How to Install Dirt Cheap Driving lights

[LeaderDuece]

Originally Posted by gchalifo

Hmmmmm,
Inside the chin spoiler?.....if they are small enough, and cast the light out along the road properly that might work really nice!!!!!

I chin spoiler designed for the light to be integrated would be very interesting.....

I never thought of actually designing a chin spoiler with recessed lights.obviously Christok could do it. He might be able to French in some lights on a spoiler he already has, instead of having to start from scratch.

Great idea Gary!

[yellowbee]

Originally Posted by LeaderDuece

Yeah, I can see it working. You have a fender bolt that is behind the fork but above and in front of the caliper. Basically you would make an L-bracket that would fit under that bolt and stick out a couple of inches. On the end of the L-bracket you would put a hole for the bolt on the light. Bolt it up and you're set. You can get a piece of flat rod (or flat bar I guess) from Home Depot that's 24 inches long for about 5 bucks. Cut a couple of pieces off, round the cuts, polish it a bit, paint it black, and you're set.

YES! I think that will be the answer! I'll post some pics when it's done although someone else may beat me to it. No reason to hurry at this point in the season. Thanks LD!

I like your setup too and the chin spoiler idea as well.

[arizonawarrior]

LD, did you see any benefit to using a relay connected to a wire that is switched with the key? That way they go off at key-off and you won't by accident maybe leave the lights on during the day. Plus with the illuminated switch after the relay the pilot light would also go out at key-off. Just wondering if that has any merit for you.

[Churchkey]

Tried those lights, good illumination but IMHO they suck on a bike, they fall apart.

Suggest clear RTV to glue the retaining ring on, it will vibrate off. Just use a few small dabs, you will need to remove the ring to replace the bulb/reflector every few thou miles. The bulbs fail & the reflectors crack in half on a bike. Get a second pair of lights to use for parts.

I use driving lights that employ the same style bulb/reflector but the housing is heavy & chrome. About once a year a bulb or reflector dies.

I still use the same type of mount as seen in the link below but have rolled the tabs & finessed it.

New Model Running lights-Who is interested.

[LeaderDuece]

I had thoughts along those lines Churchkey, but I figured for 20 bucks I'd try it. A lot of guys on the other forum had said it worked great -but they probably don't have to deal with paintshaker issues like we do.

As you note, I can either get a backup set as problems arise, or go to something a little more sturdy.

Arizona -I decided not to worry about wiring it to work only when the bike was on. I thought about it, but I'm pretty finicky when I turn my bike off, so I figured this would be fine. Of course this means I'll forget them for sure now, but I was shooting for a simple answer and we'll see how it goes.

[Luv2LafMcc]

Originally Posted by gchalifo

Hmmmmm,
Inside the chin spoiler?.....if they are small enough, and cast the light out along the road properly that might work really nice!!!!!

I chin spoiler designed for the light to be integrated would be very interesting.....

Originally Posted by LeaderDuece

I never thought of actually designing a chin spoiler with recessed lights.obviously Christok could do it. He might be able to French in some lights on a spoiler he already has, instead of having to start from scratch.

Great idea Gary!

+1 to you both... that would be a great idea... competently bad A$$

If Christo tries to get the lights mounted as low and apart on the chin spoiler as possible, perhaps he could recess the lights into the spoiler, and sculpt out the opening for the beam something like the lights on the datsuns below? obviously the relief cut would be rotated more towards the 3 o'clock/9 o'clock on our chin spoiler, as opposed to the 5 o'clock/ 7 o'clock on the cars.







here... i just mocked it up as best i can....

[LeaderDuece]

That looks REALLY sweet. I wish I had skills with fiberglass, I'd try it.

Here's a link to Yellowbee's lights. He went ahead and built something based on what we discussed in this thread. Just trying to keep the ideas together so when someone is reading this next year they can see everything we came up with...

Another cheap driving light mod