Front Light Bars.

Has anyone had a good experience buying and installing a front fork mounted, 3rd-party light bar? I am converting all of my other lights to LED's so this, and possibly some low-wattage handgrip heaters for those cold mornings.

Thanks!

 

You can either put them on the forks - or on the engine guards... the guards are somewhat easier to install to ( no turning motion and no need to consider mount high vs fork travel ).

Put a switch on them and watch your voltage. If you put much heating load on the bike you'll need to be more aware of the batteries charge - having the ability to turn off auxillary lighting for day time riding is a nice feature. Going with LEDs is a good idea - I assume you did it to reduce the voltage load on the bike to allow for the heated grips.

I'll be doing a heated vest soon - I'll keep you in the loop on that project.

 

That's exactly why I went to LED's. It will reduce the load to accomodate both - if what I buy is within reason. Fortunately, the in-the-handlebar heaters seem the best at being more widely available in different wattages. I agree with the switches, it's important to reduce the load when the auxilliary lights are not needed. I need them mainly at night driving through the deer-ladden countryside.

 

Good call - have you considered a heated vest instead of heated bars?

( lots of deer here too - I completely understand)

 

I'd like to switch to led bulbs also.
Does anyone know were to get red turn signal lenses?
Are they even available?

 

Does anyone out there have some close up pics of their light bar? I think you can get new lights and or lenses at JC Whitney's, they have a seperate Motorcycle catalog.

------------
Bob
'82 Maxim 550

 

I painted my rear lenses with the Testors transluescent red spray paint. Two coats. Then a clear coat over it. Thin coats are best. I then went to the local bike shop and dug through his box of 1197 sockets and paid a buck each for four. Then I tapped into the blue spare wires for the lights and voila! I had running lights. I then bought a set of LED strips in amber and placed them under the front fork reflectors after I cut out the black plastic cover. Then I had side markers. Next is an LED license plate with the brake light on the bottom. I like to be visible at night when I'm driving in the city. Maybe it will help the deer see me too!

Later

 

Heated vest? I have a windshield, and insulated leather jacket, no problems there. Even with insulated gloves, the cold wind gets my hands after 20 minutes. I seen there is a wrap-around-velcro product out there, but didn't want to fool around hooking them up when I needed them. I like the hidden in-the-handlebar approach better.