Other locations for Driving Lights?

[C-Stain]

I've been searching for a replacement for the 90's vintage driving lights on my XII and the only ones that seemt to be available these days are the thin little 55W Halogen jobs that don't have a post to mount them on the engine bars. Has anyone ever mounted their driving lights up higher...? And if you did, where and how did you do it?

And I guess while I'm here...anyone changed their stock headlight over to HID?

[David (N. Alabama)]

There was a guy who said he was going to change to HID, but never posted back on if he finished it.

Some have put a flat bar to the two screws that hold the headlight shroud and mounted lights out to the sides and just below the headlight.

I put the little round 55w "off road use only" driving lights on the factory light bar. I have them pointed slightly down to not blind drivers coming towards me. I use them to create a triangle of light and to light up the sides of the roadways better.

I put in a phillips motovision bulb and am happy with it over the stock bulb.

[Chris near Kansas City]

I'll post a picture of the bar under the nose that David is talking about once I get home.

These are on my '90 crash bars. Use the Kuryakyn Magnum Quick Clamps.

[The Masked Rider]

I mounted my driving lights up high and the fog down on the Markland light bar. The brackets for the driving lights are still available but I don't have that info in front of me. Some one else I'm sure will post that info. Although I do like the driving light bar, I found my light would shake some going down the road so as you can see in the second picture, I welded a bracket on the back which completely stopped the vibration/shake. You can do the same thing without having to do what I did. I have a welder so it was easy for me to weld the aluminum. All you would need to do is run an extra strap acorss the bottom of the bracket and bolt it on. That would stop the vibration at the tips of the bracket. I love having my driving lights up high.
Fritz

[Chris near Kansas City]

The bar on the '01 looks like Fritz's, except for the lack of bracing. Thought I had a decent picture of it, but guess not. Got some new lights to mount on it though. I'll post a pic when I get them on.

[stasch]

My rather crude solution compared to at 'the masked rider's' elegant braced bar:



Total cost for hardware was about $9 in addition to the $20 for lights, relay and switch package.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

stasch
How about pics or drawings of what was used and how you came about it?

[stasch]

Scott-(Altoona, PA)

Just saw your post today.

Don't have a lot of pics for the Voyager light bar I made, but its very similar to the Concours light bar as shown here:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/5592972 ... host=rides

Used a basic aluminum square tube (36" from Home Depot) cut down to about 18". Your lights and other factors will determine which width to use. I used one tube to make both light bars for the two bikes.

The Voyager light bar didn't need the beam clamps like the Concours. It just needed bolts to mount to the welded nuts that hold the headlight bezel on. Don't recall the length of the bolts I used, but it shouldn't be to hard to mock up and figure out for your situation. I took one of the stock bezel screws into the hardware to get identical thread and diameter replacements in the length I needed.

I used a couple washers for each bolt to act as a spacers between the bar and fairing / bezel to avoid contact between them.

Hope that helps.

[davidl]

I like the idea of having the driving lights higher. How long was the bar before you bent it? It looks like a piece of angle iron could be used if the angles are cut right. This forum is great. The help I get here has saved me & others lots of time & misery. Thanks guys..

David

[C-Stain]

Well I did it.

With a little help from a friend, fabricated a light bar and installed a set of 35W Driving lights to the Voyager tonight. Probably not the smartest thing so close to my departure for my Iron Butt Ride, as it breaks one of the Cardinal Rules of the IBA...but since the bike was down for Driveshaft parts...I had no choice.

I replaced my lower driving lights with a set of Amber Fog Lamps in case we run into nasty weather. Departure date next Thursday...I should be ready "just in time!"

Here's my quick and dirty effort. They're installed, aimed and ready to go...





Thanks for posting the pics and giving me the great ideas!

[Doug in South Dakota]

Good luck on your IBA ride.....What one you gonna attempt? My brother is on the 48 plus as I type this....He will end in Hyder, AK for the Hyder seek rally, He also compleated a 100ccc this spring. You lights look good.
Again good luck on ur ride

[C-Stain]

Good luck on your IBA ride.....What one you gonna attempt? My brother is on the 48 plus as I type this....He will end in Hyder, AK for the Hyder seek rally, He also compleated a 100ccc this spring. You lights look good.
Again good luck on ur ride

I'm doing the Saddlesore 1000 this time round. We did an Endurance Rally last year out of Moncton, New Brunswick CA., but never thought to submit it all to the IBA. They cancelled that run this year so we decided to find another one close by..Northampton was the closest one.

If we enjoy ourselves on this one, we'll try again next year, only taking part in the 26 hour Rally instead.

Thanks for the Best Wishes. Luck is ALWAYS welcome!

C.

[Mike in Pekin , Il]

THe light bar bracket that Fritz has comes from http://WWW.CYCLEGADGETS.COM

[Kevin B in Illinois]

Rick Martin had some brackets made about 9 years ago for mounting dual HID lights under the rearview mirrors. He gave me a set and I mounted lights under the mirrors and had a set of PIAA's also mounted down low on the crash bars. The HID lights do light the night up dramatically. I will try to find a picture of the brackets to post.


Kevin B. in Illinois

[C-Stain]

Rick Martin had some brackets made about 9 years ago for mounting dual HID lights under the rearview mirrors. He gave me a set and I mounted lights under the mirrors and had a set of PIAA's also mounted down low on the crash bars. The HID lights do light the night up dramatically. I will try to find a picture of the brackets to post.


Kevin B. in Illinois

If you get a chance..please post a pic or email me directly. I'd love to have some plans to do that myself....

c.