Driving Lights

[Bones]

Anyone have either the Electrical Connection driving lights (http://www.electricalconnection.com/driving-lights/dl_st1300.htm) or Motolights (http://secure.electronicart.com/www_motolight_com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1071) on their ST? If so, how is the performance? How was the installation?

[georgeorge]

I've been thinking about using lights like either of those, but I just feel weird about mounting them to the forks like that. The bulbs would feel the impact from the road being mounted to the forks in that position and I'm just wondering how long the bulbs would last bein' shook like that. Anyone else have em mounted there and if so, any bulb burn-out problems?

Brian

[Bones]

The Motolights are guaranteed forever. My friend with a Connie has a set, one bulb burned out, he called Motolight and they sent him two new ones. At close to $400 for the set, you'd almost hope you had a few burnouts!

I understand the Motolights housing is made from cast aluminum and they mount to the brake calipers using longer bolts.

The EC housing is polycarbonate and they mount to the threaded hole where the amber reflecter screws in.

Any thought on whether aluminum housings make the Motolights worth 3x as much as the EC? Both use 35 watt H3 bulbs.

[Putt]

Have not mounted them yet, but I have a couple of Hella's (40 bucks +-) that will be going on a pair of Seng mounts sometime before
spring gets here..


Putt...

[nyener]

My bike is in storage at my dealer. While it is there I'm having them mount a pair of Hella Micro DE projector fog lamps on the front forks at the reflector. Look at this site www.rallylights.com
I bought a couple stainless steel 3" 'L' brackets for mounting. I may powder paint the brackets if they look too chessy unpainted. I think they will be worth the money, but I will let everyone know when I get the bike back in the spring. These lights are only one of the things I'm having them do for me.

[seiseman]

I have the EC lights. I like the light they throw and since I had all of the plastic off already wiring was easy. :) I didn't like the idea of using the bike as the ground path so I ran my own ground wire to a master grounding block. I have had one bulb burn out in 5K miles. Replacement was pretty straight forward.


Steve E

[Putt]

Terry,

You get a chance to go up the Iowa side of the river to
Prairie Duchien or La Cross last year??

Putt...

[jeff4912]

Does the switch that comes with the EC lights have a indicator light that comes on when the driving lights are on?

[Bones]

According to Lewis at EC, "The unit has 2 LEDs...one for lights on and another for lights off."

[jeff4912]

Thanks Bones. :yes:

[MikeP1300]

I installed the EC lights recently and I'm a little disappointed in the amount of light they project. I guess it's because of the low mounting position. But, I'm very satisfied with the increased visibility they provide. Riding buddies have commented on how well they work in that respect. If they could be mounted higher, under the mirrors say, you'd get better projection.

Considering what you get for the $130, a motivated farkler could produce similar performance from the Walmart auto dept. I did like the simple install though.

[Bones]

Anyone have either the Electrical Connection driving lights (http://www.electricalconnection.com/driving-lights/dl_st1300.htm) or Motolights (http://secure.electronicart.com/www_motolight_com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1071) on their ST? If so, how is the performance? How was the installation?

I'm revisiting this question about driving lights. Anyone have either Motolights or Electrical Connection driving lights? Just trying to decide if the Motolights are worth the extra coin ($345 for machined aluminum vs $130 for plastic).

The EC lights can be had for 10% off at HDL through Monday. Only two user comments about the EC lights on the HDL website -- one very negative, one very positive.

[jgilmore]

I'm revisiting this question about driving lights. Anyone have either Motolights or Electrical Connection driving lights? Just trying to decide if the Motolights are worth the extra coin ($345 for machined aluminum vs $130 for plastic).

The EC lights can be had for 10% off at HDL through Monday. Only two user comments about the EC lights on the HDL website -- one very negative, one very positive.

I installed Motolights (Caliper mounted) a few weeks ago. They are are work of art. Expensive, but a work of art.

I have only seen pictures of the EC lights, so I can't really comment on them, but I believe they would be similar in functionality to the motolights. You can go up to 75 watts per side with the motolights. I don't know if there is a limitation on the EC lights or not. Replacement bulbs are free forever (not transferable), with some small shipping charge. The bulbs I have a 35 watt M16 halogen with an 8 degree beam. You can upgrade to 50 watt from motolight for something like $10.00. You can also buy bulbs pretty much anywhere like Lowes or Home Depot.

They are not the "PIAA's under the mirrors" as far as throwing out light, but that would be of no use to me where I live. They do make you much more visible, both day and night. And they do light up the road in front pretty nicely, filling in the gap left by the headlight. I have seen the PIAA's on an ST1100 and it's nothing like that - but again, I'd never be able to use those much.

I am still tweaking the aim for that sweet spot of maximum projection/not blinding oncoming drivers (I do not have them hooked into my highbeam).

Their wiring harness is good and neat and can be easily installed out of the box (once you remove the plastic), however I modified it to my own taste (I'm picky). The switch they supply does not have an LED, but the one I installed does. By the description, it seems the switch supplied by EC is nicer. But hole mounted switches are cheap (which is why I replaced the stock one), I got one with an LED in it for something less than $5.00.

I would buy them again. They really look great on the bike too, the brushed alum matches the forks nicely. They are very beefy and the mounts are strong. They give you a replacement bolt for the brake calipers which are longer in order to hold the light assembly. They are also completely adjustable up and down. They actually look like they are OEM. And you don't loose the OEM reflectors with the motolights.

I haven't read any bad comments about EITHER lights by the way, except for a few people expecting the "floodage" that the PIAA's under the mirrors gives you.

-John

[Kempo-STer]

Greg (GRN) has them..They are great. Give a really good signature, day or night.
They are more for being seen than throwing off a lot of light. Thats my intention for buying them.
Same color as the bike and they integrate well. You'll see what I mean at Constoc. I'm sold.

I ordered mine about 2 weeks ago from EC and they are backordered.

I am waiting word back this morning as to their status because I lost my left high beam will be adding 55/60 bulbs to my order. This is my last farkle of the year..
I promise honey??!! :eek:

[GRN]

EC lights :headbang:

[sherob]

EC lights :headbang: :headbang: The fact my wife can see these babies in her Tahoe says alot! "Those are bright!" :eek: :D

[Moby]

I have had driving lights on all my bikes but would never mount them on the forks.That's just my personel choice,that front fork is no place for electronics.

I am going for the "Saeng Nightcutters" for my ride.Mostly because I think the name is kickass and I'm sure the girls will dig it. :p:
(Yeah right.)


Moby

[sherob]

I'll be adding the PIAA's one day... my main concern was being seen... trust me, with the fork lights on, you are seen. ;)

[GRN]

Charlie, if you add fork lights, I recomend slaving to your LB's... the wattage adds up and can create some funk... trust me. If you're running 55/60's, and you don't slave the fork lights to the LB's, your draw w/ HB's on (in the case of the EC's for example) will be 120 + 240 + 70, 430 watts before all the rest of those damned gadgets you got taped to that rig of yours... it won't like it!

[Bones]

I installed Motolights (Caliper mounted) a few weeks ago. They are are work of art. Expensive, but a work of art.

John: What do you think would happen if the ST went over on its side with the Motolights mounted to the calipers? I wonder if their sturdiness would transfer the force of impact to the calipers. That could hurt the old wallet.

[jgilmore]

John: What do you think would happen if the ST went over on its side with the Motolights mounted to the calipers? I wonder if their sturdiness would transfer the force of impact to the calipers. That could hurt the old wallet.


OK, I kicked the bike over to see what would happen...... ;)

They don't stick out too far - not sure they would even hit. If they did hit, I can't imagine them bending or breaking the caliper.

They also make strap mounts and fender mounts too if that is a concern. Also might let you mount them up slightly higher too.

-John