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Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:01 am
by V4 TRV
I'm conscious now as the winter evenings draw in that the PCX might benefit from some additional lighting.
I'm thinking of a small LED running lights or something like that.

Has anyone tried this?

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:32 am
by gn2
I think the front lighting is adequate as is, but as with all bikes the rear would benefit from the addition of a fog light.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:54 am
by maddiedog
I've considered adding a strip of LEDs down the bottom-middle of the bike so that there is a white glow under my bike. I'm going to get my rims powdercoated white first though, assuming I can find somewhere that will do it at a reasonable cost (the local shop wanted over $500 for powdercoat :roll: ).

Any 12v kit for a car should work fine, just wire it up the same way you'd wire accessory plugs or heated grips. ;)

Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:07 pm
by Alibally
gn2 wrote:I think the front lighting is adequate as is, but as with all bikes the rear would benefit from the addition of a fog light.
I've often thought about that. Some of the red led lamps are quite small but bright nowadays. I might look into that.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 4:14 pm
by Urbanian
Those LEDs are amazing for increasing visibility. Saw a bike a few weeks ago with two strips of LEDs running down the fronts of his fairing. Wasn’t much of an addition, but he was lit like a Christmas tree! Saw him a quarter of a mile away; not because his lights were bright, but because he stood out from the rows of others’ headlights.

I’ve already talked to my mechanic about supplementing with running lights. This is the time of year when you need maximum visibility. Hope to add some lighting soon.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 5:17 pm
by maddiedog
Urbanian, if you want to go the DIY route, these are SUPER cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Strip-Flexible-Li ... y_e_text_y

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 6:03 pm
by you you
Urbanian wrote:
I’ve already talked to my mechanic about supplementing with running lights. This is the time of year when you need maximum visibility. Hope to add some lighting soon.
I can see my bike perfectly in the garage...

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:41 pm
by gn2
Enhanced visibility is good up to a point, which is that the drivers who are most likely to wipe you out will probably not be looking at you...

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:34 pm
by Urbanian
maddiedog wrote:Urbanian, if you want to go the DIY route, these are SUPER cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Strip-Flexible-Li ... y_e_text_y
I’m not afraid of DIY, I built the apartment we live in with my very own bare hands (except I did wear gloves a lot too). But having a great scooter mechanic “on retainer” is a small luxury I happily pay for. You should have seen his eyes light up when I suggested adding LEDs. He wants to add a strobe feature to my brake light too.

The best feature of well-placed LEDs is that they illuminate the bike, not just provide more bright spots in the night. You could see the color of the fairing on the lit bike I saw. You knew it was a bike, not just a car with a headlight out.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:39 pm
by Keebler Dwarf
I've been warned to avoid extra lighting as supposedly it plays havoc with the electrical system. Is that true?

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:35 am
by you you
Keebler Dwarf wrote:I've been warned to avoid extra lighting as supposedly it plays havoc with the electrical system. Is that true?

No

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 5:29 am
by gn2
Keebler Dwarf wrote:I've been warned to avoid extra lighting as supposedly it plays havoc with the electrical system. Is that true?
Yes.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:39 am
by V4 TRV
Keebler Dwarf wrote:I've been warned to avoid extra lighting as supposedly it plays havoc with the electrical system. Is that true?
Depends who wires it :lol:

Heres an option

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:50 am
by you you
They need as many lights as possible if they are going to park in the middle of the road

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:23 pm
by maddiedog
Keebler Dwarf wrote:I've been warned to avoid extra lighting as supposedly it plays havoc with the electrical system. Is that true?
No more than an accessory plug or heated grips would, probably even lesser so if you use LEDs.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:19 pm
by Urbanian
I’m satisfied with the stock headlights for road illumination. If I add lights it will be for BIKE illumination. I want everyone to see ME!

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:01 pm
by gn2
Urbanian wrote:I want everyone to see ME!
You need to dress like Bootsie Collins.
That'll get you noticed.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:44 pm
by V4 TRV
2x5W LEDs ordered.

watch this space 8)

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:55 pm
by figurehead71
I think adding extra lights just makes your bike look too bling and cheap personally!

If you have a top box, add reflective strips to it, make sure you have reflective clothing, let the cages light you up like a christmas tree rather than lighting your bike up like one I say.

Re: Anyone added any supplementary lighting?

Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:17 pm
by V4 TRV
figurehead71 wrote:I think adding extra lights just makes your bike look too bling and cheap personally!

If you have a top box, add reflective strips to it, make sure you have reflective clothing, let the cages light you up like a christmas tree rather than lighting your bike up like one I say.
It isnt to make it look like an Electra Glide. :roll:

Reflective strips arent a lot of use until someone lights them up. I am wanting to enhance the front visual impact to make me seen better to the vehicles doing the usual pulling out from the side road scenario and also when I am filtering.

It isn't for show - this is a 2 grand scooter after all :lol: