Led running lights

[plumberdude]

I found these lights at Walmart and installed them and then I read the fine print which says for off road use only. Has anyone tried these or had any legal issues with them? I was just looking for something to make the bike more visible and not for driving.

[mystic red]

Don't worry about it. Just aim them a a little low and you won't have a problem. The 100 watt bulbs we run in the headlight say the same thing.

[Photog]

What Red said.

I run a pair of 10W LED fog/driving lights. I've driven past plenty of cops day and night who take no notice, and I don't get reactions like getting headlights flashed from other drivers.

[frankenduck]

In order for lights to be "street legal", a lighting manufacturer has to meet certain DOT-specified manufacturing and testing requirements.  It's easier and less costly for a manufacturer to simply put "off road use only" on the box.

If they're pointed improperly at night and you're getting flashed then I'd recommend adjusting their aim or tying them into your high beam - more as a courtesy to other road users than to meet any legal requirements.

[WayneDW]

I like 'em, would like to copy em.  How are they mounted?  Betcha they weren't much at Walmart?

[plumberdude]

$40.00 Easy to install, I used the existing screws in fairing and added a second screw for each mount. I made another hole for each light to route the wires and plugged it into my power spliter in the tank bag.

[plumberdude]

I asked my RCMP buddy about them ( I didn't tell him that I had them on my bike) and he said the reason they are not legal is because the light can't be directed. You can point them down but the beam is not focused. I'm going to use them anyway unless I get pulled over for them and only use them in daylight. btw I see them on cars all the time now, how would the police know which ones are legal and which ones aren't.

[frankenduck]

how would the police know which ones are legal and which ones aren't.

Legal lights will have DOT printed/molded on them somewhere.  Take a close look at your fork/rear side reflectors to see what I'm talking about.

[WayneDW]

I asked my RCMP buddy about them ( I didn't tell him that I had them on my bike) and he said the reason they are not legal is because the light can't be directed. You can point them down but the beam is not focused. I'm going to use them anyway unless I get pulled over for them and only use them in daylight. btw I see them on cars all the time now, how would the police know which ones are legal and which ones aren't.

I think the only time an officer would check if your lights are DOT rated or not is if he/she is mad at you for something else you did and is looking for a reason to pile up the offenses.  Most of the time: no harm, no foul.

[mystic red]

Unless you happen to live near Rathdrum, ID. Got pulled over for having "too many HEADLIGHTS'. "But officer, those are f-ing fog lights! Are you f-ing bored this morning!" "Are you planning on pulling over every HD rider that comes thru town!" Dip stick. Continue on, rant over.

[plumberdude]

Added a couple more 55W lights for night driving. These were $20.00 for the pair from Princes Auto. I used L brackets to mount them to the forks with one of the screws for the fender and plugged it into the auxiliary port on the steering column.



With leds



With both

[Duc750]

Somewhere on my voyages around the internet I found a site talking about a company that was making aux light brackets for the K1100 to mount them up by the mirrors - does anyone have any ideas on this ?