Running Lights- Discreet

[B Murr]

Anyone got any reccomendations for a set of discreet (as opposed to adventure style armoured big spots) LED running lights to fit a post 91 GS, not looking for nightime lighting up of countryside but just something to make the bike that bit more visible to those that are semi comatose behind the wheel. These http://www.bmwboxersupplies.com/runninglights-p-430.html seem like a good option but all ideas welcome.

 

[Jaz Newman]

Like the muck savages looking out into the fields


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Redboots]

You could glue a couple of these to your hand protectors or crash bars.

Ebay: 252571178007

Or these and have supplemental indicators Ebay 122046142232

 

[boxer]

THESE?

 

[B Murr]

THESE?

they look nice and tidy

 

[Redboots]

they look nice and tidy

ONE watt

 

[Kritou]

https://www.bikevis.com/product/bikevis-cree-v3-motorcycle-running-lights/

and have a look at the mounting/powering suggestions on the blog

 

[Redboots]

and have a look at the mounting/powering suggestions on the blog

None of their kits include an off "circuit". I'm pretty sure that like the rest of Europe, they are required to turn off when the headlight comes on.

 

[crotchrocket]

https://www.bikevis.com/product/bikevis-cree-v3-motorcycle-running-lights/

and have a look at the mounting/powering suggestions on the blog

+1 for the bike vis bullets. Very good product just be aware the wire goes into the base, not the back so you need a small cable hole wherever you mount it.

 

[crotchrocket]

None of their kits include an off "circuit". I'm pretty sure that like the rest of Europe, they are required to turn off when the headlight comes on.

The DRL's on my car and bike both stay on with the headlights on ?

 

[Redboots]

The DRL's on my car and bike both stay on with the headlights on ?

The other option is they must dim to half power. Factory fitted DRL's (should) do this.

 

[B Murr]

https://www.bikevis.com/product/bikevis-cree-v3-motorcycle-running-lights/

and have a look at the mounting/powering suggestions on the blog

900 lumens is pretty bright indeed, they look good but when you consider the size of the light a cyclist will be using which will grab your eye from quiite a distance off I still cant help but think that they are a bit oversized. All this talk of auto dimming etc just goes to show how something that can seem like a simple idea at first can be a bit more complicated if it is to be executed properly.

 

[Kritou]

900 lumens is pretty bright indeed, they look good but when you consider the size of the light a cyclist will be using which will grab your eye from quiite a distance off I still cant help but think that they are a bit oversized. All this talk of auto dimming etc just goes to show how something that can seem like a simple idea at first can be a bit more complicated if it is to be executed properly.

I have tried 12v bicycle lights but in both cases the LEDs failed after a couple of hours

Mine are powered from the parking light but I'm guessing that they could be run from the dipped headlight bulb to meet the letter of the law

 

[Redboots]

...I'm guessing that they could be run from the dipped headlight bulb to meet the letter of the law

You can get a special DRL relay. The headlamp feed to it should drop the volts or kill the circuit. Some cope with them turning into indicators as well.
I suppose it all depends how clued up your MOT man is. I have no such problems here in FR... at the moment
Mind you, they failed to spot an ABS light, (car), the some bastard had removed the bulb from so it didn't show. They are supposed to burn for 3 seconds before going out. Apparently.

 

[hughguzzi]

had 3 sets of bikeviz - all failed and got dim after 9 months or less until I stripped one set down and fitted better led's - they lasted 3 years.
So I Fitted a pair of these after seeing them on another bike and asked where he got them
cheap as chips and very bright ! fitted them to my guzzi griso and bmw1150
'2 x 12V Motorcycle Motorbike Quad Fog Lights DRL Daytime Running LED Light UK'
from uniestockuk on fleabay
just joined in to the sidelights wiring - simples.
As to MOT's - no problems with led sidelights for years
Never had an issue with police either - I think they frown on cars running extra lights but glad bikes are making themselves more visible ? as long as they don't dazzle !

 

[Franm]

I fitted a set from Migsel last year (see his site). They are bright but I have them pointed down quite a bit. I'm very happy with them so far.
The price is in Euro and includes shipping which is handy for us over this side of the pond.

Before that I had a set of the Cree ones which was a disaster due to the strobe mode option. Worse still one would go in to strobe mode while the other would stay full on (often unknown to me).

 

[B Murr]

The migsel spots look like top notch quality, with nice looking switch and wiring. If I use the wiring in the pics to get scale they seem quite compact too. Definitely a top contender.

 

[Franm]

Here's a picture of that switch on my machine Bill.

 

[Gonzo]

You've gotta decide if you want spots or DRLs......

What i mean is that most DRLs are designed to have a reasonable surface area at a reasonable brightness as they're designed to be noticed. Wider viewing angle, larger surface area, something like that.

Projector spots normally have a very small surface area with a ferociously strong beam that is high impact if you happen to be within it's narrow focus area - and will therefore blind anyone its aimed at. A dimmer bulb in a projector spotlight will be largely useless as a DRL.

Probably not explained very well, but you don't see any cars using projector lights for DRLs for this reason.

 

[B Murr]

You've gotta decide if you want spots or DRLs......

What i mean is that most DRLs are designed to have a reasonable surface area at a reasonable brightness as they're designed to be noticed. Wider viewing angle, larger surface area, something like that.

Projector spots normally have a very small surface area with a ferociously strong beam that is high impact if you happen to be within it's narrow focus area - and will therefore blind anyone its aimed at. A dimmer bulb in a projector spotlight will be largely useless as a DRL.

Probably not explained very well, but you don't see any cars using projector lights for DRLs for this reason.

I just want to be noticed, I get your point though, migsels very good spots might not fit the bill either. Only way to be sure is to see something in action, so if someone had migsels spots and were to see how visible they are towards the edges of something like a 90 degree arc in front in daylight.