where a good mod to be seen, rather than to see with.
 
Has anyone tried any recent LED spot lamps to see what the beam pattern is like?

Some report huge light output but they will be no use if its spread wide like the standard spots.
 
In posting to this thread, it's imperative you understand that the accessory lights on R1200GS Adventure are NOT spot lights - they are fog lights.

Fog lights are designed for maximum forward visibility in conditions of low-hanging fog, mist and heavy rain, where a more focussed beam (as put out by your high beam) would simply reflect back and cause glare.
The beam put out by your foglights is vertically narrow, but horizontally wide and aimed low to the ground.
A spotlight's beam is focussed far more tightly (generally with no more than a 15-degree spread), into a well-defined 'spot' ahead of the vehicle - hence the name. This is what you need to augment the light from your high beam at night (in the absence of on-coming traffic).

If it's long-distance penetration you're after, you have no option but to ditch the foglights and replace them with good-quality spotlights.
No matter how many Lumens you're chucking out the front of those fogs, the light spread will still be governed by the lens.

(BMW provide a subtle clue to all this to the rider - take a look at the symbol on your rocker switch. It's the ISO symbol for front fog lights.)
 
Absolutely. I find the weak main beam is all but drowned by the bright spread created by the fogs. That's no shame on the fogs just showing how hopeless the standard main beam really is. I have to turn off the fogs where I need to use main beam simply because main beam has no forward penetration. My car with one headlight removed would still be many times better yet its using the same bulbs.

Hopefully the bike wont look like a 1960s scooter with another pair of lamps, but I feel they are the best way to get some back-up light for main beam that can compete with my existing dipped beam and fogs.
 
You could try these http://www.2allbuyer.com/ they are what I have (1600LM and 3000LM) although I got them through ebay, same guy though. You will not be able to use these at night on low/dipped unless you aim them low, probably not advisable then either. For high though they give out a good amount of light for a good distance and they wont empty your bank account. The 3500LM ones have a dimmer built in so you could dim then at night or you can get a dimmer for the other ones.

Take a look at all the pics and videos and make your own mind up.
 
steve g said:
Been routing through Ebay and come up with these www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181120884347?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Could be a cheap LED upgrade. Anyone already tried these?
Click to expand...

The clues are all there.

"cheap"
"upgrade"
"xenon led"
"High Power"


anything that has any two or more of the buzzwords above is something to be avoided IMO.

As many have said, the light source is rarely the problem.....the reflector design is the issue.

If you want bling, get as many buzzwords in the buzzword bingo as you can then lash out on Ebay......
If you want sensible decent lighting that improves visibility, the route is elsewhere young padawan :rob
 
if you want to see where you are going, stop pissing about with the fog lights and fit 55w HID burners to main and dip.

relatively cheap and VERY effective.
 
I've also been thinking about these at 3000 Lmn. The seller has clearly put some thought and work into his website and has all the necessary accessories.

Do they give a good long range of light? My concern is if the beam is too wide the light landing too close to the bike could at least make the distant area look dimmer even though its actually quite well lit (near dazzle effect etc). I already get this problem with the standard fogs so need a fairly narrow beam.

Currently, more the 50 on unlit roads feels risky with the rubbish main beam. Assuming the road is clear ahead (etc etc :blagblah), can you drive pretty much as fast with these spots as you would in daylight?
 
Bendy toy said:
I've also been thinking about these at 3000 Lmn. The seller has clearly put some thought and work into his website and has all the necessary accessories.

Do they give a good long range of light? My concern is if the beam is too wide the light landing too close to the bike could at least make the distant area look dimmer even though its actually quite well lit (near dazzle effect etc). I already get this problem with the standard fogs so need a fairly narrow beam.

Currently, more the 50 on unlit roads feels risky with the rubbish main beam. Assuming the road is clear ahead (etc etc :blagblah), can you drive pretty much as fast with these spots as you would in daylight?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say you could drive as fast as you can in the daylight or at least not on tree lined country roads. Put it this way the halogen high beam can't be seen as the LED's overpowers it by a good margin. I am more than happy to make progress with them where I just can't on the standard light. They are far better than the stock fogs but then they are pretty useless anyway from what I have seen. They aren't supposed to be spotlights though where these are.
 
I would be concerned about vibration with these on bike, I had a CREE head torch and with a gentle drop the chip dislodged - Head Torch no longer!

As others have said, HID is the way to go and Les Wassel of HID 50 is your man, haven't converted main beam (yet!!), but just added two of his 35W HID Hella DE conversions today and just back from a ride on unlit roads and the light from them is truly amazing.
 
I've had a set of cree spotloghts on my 1150 for a year now, no issues and more light than any HID, way too much for fogs though.
Hid the main dipped beam with 4600k rather than the higher 6k. You get a blue white light from 6k, but better distance and penetration with the 4.6k bulbs, they are a purer white.
Les is defo the man for hid though, top quality:thumb
 
I emailed http://www.2allbuyer.com/ and got a prompt reply from Komy. :)

The 780Lm & 900Lm are 10 degree, the 1600Lm & 3000Lm & 3500Lm are all 15 degree.
Also it depends how you point the led lights which in term make different beam distance.
If you want very long distance, the 900Lm has the deepest reflector cone which mean more condense light beam.​

I read elsewhere that 950Lm is about the same as a 50W halogen bulb, though I'm sure reflector shape has a big effect.

Looks like I'm going for Komy's 3000Lm with dimmer module. Hopefully, UK import duty wont be too damaging.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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