torch
Well-known member
I frequently find myself riding along dark unlit roads and highways. Sometimes I need to stop and get something out of the luggage -- rain gear, heated vest, gloves etc. -- which means either looking for an intersection with a street lamp or holding a flashlight between my teeth.
Yesterday I was in the RV section of Crappy Tire and came across a possible solution. Billed as a "hinge light" they are actually designed to fit on a cupboard door euro hinge. Battery operated with an integral pin switch to turn them off when the lid is closed, they came in a pack of 4 and install with either screws or 3M tape, both included. I chose the tape.
The top of the lid near the latches was my chosen location for the panniers -- aligning nicely with the case interior to depress the pin switch. I verified the pin switch function by putting my cell phone camera on self-timer and closing the lid. The light went out.
I fitted a third to my Givi trunk. That took a bit more trial and error. There was no place that really worked in the lid itself, which would have been my preference. However, it does work at the top of the trunk body, with the caveat that I have the Givi brake light kit installed and the light is mounted to the added plastic wire housing that comes with that kit. The pin switch is depressed by the lip of the lid.
Time will tell if they stand up to motorcycle use and vibration. I may find them lying in the bottom of the case with a dead battery after a few miles of vibration. But they were cheap (CDN$16.00) and easy enough to be worth a try. Here's the package in case you want to try this at home:
Yesterday I was in the RV section of Crappy Tire and came across a possible solution. Billed as a "hinge light" they are actually designed to fit on a cupboard door euro hinge. Battery operated with an integral pin switch to turn them off when the lid is closed, they came in a pack of 4 and install with either screws or 3M tape, both included. I chose the tape.
The top of the lid near the latches was my chosen location for the panniers -- aligning nicely with the case interior to depress the pin switch. I verified the pin switch function by putting my cell phone camera on self-timer and closing the lid. The light went out.
I fitted a third to my Givi trunk. That took a bit more trial and error. There was no place that really worked in the lid itself, which would have been my preference. However, it does work at the top of the trunk body, with the caveat that I have the Givi brake light kit installed and the light is mounted to the added plastic wire housing that comes with that kit. The pin switch is depressed by the lip of the lid.
Time will tell if they stand up to motorcycle use and vibration. I may find them lying in the bottom of the case with a dead battery after a few miles of vibration. But they were cheap (CDN$16.00) and easy enough to be worth a try. Here's the package in case you want to try this at home:
Last edited:
