Bright LED Lights - Adding Clearwater LED Lights

RSL · Oct 1, 2016

Clearwater LED now has the Hyperstrada/Hypermotard/Multi Strada mounts ready for shipment.

This allows for the mounting of the smaller Darla LED lights in a protected area.

By having additional LED lights mounted high, the projection is farther making for better night vision. Yet, by mounting these lights below the elevation of the headlight, they remain legal.

The amber and clear silicone lens covers are a nice addition. The amber color penetrates fog, rain & snow.

https://clearwaterlights.com/collections/featured/products/darla-1

It would be easy to go crazy and add the much bigger, and brighter, Krista spot light, Erica driving light or Sevina deer melting light to these mounts. Solid and stable light location.

astrocortex · Oct 3, 2016

Did your kit come with a switch? The Darla mentions 24w on high.

If you had bad night vision would you go with the darla? I get pretty blind at night.

RSL · Oct 3, 2016

It's not a night riding light outside urban areas. While the light fills in where the headlight is weak very well, on pitch black backroads this isn't enough to see deer in the distance.

I wired mine to be on 100% all the time, with a 20 second delayed start.

The kit comes with a relay, bright/horn 100% wire, and brightness controller (10% to 85%).

More mounting information to come later.

For high speed and distance spot lighting, I like the Krista.

kuksul08 · Oct 3, 2016

I'm curious - how and why did you do a 20 second delay on the start? Is that to let you turn the bike on or something?

RSL · Oct 3, 2016

kuksul08 said:
I'm curious - how and why did you do a 20 second delay on the start? Is that to let you turn the bike on or something?

Yes, to let me start the bike and let the electronics become happy first.

That way, it can't be said that I interfered with the Ducati start-up.

This eBay delay was added inline with the relay trigger wire. I used the yellow tail light power wire at the back of the seat.

Sealed up it looks like this:

Positive to the yellow trigger wire, ground to frame ground on the bike, or was it battery? Either way a ground is needed.

I pick my bike back up Thursday and will have a look this weekend.

RSL · Oct 4, 2016

Another lesson I have learned over the years is to use SAE connectors with wiring. This allows easy changes and removal.

Make sure the wire you use and SAE connectors are rated for the amps you are conveying.

astrocortex · Oct 4, 2016

that delay is pretty clever!

RSL · Oct 7, 2016

Wiring details:

RSL · Oct 8, 2016

I had to get short bolts for the mount because the rubber isolating fender mount has minimum thread depth.

Mounting the light bar and lights takes maybe an hour, if you go slow, check everything over and use thread lock.

The wiring takes as much time as you want, depending on how detailed you want to be. Some like to bundle and tie every wire.

appliance821 · Oct 8, 2016

Thank you for taking the time to show this so clearly - much appreciated.

RSL · Oct 8, 2016

Eliminating the on/off switch and/or dimmer knob was based on two conclusions after tens of thousands of miles of use of these Darla LED lights on another motorcycle.

1) Simple wiring is always best.

2) I never adjusted the brightness.

Why complicate something when unnecessary? Especially when the point of the Hyperstrada is simplicity. It's all about the ride.

The 1 to 4 SAE splitter allows me to power each Darla, and one power wire for my front of the bike electronics (GPS & Motochello entertainment/communication hub).

As you can see in the photo, there are fuses everywhere. You may also note that the wires to the front of the bike have been fished under the plastic, along with the surrounding woven wire protective cover.

Super easy. Super reliable. The SAE connectors allow me to make changes easily too.

RSL · Oct 9, 2016

Am I safer with these Darla LED lights?

jerdog53 · Feb 8, 2017

I had always thought that there should be a way to mount lights off that bracket, I'm glad it was figured out for me!!

Thank you for your efforts!

Is it the D20 670 Fork kit from Clearwater?

RSL · Feb 8, 2017

D49 Light Bar
https://www.clearwaterlights.com/pr...permotard-hyperstrada-939?variant=20681259397

Or so it looks. I'd call to make sure because it is easy and secure.

I prefer to not mess with forks because of even the smallest risk of damaging the fork tubes with compression or twist during a drop or fall.

jerdog53 · Feb 8, 2017

Aw yes thank you!

RSL · Feb 8, 2017

Couple more photos:

RSL · Apr 24, 2017

A photo from this weekend. Impossible to ignore these fluorescent yellow lights because of the contrast with every other daytime running light.

Safety

RSL · Sep 27, 2017

Seriously focused bright light that blows out the iPhone 7 Plus lens.

Bright LED Lights - Adding Clearwater LED Lights

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