fog lights

Considering adding fog lights to get better mid/near range light with some decent spread. Any one done this with good results?

Ps. I am running all stock electrical right now (except the new fuse box I got from chacal) to give you an idea of current power draw.

 

The bike is an 82 650 maxim

 

I just put a set of LED fog lights on my Venture, got then at AdvanceAuto for 20$. Cheap ones but I think they will work. I'll let you know the results when the snow and ice clear from the roads around here.

 

I've got a cheap set from Walmart with 20w MR11 bulbs on my bike - mounted low, on the engine guards.

First - that's about all the power you can reasonably use from our bikes without affecting charging, and even then I only use them at speed (highway mainly). You could go with 55w bulbs, but I'll guarantee you'll be discharging the battery at anything but highway speeds. Our bikes only put out 19amps (at best) to begin with, and the system and bulbs take up over half that.

Second - they don't provide much 'useable' light for me at all -- they're really just there as a visual deterrent to other drivers so they see the "triangle of lights" coming at them.

 

Good LED units are the way to go - low electric drain; good light output. I don't think these will look too good with the round Maxim headlight (looks much better with the rectangular 750 Seca/Maxim headlight) but look at this 10W LED unit (also available on ebay - search for "VisionX Solstice LED") http://visionxsuperstore.com/SolsticeSo ... Light.aspx

Also - Clearwater has some well-respected LED products http://www.clearwaterlights.com/products_pp.html

Also - there is a vendor on the Adventure Rider forum who sells LED lights: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=607184

 

Thanks for the replies I was figuring I would need to go the led route. Anyone have a set on a bike that actually gives some usable light?
plan s of now is to mount them something like one of the following depending on what I find to use.

 

Pictures? Product Link Please?

This is what I did for under $40 - Not the most effective fog lights but they do light up the road a little right around the front tire. I mostly wanted the Triangle of light also.
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=28766.html

I'm currently looking at the xvision style set - However the Denali LED Lights seems to be a better KIT for motorcycles.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/lights/denali-led-lights/
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/5224

 

Try getting some night shots from the riders perspective with just the fog lights and one with fogs and headlights even if they are just heading out of the garage.

 

As requested:
Info on the lights
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp ... RP2044____
I'll get a pic, need batteries for the camera. I mounted them low on the frame right in the engine guards. I am hopeing they will light the empty spot in front of the wheel. Though I have not ridden with them they do work well in the garage.

 

pic of lights, as you see they are mounted low.

 

Thanks for the Link. Short of me driving to my semi local store, do you have access to take pictures of the back of them? I'm not sure they would mount easily to the setup I made.

 

mlew can you get pic from driver position with all other lights off? Want to see what kind of usable light they throw.

 

I'll have to take some pics when I get the bike outside. Right now its in the garage with no room in front to see the light patern. I should have it out Friday night
I'll get a close up of the mounting for you Bob, post tomorow.

 

Close up of the light mounting. They mount on a tab on the light, the tab can be adjusted from 0 to 90 deg to the light. I have them at 90deg now to mount on the plate I bioltd behind the engine support bracket.

 

I took this one last night with the lights off in the shop. Not bad for a cheap light. I still have to aim them but I won't do that until I get the bike outside.

 

I have LED driving lights on my bike also. I already had the 30w M16 Halogen lights on mine (which are very bright) but decided to switch to LED bulbs in them to save the charging system. Of course the LEDs are not nearly as bright, but do some good for night riding. And I can leave them on all the time now because of the low power needed.
If I take long trips, I switch back to the Halogen bulbs for the brightness.