Motolights vs. PIAA

[Nebish]

I want to add additional lighting to the front of the LT.

I like the look of the Motolights with the caliper mounts. For less than 1/2 of the cost of the Motolights, the PIAA 1100's seem to be equivalent. I have not seen a caliper mounting bracket for the PIAA's. If none exists, my second choice is the PIAA lights mounted to the front forks, under the fairing. That mounting position doesn't provide the same kind of separation between the headlight and the additional lighting and I think that the caliper mount approach is preferable because it si mounted much lower.

I have also read about the cheapo units from China-Mart which could presumably be mounted at the calipers or under the fairing, with a little ingenuity.

I would welcome the comments of others as to what would work best. My goal is to be as conspicuous as possible with the smallest lamps possible while keeping the look of the bike as close to stock as possible.

Thanks all.

[messenger13]

I had two sets of MotoLights on my LT, and currently one set on my GT. I love the quality and warranty of their product, as well as the customer care. Second to none.

Having said that, I also had a pair of Walmart cheapos on my LT as well. And a set of NAPA cheapos on my Ninja's forks. It really comes down to what's important to you. Do you like fidgeting with brackets, and getting creative? Do you mind paying for replacement lamps...and at what cost? PIAA replacements lamps are VERY pricey (last I heard).

Sorry for the none-answer...but there's just too many variables. I would suggest that if you decide on just one set of lights, consider the "Raster-Mount MotoLights". I think they make you the most conspicuous of any light I've seen. The wider you make a bike look, the better IMO.


http://mail.bmwlt.net/~messenger13/pics/lights_small.jpg

http://home.alltel.net/paulsey_dsl/messenger13/motolights_3.jpg

[Dick]

Hi, Paul - I like Joe's statement about the wider look being the best approach. I think a tape would show that his Motolights and my PIAA 1100Xs acheive just about the widest look you can provide. I've got Motolights mounted low on the forks, and PIAAs mounted high under the mirrors. Can't go any higher with the PIAAs, cuz the rules say additional lighting shouldn't be mounted higher than the headlight fixture. Hope this adds a leetle to your search for improved lighting for your scoot.

[Nebish]

Thank you to both Dick and Joe. Your responses are both helpful and meaningful. The pictures amply demonstrate your points. Based on your advise, the "farkle factor" is going up.

As I pal of mine told me when he learned of my acquisition of the LT, "the cost of the bike is only the downpayment on the accessories".

[Lonewuff]

Hey Paul,

I have both the PIAA's and Motolights located where you are thinking. Both do different things for my night riding. The PIAA's light up the road and down the road better than the head lights or high beam. The Motolights illuminate the ditches and help me see wild animals better. I would hate to have to settle for one or the other.

I am probably going to look into the Raster Mount while at CCR, just to emulate Joe ;) . Actually I am going for the wider stance also. This gives the bike a true triangle for visibility.

[deputy5211]

I've got the MotoLights on the calipers, and PIAA 1100x under the cowling. Don't forget about HID. . .

[dezrat57]

Hello!
any webblink info for those neat mounts?
thx dave

[grifscoots]

Before Motolights were invented and Piaa's mount's were made, I mounted some Wally World cheapies under the tip over wings. They worked real good. On the way to the first CCR in Broken Bow, my highly priced, supposedly better, super duper aftermarket headlight bulb burnt out. I hardly noticed.

[rspyder]

I have both the Motolights and the PIAA 1100x's. The Motolights have a yellowish light that is similar to the low beam and the PIAA lights have a very white light. I feel the Motolights identify me as a motorcycle and do a very good job of supplementing the low beam by lighting ups the near road in a wider pattern. I leave the Motolights on all the time.

The PIAA lights seem to light up everything on the sides of the road and up ahead, especially the animals. I generally only use the PIAA lights to on dark unlit streets or to supplement the high beam.

[grifscoots]

I generally only use the PIAA lights to on dark unlit streets or to supplement the high beam.

Hey Roger, slave the Piaa's to your high beam. No more fumbling around for that extra switch.

[bmwrubbercow]

I had two sets of MotoLights on my LT, and currently one set on my GT. I love the quality and warranty of their product, as well as the customer care. Second to none.

Having said that, I also had a pair of Walmart cheapos on my LT as well. And a set of NAPA cheapos on my Ninja's forks. It really comes down to what's important to you. Do you like fidgeting with brackets, and getting creative? Do you mind paying for replacement lamps...and at what cost? PIAA replacements lamps are VERY pricey (last I heard).

Sorry for the none-answer...but there's just too many variables. I would suggest that if you decide on just one set of lights, consider the "Raster-Mount MotoLights". I think they make you the most conspicuous of any light I've seen. The wider you make a bike look, the better IMO.


http://mail.bmwlt.net/~messenger13/pics/lights_small.jpg

http://home.alltel.net/paulsey_dsl/messenger13/motolights_3.jpg


Joe, regarding your roaster mounted motolights-----------have you tipped over with them in place? How did they fare? Do the J pegs interfere with them or they each other?

Thanks, Tom

[zaphod]

Joe, regarding your roaster mounted motolights-----------have you tipped over with them in place? How did they fare? Do the J pegs interfere with them or they each other?

Thanks, Tom
If you drop the bike on a flat surface the lights are nicely out of harms way. If you drop the bike and it’s not flat, say on the side of the road near a curb, the situation is much worse. My right Motolight punched through the Tupperware. I switched to fork mounts after that. The folks at Motolight were great. I sent them the old, scuffed up units and they replaced them with refurbished lamp bodies (no charge) on the new brackets I ordered. I did like the wider light triangle with the raster mounts, but the damage caused by a tip over is not worth it.

[Arby60]

I have the PIAA's under the frame, switched; and the Moto Lights on the caliper with amber bulbs wired to low beams.

Ray

[wardenross]

Paul,

Don't know if this will help. The first picture is with stock headlight. The second is with my Motolights on. I'm very impressed with the Motolights.