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Driving Lights for N1K

7795 Views 19 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Hornblower
I'm contemplating adding driving lights to my N1K. Looking to add visibility to oncoming traffic or while lane splitting.

Did a quick search of the forum threads but didn't find anything. My initial thought was to mount them low on the front fork. Something like a Denali DM Micro LED kit.

Has anyone tried adding driving lights?
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I'm also looking for advice on the best way to mount additional driving light (since the headlight sucks, even with aftermarket bulbs). Saw a thread once a while back with photos of mounting, but can't find it now. May have been on the z1000Sx forum. Will keep looking and reference it here if I find it.
Twisted Throttle has Denali kits for the 11-13 & separate kit for 14 on their website.
auxillary lights / extra lights / front fork lights ?

Good thread with examples of mounting auxiliary lights.
I like the Denali LEDs. I wonder if they could be mounted lower in the fork, say, where the side reflector is currently mounted on stock bikes. Could the wiring then piggy back on the brake lines? Not sure how clean that would look...

As an alternative, has anybody considered a modulating headlight? I had one on my Bandit 1250S but haven't seen any Ninja applications....
I've had motolights on the FJR forks and I don't think I'd go that route again. It was difficult keeping htem clean; rain mud bug you name it, there's a lot more down there than higher up. I would also imagine more vibration could kill the lights faster.

I haven't yet successfully mounted HIDs (maybe just haven't found the right kit?) but my first preference would be to bolster the stock headlights before adding additional lights. From my perspective, this is purely an aesthetic consideration; if I didn't care what the bike looked like I'd find a place to hang auxiallary lights like Clearwaters or Denali's.

Then again ... now that I think about it .. I haven't ridden it at night yet to know how bad they are. I guess I always took the FJR if I thought I would be riding in the dark.
I think you're right and I will direct my efforts at a replacement high beam bulb. I think there was a thread a few weeks back about a really yellow light that caught everyones attention. I'll have to dig for it.

My need for the light isn't so much for night riding. I spend a lot of my commute/pleasure riding splitting lanes in the socal freeways. having a very bright light is supremely important when you split lanes.

I don't ride at night unless I absolutely have to. In my neck of the woods, the freeways have 4-8 lanes per side making a motorcycle specially difficult to see at night. Specially from behind where you only have one little tail light.
I think you're right and I will direct my efforts at a replacement high beam bulb. I think there was a thread a few weeks back about a really yellow light that caught everyones attention. I'll have to dig for it.

My need for the light isn't so much for night riding. I spend a lot of my commute/pleasure riding splitting lanes in the socal freeways. having a very bright light is supremely important when you split lanes.

I don't ride at night unless I absolutely have to. In my neck of the woods, the freeways have 4-8 lanes per side making a motorcycle specially difficult to see at night. Specially from behind where you only have one little tail light.
If you're still thinking about driving lights, check out MondoMotos. Look at the MM10 set. They're only about $130. I had them on my previous Concours 14 and they are awesome! I've got them on my list of add-ons for my new bike.
I'd like to add aux lights, but they're either expensive or hart to mount, or both. I decided to go with an HID kid. I'll install it over Christmas break and let you know how they work. I imagine there's others here that have done the HID conversion.
I looked at the MM10s and they look nice. Where do you think is a good place to mount them?
I plan on mounting mine on the front forks where the reflectors used to be. I'd rather they be higher but, right now, I don't see a better place unless I drill holes in the fairings. I'm not really keen on doing that though.
That's the place I had in mind when I started this thread. Someone pointed out earlier that lights placed lower in the fork tend to catch dirt, grime and such.

How do you plan on routing the wires? piggy back on the brake lines?

Please let us know how it turns out. i'm still undecided between using a different headlight bulb and adding the auxiliary lights.
I'm contemplating adding driving lights to my N1K. Looking to add visibility to oncoming traffic or while lane splitting.

Did a quick search of the forum threads but didn't find anything. My initial thought was to mount them low on the front fork. Something like a Denali DM Micro LED kit.

Has anyone tried adding driving lights?
as a side note...If you have'nt plugged in/replaced the garbage factory marker bulbs...?...with T507 5w wedge LEDS....next to headlights...
THIS is a must do for visabilty...cheap and ultra bright...everyone should do this..huge difference in being seen...
as a side note...If you have'nt plugged in/replaced the garbage factory marker bulbs...?...with T507 5w wedge LEDS....next to headlights...
THIS is a must do for visabilty...cheap and ultra bright...everyone should do this..huge difference in being seen...
Where is the best place to find the T507 5w wedge LEDs?

thanks,
Adam
Upgrade City Lights

Like several others, I'm in the process of upgrading the City Lights. The LED bulbs I ordered should arrive tomorrow. I know that T10 bulbs simply plug into a base but my question has to do with what's involved in removing the bases from the bike. Can I simply pull straight out on the base? It feels like there is some kind of rubber boot covering that. Anyone that has done it, would you please provide some tips? Thanks in advance!
Bump, anyone! Would be helpful to know what's involved in changing the City Lights. Do I simply reach up under there and pull it out?
Yeah, you basically just reach up and pull out the little rubber base. The bulb just sits in it.
It might be easier to remove the plastic piece around the instrument panel. It's only like 4-6 screws. It'll give you a bit more visibility and reach, but it's not necessary.
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Thanks, Sage!
Sage--Your advice was very helpful. I did wind up removing the plastic panel (only 4 screws) and that made access to the back of the City Lights much easier. After that, it was just a simple matter of unplugging the old bulbs and plugging in the new LED's. My new LED City Lights are the ones suggested earlier in this thread (T10 Phillips X-treme Vision). The color-match to my LED headlight bulbs is pretty good but the bright headlights overpower the LED City Lights. Here's a pic of the all-LED front (except the turn signals):

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Denali Driving Lights

I found a used set of Denali D1's and mounted them to the front fender. Looks like this:



They didn't come with a wiring harness so I'm waiting on that from Twisted Throttle. Hopefully, I can run wiring and get them working next week.
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