Tschamp Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I have an R1100RTP that I would like to put driving lights on. I've seen some people mention that some of the smaller lights don't have much down road lighting capability. I have the crash bars, and some brackets that come of the dash that the police lights were hooked up to. Which lights would be best for lighting up the road? Does anyone know if the rubber holders that held the red and blue police flashers would hold a regular driving light? They appear to be about a 4 inch light. Link to comment
celebrationrev Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 Hella FF50's Agreed. A lot cheaper than the PIAAs and they throw a lot of light. Link to comment
Global_Rider Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I've seen some people mention that some of the smaller lights don't have much down road lighting capability. They must be refering to my Hella FF50s which are great and a bargain. You have to ask yourself, "do I need to see 1 mile down the road if I won't be there for another 45 seconds". You want to light up the road in your vicinity...the vicinity that takes reaction time and braking distance into account. Link to comment
Art.. Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 PIAA 1100's and 1000's don't light up "down the road". More of a mid beam. Hella FF50's do light up "down the road". Like having extra high beams. PIAA 910's sear the trees, fry small animals, melt streetsigns..........wayyyyyyy down the road. I have the FF50's. Link to comment
USAF1 Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I'm gonna sugggest the KC's or the Hella's.....but if you do the FF50's you may end up painting the glass edges with black paint or covering it with tape. The lens sticks out beyond the housing, and creates a sort of Halo effect from the drivers perpective...some folks find that a bit annoying. Course, you could check out the ones that www.bestrestproducts.com has, too! Shoot us some pics after you get all done, eh? Pat Link to comment
Art.. Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 And I recommend the mounting brackets from..........umm....... www.empdesigns.com Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I've got a set of the Motolights with 75 watt spots mounted in them since I bought them. For a headlight, I have a Piaa Super White 80/80, which acts like a 135/125 conventional bulb and this is a spectacular set up. When the time comes to change out any of the MotoLight bulbs, they are $7 at any Lowe's......a bulb for the Piaas, which I think are great lights, run $ 42 ea......ouch. I have been thinking of adding the direct wiring harness to the Piaa headlight, which is supposed to increase that lighting by an additional 10% and takes the worry out of overheating the factory wiring.....probably a project for this winter. Link to comment
ClearwaterBMW Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I've got a set of the Motolights with 75 watt spots mounted in them since I bought them. For a headlight, I have a Piaa Super White 80/80, which acts like a 135/125 conventional bulb and this is a spectacular set up. When the time comes to change out any of the MotoLight bulbs, they are $7 at any Lowe's......a bulb for the Piaas, which I think are great lights, run $ 42 ea......ouch. I have been thinking of adding the direct wiring harness to the Piaa headlight, which is supposed to increase that lighting by an additional 10% and takes the worry out of overheating the factory wiring.....probably a project for this winter. 1. the motolight bulb replacements are FREE for the life of your bike.. WITH shipping (FWIW) 2. with those 80/80 bulbs: any sign of melting of the bulb housing because of the extra heat? thanks greg Link to comment
SCOTTinNJ Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I have both motolights and FF50's. Do not confuse the two. motolights are great if you are looking to be seen or to augment your fog lights. They do not give the down-road augmentation that FF50's do. Link to comment
Tschamp Posted August 25, 2005 Author Share Posted August 25, 2005 I've got a set of the Motolights with 75 watt spots mounted in them since I bought them. Are you referring to the black rubber light holders that held the red and blue lights on the RTP,I mentioned? Link to comment
Eckhard Grohe Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 I have FF50s and they do light down the roads well. I second the tape on the edge idea also.. I also have some Pilot lights, like the PIAA 1000s, under the radiator but that is a mid range thing. They have scratched the front fender and I might replace it with a KRS fender. The EMP bracket seem to cause my mirrors to be loose and I have to put some restraints on them as I am afraid the are going to fall off someday. Also watch out for the bolts for the FF50s as they are too long and scratch the top of the mirror housing. Even after shortening them.... It might be best to put them in with the nut and washer on top. Put some cardboard on top of the mirror housing when removing or replacing the mirror. Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 MotoLight replacement bulbs are only 35 watt, which they come with. I paid $10 more to get the 50 watt and then replaced them with the 75 watters. I just found a 75 watt bulb with a 12 degree reflector, which should push more light down the road. As for the 80/80, this is the third BMW I have put this bulb into ( the other a K100RS ) and I have never experienced any problems, though I think I may be pushing it in the RS, and come to think of it, my RT. My service manager noticed it in there the other day and commented that the KRS wiring was more substantial than the wiring on the RS/RT. But I have had it in the RS now for going on 3 years so go figure. But I do want to install that direct wiring harness as a safety factor and for the additional lighting it gives. But as it sits right now, the amount of light I can put on the road is really awesome...I had an 1100GS withthe Piaa 520's and this setup for exceeds what I had on that bike Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 I've got a set of the Motolights with 75 watt spots mounted in them since I bought them. Are you referring to the black rubber light holders that held the red and blue lights on the RTP,I mentioned? Can't say I know what lights were on the RTP's but Motolights are a brand of lights that mount to your fork legs or brake caliper. Do a google for them. Link to comment
Bmrboy02 Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Where did you find the 75 watt/12 degree bulbs? Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 Lowe's had them in lighting dept......... Link to comment
ClearwaterBMW Posted August 25, 2005 Share Posted August 25, 2005 MotoLight replacement bulbs are only 35 watt, which they come with. I paid $10 more to get the 50 watt and then replaced them with the 75 watters. I just found a 75 watt bulb with a 12 degree reflector, which should push more light down the road. As for the 80/80, this is the third BMW I have put this bulb into ( the other a K100RS ) and I have never experienced any problems, though I think I may be pushing it in the RS, and come to think of it, my RT. My service manager noticed it in there the other day and commented that the KRS wiring was more substantial than the wiring on the RS/RT. But I have had it in the RS now for going on 3 years so go figure. But I do want to install that direct wiring harness as a safety factor and for the additional lighting it gives. But as it sits right now, the amount of light I can put on the road is really awesome...I had an 1100GS withthe Piaa 520's and this setup for exceeds what I had on that bike thanks for that information i bought the 50w bulbs with my motolights.... but they have yet to come in from the manufacturer. i have the 35w ones in there and they will be replaced when the others arrive the 75W..... 18 degree/lowes? i'll look into it greg Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I might stand corrected here but I think the lower the degree, the more of a pencil beam you will but down the road, hence, a 12 degree should project further than , say, a 15 or 18 degree bulb. But to be honest, I can live very well with the set up as is....the 80w/80 on high beam fills in and projects perfectly with the 75w I have in the Motolights. Nice thing about the Motolights is that it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to experiment. That 80w/80w Piaa bulb will light up the reflectors/tail lights on most cars at 100 yd in broad daylight. Link to comment
Tschamp Posted August 26, 2005 Author Share Posted August 26, 2005 What motolights do you have, that you can get bulbs at Lowes? Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 You can see them here http://www.ascycles.com/SearchResult_r1100rt.aspx?&KeyWords=kwR1100RT%20kwAllBikes&Any=True Link to comment
Woodie Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 (A&S) Which page? (Your link returns 107 items on 7 pages) Link to comment
Art.. Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Or here: www.motolight.com They offer "free replacement" bulbs, for only $5.00 S/H. You can buy these bulbs in Lowes for about $3 ea. The 75w 10° bulbs are a little more. $3.99ea. here: http://www.bulbs.com/products/product.asp?page=products&class=633&keyword=googleMRs Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 Art...thanks for the post....great resource for future purchases. Link to comment
Effervescent Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 " NO LENS-Enclosed Fixture Recommended. " Acording to the text on those 75 watters. Reason for concern? -Eff Link to comment
gezerbike Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 My 75 watters have been in going on 3 years with no problem. Remember that the text was originally written for in home use...I suspect that the wind blast at 50 mph might cool them down some.... Link to comment
Effervescent Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 Well, my Lowes (after the 8 mile drive) only had 35 and 50 watters in flood and narrow flood. -Eff Link to comment
Art.. Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Eff, I've been running 75 watters with no lens for two years. The Motolight lens and gasket system keeps 'em relatively dry. Link to comment
Tschamp Posted August 29, 2005 Author Share Posted August 29, 2005 Do you have pics of your lights? Link to comment
Art.. Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 http://www.pbase.com/artborin/image/33953385 http://www.pbase.com/artborin/image/33953383 Link to comment
Matts_12GS Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 I have a set of low cost (about $20) fog lights mounted on the front of the cylinder protectors on my RT and with 55W bulbs I get a swath of light about two lanes wide and as far as my super duper white low beam will go. Link to comment
gezerbike Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 Or here: www.motolight.com They offer "free replacement" bulbs, for only $5.00 S/H. You can buy these bulbs in Lowes for about $3 ea. The 75w 10° bulbs are a little more. $3.99ea. here: http://www.bulbs.com/products/product.asp?page=products&class=633&keyword=googleMRs Well, as a follow up. I went out to this site today to order the 75 watt 10 degree bulbs for 3.99 ea. Minimum order for retail was $20 so I ordered .........6. Add in shipping for a total delivered price of 31.00 or about 5.20 ea, still cheap. Sold 2 to a friend with MotoLights for 11.00 so I have a back up pair laying around. Still ALOT cheaper than a single Piaa bulb and they will be at the house Thursday, just in time for th Dells rally. Good transaction....thanks again Art Link to comment
Art.. Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 These bulbs are rated for 4000 hours, and I have had mine in for over 2 years / 12k miles and they're still going strong. Compared to the PIAA bulbs, which blew once a year. Link to comment
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