Spot lights on an Airhead - best place?

[Shurv]

I'm building up a Dakar Replica and I want some spot lights on it, what is the consensus, crash bars, or does anyone make a light bar that fits a bit higher. I'd like them fairly high up to get a decent distance for the beam,but not sure where/how to place them.

Cheers guys.

Marcus

 

[Thunder]

Was not able to find an Airhead specific light bar but PIAA have some pretty useful ATV mounts that let you fit spots on to crash bars or any bar up to 25mm.

 

[VAL. H.]

Those PIAA mounts look useful. I think Proff said the other day that he used the old style steel bicycle seat clamps. I'm sure too that you could find similar clamps at you old style motor factors.

As for other mounting brackets I haven't seen any specific for the older g/s-GS's

However if there is enough interest I might be able to modify the design for my F650 Aux light brackets that fit under the fork yoke. These place the lights just below the headlight and quite close in so as to avoid damage when/if the bike is dropped.

If I can be of any help drop me a PM.

They would look similar to the picture below.

Val.

 

[brassmonkey001]

I'm interested Val. I have some of those PIAA mounts but the big tank doesn't leave a lot of room on the crashbars.

 

[judge]

Never mind where you're gonna fit them - how are you going to power them with the standard alternator

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

In my opinion it would not be a good idea. As far as I know the Dakar bikes didnt have extra spot lamps. Mounting them on the crash bars would leave them vunerable to stones etc from the front wheel not to mention that they would probably be useless being covered in mud/dust. I once fitted bloody great spots to a Landy for a Copdrive competition and flattened the battery in about an hour, so as has been pointed out, how you going to power them?
I think the answer really is to fit a twin headlamp system much like what was done to my Bertha. Lights ar nice and high up, out of the worst of the shite and give a good spread of light, Check out the pics on the paralever section.

 

[John Armstrong]

HID the lights to half the power needed?

 

[brassmonkey001]

I'm interested Val. I have some of those PIAA mounts but the big tank doesn't leave a lot of room on the crashbars.

I take it you wanted more interest than this?

 

[BillN]

Never mind where you're gonna fit them - how are you going to power them with the standard alternator

I never ride my Airhead in the dark, she does not like it and anyway my eyes are not good enough these days.

A good pair of spots, (not wired up, of course - show not go), on the crash bars can make a R100GS PD look very purposeful in the Tesco car park...............must give it a try

 

[VAL. H.]

I take it you wanted more interest than this?

You'd be right there Also it would help if I got me ass into gear and sorted out the design mods

Val.

 

[Beemerboff]

The PO fitted a rectangular Hella spotlight above the headlight on my GS.

It is around 6''x 3'' and fits neatly in the space between the headlight and the Roo bar. The only downside is that it ended up upside down with the ugly bracket on view.

Dont know what sort of bulb is in it but I cant imagine ever needing more power than this thing has, and there is no problem running it off the standard alternator - it comes on in addition to the main beam.

Probably a bit cheaper than a pair of HIDs too. ----.

 

[Redboots]

HID the lights to half the power needed?

+1. I have gone with this solution.
Could not be bothered with all the paffing about with lights & brkts.

Less power drains as well. Here in France, DLR's are the law and that blue/white light gets noticed more by the cage drivers... sometimes

John

 

[Rob Farmer]

I got a couple of brackets from a pipe fitter who was doing some work for us. They are a perfect match for the gs bullbar or crashbars. Nice way to mount the lights and are rubber mounted just enough to keep the vibes from destroying bulbs but steady enough to stop the light shaking all over the place.

Pipefitters use them to hang one pipe from another --> http://www.pipefittingsupplies.com/partsprices.asp?PG=35&RID=179 Non rubber lined clamps here --> http://www.pipefittingsupplies.com/partsprices.asp?PG=35&RID=178

 

[BillN]

Please can you stop fitting non BMW parts to these historic machines

"brackets from a pipe fitter" - I ask you

You will have Judge coming alone in a minute with the "appropriate" comments - when he wakes up that is!

 

[Rob Farmer]

Not quite up to your car exhaust on a PD standard yet Bill

Judge may find this forum more his kind of thing www.bus_riders_forum.co.uk

 

[BillN]

Not quite up to your car exhaust on a PD standard yet Bill

It was on when I bought it - when I saw it I just had to save it from the "heathen" PO - fortunately not on this Forum!

 

[BillN]

Judge may find this forum more his kind of thing www.bus_riders_forum.co.uk

I dare not say "on yer Bike"