Which auxiliary lights, fogs or spots?

If only one set of auxiliary lights, which do yo have?

  • Fogs?

    Votes: 32 61.5%

  • Spots?

    Votes: 20 38.5%
  • Total voters
    52
Bobbin-Man

Bobbin-Man

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I've been considering fitting a pair of fogs or spots to my GS but there seems to be a vast array of choices of both! I've seen plenty on the road that run with auxiliary lights "permanently" on, therefore I assume them to be fogs, good for being seen, but spots would obviously be connected in with the high beam and better for open country. But if only fitting 1 additional pair of lights, which ones?
This should cut my choice by 50% before i even get involved in which ones are best!!!
 
It depends on what you want to do with them.

First of all, there are 3 different types of auxiliary light.

Foglights: Very short focal length, (Around 2 metres), no cut off capability, Useless in fog, even more useless for helping you see where you are going, because they illuminate your front wheel and not much else.

Spotlights: Extremely long focal length, no cut off capability, Useless in fog, not much use for helping you see where you are going, because they illuminate so far into the distance as to be useless.

Driving Lights: Medium focal length, no cut off capability, Useless in fog, but perfect for helping you see where you are going on dark country roads.

Note that I have suggested all are useless in fog, and all are extremely blinding to oncoming road users.

Spotlights & driving lights must switch off automatically when dipped beam only is chosen.

Foglights may be wired to come on with dipped beam, but may only be used in conditions of fog or falling snow
Their use in nomal conditions is both illegal and extremly discorteous to other road users.

Myke
 
If you're undecided on which to fit, and presumably don't want 4 lights on the front of your bike, then fit one of each.

I use a Fog light which I can switch on with my Dip Beam and Driving light which comes with my Main Beam.
 
Alternatively don't bother with aux lights and just convert the dip to HID. Much better result in terms of light output. Now sit back and wait for everyone to tell you to NOT get HID!
 
Bobbin-Man said:
But if only fitting 1 additional pair of lights, which ones?
This should cut my choice by 50% before i even get involved in which ones are best!!!
Click to expand...


It's a bit like saying 'I want a pair of shoes, but I don't know whether to get walking boots or running trainers'

What do you want them for? :nenau

The answer to that question will be the indicator of which type to buy.....unless of course you are just buying bling for bling's sakes :augie
 
brianmaslen said:
Alternatively don't bother with aux lights and just convert the dip to HID. Much better result in terms of light output. Now sit back and wait for everyone to tell you to NOT get HID!
Click to expand...

+1 :thumb2 I've got a 35W HID for the dipped and a extra bright 'regular' bulb for the main. I found the 50W too bright and got complains from other road users when I was commuting and a HID in the main is a pain because of the 2/3 second delay.

Extra fogs/ spots, etc are just bling - no useful purpose on a motorcycle imo. People use them in cars for the same reason.
 
APE said:
+1 :thumb2 I've got a 35W HID for the dipped and a extra bright 'regular' bulb for the main. I found the 50W too bright and got complains from other road users when I was commuting and a HID in the main is a pain because of the 2/3 second delay.

Extra fogs/ spots, etc are just bling - no useful purpose on a motorcycle imo. People use them in cars for the same reason.
Click to expand...

Disagree about the spots - if you do a lot of night time riding around country lanes as I do, they are well worth it. And I have Hella FF50's with 55w HID conversions now in mine. Even more worth it. The OEM main beam is carp IMO :) I have 55w HID on dip beam (have an H7R burner fitted and never get flashed) and std halogen on OEM main beam. The AUX lights are useful at times as well, though they have an ON/OFF button which needs exercising a bit more than is usually from some riders.
 
Beemerman59 said:
Disagree about the spots - if you do a lot of night time riding around country lanes as I do, they are well worth it. And I have Hella FF50's with 55w HID conversions now in mine. Even more worth it. The OEM main beam is carp IMO :) I have 55w HID on dip beam (have an H7R burner fitted and never get flashed) and std halogen on OEM main beam. The AUX lights are useful at times as well, though they have an ON/OFF button which needs exercising a bit more than is usually from some riders.
Click to expand...

did you ever try a HID for the OEM main beam ? - seemed to remember it turned night into day albeit with a delay every time you pressed the button :aidan
 
Last edited:
Spots or Fogs

I have Hella HID spot lights fitted that have a separate side light in them which has a LED bulb. The main units are wired to main beam and the side lights into the side light of the bike, I have also changed the bikes side light to LED, it makes the bike very noticable from the front as the LED's are bright in the unit.
 
APE said:
did you ever try a HID for the OEM main beam ? - seemed to remember it turned night into day albeit with a delay every time you pressed the button :aidan
Click to expand...

Yes I did - fitted a 55w HID to main beam now reversed to a Philips Xtreme Halogen bulb, sorry lamp. When I just had this and no spots I did not like the warm up delay at all, so fitted a pair of Hella FF50's as additional spots, first with the Phillips xtreme bulbs, now with HID's. I found the twin Hella's even without HID were better than the main beam with HID. Now with HID the difference is even more profound. I have fitted an ON/OFF switch for the Hella's so I can use the flasher during the day without switching on the burners for a short period and yet have no delay on the OEM main beam. I left the ballast in place to use as a spare. I must have tried every combination possible by now and this works the best for me. Also have 35w HID on the AUX lights :)
 
Beemerman59 said:
Disagree about the spots - if you do a lot of night time riding around country lanes as I do, they are well worth it. And I have Hella FF50's with 55w HID conversions now in mine. Even more worth it. The OEM main beam is carp IMO :) I have 55w HID on dip beam (have an H7R burner fitted and never get flashed) and std halogen on OEM main beam. The AUX lights are useful at times as well, though they have an ON/OFF button which needs exercising a bit more than is usually from some riders.
Click to expand...

+1 on country lanes!

Having a simple 1100, I've just stuck 2 pairs of driving lights (£15 a pair from Halfords sale) on a lighting bar - one permanently wired to ful beam, other switchable to main beam.

Works a treat, especially with Philips Extreme bulb in headlight!
:thumb2
 
Wow I hadn't realised I'd open such a pot of worms!!!! The pole result thus far suggests 3 to 1 in favour of fogs - maybe some of the comments therefore suggest this is the bling or be-seen factor? Maybe a HID conversion to see and fogs to be seen is the generally preferred choice (accepting that it isn't actually legal to run with fogs in clear conditions)?
 
I went for the FF50s HID fogs and have HID in my dipped and main from Mr. Wessell. The pattern on the fogs is better than the dipped. I leave the fogs on all the time for better visibility even during the day. If I did it all over again I would forget the main. With the fogs and dipped on it does not really matter as oncoming traffic thinks that a lorry is approaching. I always love the reaction of drivers when they see it is actually a motorcycle. :D

More info here
 
Bobbin-Man said:
I've been considering fitting a pair of fogs or spots to my GS but there seems to be a vast array of choices of both! I've seen plenty on the road that run with auxiliary lights "permanently" on, therefore I assume them to be fogs, good for being seen, but spots would obviously be connected in with the high beam and better for open country. But if only fitting 1 additional pair of lights, which ones?
This should cut my choice by 50% before i even get involved in which ones are best!!!
Click to expand...

Get both. dilemma ended.
 
mark2jag said:
Get both. dilemma ended.
Click to expand...

+1

I have Hella Micro DE lights plus Hella FF50 Driving lights mounted on a Migsel auxiliary light bar. The Micro DE lights come on with dipped beam, although I have installed a switch and generally leave them off - they are mainly used when filtering, and on dark country roads. The FF50s come on with full beam (along with the Micro DEs) and the effect is very pleasing. I use a Philips Extreme on dip beam.
 
I was not far off buying HID dipped and main from MotorcycleAdventures (or whatever they are called). From this thread, I sense there is a time delay before they they work!

Dipped, not a problem but any delay will be a serious issue for me for Main Beam.

How long is this time delay?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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