LED fork mounted lights and LONG theory

I am very interested in how to maximise my bike's conspicuity, especially during daylight hours. Each year we see rider after rider taken out by cars at intersections, and I don't want to be one of them. I was reading a recent article about the LONG (Longitudinal Oriented Normative time Gap compensation) theory of lighting for safety. Here's the article: http://www.motolight.com/page/481477660. The essence of it is having lights to make the bike seem bigger from the front as a triangle of light: either hand guards to headlight or headlight to fork legs.

I have experimented with LEDs in terms of Bullet Lights, LED strips on my hand guards etc, but the quality and durability wasn't good. I was put off by the silly price of the standard motorcycle spot lamps etc. Having seen a GSX1400 and a BMW with decent LEDs, I thought I'd get some decent alloy framed ones. I want stuff that's bright and as I have an HID headlight, the colour should be around 6000k. My bike has the lower fairing, so the mounting options are limited. I am not worried about the lighting ability of them as such, just want to be seen.

Trawling EBay, I found a set of LEDs with this seller: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2Pcs-10W-8-Cree-LED-Work-Light-Spot-Beam-Fog-Lamp-Car-Jeep-Motorcycle-Truck-/230981198065?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35c78d60f1&vxp=mtr

The specs include toughened glass, die-cast alloy body, water and dust proof (IP67) and 750 - 1000 lumens. Made in China, I know, but worth a chance and they look to be very well made. The seller has good feedback, and they arrived fast.

I mounted them today to the lower fork legs in the bolt holes for the reflectors. I have blue loctited them in and used stainless bolts (the lamp fittings are stainless). I have put an aftermarket switch on the bars to turn them off at night to avoid dazzling drivers. I might get creative at some point and make a light sensor so they turn off at dusk.

The lights are very bright and the bike is very conspicuous from the front. The units look well made and are made of alloy with an electrostatically sprayed sain black coating, so they match the fork legs well. I have them wired to the headlight circuit (they draw between them 20W), as I have a separate circuit for the HID light. Current draw is not an issue for me. The only issue could be vibration getting to them, so I may look at making some brackets to go under the mirror mounts, but will keep them on the fork legs for now. (I wouldn't if I travelled gravel roads).

For the price (USD $57.99 and free postage for the pair), they are worth a trial, and I will keep you all posted on how they go.

in my opinion, when your times up, your time is up, and the best way to avoid being hit is to ride defensively.

we`re not all perfect I know that, but if your normal drive lights aren`t enough for cages to see, then it comes down to the individual to try and use intuition on what they`re doing..this may mean driving a bit paranoid, but hey, its ones own life.

I`ve got two leds on mine, one for high beam, and one for low beam. but these are intended for roos and cattle.
one a 300 lumen pointed at the left side of the road on low beam to try and fix the blind spot for animals, and the other, a 600, pointed at the right side for the same purpose. they work very well.

if I was to point the 300 lumen at on coming traffic, it would blind them, as they don`t have a cut ..so watch how you point a 750-1000 unit, as you will piss people off

Yep, pointed low and daytime only. I see riding defensively as including being conspicuous, but will watch for signs they are too bright

Tried them out tonight after a long day converting a friend's CBR600RR into a stunt bike.

They light the road up immediately in front of the bike, so not a spot light, but man are they visible at a distance. The bike looks like the Battlestar Galactica coming down the road (feels like it too after riding a CBR600RR).

We swapped bikes and I got to watch it being ridden and so far so good. Being low they aren't dazzling, but they are certainly bright. I think I will make up a couple of clear plastic lens protectors but otherwise I am very happy with them.

If visibility is your aim, you may consider a headlight modulator on one or more of your lights.
I have included a link to an Australian supplier http://www.safetysolutions.com.au/motorcycle-safety-gear/pathblazer-headlight-modulator
I'm not sure if this is a solution I would consider but "whatever floats your boat"

kewwig wrote:Tried them out tonight after a long day converting a friend's CBR600RR into a stunt bike.

They light the road up immediately in front of the bike, so not a spot light, but man are they visible at a distance. The bike looks like the Battlestar Galactica coming down the road (feels like it too after riding a CBR600RR).

We swapped bikes and I got to watch it being ridden and so far so good. Being low they aren't dazzling, but they are certainly bright. I think I will make up a couple of clear plastic lens protectors but otherwise I am very happy with them.

You wouldn't want them as spot lights if you want them on all the time.
Where did you mount them into the threaded reflector holes?

OK, here's an update. Those LEDs are too big and heavy for a fork mount and under hard braking the fairing would touch them. I liked the concept though, so bought some 500 lumen spots, (Jaycar at http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=SL3916&keywords=Ip68+led&form=KEYWORD ) which are alloy cased, very well made, 6000K and equal in output to about a 35W Halogen (with a lot less current draw).

I mounted them to the top caliper bolt using a spare pair of lower fairing brackets suitably modified. They are very solid there, and being a spot, illuminate the road quite well. During the day they are VERY visible, so this is what I will stick with: