Hello everyone, I live in the country and I am commuting with my K. During spring and fall I come back home and it's pitch dark for the last 20km on back roads.  There is quite al lot of traffic  and several 53ft trucks. I feel very small and would like to improve front and back lighting, to see better and to be seen.  Was thinking of adding two long range lights in front and a led strip under the license plate in the back.

I read on the forum that many of you upgraded the headlight. Any of you improved the tail? What did you do? Happy with the change? Any of you added spots instead of changing the bulb of the headlight?

try using the "search" function "lighting " in the main forum central list box search

many ..many posts about lighting upgrades

and personal outcomes contained

good luck

I've recently fitted an LED H4 bulb in my K11. Night has become day, I can see and be seen.

Mike.

Not wanting to hijack the thread but can you post or PM a link for the H4 LED bulb. I tried a few and they were not good and went back to the standard halogen bulb.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Not wanting to hijack the thread but can you post or PM a link for the H4 LED bulb. I tried a few and they were not good and went back to the standard halogen bulb.

Hi Olaf,
I'll post here and then we all know.
I actually saw these LED bulbs mentioned on here somewhere so bought 2. They're from Cyclops in the USA.

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html

They're not cheap but I like them. 

I also bought another 2 from the well known Chinese outlet of all things shite, Banggood.com

http://www.banggood.com/H4-32W-3000LM-6500K-COB-HiLo-Beam-LED-Motorcycle-Headlight-DC-9-16V-p-1006317.html

I haven't tried one yet but I thought for a tenner a bulb, I'd give them a go.

It's a very easy way of getting brighter lights on older bikes....and yes, I've heard all the arguments that the reflectors aren't designed for LED placement and could be illegal but if I'm honest, I don't care. I want to see where I'm going at speed on dark roads. I need to be seen and if a car driver coming the other way takes offense, that's great, at least he's seen me!!
There is some margin for adjustment by moving the bulbs further back in the reflector by fitting thick heat proof washers if you want to play with the beam pattern.

Enjoy,
Mike.

Hi John,
Yes but I can only comment on the LT model but thinking about it sensibly, if there's room on the LT, there must be enough room on an RS too. I had to make a slight modification to the rubber cover to accommodate the new bulb but that was it.

Mike.

thanks Mike , might get myself one

Ta

John Re

Gaz80 put a 10W bulb in the tail light and once I saw it I put one in both the K1100 and K75 my wife rides. The tail light is now visible in daylight and much better at night. I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.
As for stop lights I have fitted 2 small 4 x LED lights in either side of the taillight lens and that has made a worth while improvement.

RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.

According to my book the stock rear bulb is 10W not 5W but a lot of us have the 5W fitted and you cant see it. I only found it in the small print when I was looking for something else.

Check it out because most cars seem to only use 5W but the K needs the extra light.

Motorbike Mike wrote:Hi John,
Yes but I can only comment on the LT model but thinking about it sensibly, if there's room on the LT, there must be enough room on an RS too.

It's a lot more space behind the bulb on a K11LT than a K100RS due to a very different holder/frame for the upper fairing.
The upper fairing on a K11LT is also moved slightly forward (~30mm) compared to earlier models.

Inge K. wrote:

RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.

Ah I see. What happens in Aust is that the max allowed light for a tail light is 6W so a 5W is used probably because 6w is not available in the small globe style.
That explains why a 10W works well, it is designed to use a 10W bulb.
In this case an LED is probably the thing to use.

RicK G wrote:

Inge K. wrote:

RicK G wrote:I havent tried an LED tail light but it would have to be a big improvement on a stock 5W bulb.

Standard bulb for the tail light is 12V 10W.

Ah I see. What happens in Aust is that the max allowed light for a tail light is 6W so a 5W is used probably because 6w is not available in the small globe style.
That explains why a 10W works well, it is designed to use a 10W bulb.
In this case an LED is probably the thing to use.

Interesting about the 6W limit. I wasn't aware. The standard tail light in my friend's Honda CX500 is 3x 10W if I remember correctly. 

Bill

I'll take my chances on a copper pulling me up and telling me that the maximum size bulb I should have is a 6 watt not the 10 watt that I have fitted. I'm fairly sure the 10 watt rating is moulded into the tail light assembly as I think I became aware of it when I was washing the dust out of the inside of the tail light.

The 6 watt thing might explain why I couldn't find an auto accessories store in my region here in Oz that had the 10 watt bulbs so I bought a pack of 10 from the UK. Rick it would be interesting to see what is fitted to a BMW when it comes from the dealer brand new - I'd doubt that the dealers would change from a 10 watt to a 5 watt on assembly of a newly imported bike - but strange things happen in bureaucracies.

I've bought 10W in Goulburn for the CX500. (Auto 1)

Bill

Gaz80 wrote:I'll take my chances on a copper pulling me up and telling me that the maximum size bulb I should have is a 6 watt not the 10 watt that I have fitted. I'm fairly sure the 10 watt rating is moulded into the tail light assembly as I think I became aware of it when I was washing the dust out of the inside of the tail light.

The 6 watt thing might explain why I couldn't find an auto accessories store in my region here in Oz that had the 10 watt bulbs so I bought a pack of 10 from the UK. Rick it would be interesting to see what is fitted to a BMW when it comes from the dealer brand new - I'd doubt that the dealers would change from a 10 watt to a 5 watt on assembly of a newly imported bike - but strange things happen in bureaucracies.

I doubt very much that a copper would know let alone recognize the bulb was 10W and if it came to that drag it into court and show the beak the tail light moulding with 10W on it.
With the rise of LED lighting the ADRs will need upgrading so the pollies will do something by the end of the century.

RicK G wrote:I doubt very much that a copper would know let alone recognize the bulb was 10W and if it came to that drag it into court and show the beak the tail light moulding with 10W on it.
With the rise of LED lighting the ADRs will need upgrading so the pollies will do something by the end of the century.

Which century?  
Bill

have installed an led strip light, and a bank of 4x LED eagle eye lights on my LT... fits neatly in the recess just below the headlight.
 I have linked then to a switch panel  with independent switches for either set. Brilliant in the day and even more powerfull at night. The LED strip acts as a running light, for daytime visability.

The eagle eye also makes small red powerful Leds which can be used for visibility on the rear.
 To avoid interfering with the wring harness, I have installed them to mount to a 12v outlet source , powered from the accessory socket.
.

PS; eagle eyes are waterproof and available on ebay... got 12 for approx. $8.00 including postage.