KrZy8 - Mounting Soltek on lower fork tube?

[dcarver]

I'm leaning towards running the Clearwater Glenda lights on top and got to wondering how to use the old heavy Solteks.

 

If a feller fabbed up some kind of clamp to go around the lower tube, near the axle, to hold the Solteks??

Kind of thinking of a pinch clamp, machined out of aluminum, with some kind of tab to keep the clamp and light from rotating into the tire..

 

Any problems with this scenario?

Other Ideas?

 

[TomInPA]

I think the Solteks would shake themselves apart on the lower forks, especially given your unpaved road access. I also don't think you will miss them once you have the Clearwater Kristas mounted.

 

[FJRay]

Go back to plan A and put them on the truck. That's a lot of unsprung weight you would be adding and I think they would self distruct on your road. you saw what they did to the fairing with the suspension working. Mounting them on the fork tubes puts every bump directly into the light assy.

You could save them for the KZ and by that time you will have lost them and won't care.

 

[Khunajawdge]

I'm leaning towards running the Clearwater Glenda lights on top and got to wondering how to use the old heavy Solteks.

 

Any problems with this scenario?

Other Ideas?

Hi Don 'ol buddy!

Well? here is my suggestion; I have a pair of Hella 550's and SS brackets that were made to mount under my rear view mirror mounts on my '05 FJR. I used them for five years on my '05 FJR with never a problem with vibration and they wroked until I yanked them to sell my bike. Still got 'em.

Here it is; I'll buy your Solteks for my SUV ('06 Nissan X-Terra) as a set of Aux lights, and trade my Hella;s into your price for the used Soltek lights (If the price is right for the SolTeks)?

Pm me if interested in this deleo?

 

[JamesK]

+1 on the unsprung weight and the Solteks self-destructing.

Have you considered upgrading to the Bajadesigns Squadron LED lights? These are wicked bright but being LED are lighter than the Solteks (12oz) so could theoretically remain in the under the mirrors mounting position.

 

[Bustanut joker]

You could save them for the KZ and by that time you will have lost them and won't care.

Suks gettin old eh Carver?

 

[Barabus]

I would mount them to your helmet and you would have light wherever you look. Wish I had time to photoshop it- we'll just image Carver with those big lights stuck to his helmet.

 

[wfooshee]

I've never understood mounting light to the lower fork. If you want to destroy the lights, just save yourself some effort and take a sledge to them on the garage floor. Easier, and more fun.

 

[Norman Hamer]

I've never understood mounting light to the lower fork. If you want to destroy the lights, just save yourself some effort and take a sledge to them on the garage floor. Easier, and more fun.

I've put fork mounted lights on every bike I've owned for years. Usually cheapie wal-mart jobs, mind you. I have high hopes for LED lights on the forks lasting a little longer.

Yeah, they're generally destroyed within a season. But they provide useful light from there (if not the best position) for the near/mid-distance out-to-the-side area I'm most concerned with at night, it typically doesn't take much in the way of specialized mounting hardware, and wire routing's pretty easy down the fork legs.

As long as the lights are cheap enough that you don't mind replacing them. I'm into the cheap (advmonster) LEDs down there, don't think I'd put any HIDs there.

 

[JamesK]

I've never understood mounting light to the lower fork. If you want to destroy the lights, just save yourself some effort and take a sledge to them on the garage floor. Easier, and more fun.

I've put fork mounted lights on every bike I've owned for years. Usually cheapie wal-mart jobs, mind you. I have high hopes for LED lights on the forks lasting a little longer.

Yeah, they're generally destroyed within a season. But they provide useful light from there (if not the best position) for the near/mid-distance out-to-the-side area I'm most concerned with at night, it typically doesn't take much in the way of specialized mounting hardware, and wire routing's pretty easy down the fork legs.

As long as the lights are cheap enough that you don't mind replacing them. I'm into the cheap (advmonster) LEDs down there, don't think I'd put any HIDs there.

+1, the lights (additionally to the say the Solteks up on the mirrors) mounted provide very useful cornering lighting on tight twisty roads at night since they turn with the front wheel. I find that even with as powerful as the Solteks are will often/usually "out run" them at night on tight twisties, forcing me to slow down more than I like

I have had these cheapo 4 LED lights for a couple of years now, so far, so good. I bought my previous set of the earlier generation 3 LED lights from the twit on Advmonster, and after they kept failing (due to poor quality) and following his rather disappointing service/support I have since been buying these directly from the source, and at a better price.

I added a dimmer to the circuit with a full power on HiBeam override so they can double as a daytime running lights.

I also covered the glass lenses with 3M clear film to protect them from braking from stone chips, etc.

These mount nicely directly onto the front fender bolt with no additional brackets required.

 

[mferriter]

I would mount them to your helmet and you would have light wherever you look. Wish I had time to photoshop it- we'll just image Carver with those big lights stuck to his helmet.

I, for one, actually like this idea. Great for putting light just where you want it and for blinding oncoming drivers when you want to. Might be a problem if you get an electrical short while it's raining. 12 volts and a few amps directly into your skull can't hurt too much can it?

Now where'd I put that old helmet and my duct tape?