Harbor Freight LED Lights.. yay or nay

[StephanSF]

Has anyone added Harbor Freight LED bars or spots to their S-10 ? If so, whats the verdict. They have floods and spots and lightbars (one of which is a combination flood and spot), and Im not sure which is more suitable (spot or flood). .

User reviews are mostly positive for all their lights and they all are designed for ATVs and other type of offroad use.

So.. worth trying ?

For those not in the US, Harbor Freight is a discount retailer that sells a variety of tools of sometimes mediocre quality, but at signifcantly cheaper prices than larger

 

[Mak10]

I had a HF spot, cube on mine for about a year with no problems. Initially I had some expensive Vision X floods mounted to my crash bars. The HF lights had the same harness pigtail so I bought one spot to try out a flood/spot combo. It worked really well. I live in a dry climate and don’t ride in much rain. The vision x look like they are better made.

In my experience the H F lights were a big improvement over no lights. Mine did what it was supposed to for a lot of miles.

 

[AntrimMan]

I have the HF flood pods installed at the moment.
There is precious little structure to mount them under the headlights. It's all plastic there and the lights are rather heavy for comfort IMO.
If any of the assembly comes loose at speed it has the potential to get real ugly fast. Keep the cords tied tightly as a backup safety strap.
I repurposed a beak bracket utilizing the four through the plastic mounting holes.
The brackets supplied with the lights have a weak design for surface mounting, the slot only connects with the bolt flats and is in a narrow cross section.
I drilled two clearance holes through and adjacent to each bracket ear and tapped the repurposed beak bracket accordingly.
Spacing is a consideration, keep them as far apart as possible to accommodate the suspension travel. Heat generated won't be an issue close to the cowling.
In the end it became a bit of work for little illumination gain. They are OK. They are stable and stay in adjustment on tarmac and mild dirt so far.
At 15 watts don't expect much distance illumination with the floods. I would say if you keep the travel speed to a minimum they are useable, think 10MPH max.
Plenty of them mounted on a backhoe is the ideal application.
I do intend to buy one of the spots to see if there is much improvement. I most likely won't settle for this as a solution to the weak OEM lighting. My honest opinion.
If I wasn't so thrifty it would be one and done with one of the high end sets.
In the past I took the recommendation of the budget farkle post about the $9 ebay set of pods to mount under the mirror stalk. They are the best so far.
Unfortunately that link has broken since the forum upgrade. The lights are spot,15watts, very light weight and readily aimed while riding to illuminate exactly what you want to look at.
Anyway, following are some pics of what the HF pods look like installed under the headlights using the repurposed beak bracket.
All the best.

 

[Checkswrecks]

View attachment 76569

Because your lights are so far forward you may be just missing them or maybe you've not hard bottomed the forks yet.

But for anybody wanting to mount them closer to the forks, the fender travel is 7.5"

I also would not recommend putting weight too far forward of the plastic mount, as we know it breaks and fatigue from a weight cantilevered out front could do that.

 

[Mak10]

I have Piaa mounts that attach to my crash bars. They were expensive when I bought them, but haven’t moved at all. Well worth the price. https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/piaa-360-x-4-universal-bracket-p



I have since mounted a slim led spot under my headlights. Unfortunately it’s been snowy and haven’t had a chance to ride with this yet. I generally try to avoid riding at night. That usually doesn’t work out.

 

[Cycledude]

When it comes to lights for the Tenere Yamaha definitely missed the mark

 

[Mak10]

But they look good!

 

[WJBertrand]

Many of these LED lights, regardless of brand, look so similar I suspect they are coming out of the same Chinese factories and just getting different brands and packaging at the end of the line. Makes me think one is just as good as the other.

 

[Mak10]

Which would you rather have?

 

[~TABASCO~]

I have an opinion ! LOL I think the real question is how do YOU intend to use the lights? What are you expecting out of these lights (for your purpose)

I could type for hours on this subject.. LOL Short version.. Ha-Ha If you want to use HF lights for some extra day time safety lights, your "good". If your looking for and wanting to "add" some light above the stock head light bulbs, it will "add" some but they are just "OK- IMOP". ( You would be better off adding some high quality HID bulbs to your stock headlights and have way more light out put at this stage in the extra light game)

Your in Vegas, if you want more light for high-way use out in the desert, I would personally say no. If your looking for more light for riding some dirt roads out in the desert at night, I would say HELL NO.

I agree, not everyone needs the same output in light. Totally depends on what you might be doing & where. So these lights for what you 'might' be using them for might be great.
I have installed these for people before and have compared them to MANY other brands. Ive personally installed about every brand of light on the market on either bikes or vehicles over the years.

For how I use my bike, and where I ride, Im a big fan of Baja Designs. (I have found myself crossing Utah on dirt roads at 1AM. Ive been traveling the AZBDR out on a side of a mountain in the middle of the night, Etc, Etc) Ive been buying and using Baja lights for about 15-18 years now. Ive recently upgraded my cheep HID bulbs in my headlights to some new more modern HID Morimoto set up. These on there own are almost as bright as my S2 from Baja. Very happy, very bright.

I would end by saying this, if what you want to try is the HF, go for it ! If you really want to see / be seen, and you want long term brightness and reliability you will be moving away from the HF pretty quickly. Sometimes its a learning process. (it was for me for sure over the years, I now have probably 10-12K lumens now and turn the dark to day)

 

[Sierra1]

Which would you rather have? View attachment 76585

Still, maybe even more so from this angle, looks like a vacuum cleaner.

 

[scott123007]

Still, maybe even more so from this angle, looks like a vacuum cleaner.

Better hope it doesn't suck the S-10 up and spit it out!

 

[Sierra1]

Better hope it doesn't suck the S-10 up and spit it out!

Haven't met a H-D that could so far.

 

[Highwayman]

Havent been against too many....

I can tell you my Bagger 124" and my Dyna 110" will EASILY outrun my anemic S10.

Ive always skipped the cheap LEDs on my vehicles. From dirtbikes to streetbikes Ive always stuck to Baja designs and JW speaker. Honestly for the price, can you really go wrong to just try em? If theyre on your radar I would just pick up a set and run em.

 

[Tenman]

I have an opinion ! LOL I think the real question is how do YOU intend to use the lights? What are you expecting out of these lights (for your purpose)

I could type for hours on this subject.. LOL Short version.. Ha-Ha If you want to use HF lights for some extra day time safety lights, your "good". If your looking for and wanting to "add" some light above the stock head light bulbs, it will "add" some but they are just "OK- IMOP". ( You would be better off adding some high quality HID bulbs to your stock headlights and have way more light out put at this stage in the extra light game)

Your in Vegas, if you want more light for high-way use out in the desert, I would personally say no. If your looking for more light for riding some dirt roads out in the desert at night, I would say HELL NO.

I agree, not everyone needs the same output in light. Totally depends on what you might be doing & where. So these lights for what you 'might' be using them for might be great.
I have installed these for people before and have compared them to MANY other brands. Ive personally installed about every brand of light on the market on either bikes or vehicles over the years.

For how I use my bike, and where I ride, Im a big fan of Baja Designs. (I have found myself crossing Utah on dirt roads at 1AM. Ive been traveling the AZBDR out on a side of a mountain in the middle of the night, Etc, Etc) Ive been buying and using Baja lights for about 15-18 years now. Ive recently upgraded my cheep HID bulbs in my headlights to some new more modern HID Morimoto set up. These on there own are almost as bright as my S2 from Baja. Very happy, very bright.

I would end by saying this, if what you want to try is the HF, go for it ! If you really want to see / be seen, and you want long term brightness and reliability you will be moving away from the HF pretty quickly. Sometimes its a learning process. (it was for me for sure over the years, I now have probably 10-12K lumens now and turn the dark to day)

what are these new modern motorini bulbs? Where did you get them. I’ve tried several different bulbs. The Cyclops were a let down. Didn’t last and ridiculously expensive.

 

[~TABASCO~]

what are these new modern motorini bulbs? Where did you get them. I’ve tried several different bulbs. The Cyclops were a let down. Didn’t last and ridiculously expensive.

H7: Morimoto Elite HID System | The Retrofit Source MM.N.023

Morimoto never sleeps on the competition and that's why we know you'll love thier H7 Elite HID System. Incredible performance & pricing. The Retrofit Source.

www.theretrofitsource.com

If anyone reads this, get the H7B (not A) bulb 5000K. (better for brightness and much less shadow- virtually zero)

These lights are AWESOME !

They also come with a wire harness and relays. This is really nice because its on a stand alone power system and you can take the "load" off the stock head light harness. In fact, it only needs a trigger off one light. They are super bright and I really like them.

I bought mine when they had some "super sale"

Ive installed many brands of HID over the years, this is probably the most 'high quality' I've seen in an aftermarket environment.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . I can tell you my Bagger 124" and my Dyna 110" will EASILY outrun my anemic S10. . . .

You're right, most of the H-Ds I run into are not special editions.

2013 Yamaha Super Tenere
0-60 mph 3.2 Quarter mile 11.8
2010 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
0-60 mph 4.8 Quarter mile 13.3
2007 Harley-Davidson FXDSE Screamin' Eagle Dyna
0-60 mph 4.2 Quarter mile 12.3

 

[Mak10]

Bang for the buck you can’t beat the HF lights.

I run Baja design lights on my truck, and they are a premium product. They also come at a premium price.

LED lights have come a long at in the past 5 years.
Baja Design doesn’t make a slim light bar that fits under the Tenere headlights.

 

[Tenman]

Rigid industries makes killer light bars that will fit

 

[StephanSF]

I have the HF flood pods installed at the moment.
There is precious little structure to mount them under the headlights. It's all plastic there and the lights are rather heavy for comfort IMO.
If any of the assembly comes loose at speed it has the potential to get real ugly fast. Keep the cords tied tightly as a backup safety strap.
I repurposed a beak bracket utilizing the four through the plastic mounting holes.
The brackets supplied with the lights have a weak design for surface mounting, the slot only connects with the bolt flats and is in a narrow cross section.
I drilled two clearance holes through and adjacent to each bracket ear and tapped the repurposed beak bracket accordingly.
Spacing is a consideration, keep them as far apart as possible to accommodate the suspension travel. Heat generated won't be an issue close to the cowling.
In the end it became a bit of work for little illumination gain. They are OK. They are stable and stay in adjustment on tarmac and mild dirt so far.
At 15 watts don't expect much distance illumination with the floods. I would say if you keep the travel speed to a minimum they are useable, think 10MPH max.
Plenty of them mounted on a backhoe is the ideal application.
I do intend to buy one of the spots to see if there is much improvement. I most likely won't settle for this as a solution to the weak OEM lighting. My honest opinion.
If I wasn't so thrifty it would be one and done with one of the high end sets.
In the past I took the recommendation of the budget farkle post about the $9 ebay set of pods to mount under the mirror stalk. They are the best so far.
Unfortunately that link has broken since the forum upgrade. The lights are spot,15watts, very light weight and readily aimed while riding to illuminate exactly what you want to look at.
Anyway, following are some pics of what the HF pods look like installed under the headlights using the repurposed beak bracket.
All the best.


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Thanks for the detailed reply.. I like your install, very clean. SInce posting my intitial questioin I have seen that there are quite a number of lights available on Amazon that are even cheaper than most of HF's stuff and look like they would do a great job.