Road light mounts under the coolers?

[Keppelj]

I've bought a couple Denali D2's and I'm considering mounting sites. I got them so I could see better riding at night which I do a bit and on curvy roads. I'd like to see into corners better. The physics of counter steering is that fork mounted lights point out of the corner somewhat while the bike is actually turning inward - not helpful for seeing around the corner. I notice a couple of threaded holes in the frame just inboard of the oil coolers and I wonder about making an aluminum bracket which bolts to those two holes and goes around the alternator cover with tabs which extend out under the oil coolers for mounting the lights on either side. It ought to be possible to make such a bracket so the coolers (and tank) could be removed without moving the lights, and the alternator cover comes off mostly for tensioning and belt replacement - which is seldom. Possible downside - the lights would be subject to some heat off the cylinders. Denali would know how much heat the LED lights can take. I don't think that should be a problem though.

I know others have mounted lights under the coolers. Any thoughts?

[maccraith]

I have mine mounted under the coolers using the forward cooler cover screw which I replaced with about a 2" screw and nylock nut. I am very happy with the result. Gives me great night vision and daytime visibility (I am not sure which is the bigger benefit). Additionally, they are hidden there which has a number of benefits all by itself in my opinion.

[Keppelj]

So, a single screw/bolt holding the bracket for each light and no vibration, beams steady? That's sure simple. What you said about them being hidden (from you, I assume) is appealing. That hadn't occured to me.

[ron prior]

I have mine mounted under the coolers using the forward cooler cover screw which I replaced with about a 2" screw and nylock nut. I am very happy with the result. Gives me great night vision and daytime visibility (I am not sure which is the bigger benefit). Additionally, they are hidden there which has a number of benefits all by itself in my opinion.

Any chance seeing a pic of them ?...as I am considering doing the same.

I currently have the RCU brackets, that 'swing" the lights with the headlamp....OK ? yes, but not as much "triangle" as I'd like.

[maccraith]

I have mine mounted under the coolers using the forward cooler cover screw which I replaced with about a 2" screw and nylock nut. I am very happy with the result. Gives me great night vision and daytime visibility (I am not sure which is the bigger benefit). Additionally, they are hidden there which has a number of benefits all by itself in my opinion.

Any chance seeing a pic of them ?...as I am considering doing the same.

I currently have the RCU brackets, that 'swing" the lights with the headlamp....OK ? yes, but not as much "triangle" as I'd like.

I have removed the mounting brackets and put the screw into and through the hole in the casting. The lights are absolutely solid; no movement or vibration. I am sorry that I don't know how to post a picture. I will look into it and see if I can get it done.

[maccraith]

Hopefully, this will produce a picture for you.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/176 ... on%202.JPG
Please let me know if it works for you.

[riceburner]

I've bought a couple Denali D2's and I'm considering mounting sites. I got them so I could see better riding at night which I do a bit and on curvy roads. I'd like to see into corners better. The physics of counter steering is that fork mounted lights point out of the corner somewhat while the bike is actually turning inward - not helpful for seeing around the corner.

Your understanding of counter-steering is somewhat lacking. Yes the front is turned away from the corner ti initiate the turn, but after that the wheel will be turned into the corner slightly as the bike goes round.

I notice a couple of threaded holes in the frame just inboard of the oil coolers and I wonder about making an aluminum bracket which bolts to those two holes and goes around the alternator cover with tabs which extend out under the oil coolers for mounting the lights on either side. It ought to be possible to make such a bracket so the coolers (and tank) could be removed without moving the lights, and the alternator cover comes off mostly for tensioning and belt replacement - which is seldom. Possible downside - the lights would be subject to some heat off the cylinders. Denali would know how much heat the LED lights can take. I don't think that should be a problem though.

I know others have mounted lights under the coolers. Any thoughts?

[/quote]

Just remember to ensure that you have enough clearance for the Telelever arm to travel.

I have extra lights added on the bike - but I have a Rockster so my mounting options are more varied.

Personally I don't expect to be seen so I don't go for the 'triangle of light' stuff - mine are wired in to the full-beam instrument light circuit (via a relay).



Will stick up a pic of my new Hellas at some point.

[Keppelj]

Rice burner, thanks for the caution about clearing the telelever. I have a bit of noodling to do over all of it, including the electrics as that's not my strong suit. I'm puzzled: You dont expect to be seen? The one bad bike accident I witnessed was in broad daylight when a pickup turned left in front of an oncoming bike. I was behind the PU and a shower of motorcycle parts flew over me. Seems like a situation we're likely to be in regularly, and one where the triangle might help.

[riceburner]

Rice burner, thanks for the caution about clearing the telelever. I have a bit of noodling to do over all of it, including the electrics as that's not my strong suit. I'm puzzled: You dont expect to be seen? The one bad bike accident I witnessed was in broad daylight when a pickup turned left in front of an oncoming bike. I was behind the PU and a shower of motorcycle parts flew over me. Seems like a situation we're likely to be in regularly, and one where the triangle might help.

I suppose it would be clearer to say that "I don't expect car drivers to see me" - so I ride expecting them NOT to see me, I ride in a manner to avoid accidents by not being in a position where I can be hit by other road users. (although sometimes it doesn't look that way at first glance I'll admit).

I personally find that bright headlights 'hide' the vehicle they're mounted to. You can't see past the glare, so although you're aware* that ''something' is there - you can't see what it is, where it's going or how fast it's going. I always find the bikes with 'triangles of light' (big adventure bikes mostly) difficult to 'comprehend' - I see the lights, but can't see what they're doing (eg how fast they're approaching). Car drivers have enough problems seeing bikes anyway, they have difficulty gauging our approach speed (google 'looming' for why), and some bikes with double headlights can appear to be a car a lot further away (especially in poor light conditions). It's also worth noting that drivers pulling out or into a junction are NOT looking for vehicles..... they're looking for the GAPS between vehicles - a bike between 2 cars (or even worse, 2 trucks) can appear to be a gap worth pulling out into.



* Sometimes bright headlights can make a car completely invisible..... I once glanced up the road at a brow about 200 yards distant (pondering a quick overtake). The sky was overcast but it was a bright day - so the background to the scene was bright white. I didn't see anything coming. A micro second later something made me take a 2nd look and there were 2 cars coming down from the brow towards me. What had happened was that the dipped (but very bright) headlamps of the 2nd car had shone under the first car directly at me - thus hiding both cars behind the 'glare' of the white headlamps, and against the white sky background they were perfectly camouflaged. The relatively steep backside of the brow had meant that the full light of the dipped beam was cast in my direction.

[peels]

well said riceburner. I think that way when riding. Always attempt to avoid those situations. Quite often, Drivers like to cut left into the left lane to pass a slower car in front of me as I'm passing-happened again this morning. I do feel like more lights MIGHT help that-Iv'e been window shopping them lately.

cagers (me included Iv'e noticed) can sometimes be looking for open spots, and motorcycles can vanish in these "open" spots between cars.

Just cant assume they see you.

[ron prior]

I ride as though I'm not being seen as well...but, there was a test by the MSF a few years back & their opinion was the the triangle effect does draw attention. So I figure as long as I'm mounting lights for purposes of illumination...why not create the triangle in the process ?......I'll take any help...

[Keppelj]

Reasonable defensiveness, I get that too. Looking for clues for what others are about to do. I find bright running lights annoying on bikes and on autos too. I suppose they pass as fog lights, but often they're not aimed downward enough. The triangle is unique enough to get my attention (and particularly if the running lights are yellow/amber) and useful in judging relative speed.

[riceburner]

I'd rather that each vehicle type had slightly coloured lights tbh.

EXAMPLE:
Cars: white lights
Trucks: slight green tint
Motorcycles: slight yellow tint
Bicycles: flashing white (as they currently use)
Emergency Vehicles: Flashing Red/Blue (as they currently use).

All the tint would do would provide a means of distinguishing vehicle types at night/poor conditions.

Taken up on a global scale and universally applied I personally think it would help enormously. (but obviously it's never going to happen because it would stupendously expensive and highly controversial).



As far as it goes with the extra lights on my bike - they're wired in to be active ONLY when I'm using the FULL beam. Ie, they're there to give ME more light to see by*.... not to provide extra light to be seen.


* the full beam on the Rockster is laughable.

[gregor]

I agree that with e.g. some BMWs loaded with lights I can not easily see the bike for glare. So not easy to determine how far away the brightly lit vehicle is.
My eyes are indeed tested and examined regularly.

[skylarmav1]

I always ride with hi-beams on during daytime. I'm sure it irritates others occasionally but with so little between myself and the pavement, as long as I have even a small chance of being noticed, I will live with being an irritant-maybe even literally.

[gregor]

Dazzling other drivers is illegal and road rage may occur. I use dip beams and watch out for other road users.

[skylarmav1]

What is a dip beam? BTW-I no way try to irritate. If there is another option for being viewed-using onboard lights, I'm all ears-or eyes even :-)

[riceburner]

I always ride with hi-beams on during daytime. I'm sure it irritates others occasionally but with so little between myself and the pavement, as long as I have even a small chance of being noticed, I will live with being an irritant-maybe even literally.

What is a dip beam? BTW-I no way try to irritate. If there is another option for being viewed-using onboard lights, I'm all ears-or eyes even :-)

Dip-beam is the 'normal' light you'd use when riding in traffic at night or in a built up area. It's the 'default' position on the lhs light switch.

Full beam is what you use when there's nothing in front of you at all and you need to see where you're going.


Using full beam in traffic is the equivalent of barging your way down a pavement (sidewalk?) shouting obscenties as loudly as you possibly can.
(using extra fog lights at the same time would be akin to blowing an airhorn as you walk along screaming and shouting).
Go try that.

(oh - and video it, please!)

[Endgame]

I installed Clearwater Darlas under the oil coolers. I reinforced the plastic covers with fiberglass/epoxy pads on the backside and through-bolted the Clearwater L-bracket to it. No vibration or movement issues.

I’m very pleased with the installation and the lighting options I get from the Darlas with the dimmer switch. High-beam is automatically full blast brightness (also from the high-beam flashing button) and I manually dial in the brightness for daytime running lights or low beam at night. I tend to dial in pretty high brightness during the day and am willing to annoy some cagers in an effort to be seen.

The Darlas are CRAZY bright and flashing them full-blast during the day gets peoples attention. I use that feature a lot as I approach intersections in addtion to slowing down and changing lanes as appropriate.

I was concerned about cylinder/exhaust heat getting to the lights but it has proven not to be a problem.

I have some installation pics halfway down this page:
http://2004-r1150r.weebly.com

[skylarmav1]

Obsenaties and airhorns? Someone needs to invent that as an "intersection notification system!"
I like it..