Spots and fogs

[JonL]

What is the difference between spots and fogs? Is it the lens or just the rake of spot/fog? I am purchasing an 1150gs with spots and I would like to convert them to fogs if possible (they are currently linked to the main beam). Any insight would be welcome.

PS I have searched and read about the light conversions and HIDs etc but I have not yet come across this topic.

 

[Flipfly]

Basically the beam pattern is totally different. If you try to wire them up as fogs you'll just blind everyone.

Best is to buy a set of fogs and wire them in seperately and keep the spots cause you'll need them anywway cause the main beam light is pants.

Fogs start from £15 but £65 will get you a nice set of Hella MicroDE's which are pretty much the best quality and value. Piaa are really expensive but nice quality.

Hope this helps.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Foglight beam is kind of like dipped beam in as much as it has the top half of the beam cut off. Spotlights are more like main beam.

 

[JonL]

Thanks, very useful.

The first thing I was going to do was convert the dip and main to HIDs; this looks good:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115727&highlight=hid+1150

and do this for visibility (a cheap option):

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34109

Your suggestion of leaving the spots is probably best and add some fogs.

 

[Flipfly]

I have HID as does my wifes Transalp.

Colebatch is ya man. The new slim ballasts are feckin brill and will fit in tiny places.

All you need is make a 22mm hole in the back cover. No wiring chopping, just fits onto the existing conections on the inside of the lights.

Highly recommended.

Still prefer the MicroDe fogs but the LED lights will help with visability. Having said that, HID is so distinctive you'll find people see you more anyway.

If you need any help give me or Les Wassall a shout and we'll help ya out.

If ya find a spare bit of cash, Les now HID's the MicroDE's and FF50's, not for the faint hearted cause these things are

 

[Cole]

What is the difference between spots and fogs? Is it the lens or just the rake of spot/fog?

Yep as mentioned above, fogs have the top half of the light cut off, so work in conjunction with low beam.

Also note the type of beam is very different. Fog beams are 60-90 degrees wide (out at 45 degree angles either side of the front of the bike) producing a wide but not intense light for the areas close to the bike and to the side for good roadside illumination.

A spot (or driving) beam is typically only 20 degrees wide and is designed to work like a high beam. It produces an intense light that illuminates the road dead ahead of the bike a long way forward, but produces very little illumination close to the bike of off to the sides. (you can even get 10 degree wide "pencil beams" which concentrate the light even more, but illuminate only a very small area)

In an ideal world you have both spots and fogs, wired up to work with the high beam and low beam respectively.

Getting back to your original question, the difference is they have totally different reflectors, and the fogs will often be projector lights with cut off screens, while spots are typically pure and simple reflector lights.