Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories small (preferably cheap) driving lights?

I've had the el-cheapo JC whitney driving lights on my bike for a few years. I liked them because they were small, didn't require a light bar, just a couple home brew brackets. Thing is they are getting rusty along with a bunch of other parts on my bike. Was a rough winter aparently!! What are some of you guys using for lights? I'd love black, but chrome is OK too. I've checked JC Whitney and it doesn't look like they even sell those anymore! Thanks

Bump bump!

Maybe throw a chrome acorn nut under it...
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200104774_200104774

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_6970_771593+768693+771389

For non motorcycle auxiliary lighting needs
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_525434_525434
and get a high wattage sealed beam lamp at NAPA from a revolving emergency light to put in it

How small are you talking? Why not clean those up and paint/powder coat?

The lights he has are only about 2 1/4" round. They are fairly cheap made lights (I have a set of the same ones), so it really may not be worth trying to powder coat them. Sometimes I browse ebay for both autmotive and motorcycle driving lights to see what I can find as replacements.

Soren

Yeah last night I found some on fleabay for under 20 bucks... definitely not worth putting much time into them. Plus one of the ones I have rattles a little, like it has a loose rivet. I may just get a new set of what I have, they are basically disposable.

They are el cheapo lights. I have gone through two sets of them. I haven’t bothered mounting the set that I have now (yet). I lost the first two sets due to rattling apart. Someday maybe I'll get some decent PIAA lights. But the thought of paying almost $300 for a pair of them just doesn’t set well with me at all. I'll stick to cheap $20 lights as long as I can keep finding them (like you said JCW doesn’t stock the ones we have any more).

Soren

I was going to suggest towing suppliers since they carry lots of different lights but I don't remember seeing any that small.Some are high impact plastic and some are rubber both being black.

Soren I did find a bunch on ebay that looks just like that, probably are that style. Shame they are so cheaply made but ya get what you pay for.

I've looked at automotive syle lights, but most of them are at least 4" dia. I mean some day I may break down and get a more traditional light bar setup, but I like the look without it.

That is my thing too, I like not having a light bar. I saw those lights on ebay earlier today too. I think they were at $7 or something at the time (plus shipping). I have run across some small driving lights at the auto parts store that were right around $50, but the mounting bracket was permantly attached and huge. I just might try to pick up another set of those cheap ones on ebay just for another set of spares.

Soren

Yeah some places had them at 20 for a buy it now price. Might get them cheaper if you can snipe em.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Searc...;searchbtn.y=12

Model QH-7cc from JC Whitney. (just checked it) I have had hem on for a year now and they are still just like new. They come with all brackets and wiring, although I used the Triumph light bar wiring that I already had. They mounted under the fork triple tree, between the forks. They bolted through 2 existing triple tree holes (probably for the Triumph windscreen??). At 55 watts each, oncoming cars really see you, which is why I wanted them. I would post pics from my gallery, but the "PhotoPost" is down now. When it is up, you can go there and see them for yourself.
--Tom

So they do still have them. More expensive than what they use to be. I swear I couldnt find them the other day when I was looking.

This is how I used to have them mounted






Soren

Soren I couldn't see them either. I wasn't doing a search tho, I just went to the lighting section and looked around. That's them. 22 bucks aint bad. Mine are all pitted, something about the way I stored my bike. I have a lot of pitted chrome!! I mad custom brackets for mine to hold them up next to the headlight.

You should see my bike. I have a bunch of rust spots to clean up. Since I live in an apartment, my bike has to live outside in the weather. Even a cover doesnt stop the rust. I did buy some rust killer paint, just need a decent day to take care of it. I need to replace my fishtails, I do have another set.

Anyway, I am glad that JCW still has those lights. After Tom posted that link, I searched for Optronics and they have some black fog lights I might check out. I am not real sure what the difference is between fog lights and driving lights.

Soren

Sppedmaster05/Kevin installed the Optronics lights, which you can buy for cheap off of ebay, and some EMT brackets from Home Depot. Here's his post:

----------------------------
The brackets came from the electrical aisle at Home Depot. They're marked - #5 2" EMT 2" HWT -

I used a Dremel too to take the markings off, then worked a brushed finish into them with the wire brush drill attachment, then clearcoated them.

I really liked the Moto lights and such but just wasn't willing to part with that much $. The Optronics lights are BRIGHT at 55W.
---------------------------

If photpost was running I could link a pic, but since it's down....

but really it's a simple setup for cheap $$$. Thought about doing it myself, but I don't ride that much at night. From what I've seen around here though in 5 years of browing these forums, it's the best bang for the buck if you want some aux driving lights.

Are these too expensive

Maybe they are but I much prefer to do a job once and from that point on, a minimum of maintenace is preferable. Unfortunately like most things I have to pay for the privaledge.

Sorry to break up the party but reading this post helped me remember a ride I've just come home from where we were riding literally from Dawn to 2 hours after dusk. Well riding during the dark out bush in Aus can be a pretty dangerous activity given the wildlife we have. For instance, in a space of 20 minutes, 1 scampering lyar bird and 2 seperate roos hopped across our path. Honestly, they would have to be one of the dumbest animals around (marsupials). For instance, instead of running away from you they seem to always want to run into you. Must have something to do with the lights like with rabbits I guess. I've actually been behind a van where he has spotted a roo ahead which was facing away from him as he slowed to pass, then without notice the roo has about faced and hopped straight into his vans side .

Anyway, getting back to my point about my Sheila's high beam. Whilst it's alright, for safety reasons driving lights similar to these not only look brilliant given they are less obtrusive than the light bars, but they should help me see far enough ahead so I can spot them boomers early enough to slow down before they try and kill me.

So does anyone else have these beauties or similar and if so, what are they like?

The lights that Tomv and soren speak of i just bought at the local Walmart for $14. Go to the automotive sectionand maybe try there.

Never thought of walmart.. not a bad idea. I grabbed a set of the silver ones last night off JC Whitney cause I had a 10% coupon.

Soren, those black ones look interesting, but it's hard to tell from the pic how big they are, ya know? But if these turn out to be junk again, I'lll grab those. I think I'm going to paint the "bucket" of mine black, leave the rim chrome, to match my headlight. Should only take a couple squirts.

I have the Optilux Electron Blue Fog Lights mounted on the Forks. Fog Lights I wired them in with a toggle switch on the console.

Got pix of them on your bike?

Jack, What secion of Walmart did you find those lights?

Soren

Here is a picture of them on my bike.

Hey Soren, it was in the automotive. I was just about to buy them off ebay when i found them at Walmart.
Jack

The mounts are something I assembled from extra parts, from Memphis shade lower brackets and some left over chrome from the Windvest windshield. Just using what I had available. Good Luck.
Robert