Author Topic: World's best conspicuity/fog lights  (Read 97676 times)

Offline frankenduck

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World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« on: May 15, 2011, 12:50:32 PM »
The lights in question are CATZ XLO "Acid Orange" lights: You can find them on Fleabay but if you email Jeff (jbendit@aol.com), buy them off-eBay and pay with a USPS money order then he'll bring the price down a bit as that saves him eBay and PayPal fees.

Johnny originally found these awesome lights and came up with the idea of mounting them on the reflector bolts.  I perfected it it by finding some stainless spacers and bolts that make for an easy and clean installation.



They really are amazing lights and have to be seen in person to be appreciated.  The different color of the orange and the fact that they're 70W really make them stand out without blinding other road users.  Not only that but the triangle they form with the headlight makes it easier for other road users to judge your speed and distance.

In addition to greatly reducing the chances of you not being seen, they also make lanesplitting in California easier and on two lane interstates members of the LLOC (Left Lane Owners Club) tend to get out of your way more readily.


Power

Since a pair of these lights adds an additional 140 watts of power draw, with the exception of the 1993 K1100RS, any 1993 or earlier K bike will require that you upgrade from the early 32 amp alternator to the later 50 amp alternator.  1994 and later K bikes all came with the 50 amp alternator so the additional power draw should not be an issue.


Mounting

One of the nice things about these fog lights is how easy they are to mount.  Using a longer bolt for the front fork reflector and a couple of spacers, installation is simple and straightforward.  You'll need two spacers on each side, one to stand off the light housing past the front fender and another to go between the two mounting tangs on the fog light housing.



Stainless steel spacers can be purchased from McMaster-Carr. The smaller spacers (product number 92320A878) are 7/16" inches wide and the larger spacers (product number 92320A670) are 1-1/4" wide.  You'll also need some longer bolts that are M6x90.  McMaster-Carr only sells these in lots of ten (product number 91292A204) so you might be able to save a few bucks by finding a local source where you can buy just the two you need.

UPDATE(5/11/12):  Since the mounting bolts need to hold the fork reflectors as well on an K1100RS or K100RS4V, it can be a tight fit so it's probably a good idea to get two stainless M6x100 bolts.  That's the next size up and they're probably a little long so you'll want to mount the lights, reflectors and front half of the fender and then cut off any excess (hacksaw or Dremel cutting wheel) bolt sticking out past the nut  so the bolt doesn't hit the front tire.  The McMaster-Carr part number for M6x100 stainless bolts (pack of 5) is 91292A205.

Note that since their dimensions are SAE, not metric, the smaller 7/16" spacers are just a tad wide for fitting in between the fog light housing mounting tangs so you'll have to file them down a bit in order for them to fit.

These lights are meant to hang from a bumper so you'll want to remove the screws from the sides and flip the bulb and front of the lens housing over so that the drain hole is on the bottom.

If your bike is a K100RS4V or K1100RS, due to the minimal clearance between the fork leg and tire sidewall, the direction of the reflector bolts is reversed so you'll need to remove the front wheel in order to remove the old bolt.  Consult your owner's manual or see this thread for instructions on how to remove/install the front wheel.


Wiring


Wiring them up is pretty straightforward and similar to adding any auxiliary lighting.  Since the draw of a pair of these lights is 140 watts, one important thing to make sure of is that the lights are turned off by the load shedding relay when the start button is pressed.  The simplest way to make sure of this is by tapping the XLO relay into the headlight wiring for the left combination switch.  Depending upon how you want them powered, tap into either the white/yellow wire (headlight power), yellow wire (low beam) or white wire (high beam) at the connector for the left combination switch.
Below are three possible options for wiring them:

Always On

The following wiring diagram shows how to wire the lights up so that they're always on when the bike is turned on except when the start button is pressed:



On/Off

The following wiring diagram shows how to wire them if you'd like to have on/off control of them.  A BMW hazard flasher switch can be used for this purpose.



Tapped Into Low Beam and High Beam

Using a BMW heated grip switch, the following wiring shows how to wire them up so they're either on with only the low headlight beam or the high headlight beam.  This is how I usually wire them up. During the day I run them with the low beam.  If I flash the high beam to get noticed then that turns of the fog lights at the same time and makes the flash more noticeable. It's also handy in the fog at night when you don't want to run the high beam.  At night when it's clear and aux lighting isn't as necessary, I run them with the high beam only to fill in below the headlight.


Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2012, 02:46:35 PM »
catz acid orange (amber) xlo fog lights vs the clearwater led...



what do you trust you conspicuity to...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline Jumpin Jimmy B

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2012, 09:22:25 PM »
+1 to that.
 Fellow coworkers comment on how they see me coming from over a mile way in their rear view mirrors!
There is nothing like that way cool orange glow. It is NOT yellow it is ORANGE! It stands out big time!
 I can honestly say it's greatly reduced the number of " pull outs " I encounter from cagers. For this alone they are well worth it.

 Mount em' up like the Drake sez or if ya got a light bar use that.

Like this...


 Then, use em.

 CATZ off at night, a dark park lane road.



CATZ on, same spot. Note how great the sides of the road are lit up. BTW. If you need to ride in the urban jungle at night, these things positively light up the interior of a vehicle from the side as you come up on it.



  What you see comin at ya.



 I've had them a while now. No issues from LEO's or from other drivers.
I'd rather be riding.

Offline frankenduck

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2012, 09:33:22 PM »
Wow, you've got those pointed pretty high. :yow

Take 'em out on a dark road some night and aim them at or just below your low beam.  They make excellent fog lights when properly aimed.

Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline Jumpin Jimmy B

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2012, 06:18:38 AM »
 That last picture is misleading I think.
They are aimed just a hair under the main beam when measured at 25 feet.

 I took that front view picture while sitting on the ground. Was trying to get the full effect of the color.

 These lights are a life saver.
I'd rather be riding.

Offline frankenduck

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2012, 10:33:45 PM »
Here they are mounted on my 93 K1100LT:



Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline orthomini

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2012, 08:44:12 PM »
i installed mine with the supplied wiring. it worked for a short time and while the switch lights up the lights do not. any ideas? id just as soon not have a switch so that theyre always on

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2012, 08:53:20 PM »
greetings orthomini...

do you hear the catz relay click when rocking the switch...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline frankenduck

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2012, 09:07:23 PM »
How do you have them wired?  (There's many options.)
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
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Offline orthomini

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2012, 07:02:48 AM »
dont know if i hear a click will have to check. ill explain my wiring later im off to work. thanks

Offline motodude

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2012, 09:34:05 AM »

Hi Frankenduck,

What did you use to mount the driving lights on your LT?  The ones under the mirrors.

Thanks,
Tom
'95 K75RT
'90 K75RT
'87 K100RS Motorsport
No, I am not cool.  Yes, it really is the journey.

Offline frankenduck

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2012, 10:21:50 AM »
Quote
What did you use to mount the driving lights on your LT?  The ones under the mirrors.

Some brackets that mount under studs for the mirror clips.  Somebody aftermarket used to manufacture them I think.  I forget whom but they're long out of production.  Had them for years.  I think I found them on Fleabay or something.

Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
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Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2012, 07:34:56 AM »
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2012, 10:54:00 AM »
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline sh00ter

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2012, 02:15:22 PM »
You'll also need some longer bolts that are M6x90.  McMaster-Carr only sells these in lots of ten (product number 91292A204) so you might be able to save a few bucks by finding a local source where you can buy just the two you need

I bought the 10 pack, so I got 8 extra, for the price of shipping if anyone wants 2, I'd happily send them to you.
'94 1100 RS

Offline motodude

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #15 on: May 11, 2012, 09:49:01 PM »
Some brackets that mount under studs for the mirror clips.  Somebody aftermarket used to manufacture them I think.  I forget whom but they're long out of production.  Had them for years.  I think I found them on Fleabay or something.


Thanks.  Where did you route the wires?  I can't really tell from the picture. 

They look like something that could be easily built.

Tom
'95 K75RT
'90 K75RT
'87 K100RS Motorsport
No, I am not cool.  Yes, it really is the journey.

Offline frankenduck

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #16 on: May 11, 2012, 10:37:48 PM »
I put the wiring in some heat shrink tubing and then just routed the wires up over the edge of the fairing and then under the inner panels.  If/when you get around to doing it I can get you some better pics.  Have a similar setup for the driving lights on my K1100RS - the brackets on that are the same concept but mount a bit differently due to the differences in the different styles of mirrors.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #17 on: May 19, 2012, 12:49:13 AM »


j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #18 on: May 19, 2012, 01:55:27 PM »


j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline motodude

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #19 on: May 21, 2012, 08:48:29 PM »
I put the wiring in some heat shrink tubing and then just routed the wires up over the edge of the fairing and then under the inner panels.  If/when you get around to doing it I can get you some better pics.  Have a similar setup for the driving lights on my K1100RS - the brackets on that are the same concept but mount a bit differently due to the differences in the different styles of mirrors.

Thanks, I missed your reply earlier.

Tom
'95 K75RT
'90 K75RT
'87 K100RS Motorsport
No, I am not cool.  Yes, it really is the journey.

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2012, 06:41:43 AM »
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline Turkus

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World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2012, 11:29:17 AM »
catz acid orange (amber) xlo fog lights vs the clearwater led...



what do you trust you conspicuity to...

touche`......

actually, after riding with you, I was contemplating a set to be mounted under my mirror housings......just to pizz off everyone in front of me  :yes

where do you get them lights these days ??  :dunno2:
You can get more with kind words and a REALLY BIG gun, than with just kind words...trust me

Offline johnny

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #22 on: May 25, 2012, 07:46:20 AM »
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline mystic red

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Re: World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #23 on: May 26, 2012, 08:40:17 AM »
Quote
touche`......

actually, after riding with you, I was contemplating a set to be mounted under my mirror housings......just to pizz off everyone in front of me  :yes

where do you get them lights these days ??  :dunno2:

CATZ FET XLO BMW K1100 FOG LIGHTS ORANGE K11OG

Offline Turkus

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World's best conspicuity/fog lights
« Reply #24 on: May 26, 2012, 10:11:08 AM »
Quote
touche`......

actually, after riding with you, I was contemplating a set to be mounted under my mirror housings......just to pizz off everyone in front of me  :yes

where do you get them lights these days ??  :dunno2:

CATZ FET XLO BMW K1100 FOG LIGHTS ORANGE geezer site

hhhhmmmmm.....one of the vehicles in the demo pics looks strangely familiar  :hmm:



didn't realize J O was a pimp for these lights  :hehehe
You can get more with kind words and a REALLY BIG gun, than with just kind words...trust me

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