parainbow
Chicks dig squeaky pants
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2015
- Location
- MoCo
- Moto(s)
- '16 S1000XR,
'13 Ural Gear Up
- Name
- Paul
- BARF perks
- AMA #: 3203743
With the days getting shorter, and "The Niño" on the horizon, I figured it is time to add some candlepower to my Scrambler. Fitted over 2 weeks ago (I ride every day, mix of 101 commuting and fun rides) and run continuously as a defensive weapon as well.
Pros:
- Creates that desirable "triangle of light" to help drivers more accurately judge my distance and relative speed.
- Definitely gets the attention of drivers (the ones that are paying at least some attention, there are plenty of drivers who would be impervious to helmet-mounted laser cats). I've noticed a lot more mirror glances and aborted lane changes.
- Improved ability to identify road hazards in the dark.
- Compact size doesn't look too conspicuous on a naked bike.
- Low power draw: 5W per lamp.
- Build quality of the lamps, mounts, and wiring is top-shelf.
- Includes 10 degree spot and 40 degree flood lenses.
- Installation is straightforward. I was being my usual anal-retentive self, and finished in less than 2 hours, with a beer refill at the halfway point. A reasonably competent person could easily do it in just over an hour.
Cons:
- Price: $249 for the light kit and $79 for the inverted fork mounts. Still fair for what you are getting (or not getting, as in hit).
- On/off switch seems cheaply done. It's plastic push on/push again for off. There are 2 tiny lights in the switch to indicate whether it's on or off, but they are pretty much useless during the day, especially when I have my tinted visor down. The switch itself is kinda finicky, sometimes I have to push it several times. I personally would prefer the positive feedback of a toggle switch. The switch is aerodynamic and inconspicuous, though.
- The parts list includes two plastic M8 nut covers (for the bolts that attach the lights to the mounts), but they were missing from the kit. I contacted Twisted Throttle customer service, and they said Denali no longer includes those with the kit, but sent me some anyways. Problem solved. I think it's dumb to not include those in a kit of this price, especially when there is a shiny stainless nut on an otherwise blacked out light and mount.
I'm running the 10 degree spots on both sides, with the left pointed parallel to the headlight beam, and the right slightly down and to the right. Claimed illumination is 240' which I would say is in the ballpark. That gives 3 sec (total) of reaction time in the dark at 60 mph.
They are by no means a silver bullet to make you crash-proof. They are, however, a great tool to make your arsenal of riding tactics more effective. One less hole where the layers of Swiss cheese could possibly line up and cause frownie-face emoticons.
Pros:
- Creates that desirable "triangle of light" to help drivers more accurately judge my distance and relative speed.
- Definitely gets the attention of drivers (the ones that are paying at least some attention, there are plenty of drivers who would be impervious to helmet-mounted laser cats). I've noticed a lot more mirror glances and aborted lane changes.
- Improved ability to identify road hazards in the dark.
- Compact size doesn't look too conspicuous on a naked bike.
- Low power draw: 5W per lamp.
- Build quality of the lamps, mounts, and wiring is top-shelf.
- Includes 10 degree spot and 40 degree flood lenses.
- Installation is straightforward. I was being my usual anal-retentive self, and finished in less than 2 hours, with a beer refill at the halfway point. A reasonably competent person could easily do it in just over an hour.
Cons:
- Price: $249 for the light kit and $79 for the inverted fork mounts. Still fair for what you are getting (or not getting, as in hit).
- On/off switch seems cheaply done. It's plastic push on/push again for off. There are 2 tiny lights in the switch to indicate whether it's on or off, but they are pretty much useless during the day, especially when I have my tinted visor down. The switch itself is kinda finicky, sometimes I have to push it several times. I personally would prefer the positive feedback of a toggle switch. The switch is aerodynamic and inconspicuous, though.
- The parts list includes two plastic M8 nut covers (for the bolts that attach the lights to the mounts), but they were missing from the kit. I contacted Twisted Throttle customer service, and they said Denali no longer includes those with the kit, but sent me some anyways. Problem solved. I think it's dumb to not include those in a kit of this price, especially when there is a shiny stainless nut on an otherwise blacked out light and mount.
I'm running the 10 degree spots on both sides, with the left pointed parallel to the headlight beam, and the right slightly down and to the right. Claimed illumination is 240' which I would say is in the ballpark. That gives 3 sec (total) of reaction time in the dark at 60 mph.
They are by no means a silver bullet to make you crash-proof. They are, however, a great tool to make your arsenal of riding tactics more effective. One less hole where the layers of Swiss cheese could possibly line up and cause frownie-face emoticons.
