Cornering light mod?

[Drogen Omen]

hey has anyone looked at making a cornering light mod?

I'm looking at making one up. set of lights to put on the side of my bike, with a 4 pos Rotary Switch.

1. OFF
2. Both cornering lights at the same time on/off
3. Left cornering light on right cornering light off
4. Left cornering light off right cornering light on

at this stage i don't know how much power i have to play with on the Buell XB12ss so will need to find out as i don't want to burn out the alternator.

i was looking at custom adapting a set of halogen 12V 55W 60degree view brushed chrome domestic house lights.

also not sure if i would need a ballast or a pulse timer.

i started thinking about the need to have side lighting for night riding when cornering...

a couple weeks ago i was riding the rimutakas in the dark, i came to a corner that had no center line so couldn't judge my position on the road and as i could not see how close i was to the hill side i ended up scraping my helmet on the cliff face... didn't know i was that close... gave me a hell of a fright...

i was thinking of modifying a set of these as they already have a protective casing and look stylish...

can anyone help? maybe with a circuit diagram of how i could do it that's better than my diagram?

here's a quick diagram...

i was thinking of wiring it into the headlight wires.

let me know what you guys think.

[hmmmnz]

so let me get this straight.
you want lights that automatically come on or that you have to operate a switch that turns on the left the right or both lights
if its the munual option, isn't that going to be a pain in the arse??

i wouldnt use the headlight wiring as the cable isn't heavy enough to carry the extra load,
ill draw a diagram shortly, on the safest way using a 3 pole switch

[hmmmnz]

ok this is how i would do it,

using relays,
you'll need a 4 position switch, 2x single pole relays, and 1 x double pole relay

[Warr]

60degree bulbs are WAY too wide. You can get 10degree ones from a good electrical supplier, eg JA Russell.
I used some lights from Super Cheap that came with the 60degree bulbs. I mounted them on the mirror mounts in such a way so that they the left crossed over and lit up the right side of the road. The theory being when heading around a right hander the bike was leaned over to the right making the l/h mirror spot cross over and light the direction you were heading.
And same with the one mounted on the r/hand.
I had them wired via a relay and fused direct off a new lead to the battery. The relay was controlled from the high beam circuit with a small switch in series so if you wanted to they could be switched off.
Eg if the WOF testers were concerned (which in my case they werent) You could turn these "driving" lights off.

[Drogen Omen]

so let me get this straight.
you want lights that automatically come on or that you have to operate a switch that turns on the left the right or both lights
if its the munual option, isn't that going to be a pain in the arse??

i wouldnt use the headlight wiring as the cable isn't heavy enough to carry the extra load,
ill draw a diagram shortly, on the safest way using a 3 pole switch

yeah i was thinking i could make it like the indicator switch so that i could push it to make each light come on...

going to Jaycar tomorrow to see what other switches they have. the 4 pos rotary switch is just a suggestion i got from someone else that made this setup.

thanks for the feedback, looking forward to seeing your diagram.

[Drogen Omen]

60degree bulbs are WAY too wide. You can get 10degree ones from a good electrical supplier, eg JA Russell.
I used some lights from Super Cheap that came with the 60degree bulbs. I mounted them on the mirror mounts in such a way so that they the left crossed over and lit up the right side of the road. The theory being when heading around a right hander the bike was leaned over to the right making the l/h mirror spot cross over and light the direction you were heading.
And same with the one mounted on the r/hand.
I had them wired via a relay and fused direct off a new lead to the battery. The relay was controlled from the high beam circuit with a small switch in series so if you wanted to they could be switched off.
Eg if the WOF testers were concerned (which in my case they werent) You could turn these "driving" lights off.

i'm still not set on the halogen lights, will check out the LED's at Jaycar tomorrow and see if they will suite.

i would rather a less bright light but with a wide angle, i was told that if i get amber perspecs to cover the lights they are legal (similar to all the amber lights trucks have), it is only a bright white light on the side or rear of a vehicle that is not WOFable... or so i'm told.

[CookMySock]

Yeah you will need relays. Even 35 watts will be way too much for a little wafer rotary switch.

Do it. I'll be interested to see it.

Steve

[hmmmnz]

diagram added
i wouldnt try and load up any switch
relays or burnt out wiring... easy choice in my eyes

[Squiggles]

get some of these

[The Pastor]

lols, extra lights on a motorbike, what are you american?

[CookMySock]

diagram added

You can get away with just two relays if you isolate them with some dick smith diodes (1N4004). Just wire two relays to the rotary switch, and then connect the "both" terminal of the switch through two diodes to both of the relays.

Steve

[Drogen Omen]

diagram added
i wouldnt try and load up any switch
relays or burnt out wiring... easy choice in my eyes

sweet thanks mate, will check out your diagram.

here is the list of things i thought i would need.

2x 12v 50watt halogen spot lights gunmetal color (need to find some cool looking ones)
100mm x 200mm x 1mm amber colored perspecs
Colored Wires (5 amps)
Wire Sheath/conduit (wire cover)
1x waterproof 3 pos Switch (same as indicator switch)
Power Relay
10amp fuse (5amps per light?)

lols, extra lights on a motorbike, what are you american?

it all depends on the type of bike or headlight system your bike has...

My DR350 has a good side light bleed, but no light focus ahead.

My Buell has inset headlights so has no light bleed out the sides and is focused to 45 degrees.

[Juzz976]

2 pole 4pos cam switch will do. no relays. <--- rotary switch = PITA to use while riding and a dangerous distraction.
Use LED's < uhh something about doin it right the first time.

other options
Night vision glasses
on off switch with lamps that illuminate underneath the bike.
no tinted visor at night time
springy feeler stick ontop of helmet so you can feel when your close to cliff

[Drogen Omen]

ok i have found the lights i'm gona use. here's some pics...

[Drogen Omen]

2 pole 4pos cam switch will do. no relays. <--- rotary switch = PITA to use while riding and a dangerous distraction.
Use LED's < uhh something about doin it right the first time.

other options
Night vision glasses
on off switch with lamps that illuminate underneath the bike.
no tinted visor at night time
springy feeler stick ontop of helmet so you can feel when your close to cliff

- looked at night vision goggles. but they are too expensive and could be a hazard with oncoming cars...
- hmmm that could work but wont look this stylish.
- i dont have a tinted visor.
- this could also work but would look ridiculous... (weta man on a bike) hahahaha