LED Light Mounting Options

[mikeb2411]

Hey guys (and girls), I have added several "upgrades" to my bike, mainly in the way of lighting. I have 2 spots under my mirrors and had 2 LED fog lights near my front wheel. The 2 LED fogs were mounted to my reflector brackets.

A couple of weeks ago one of the reflector brackets broke, allowing the LED fog light to swing free. The light ended up being thrown back into my radiator and putting a hole in the radiator . I had to have the bike towed to the Kawi dealer where I had to put out some serious coin for a new radiator assembly (it was really painful) ! I now have a new radiator and a radiator guard in hopes of preventing that nightmare from ever happening again!

It's obvious the reflector brackets are too weak to hold the weight and handle the constant vibration of the LED fog lights so I was wondering...those of you that are mounting LED's down low, how are you mounting them? There has to be a secure way to mount them and I was thinking about drilling through my fender to mount them but wanted to ask the group before drilling holes.

Thanks!

[maxtog]

It's obvious the reflector brackets are too weak to hold the weight and handle the constant vibration of the LED fog lights

Yep, you are not the first to report it breaking.  But to have it take out the radiator in the process is a HUGE bummer.

[mikeb2411]

I'm thinking about machining a 1" dia. x 1.188" long post (standoff) that mounts directly to the frame where the bracket is mounted/secured and using a longer screw to mount the light to that standoff, eliminating the bracket altogether. The current screw is 35mm long. 65mm would put the light just outside the fender. The longer screw would engage the same hole the bracket uses but that way there isn't thin, weak material hanging in the wind. It should be a much more secure interface. My concern is the frame piece that it attaches to...is it strong enough to handle the load put on it by the combination of vibration and weight of the light???

[datsaxman@hotmail.com]

PIAA 1100x lights mounted to a fairly beefy short steel strap.  Bracket bolts on with one of the brake caliper mounting bolts.  Washers, longer SAE 12.9 bolt, loctite, etc.

Reflector brackets went in the trash some time ago...

[B.D.F.]

A brand new product will be introduced shortly (if it is not already out) by Twisted Throttle that will use the fender mounts to provide an aux. light mounting bracket. Give me a couple of days and I should be able to get photos for you. Of course you can also go directly to T.T. for information as well as the product.

Brian

P.S. As a matter of fact, T.T. used a particularly handsome '08 C-14 for the R&D of those brackets. Had some kind of mammal foot strung on the back of it as I remember..... 

Hey guys (and girls), I have added several "upgrades" to my bike, mainly in the way of lighting. I have 2 spots under my mirrors and had 2 LED fog lights near my front wheel. The 2 LED fogs were mounted to my reflector brackets.

A couple of weeks ago one of the reflector brackets broke, allowing the LED fog light to swing free. The light ended up being thrown back into my radiator and putting a hole in the radiator . I had to have the bike towed to the Kawi dealer where I had to put out some serious coin for a new radiator assembly (it was really painful) ! I now have a new radiator and a radiator guard in hopes of preventing that nightmare from ever happening again!

It's obvious the reflector brackets are too weak to hold the weight and handle the constant vibration of the LED fog lights so I was wondering...those of you that are mounting LED's down low, how are you mounting them? There has to be a secure way to mount them and I was thinking about drilling through my fender to mount them but wanted to ask the group before drilling holes.

Thanks!

[mikeb2411]

A brand new product will be introduced shortly (if it is not already out) by Twisted Throttle that will use the fender mounts to provide an aux. light mounting bracket. Give me a couple of days and I should be able to get photos for you. Of course you can also go directly to T.T. for information as well as the product.

Brian

P.S. As a matter of fact, T.T. used a particularly handsome '08 C-14 for the R&D of those brackets. Had some kind of mammal foot strung on the back of it as I remember..... 

Are you referring to these?

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/denali-led-lighting-fender-mount-kit-for-d1-d2

[mikeb2411]

PIAA 1100x lights mounted to a fairly beefy short steel strap.  Bracket bolts on with one of the brake caliper mounting bolts.  Washers, longer SAE 12.9 bolt, loctite, etc.

Reflector brackets went in the trash some time ago...

Pictures??

[B.D.F.]

No. What I am referring to are actual brackets, not just bolt extensions. Again, give me a day or two and let me see if I can get something to show you folks.

Brian

Are you referring to these?

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/denali-led-lighting-fender-mount-kit-for-d1-d2

[just gone]

I bought spacers from Lowes and longer bolts for the fender bolts. (pardon the bugs)

[mikeb2411]

No. What I am referring to are actual brackets, not just bolt extensions. Again, give me a day or two and let me see if I can get something to show you folks.

Brian

Here's what T.T. recommended

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/denali-led-lighting-universal-offset-mount-kit

[Stephen.G.Fiddes]

I bought spacers from Lowes and longer bolts for the fender bolts. (pardon the bugs)

I plan on doing this if I ever put lower fogs on. 

[xsv]

I read about the thin reflector metal breaking.  Bought some flat steel and simply bent them to match the reflector bracket.  It is very stout.

[mikeb2411]

I read about the thin reflector metal breaking.  Bought some flat steel and simply bent them to match the reflector bracket.  It is very stout.

What about the right bracket, the bracket that holds the cable (has the "hooked" bend to hold the rubber grommet), how did you handle that?

[xsv]

What about the right bracket, the bracket that holds the cable (has the "hooked" bend to hold the rubber grommet), how did you handle that?

The brake line runs right next to the front wheel speed sensor.  (cable with rubber grommet)  The wiring for the light runs right next to those other two.  I zipped tied them together.  The stiff brake line is not going to move and keeps the other 2 right where they need to be.

[martin_14]

What about the right bracket, the bracket that holds the cable (has the "hooked" bend to hold the rubber grommet), how did you handle that?

HB, what are the lights you're using? what's the output in lumens?

[mikeb2411]

HB, what are the lights you're using? what's the output in lumens?

The LED's under my mirrors are 2000 lumens but dim with my Lo Beams so the 2000 is when I use HI beam.

The fogs I mount near my front when are 1100 lumens and have a 15deg  elliptical beam...great for lighting through corners.

Both lights were purchased from ADVMonster (John Sanders).

[mikeb2411]

The LED's under my mirrors are 2000 lumens but dim with my Lo Beams so the 2000 is when I use HI beam.

The fogs I mount near my front when are 1100 lumens and have a 15deg  elliptical beam...great for lighting through corners.

Both lights were purchased from ADVMonster (John Sanders).

Sorry...meat to say "front wheel", not "front when"

[mikeb2411]

Sorry...meat to say "front wheel", not "front when"

LOL...definitely early! I meant to say "meant", not "meat" . Probably a good idea to quit typing until I actually wake up!

[mikeb2411]

I read about the thin reflector metal breaking.  Bought some flat steel and simply bent them to match the reflector bracket.  It is very stout.

xsv, what gauge/thickness steel did you use?

[xsv]

xsv, what gauge/thickness steel did you use?

1 inch wide by 1/8" thickness.  I bent them, sandblasted them and just spray painted them.  The next time I have something powder coated I will take them off and do it "right".