High power LED auxillary lights?

[CrazyFrog]

I'm thinking about rigging up some auxillary lights on my KTM EXC, as the OEM headlight set up has a 35W/40W bulb, which is less than adequate on the road, let alone when fanging down a bush track in the dark.

I originally considered a HID system, but these seem pretty pricey and require a stator upgrade due to the current being drawn when running. Great light systems, but also not DOT approved, generally made for rally racing etc.

I've done a bit more research into the new generation high power LED systems which a lot of mountain bikers are using for night riding now, which drawn very little current and seem to have bloody good light output.
Most MTB systems seem to be 6-9watt Cree LED lamps, but I've found some 20W 12volt ones on eBay. At $70 USD, they seem to be great value and come with all the fittings.

Check out the info on this linky here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20W-1...m=140608843152

I highly doubt if these will get past the man at the WOF testing station, but installation/removal of the actual spotlight lamp should only take a couple of minutes once the lights have been hardwired to the electrical circuit.

Has anyone else on here trialled anything similar?
Feedback is welcomed. Chur

[Waihou Thumper]

I put a 55w bulb into my SXC, that worked fine. However these lights look great, be keen to get a couple myself and the dimmer too.

[Eddieb]

Pampa has some sort of tiny light setup on his XChallenge.

He might go over it in his thread, not sure: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=664876

[almoto]

They often lie about the amount of lumen lights put out as it is only the light the LED can handle and not after driver and reflector losses but the stated 1600 lumen for a XP-G R5 (x 4 LED) at 1.5A seems about right...

Its not the latest Cree LED (XM-L...more lumen and less power use) nor the best of that series (XP-G R2/3/4/5, S2/3/4) but good enough any day especially since its not run off separete batteries...

Good hardware not like so much stuff from China...

The only problem with those kind of lights is the lack of a proper reflector for road riding...I run 2 lights (2x real 900 lumen) on my MTB and even with only one on and on low it blinds oncoming traffic...

And funny enough the dude doesnt seem to ship to NZ

The one PAMPA has got is just for being seen not to see better.

[CrazyFrog]

They often lie about the amount of lumen lights put out as it is only the light the LED can handle and not after driver and reflector losses but the stated 1600 lumen for a XP-G R5 (x 4 LED) seems about right...

Its not the latest Cree LED (XM-L...more lumen and less power use) nor the best of that series (XP-G R2/3/4/5, S2/3/4) but good enough any day especially since its not run off separete batteries...

Good hardware not like so much stuff from China...

The only problem with those kind of lights is the lack of a proper reflector for road riding...I run 2 lights (2x real 900 lumen) on my MTB and even with only one on and on low it blinds oncoming traffic...


And funny enough the dude doesnt seem to ship to NZ

The seller on Ebay will ship to NZ, I've asked the question, same price as postage to Australia.

Good to know about stated and actual lumen output, I guess for the price they seem okay. I'd be willing to buy a pair and if they're not good enough for the moto, I'll at least have fun with them on my mtb.
The photos of light output seem good, however, a picture can often tell a thousand lies, as per most Pacific island resort brochures .

[almoto]

The seller on Ebay will ship to NZ, I've asked the question, same price as postage to Australia.

Good to know about stated and actual lumen output, I guess for the price they seem okay. I'd be willing to buy a pair and if they're not good enough for the moto, I'll at least have fun with them on my mtb.
The photos of light output seem good, however, a picture can often tell a thousand lies, as per most Pacific island resort brochures .

yep...for the price they seem ok...and they will be bloody bright...and the balance between Trow and Spill looks good...
but the photos of the light output do 'tell a thousand lies'...apparently one needs to make sure that for different shots are done with the exact same setting on the camera...
there is a few other places that sell good lights...eg. 'Manafront' (Edit: checked Manafront.. 'Nothing')

[cooneyr]

I've just been looking for lighting upgrades as well. I was looking for a driving light to add onto the bike but it all is a bit awkward especially when there is 70w AC output at best to the lighting.

In the end it came down to a choice of a Trail Tec X2 Torch dual sport replacement headlight or a Baja Design Baja D headlight.

The Trail Tec uses two 35w H3 halogen bulbs, one is a driving light and one in a projector light. The Baja Designs uses a 55/60 H4 bulb in a glass lens. I found one post on ADV rider from a guy who reckoned the Baja Designs unit produced as good a light if not better than the Trail Tec unit despite the wattage difference. I can only assume that the BD unit has a better reflector.

Anyway I've ordered a BD unit and intend to put a +50% or more 55/60 H4. I also figure that should I ever feel the need to go to HID down the track the BD unit will be able to easily be able to be upgraded seeing as it uses an H4 and there are many H4 HID options out there.

Cheers R

[ADVGD]

I originally considered a HID system, but these seem pretty pricey and require a stator upgrade

One option is the standard H4 fitment 35Watt HID option from Procycle for $79USD. One has just arrived in the mail but I can't comment as I haven't installed it yet. I've tried all sorts of so called "high" or "extreme" output H4 bulbs but to me they just don't cut it for riding gravel/4X4 tracks in the dark. It can be bloody dangerous at times so going HID accompanied by two axillary Vision X 10 watt Solstice LED lights.

Axillary is a nice option to have as a backup in case a bulb goes, NordieBoy JATZ and Piglet will back me up here when saying the track into Big River in the dark is a mission with average lighting, due to an earlier bike drowning and bulb blowing I did it with no lights at all and just followed mattsdakar close, lots of near offs as I could hardly see a damn thing, bloody sketchy trip

[rogerh]

I busted the reflector on my 640, and rather than replace it with the standard one, which is a pretty woeful reflector, I got a Baja Designs one. It is the one that is the replacement for their front mask that they manufacture themselves.

It is a much better reflector than stock! By miles. The build quality is not as nice as the OEM, but it is light, and reasonably well made. I have checked the patten of the output, and it does not do the dip left or right (that I thought may be a problem), but rather has a very sharp horizontal cut off. One of the masks they had in the shop had a both direction arrow on it, so I guessed to one I brought would be the same.

No problems getting warrants, as it looks identical to the original one, and the light pattern is good, and at $45 (US) it was pretty cheap. Riding dark country roads at night is also much safer than with the OEM one. With the same bulb.

I would imagine this would fit a lot of XR's and the like. H4 same as standard. So maybe one day HID??

[cooneyr]

I busted the reflector on my 640, and rather than replace it with the standard one, which is a pretty woeful reflector, I got a Baja Designs one. It is the one that is the replacement for their front mask that they manufacture themselves.....

The BD headlight unit doesn't fit into a post 04 EXC shroud unfortunately, which is why I've sprung for the complete unit. Oh and an ugly stone guard - function over form here all the way.

Interesting comments ADVGD. I went from a stock 55/60 H4 on my DR650 to a +50% and it was a noticeable change. Still no where as good as the twin lights on the super tenere (awesome lights - best on any bike I've ever owned) but still better than the DR 650 stocker. Anything will be better than the crap reflector with a 35/35w on the EXC!!!

The other thing is the EXC is AC output to the headlight unless you want to faff with the stator. It doesn't produce enough AC juice to ignite an HID. Net result is that HID requires either time with a multimeter or another $100US+ to upgrade the stator and more moola for an appropriate reg/rec.

Cheers R

[Squiggles]

These are pretty good but pricey, Uses VisionX lighting pods

[avgas]

bloody hell - I should get back to making LED lights again. 6 years ago I stopped after it was no worth my efforts.
You can get away with LED lighting without reflectors as 80% of the light comes out of them directional. So you are only gaining an additional 20% of light.
I used to run 10,000-15,000 mcd, 10mm LED.......but its good to see everyone is still using LUXEON LED setups now......but they consume the power at 1-5w each. 7 years ago you couldn't get a LUX for less than $10 each, so the price must have dropped.....anywho I digress

That first kit looks good, no only due to its brightness, but looks fairly weather proof for the price.

[RedKLR650]

The BD headlight unit doesn't fit into a post 04 EXC shroud unfortunately, which is why I've sprung for the complete unit. Oh and an ugly stone guard - function over form here all the way.

Interesting comments ADVGD. I went from a stock 55/60 H4 on my DR650 to a +50% and it was a noticeable change. Still no where as good as the twin lights on the super tenere (awesome lights - best on any bike I've ever owned) but still better than the DR 650 stocker. Anything will be better than the crap reflector with a 35/35w on the EXC!!!

The other thing is the EXC is AC output to the headlight unless you want to faff with the stator. It doesn't produce enough AC juice to ignite an HID. Net result is that HID requires either time with a multimeter or another $100US+ to upgrade the stator and more moola for an appropriate reg/rec.

Cheers R

Excuse me Ryan, but I must take issue with your comments re an HID setup

They have a starter that converts the bike DC to 11kv AC and actually use 1/2 the wattage of a stock bulb !!!!! The stock KLR stator is CRAP and ( would ) easily drive it

Although I would never admit it under threat of death, Evidently, just supposing my KLR had an aftermarket HID setup fitted, and just supposing I used that setup during the TT2000 this year, and just supposing that Mark ( whatastoner ) slowed down enough to ride beside me at times, I think you would find that he might just supposedly have some positive comments re the HID output. Evidently, if such a setup did exist, it would have been like riding with the sun out at night, incredibly bright. I say hypothetically as I realise the law doesn't allow such aftermarket setups so it couldn't possibly be true


Hypothetically a full HID setup ( with a spare bulb just in case ) and AC converter unit could be landed here for about $100 USD - Apparently..........

and supposedly, they would be VERY easy to fit

Any questions, I'm on 555......

Just ask for 007

[Gremlin]

These are pretty good but pricey, Uses VisionX lighting pods

They're good, but a little small... I have a set.

I also have these: http://www.clearwaterlights.com/infopg_krista.html

Piccy of them (under the crash bar, either side of the front guard)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...8&d=1314741318

I reckon, on full power, they are lighting up reflective boards 1km into the distance... if you want maximum light, these are probably some of the best.

If budget isn't a problem, look at the bigger Vision X lights. I spoke to the NZ Distributor about the next ones up from the 1 LED pods... $700 buy for one 5 LED lamp, and RRP of $1400. Except you need a pair

[cooneyr]

Excuse me Ryan, but I must take issue with your comments re an HID setup

They have a starter that converts the bike DC to 11kv AC and actually use 1/2 the wattage of a stock bulb !!!!! The stock KLR stator is CRAP and ( would ) easily drive it......

I'll take your issues and explain. There are three problems with slapping an HID bulb into a stock EXC as they are a bit speshul, a bit like KLR riders

First the EXC's produce AC (not DC) power for the headlight circuit and bugger all DC for the battery charging circuit. This means you either need to "float the ground" on the stator or replace the stator and if you muck with the stator you also need a new reg/rec. This is all just to convert the headlight circuit to DC. The stock AC output is not enough to light an HID directly without the AC converter and obviously AC does not drive a the DC/AC Converter. Bells Hells! Geddit

Second the EXC headlight reflector is utter crap. You might as well throw it away and you'd still get the same light.

Third the problem is that the stock headlight uses a BA20D bulb base i.e. not at all common like H4, H7 etc.

So while HID produces great light and ain't that expensive if you have a "normal" bike, they ain't cheap to put in a EXC. Net result I'm going to spend money to upgrade from an absolute crap light to a not so crappy light that solves two of the issues i.e. gets me a much better reflector and uses an H4 bulb. HID can come at a later date if necessary.

Oh and HID are not legal - as you apparently said.