Hi!

Compared to new bikes, I find my K1100LT's headlight lacking a bit - at night, it sorta-kinda lights the road enough to see, while new bikes with their fancy headlights flood light in front of them.

So, I began thinking about getting myself some auxiliary lights to aid at night.

Problem is, I hate bliding other people, so I'd like to get lights that have a proper cut-off. From what I've heard it's nigh impossible to find low-beam auxiliary lights with a proper cut-off.

Does anyone know of any auxiliary lights that have a cut-off?

Some photos and addicitonal info:


That's where I plan to attach the pair of lights

That's how the switch will look. I did the headlight relay modification to my bike, and I plan to connect it up in such a way so that the aux lights will turn on only when the main light is on.

Upgrade the headlight wiring by adding headlight relays and switch to a 100/90 Xenon H4 bulb.  You get plenty of light that way and the good cutoff on the factory headlight keeps from blinding other drivers on low beam.  I do that on my bikes and can do 90 MPH at night while seeing what's in front of me.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hl.relays/hl.relays.htm

duck wrote:Upgrade the headlight wiring by adding headlight relays and switch to a 100/90 Xenon H4 bulb.  You get plenty of light that way and the good cutoff on the factory headlight keeps from blinding other drivers on low beam.  I do that on my bikes and can do 90 MPH at night while seeing what's in front of me.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hl.relays/hl.relays.htm

 Duck,

I followed the link and am in favor of getting the H4 kit instead of making my own (I do not have a lot of experience working on electrical connections on vehicles and think the price is pretty good assurance in more experienced work). My question about the kit is; what is the "LO CUT" that can be integrated into the kit? I would be getting the "In Fairing" relay kit since I have an RT, but don't know whether or not I need the LO CUT (or even what it does).

duck wrote:Upgrade the headlight wiring by adding headlight relays and switch to a 100/90 Xenon H4 bulb.  You get plenty of light that way and the good cutoff on the factory headlight keeps from blinding other drivers on low beam.  I do that on my bikes and can do 90 MPH at night while seeing what's in front of me.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hl.relays/hl.relays.htm

I don't like that idea on several fronts - first, it's illegal, and a mandatory annual inspection would catch that. I could change the bulb each year to a legal one, but it's a hassle.

Second, I'm worried about damaging the reflector assembly. Can the reflector handle that heat? What if I ride with this light for a while, make the glass nice and toasty hot, and then ride into rain?

If this mod has zero risk of damaging the reflector and glass assembly, and if I can't find auxiliary lights, I'll probably consider doing it

John A wrote:

duck wrote:Upgrade the headlight wiring by adding headlight relays and switch to a 100/90 Xenon H4 bulb.  You get plenty of light that way and the good cutoff on the factory headlight keeps from blinding other drivers on low beam.  I do that on my bikes and can do 90 MPH at night while seeing what's in front of me.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hl.relays/hl.relays.htm

 Duck,

I followed the link and am in favor of getting the H4 kit instead of making my own (I do not have a lot of experience working on electrical connections on vehicles and think the price is pretty good assurance in more experienced work). My question about the kit is; what is the "LO CUT" that can be integrated into the kit? I would be getting the "In Fairing" relay kit since I have an RT, but don't know whether or not I need the LO CUT (or even what it does).

I don't know what the LO Cut is.  You can email Jim (the guy who owns Eastern Beaver) and ask him what's best for a K. You can tell him Duck sent you. I know him and have ridden with him before. He used to own a K100RS which has the same headlight so he knows Ks well.

StefanMajonez wrote:

duck wrote:Upgrade the headlight wiring by adding headlight relays and switch to a 100/90 Xenon H4 bulb.  You get plenty of light that way and the good cutoff on the factory headlight keeps from blinding other drivers on low beam.  I do that on my bikes and can do 90 MPH at night while seeing what's in front of me.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hl.relays/hl.relays.htm

I don't like that idea on several fronts - first, it's illegal, and a mandatory annual inspection would catch that. I could change the bulb each year to a legal one, but it's a hassle.

Second, I'm worried about damaging the reflector assembly. Can the reflector handle that heat? What if I ride with this light for a while, make the glass nice and toasty hot, and then ride into rain?

If this mod has zero risk of damaging the reflector and glass assembly, and if I can't find auxiliary lights, I'll probably consider doing it

They also sell those Xenon H4s in 60/55 which is legal and with better wiring will be much better than the antique halogen bulbs from the 80s with stock wiring.

Osram and PIAA also make really good legal H4 bulbs.

I've been running the 100/90 bulbs for years in several of my Ks and have had no problems in rain (or snow.) 

Even if you do add aux lights it's still a good idea to add relays with beefier wiring and  better bulb.  With the right wiring and a good H4 the stock headlight is pretty good. (At least on the RT/LT/RS bikes. The K75S headlight isn't all that great.)

I run the standard headlightbulb with the Eastern Beaver relays, and the difference in light output is impressive because of the heavier wiring and the elimination of the handlebar switches from the headlight power wiring.

For auxiliary lights i use cheap ($19 a pair 10w LED spotlights).  They are very bright and make me visible in daylight, and even when aimed away from oncoming drivers throw a lot of light where I need it at night.  I mount them under the chin of the fairing below the headlight.

John A wrote: M. . . what is the "LO CUT" that can be integrated into the kit? I . . . don't know whether or not I need the LO CUT (or even what it does).

The low cut feature is used to conserve battery energy by allowing a selective shutting off of headlight low beams when starting the engine.

Our motos have load shed relays so that feature is unnecessary.