MCN reviews driving lights

[lewellen]

For those of you who don't subscribe to Motorcycle Consumer News, or haven't seen the November issue yet, they have an interesting review of auxiliary lights for motorcycles.

Top-rated, based on performance and price, were Lazer Star Bullet Lights; 8 1/4 A current draw, effective distance 250', for $185

Second up were PIAA Cross Country HIDs, same effective distance, 5 1/4 A current draw, but for $550.

Lazer Star also makes HIDs, 200' effective range, 4 3/4 A draw, for $366.

I know what's getting added to my Christmas list.... :-)

Good roads,

- John L.

[deilenberger]

John,

The PIAA HID's - if it's the ones I'm thinking of - are also available as "Trail Tech". I have a pair I'm working on brackets for (be like Motolights - mounted off the brake calipers..) Got'm used at a can't resist price.

Let me see if I can find them..

Found'm: http://www.trailtech.net/single_hid_mr11.html - the ones I have are the MR11 - with the vibration mounting post in black. Funny thing - they look exactly like the PIAA, but 1/2 the price. And they were out before the PIAA.. do you think.. nahhhh... PIAA puts their label on them and doubles the price? Nahhhh.

TrailTech PIAA Cross Country

The light module on these appears to be a standard design - much like the light modules used on Motolights, one manufacturer sort of thing. Light with the reflector and front glass are all one piece. If I had to guess - the TrailTech and PIAA will put out an identical light/pattern.

I'm working on the mounts with James Gordy of Lumalink.. and once I have the design finalized I'll fill everyone in. Nice mount and easy to install. James also offers the Trail Tech lights and I'm sure he can put together a kit of lights and mounts for less than the lights from PIAA.

Just a FWIW..

[Dan-A]

I hope they are good because I have a set on order for the F800GS. I have Moto lights on the R, and I am not sure the Pia's would hold up on the calipers. I am planning a different mounting.
http://www.piaalights.com/details.php?p ... OWERSPORTS

BTW, the 5 1/4 amps is the firing amperage, and the running draw is only 1 amp. That is prolly per light, not both. They are cheaper at the referenced website too, but not as cheap as the the one Don posted, OUCH!

[NeilS]

I don't recommend the Lazer Star lights. I have a pair on my Honda Ascot. They look good and work very well from a lighting point of view, but unfortunately not from a reliability standpoint.

The main problem is that Lazer Star uses a low-quality socket at the back of the light housing to connect to the MR16 lamp. The heat generated by the lamp causes the connection between the socket and the lead wire to fail, typically in about a year (just after the warranty expires).

A secondary problem is the difficulty in holding the lamp in a fixed position when you install a new lamp and tighten the front ring. If the lamp is allowed to rotate in its housing, it puts additional stress on the already-marginal lead wire connection.

I haven't bought auxiliary lights for my RR yet. I plan to, however, and they won't be Lazer Stars.

[indigoid]

I'm planning to order some of these for my Dakar:

http://www.blm-accessories.com/BikeMode ... Model=F650

I've dealt with Bill@BLM before (got one of their F650 luggage racks) and am a big fan. Hopefully he'll be able to come up with some kind of mounting arrangement for an R1200R and Honda CB400 as well. Seems strange that so many bikes have such crap lighting.