Round Indicators

[Eveready1100]

Jeff,
    The regs I was following are my self preservation regulations which were strongly seconded by my better half.
 I know that I'm not legally able to run those LED bar lights independently of the headlight, but given my work circumstances at the time (shift work with 60klms of unlit back roads each way), it was better to risk a fine than be stuck in the middle of woop-woop in the dark.

It's not an issue now, with a change of job, so the light bars are now doing service on my tractor and ute, and the bike's got twin HID driving lights hooked up legally

[excess.11]

Ev............from what I have read re regulations ..............you run the risk of a fine for having them able to be operated independently from the high beam.
Do you know any different regs allowing this?

[Eveready1100]

Al, how about something like this - CLICK

and plenty more to choose from here - CLICKETY

Maybe a trip to your local bike breakers armed with a measuring stick to find what other bikes are similar in dimensions and layout to the SF and go from there.

and Jeff, I had my light bars wired through my high beam switch....................................
and also separately switched for emergency lighting in case anything happened to the headlight circuit

[Ardvark]

Cheers Jeff. I'll have to research the local laws and see what the powers that be want.

                                                               Al

[excess.11]

My suggestion of a solution would be to convert your existing indicators to stop /tail lampholders and globes and run the lower wattage filament with your low beam or if you have it as a seperate selection as the 1978 xs1100 standards have associated with the " park" light function....to be run as clearance lights.....during daylight and night riding.

[excess.11]

Not sure how Errol has the light bar switched.....but it cannot be used independently from high beam.....it must only be able to be used when the high beam headlight is on....but can be isolated via a switch so as not to come on with high beam.
If it does nt comply you risk a fine.
As an aside i have problems when pulling up behind someone with a broken or very faded stop/tail light ....they only house a 21 watt globe....but remove or diffuse that red filtering and they are blinding and temporarily burn an image /reduce/blind your vision.
Its good that there are rules and fines...as there are nuff nuffs out there buying chinese or other conversions and altering lights for intended self preservation....but not understanding the dangers and risks to others.

[excess.11]

Most lighting rules apply so as to not cause discomfort /blinding to not only other road users but to the operator of the vehicle as well. There are many varied rules regarding lights and their use as well as aiming ....type of light ....ie...daytime....fog.....low/high beam....driving....and how they should be switched on conjuntion with other lights.....and the number of and mounting location in respect of the vehicle and other existing lights.
Its a minefield. Check you local laws carefully.....not just word of mouth from someone....it will save you money and wasted work and costs if what you have in mind is deemed illegal for one reason or another.
My gut feeling from what your suggesting as a mod for your bike would be illegal as it doesn t comply as fog/ datime or driving lights due to the altering of what was once an indicator into some form of light that has no set beam spread .

[Ardvark]

It's something I'll have to look into.

Many moons ago mr plod stopped me and advised me that my fogs were on in my car when there was no fog.

 Perhaps there is a limit on how strong the lights have to be. I don't know atm.

                                                                     Al

[excess.11]

Here in Australia.........there are varying road rules regarding how many white lights you can have on at one time .....when travelling in the city limits . You don t want to create an excuse for the constabulary to issue  you with a ticket for an involuntary donation .....  I would advise checking your local traffic/vehicle regulations as well.
We can get a fine for using fog lights when it s not foggy.

[Ardvark]

The look I'm after is to have what you call running lights that look as though they are factory fitted as standard.

That is why I'm thinking about the clear Yamaha lenses that are the same pattern as my orange ones and the fork brackets fitted so they look similar to ones fitted to some of our bikes.

I think Errol showed me a pic with white lights on his fork brackets.

The only difference with mine would be they would be on all the time as my headlight is.

As we know the SF's have there headlight and tail lights on all the time.

                                                             Al

[steptoe]

or do mean this type of thing in this thread
http://xs1100.com.au/forum/index.php?topic=2056.msg13497#msg13497

[steptoe]

sounds like you need a set of what we call running lights,
Errol has a set on his, orange lenses like normal with a full time power feed to the bulb and when you push the blinker the power feed is interupted and starts acting as an indicator,

Errol will be able to explain better

[Ardvark]

The way I see it Jeff is that a lot of road users do not use there eyes.

That is why a lot of motorcyclists are knocked off.

The idea of driving lights is to help these idiots see me better.

I'm not really bothered about using the extra lights to help me see it's them that need to see me.

As far as the lights overheating I'm thinking about a LED conversion.

I think they run at a lower temp, also they wouldn't be so much a drain off the electrical system.

If I'm wrong in any of my assumptions please can members put me right?


                                                                    Al

[excess.11]

I have another question...if i may ?
The term you use " driving lights" usually refer to a more intense effect of your high beam lighting.
My thoughts of retro fitting " clear" indicator lenses would diffuse light in a more immediate broad direction...rather than ....into the distance. I also have concerns of overheating the lens .....or shorter lamp life.....if a lamp is left on for an extended period of time ...due to the smaller enclosure of the indicator itself  and the internal heat developed.....depending on what lamp technology you go with .
I think an indicator lens would act more as a " fog light " rather than a driving light.
The lens may also need to be blacked out on the top so as to not affect your night vision.
An interesting idea.....but i would look into professionally made driving lights already designed for the purpose ....maybe some smaller bullet or mini style ones if its asthetics that your concerned with.
Albeit....the smaller the reflector the less spread on the road as a general rule.
There s a range of 10w cree led mini driving lights on ebay with a 25 degree beam spread that are quite small....ip68 rated and cheap at around $ 38.00.
Until you hook them up and try them out...you don t know how much and what type of improvement you get from your standard high beam.
Another option is to simply change your existing headlight lamp h4 insert to a more efficient type.

[Ardvark]

Hi Jeff,
         The plan is this:- SF's have round indicators on the sides of the headlight. Some XS1100's have indicators on brackets bolted to the lower fork yoke. Me thinks using these brackets I can have round indicators fitted to the lower fork yoke, changing the orange lens for clear ones I can use them as driving lights. The problem I found was that the bolts that clamp the fork leg on a SF are in a different position to the ones that wanted the brackets off. What was suggested to me by Errol that I could use brackets from a XJ750. With a little fettling I could get what I'm after.

                                                                  Al