Auxiliary light Beam Pattern Selection

[Crew Chief]

I'm busy farkling my bike, but I'm about to get into an area where I need some advice. I will be installing the Cyclops headlights later today. I have one on my DRZ400 and really like it. I'm hoping it will be an improvement on this bike too. My main complaint now is the clipping of the low beam and the problems that causes in turns. Of course I'm getting older and I think brighter is better. I would also like to have some auxiliary lighting on the bike. The purpose would be as a back up lighting in case I lose the headlights for any reason (I've had that happen on other motorcycles) and I would like to have some additional conspicuity too. Better lighting in the corners wouldn't hurt any. I don't ever see myself doing rough back country stuff at night, but I could see myself on a gravel road that may or may not be well groomed or on a small mountain road after dark. I try not to be in that position, but it still happens sometimes.

I'm thinking about adding some of the LED pod lights to create the lighting triangle that many of us are familiar with. I also notice that lots of people add the Ridgid light bar under the head light and seem to like it. My lack of experience with aux lights and with this bike has left me unsure of how to proceed. Do you folks think I would benefit from the Cyclops and the other two types of lights and if so what beam pattern would you put where? Is it too much light? My thoughts are a wide beam with the pod lights and a spot with the Rigid, but I just don't think I have enough experience to make a good judgement. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Too much light?



Seriously, the Cyclops light is an improvement, but I doubt I'd do those again on a Tenere. It has two low beams for when one burns out. I also have a Cyclops bulb in the KTM 690r and it totally transformed the thing from the Prince of Darkness.


fwiw - the clipped top of the pattern is legally required to not blind oncoming drivers, so I'm fine with it for low beams. I don't worry about the clipped top of the beam when on brights though. I don't use them when there is oncoming traffic, so my brights also turn on the Rigid light bar.


Since you asked about Rigid bar patterns, the combo has been great. It's far enough out to not out-drive it on fast highways, and it's wide enough that it does well for everything close. This includes while going up and down twisty roads through the woods in the dark, where the nose of the bike is frequently pointed down. The other thing I like about it is how well it reflects in the eyes of deer and other critters.

 

[Crew Chief]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Yeah, I'd like to go to town on lighting and let Tabasco loose on it, but when you have a whole lot of it, you need to think a lot about management. My management system will likely be fairly simple as I'm not planning on doing any off road rally races anytime soon.

Why do you think you wouldn't use the cyclops again Checks? Redundant with the other lights or....?

If I was to use the Rigid combo light, does anyone have an opinion about whether I should use a spot, wide or combination for the pods? They will likely always be on.

 

[2daMax]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Spot is more focus and shoots further away while wide is like flood lights and probably useful to close up distance. You may consider using both for near and far field, with 2 sets of aux lights. Traffic will see u coming via their mirrors and is way better than loud pipes. Bright lights saves life.

I have never quite figured out the cross eye lights of the S10 to get optimum angle and haven't been serious enough to give it some hard thinking on how to adjust them.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Yeah, I'd like to go to town on lighting and let Tabasco loose on it, but when you have a whole lot of it, you need to think a lot about management. My management system will likely be fairly simple as I'm not planning on doing any off road rally races anytime soon.

Why do you think you wouldn't use the cyclops again Checks? Redundant with the other lights or....?

If I was to use the Rigid combo light, does anyone have an opinion about whether I should use a spot, wide or combination for the pods? They will likely always be on.

Rigid has a Driving Pattern as well, kind of a cross with Spot and Fog. Get the model with the Hi/Lo feature, 100%-20%.. Awesome lights no matter the model, pods or bar.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Why do you think you wouldn't use the cyclops again Checks? Redundant with the other lights or....?

I just didn't think the improvement was worth the price. It's definitely better, but there are cheaper options. Do a search and there are a couple of threads around here.

 

[Jeff Milleman]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

I to have the cyclops and the small led bulbs and it helps a lot , people can see me now but i needed a good road light . I just put on the Rigid combo under my headlight before going to G.A and N.C and its all I need ,works great very happy .

 

[myzter.red]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Any photo or video of the cyclop hi/low beam after install?

 

[SilverBullet]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

Crew Chief you'll be happy with the Cyclops inprovement but as Checkswrecks said the price is steep. What I did to gain bigger improvements was to aim headlight so high beam can be used full time. Doesn't blind other vehicles and the cut off/clipped top of beam pattern is gone. Worked so good I didn't find an urgent need to install my Rigid light bar. Sat on it for over a year and almost sold it. Then had to do a dusk to dawn all night ride so installed it for safety. Wowser does it ever rock! Cyclops high beam with Rigid lightbar on is crazy daylight "like" illumination. Really spreads the lighting out to light up even the ditches along both sides of the road. Gives you that added buffer for all the Texas forest rats that are so dangerous at night, especially now during the rut. I also have an amber snap on lense cover for the Rigid lightbar that lets me run it 100% during the day for added safety visibility.

 

[Crew Chief]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

I have installed the Cyclops and I like it. I do agree it's an expensive solution. I took a couple of before and after pictures, I'll see about posting them, probably in the Cylops thread. I haven't ridden much since I installed them, but I do like the color temperature much better and I do think they are much brighter. I'll ride the bike to a local gathering tonight and get a more considered opinion of them then. I'll try to make a post tomorrow after I've had that ride.

Silverbullet, did you opt for the combination light with the Rigid? I may also look into changing the aim a bit. I hadn't really considered that. You and I have similar taste in bikes. I've considered a 630 as a replacement for the DRZ. I also saw a picture of the case you have on the tail of your bike and I went to considerable trouble to acquire one. You sir are a bad influence!

I haven't put many miles on this bike yet and I really don't expect to before mid year next year, but so far my biggest lighting complaint is going into corners or curves. This thing seems almost dangerous to me. I have a few months to get to know the bike better and take care of such things.

 

[SilverBullet]

Re: Headlight Beam Pattern Selection

...Silverbullet, did you opt for the combination light with the Rigid? I may also look into changing the aim a bit. I hadn't really considered that. You and I have similar taste in bikes. I've considered a 630 as a replacement for the DRZ. I also saw a picture of the case you have on the tail of your bike and I went to considerable trouble to acquire one. You sir are a bad influence!...

Yes, 6" Rigid #90661 driving light which is a combo I believe. The new ones have hi/low output switching but mine is older and 100% power only. Bought a Skene type controller but the Rigid circuitry isn't compatible.

The 630 is a great bike but mine has sat since I purchased the Tenere 2-1/2 yrs ago. There is no technical Texas dual sport riding so the Tenere gets the nod every time. Trips out west I would prefer the 630 but would much rather ride out than trailer so the Tenere gets picked over it as well. Keeps me off the super tough trails but honestly not that much the Tenere cannot do if you're not afraid of scratching it up a little.

 

[Crew Chief]

I had forgotten that I said I would post before and after pictures of the Headlight. I have now done so in the main Cyclops thread. I also changed the title of this one. I meant for it to be about Auxiliary light beam selection, but I put headlight in the title.

I think Rigid must be changing their selection. The 90661 PN isn't on the Rigid website anymore, but it is still available at several retailers and it is most often labeled as a "driving light". Now on the Rigid website they show a; Spot, Hyperspot, Flood, Driving, Combo and 2 different part numbers for Diffused. It's enough to confuse a guy. I'm leaning toward the "driving light". I'll choose after I finish adding some small lights to my DRZ.

 

[Kabish]

I just purchased the Denali D4 2.0 lights which are a "hybrid" type light. You can make them full spot if you desired which literary will light up a mile down the road lol.. I also purchased the module that allows them to go from 100% with brights on to 50% with just low beam on. The lights are absolutely fantastic, I lov'em. There is absolutely no way you could ride with it at night at 100% though, so the module that cuts it down 50% is pretty much required. Its rated at 8750 lums at 100% which is like someone reaching up and pulling the cord to turn on the sun. I was absolutely floored when I turned on the brights for the first time.

I know there are lots of other cheaper options, but this light does really well with the cut off, which is what you lose on a lot of the cheaper pods along with a little durability. Defiantly helps with lane splitting, and for sure widens your foot print and makes you more visible during normal driving.

BTW I do pretty much all pavement driving, so my experiences with the light have been on roads/freeways.