NOTICE: These lights were removed in Oct 2008. They are being replaced with Hella Micro DE Fog Lights to get a better cut-off for use at night and in the fog.
I was in my wife’s car one afternoon when I noticed a bike in the rear view mirror. I couldn’t help but notice it due to that rider’s addition of 2 amber riding lights. I decided to do something quite similar to my bike. I eventually decided to go with Motolights. This was partially driven by my desire to be seen, not so much to add night-time lighting. If night-time lighting were my goal I’d probably have gone with some outboard HID lights.
Motolight has a brake caliper mounting, but I thought that would put the lights too low; at least too low for a GS. I originally thought I’d use a strap mount just above the lower fork brace. However, if the bars were right or left of center the lights would hit the plastic before the suspension bottomed, not a good thing. I mounted them just below the brace, about even with the fender.
under the tank
lights on fork sliders
Once the lights were physically mounted I took the tank off the bike. I wanted all wiring under the tank. I didn’t want to have to futz around with wiring just to remove the tank in the future. I also decided to re-route my power for GPS and radar detector while I was at it.
wiring might fit here
relay and fuse under tool tray
The lights are wired directly to the battery through a fuse, controlled by a relay. The relay is wired to a source of 12V through a switch. I picked the switched 12V that’s available at the diagnostic plug and found that I could just fit the relay and fuse under the tool tray. See this page for a better way to get switched relay control power.
harness to lights
Right side
The harness from the relay goes along the right side of the bike. The harness from the two lights is cable tied to the ABS sensor wire. They come together just under the steering head, cable tied to the frame.
The switch is temporarily coiled up under the saddle. I’m not sure exactly where I’m going to put it, yet. I don’t think I’ll need the switch very often, so it can go in an out of the way place.
The last thing to do was replace the stock clear bulbs with the amber bulbs I ordered. I’ll aim the lights after I get the bike back together.
no beak
radar/gps power
I used an accessory socket extension cable attached to the power distribution block that came with my V-1 for V-1 and GPS power. The cable is routed on the left side of the bike up to the brace that goes toward the instrument mounting from the steering head by the horn.
You can just see the cable in the picture at the far left. The second picture is a close up of the brace with the V-1 distribution block. Before the cables were tied in place I made sure that the fork tube has clearance when in full lock. It does. Barely.
bike back together
lights on
It didn’t take long to put the bike back together. That’s one of the things I like about the GS. The light switch is on, under the saddle, so the lights go on and off with the ignition switch. I made sure the lights were aimed slightly down, then took a test ride.
My wife then sat in her car with the bike behind the car to get a rear-view-mirror look at things. They are noticeable. Good. They don’t blind her. Better. I’ll have to take a night ride and see how they are in the dark.