wanna add running lights, need electrical help!

[klimber]

was thinkin about adding running lights to the front of the bike.  it's getting darker up in minnesota and woudl like to be a little more seen!

i've had a couple of close calls not being seen woudl like to help that out

i have the lights but any ideas what electrical to tap in to

was going to maybe add some flush mount orange lights to the chin spoiler

[Turkina]

There's a low voltage circuit you can tap into if you have turn signals with wires (dual signals, bulb has 2 filaments)  I've done that with my bike, so now my turn signals work as running lights as well.  If you want to add additional lights, the lower voltage wire should be the brown one inside the headlight shell and running to the tail light.  That's about all the voltage you need for running lights.

[The Buddha]

The best option I have thought was separate wiring and lights under the headlight, and a switch for it. You pretty much have to use it only running wide open and turn it off atleast 5 miles from your destination. The other option which is what I am leaning towards... is to run a 100 low beam headlight with an inline potentiometer. Set it at 0 starting, and trun it up slowly, and in daytime run it at low settings... when needed you can turn it to the max, else run it at 1/2 or less, and turn it down to 1/2 or so a few miles before your destination. When you turn off the bike turn it also off. The gradual powering up, and running it high only when needed etc will let the bulbs last longer and not kill your charging system.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Turkina]

I haven't had a problem yet with the current draw from the turn signals.  I do plan on installing JeffD's LED tail light to make things more kosher.  The lights do pull something like 16W total from the electrical system, and replacing the tail light will take away 8 or 20 (or is it 2x20?) watts depending on when I'm braking

[powrful1]

Well I have my headlight tilted up a touch higher than it should be.....I can see everything I need, and still decent light with high beams, but there are some light kits I have seen somewhere online...a good search would probably help, if I see em again I will send a link.

[Turkina]

Well I have my headlight tilted up a touch higher than it should be.....I can see everything I need, and still decent light with high beams, but there are some light kits I have seen somewhere online...a good search would probably help, if I see em again I will send a link.

Are we talking auxilliary driving (riding) lights or just more lights so people can see the bike?
hehe, i can just imagine a GS with the two extra headlights to the sides, coming at you like a Harley... then you hear the angry sewing machine noise of the mighty twin cylinder engine

[Rema1000]

Are we talking auxilliary driving (riding) lights or just more lights so people can see the bike?

Sounds like Klimber is thinking of colored lights, which pretty much means low wattage; no need to worry about the charging system.

I commute at sunset and dusk and am not being seen enough, either (not too surprising, with the sun so low). The biggest problem is on city streets, with cars who want to pull out from side streets into my right of way.  I was thinking that what I need is light which gets cast off to the sides more.  I was thinking that a PIAA fog lamp might cast light to the sides better than a driving light?  Anybody tried a fog light?

Another option would be to add a driving light, but angle it a little to the right, since that's usually where the unobservant drivers come from.

[Cire]

Interesting this topic comes up, I have been contemplating adding some lights also to my bike and this is the idea i keep coming back to though i have yet to work out all the logistical info and fitments etc. its still in the idea/research stage.
My idea was to move the turn signals up and mount them to the headlight brackets, similar to how the old Bandit 600 signals are mounted, then at the old mounting point because its a solid bracket install PIAA pencil beam lights (yes i know kinda like a harley look) though the pencil beams would be high intensity and you could angle them any direction ya want.  The main problem I could foresee would be maxing out/ over drawing the charging system, if you ran a switch like Srinath mentioned you probably could do it ... a switch would be easy enough to mount, the next would be all the wiring where to splice etc

[rjsjr]

Kisan makes a module that makes your turn signals operate on low as running lights and adds auto-cancel feature as well.  Quite pricey for what it does, but seems like an elegant solution.  I'm sure you can wire up a circuit yourself with equivalent operation if you have the motivation.  Kisan Signal Minder at CycleGadgets.