| Author | Message | ||
     Doncasto |
I am experimenting with brackets for auxiliary lights. I had an extra set of PIAA1100X running lights in the shop and decided to find a way to attach them to the 1995 S2. The 1/4 inch thick aluminum brackets are held onto the fork tubes with stainless steel t-bar hose clamps. Although I have not tried this on other bikes yet, it seems that the only constraint for adaptability would be the available hose clamps sizes? I will be attempting the same application on the Uly with the next set.    With my usual congenital "function over form" challenges I have only just managed to get a fragile "rattle can" paint job on the brackets. It seems that a more lasting and elevated aesthetic approach would require powder coating. | ||
| Sparky |
Great idea; looks pretty simple. Aesthetically, the upper clamp makes the install look sorta "industrial" though. Here's an idea. Perhaps on the next set, provide a pair of slits for the upper clamp so that a common hose clamp could pass through and around the fork leg thus showing the bracket and the nearly invisible pair of stainless bands.  | ||
| Aptbldr |
Groovy! There are many places on a motorcycle this style of bracket-fastener may be useful. Thank-you for posting. | ||
| Fung |
looks nice!! I would really like to see how you do the wiring on the Uly. I have been wanting to do the lights, but i'm unsure on the wire deal. | ||
| Tazmania720 |
I would recommend placing the T facing the rear for both bands. You might need to add a little more material for the bracket to keep the angle of the light. | ||
| Doncasto |
Fung: The wiring is all done by the folks at PIAA . . .they supply a harness with each set of lights. It consists of a fused set of leads for the battery which are connectored to a relay. The relay is actuated by a small "push for off/push for on" switch that includes a red/green led indicator light. It is very "plug and play". The only install considerations the location of the plentiful extra wire to the lights, the positioning of the on/off, the placement of the relay and the location of the run from the battery to the light brackets. These particular lights are more for auto installs than the weather exposed motorcycle use, IMHO. I took the extra step to wrap the connectors at the lights in shrink tube and then sealed the ends of the shrink tube with liquid insulation. I have also had to replace two sets of off/on switches. I do not know if the failure mode was moisture or vibration related. There is another option for the off/on that I intend to try whenever they decide to stop sending me replacement PIAA switches . . .a device that actuates by repetitive cycling of the dimmer switch. Ed: I had a few design constraints on this project. The first was in the availability of materials. The aluminum angle shown was the heaviest and largest flanged I could could find without a trip to Denver. I did actually try mounting the bracket with the clamps aligned with t-bars aft. When bolted up there was too much flex in the mount, and I went to the diagonal "industrial look" fore and aft bolt up - which was more solid. I have still not put any extensive miles on this prototype. I will be interested in discovering whether or not the brackets slip down on the fork tube taper, which will cause all sorts of problems. I have even considered fabricating some sort of tether as a "just in case" until I can be sure they will stay where they are put. One of the next sets will be fabricated using a 6 inch length the the material for use with a larger set of lights mounted to the top of the bracket. I suspect that adding the mechanical leverage of an longer arm to the additional weight of larger lights (not even considering wind drag) will make the system unstable and hope to offset this by using as many as four clamps per bracket. At that point I will indeed have reached a point of seriously industrial looking set-up. Thanks for the interest in this experiment! Don | ||
| Fung |
Thanks for the info Don!! | ||
| Phelan |
I like it. I had the spare funds, I would do something like that on an S2 more touring-oriented than mine. I have a couple friends who are killer CNC machinists that I think could make some very sleek and usefull bracketry once I had the design laid out. Back on topic- I have a question. Is it at all distracting to have the headlamp face forward and the lights turning with the forks? I don't have experience with such so I'm just contemplating at this point. I'm thinking about designing a mount to put the aux lights and turn signals together on the fairing where the signals reside. It would be similar in theory to the Ultra light setup. When I think of touring mods, I look to the Ultra, Roadglide and Goldwing for inspiration, then try to shave as much weight from it as possible  . | ||
| Doncasto |
Ross: Given the still limited mileage on this setup . . .the only time I am only slightly aware of the different pointing is when stopped or traveling in first gear. At higher traveling speeds my perception is that there is no massive turn input required. I would suppose that one could argue that any different angle of illumination was working in favor of lighting where you were headed rather than where the fairing was pointed. I will now pay closer attention and may have a different opinion in a few more miles. I was all set to draw sweeping conclusions based on my several thousand miles on my Uly . . which has a fork mounted bracket as well. I was just about to hit the *Post this Message" button when I realized that the Uly headlights are mounted to the forks, unlike the S2/S3 headlights which are mounted to the frame . . .DOH! Here is the Uly setup . . .couldn't bring myself not to post the photo even though it does nothing to add to the conversation except to illustrate my *DOH!*  | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I think the design is beautiful, even if it's a little industrial looking. It would work well on my bike. In fact, due to the selection of parts used it can be modified/adapted for pretty much any light on any bike. Don, should you get to the point of being able to sell me a set soon, I'll buy it. (go easy on me please). In the meantime I'll be out in the shop checkin out my alum angle pile....... |
