The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: dogshome on November 05, 2019, 12:49:33 PM
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I upgraded my headlight to LED, which has worked very well. I keep looking at the black plastic blanking plates on my RT where the vents go (if you have the fairing internals) OR where the pop-out lights go if you have lots of money.
The fairing is a classic shape, so I don't want to spoil the lines or make it look obviously modified - but would really like to put those blanks to good use with driving lamps.
Each is 95 X 50mm (4" X 2") H X W. Ideally something LED that has a spot or dipped cutoff beam.
There are plenty of 4" LED 'off-road' types that mount the other way and give a fairly random flood, but not really useful to me with just two of them and actually likely to use them on the road, not just for huntin, fishin, shootin and burpin! Plus they look like Lexus tail lamps....
Sure I can do better than that, but looking for inspiration! :-?
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I use flood lights that come on with the High beams and go off with the low beams
The shoulder of the road goes dark when cornering and the floods fill that in
I use mine all the time and I rarely go off road
But your in the UK so I have know idea what kind of regulation you have
I don't think you would be happy with spot lights
The problem we have is not what is sitting in the road but what is running onto the road
In the states we have a problem with DEER and in AUS I guess they have kangaroo and other evil animals that like to run across the road in their pursuit of a mate
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These are spots that I can aim down to some metres in front of the bike. There is a little flare inside the cowling, so I will make a shroud if it becomes a problem. Busy cutting acrylic to fit in front of them now, a simple flat sheet that will go inside where the ribbed part is now (just behind it).
Tried beams with flying lead and work well, so will wire properly now.
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Another pic
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0.75A for the pair. A surprising amount of light and more visibility to others. Might go up a little when I cut the wires down and fit properly. I found some Macrolon (sheet polycarbonate) and cut and drilled using the original flat filler plates as template. So no mods to the fairing at all if I want to go back.
Looks original, which is what I was after 8-)
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You've managed to get the lights you want and still leave the bike original and unchanged (and frankly, have something that looks BETTER than the BMW pop-out lamps). That is EXCELLENT; give yourself a pat on the back!
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What LED did you use to upgrade your headlight?
TIA
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:)
'safego led 10w' But I originally searched 2" LED driving light and various similar came up.
I'll get a beam pattern photo outside if it ever stops raining!
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Many thanks for the info !
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Not the best picture, but similar to 1/2 Saab pairs of HID with 55W nightbreaker halogen on main beam. You can drive without the main headlight but it's more like moped lighting adequate at slow speeds. Combined with LED dipped or main and it's plenty on dark country roads.
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dipped. The cutoff is clearer when the road is all dark. rubbish photos :P
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Main dipped
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Auxiliaries
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Main dipped and auxiliaries
(Main beam and auxiliaries reserved for cyclists with 10Bn Candela head lights!)
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To stop any flash back, I fitted some foam tube (pipe insulation) with an expander made from a paint spray can. It wasn't a problem in summer, but might have been on a very dark night in winter.
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Just getting caught up from not being able to log into the old forum all summer. Very slick light install!
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Cheers! It's the rotating number plate, oil slick maker and front machine guns that really took the work :beatnik:
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Yeah, James would be proud!