I've joined the family! Now Denali light options...

[DorsetRider]

After much research and with help and advice from this forum, I'm delighted to say that I'm about to take ownership of a late 2018 1200 GS Adventure with lowered chassis, in Triple Black.

Now I'd like to add some aux lights.

I'm trying to decide between Denali D4 and D7 but as I want DRL all the time and full beam lighting for year-round, very dark, rural A and B roads, with no other road lighting, I'll probably go with D4. I'll also add tail light and sound bomb.

I wondered on opinions around this and mounting location on the Adventure as well as views on clear, amber, or selective yellow hybrid lenses.

What's the consensus? Is there one?

I'm thinking selective yellow:

1. To stand out, for being seen during the day.
2. To determine better contrast of terrain at night and especially in rain or foggy conditions.

Thoughts please...

 

[siddo]

Get the lone rider lights.

 

[DorsetRider]

Get the lone rider lights.

Thanks I've been looking at those and they look very nice indeed. I really appreciate the halo effect on the amber DRL but not sure how bright they are stand alone in this mode.

I was figuring that the D7 would be too pricey installed and I wonder how the Moto Lights compare in price to D4.

I don't find it easy to know exactly what parts I need to order in respect of can bus and selecting from various brackets.

I'll have to see if there's anyone near Dorset that can sell and install and compare with the Denali.

 

[siddo]

I went with LR for their brightness and compatibility with the Ezcan. Was a simple install and they are properly bright.

 

[DJ123]

The Denali kit is very easy to install, with plug & play tech the same as the LR lights. 'A Bike Thing' has plenty of YouTube of how to install them.

I would go for the D3 instead of the D4/D7 options for your spotlights. There's still a choice of yellow or amber lens to choose from too.

 

[Mr Derek]

Have a look at what Missenden Flyer did to his GS and then decide whether extra lights are really worth it. I never felt the need to add extra lights to my GSs. Others seem to want to blind oncoming traffic. My only issue with GS lights were combining indicators and rear/brake lights on the newer ones, which seems to be the done thing on cars too these days. I prefer separate indicators and rear/brake lights. I think they show up better. I am, however, an analogue man in a digital age.

 

[DorsetRider]

I went with LR for their brightness and compatibility with the Ezcan. Was a simple install and they are properly bright.

Which mounting option did you go with?

 

[DorsetRider]

The Denali kit is very easy to install, with plug & play tech the same as the LR lights. 'A Bike Thing' has plenty of YouTube of how to install them.

I would go for the D3 instead of the D4/D7 options for your spotlights. There's still a choice of yellow or amber lens to choose from too.

Thanks DJ, why D3 over the D4/7?

Bear in mind as well that I have fog lights on the lower engine bars as standard on the GSA.

 

[DorsetRider]

Have a look at what Missenden Flyer did to his GS and then decide whether extra lights are really worth it. I never felt the need to add extra lights to my GSs. Others seem to want to blind oncoming traffic. My only issue with GS lights were combining indicators and rear/brake lights on the newer ones, which seems to be the done thing on cars too these days. I prefer separate indicators and rear/brake lights. I think they show up better. I am, however, an analogue man in a digital age.

I will definitely determine first whether I need them but I struggle on unlit roads at night with my current 800GT, they are not bright and don't project far enough forward so things come upon me very quickly. It's not easy to read bends on unknown roads at any healthy pace.

 

[DJ123]

Thanks DJ, why D3 over the D4/7?

Bear in mind as well that I have fog lights on the lower engine bars as standard on the GSA.

The D3 have a better light spread compared to the D4 across all the lens options you have.

https://uk.denalielectronics.com/pages/d3

 

[DorsetRider]

The D3 have a better light spread compared to the D4 across all the lens options you have.

https://uk.denalielectronics.com/pages/d3

Great video. The D3 Hybrid looks good indeed.

I'm considering a selective yellow or amber lens cover only because I think it could be useful for early and late, dark, misty and rainy rides. Also for some contrast as DRLs.

 

[Davey B]

I will definitely determine first whether I need them but I struggle on unlit roads at night with my current 800GT, they are not bright and don't project far enough forward so things come upon me very quickly. It's not easy to read bends on unknown roads at any healthy pace.

It may be aided by poor lights but that sounds more like you're going a little fast for the conditions....dark, iffy bike lighting, unknown road, newish rider.

 

[DorsetRider]

It may be aided by poor lights but that sounds more like you're going a little fast for the conditions....dark, iffy bike lighting, unknown road, newish rider.

I can assure you too much speed isn't the problem here, though you're mix of attributing factors for concern is right.

One of those factors is iffy lighting and the reason to improve lighting is to improve this mix somewhat.

Right now the only option I have is to scrub speed to ensure I'm safe and for context, this is on single carriageway nationals and my concern is slowing too much on sweeping bends because I can't see the limit points clearly at night, causing frustration to tailing traffic that then gets uncomfortably close.

I know I'm new with a lot to learn, the whole point of this though is to up my game and simultaneously up all opportunities for improvement.

I do appreciate this input though and you're right to make the point.

Thank you

 

[Boxerboy55]

Please don’t blind all the rest of us road users. Things are getting crazy out there nowadays.

6 extra spot lamps on a bike seems a little bit OTT.

 

[Davey B]

How about these....reasonable price (compared to other Denali offerings)

https://uk.denalielectronics.com/products/dl4-driving-light-pods-w-datadim-technology?rq=gc_motorcycle~yr_2018~mk_bmw~md_r1200gs-lc-adventure

 

[DorsetRider]

Please don’t blind all the rest of us road users. Things are getting crazy out there nowadays.

6 extra spot lamps on a bike seems a little bit OTT.

I'm considering just two extra, not six. To support dipped beam only as amber day running lights in a triangle configuration to be seen by, not to see with, running at 10-20% level. Then these double up on main beam when they switch to 100%. Main beam used only when not visible by other road users, to light the dark road ahead.

This is all. No blinding other road users at all. That would be counter intuitive to my goals.

 

[DorsetRider]

How about these....reasonable price (compared to other Denali offerings)

https://uk.denalielectronics.com/products/dl4-driving-light-pods-w-datadim-technology?rq=gc_motorcycle~yr_2018~mk_bmw~md_r1200gs-lc-adventure

These look good Davey, my objective is two-fold:

1. Be visible during the day in such a way that my presence draws valuable attention, not distraction, and that other road users might better perceive my approach speed.

2. Light the dark night road sufficiently when I'm the only vehicle present and street lighting is not available to illuminate the road ahead.

These might be just the ticket. I will speak with some experts or those with dore t experience, but the idea of this post was to gauge opinion from all that rate or oppose the move.

Thanks for your ideas. This is why I'm here.

 

[djgsa]

Thanks I've been looking at those and they look very nice indeed. I really appreciate the halo effect on the amber DRL but not sure how bright they are stand alone in this mode.

I was figuring that the D7 would be too pricey installed and I wonder how the Moto Lights compare in price to D4.

I don't find it easy to know exactly what parts I need to order in respect of can bus and selecting from various brackets.

I'll have to see if there's anyone near Dorset that can sell and install and compare with the Denali.

Lone Rider lights are dead easy to fit, even I managed it. There are some good you tube vids around to show you how (LR or Denali)

 

[siddo]

Which mounting option did you go with?

Under the beak bracket.

 

[siddo]

I will definitely determine first whether I need them but I struggle on unlit roads at night with my current 800GT, they are not bright and don't project far enough forward so things come upon me very quickly. It's not easy to read bends on unknown roads at any healthy pace.

Probably best to slow down in that case.