What are your recommendations for fog/running lights?

My night time riding has been limited (just bought my first bike earlier this year - 09 GS500-F), but as the days grow shorter my night time riding will increase. I travel a lot on the interstate, and at interstate speeds, the stock headlight just doesn't cut it for me.

Thanks in advance!

I use the Denali fog light kits.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59214.msg677754#msg677754

Those look nice, but may be out of my desired price range (yeah, I'm cheap).

Do you happen to know the beam pattern (fog, flood, spot, pencil)? I've found some on ebay, but can't decide between the 30 degree (spot) and 8 degree (pencil) beam pattern.

The one's I'm considering are:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X10W-Cree-LED-Flood-Pencil-Beam-Work-Driving-Light-Car-Van-Motorcycle-4WD-4X4-/310732180460?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item485914cbec&vxp=mtr

and

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-Cree-LED-10W-Spot-Beam-Work-Light-Off-road-Vehicle-Driving-UTE-Boat-Bike-Jeep-/251305760716?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a82fd97cc&vxp=mtr

I haven't purchased this yet, but the lights from this seller come highly recommended on ADVRider :

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-8/Model-30-LED-off/Detail.bok

I know it is more expensive than the links you provided on eBay, but they are double (?) the light output and have great reviews.

Quote from: 0Bw4n on August 29, 2013, 05:39:24 PM
Those look nice, but may be out of my desired price range (yeah, I'm cheap).

Do you happen to know the beam pattern (fog, flood, spot, pencil)? I've found some on ebay, but can't decide between the 30 degree (spot) and 8 degree (pencil) beam pattern.

8 degree would be too narrow. 30 is narrow. 45 or more is nice.
The Denali come with lenses to change the spread.
They are plug & play. Come with switches, fuses and battery connections AND INSTRUCTIONS!

The really cheap method is to put on a HID kit, those guys cost less than $40 for the conversion these days and new ones only take a couple of seconds to warm up to full brightness.

Bought for my car from these guys: http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Motorcycle-HID-Kits-Lighting

I'll try and find a 45 degree beam pattern (so far, I haven't found any cheap ones), but I may go with one 30 or 8 degree and one 60 degree as suggested on another forum (bamarides).

As for HID conversion - I have considered it, but if I were to do an HID conversion I would want to include a projector. The lens reflector from a standard halogen isn't designed for HID. It will look brighter, but the beam pattern would be all wonky.

I will be upgrading the standard halogen bulb to a Philips extreme +80, hopefully that will help some until I get the aux. lights in.

Go the +100 

Can the generator on a motorcycle run fog lights? I put some on a 4-wheeler and the generator couldn't keep up and eventually killed the battery. I like the idea of the extra light. I'm getting older and my eyes don't work so well at night anymore.

the little LED units draw very low current...

i have similar LED floodlight (2 units) ones in my work truck pantech ... accidentally left them on for 4 days last month while truck was at mechanics... the engine was apart so no chance the batteries got a charge ... the truck still started fine after that amount of time.... 24V system .. but 2 18w incandescent units i used to have in there would drain the batteries in about 36 hours...

Wow, lucky you (as far as the truck holding the charge!)

Back when I had a 4x4 (many moons ago) I accidentally left the fog lights (4 old incandescents - not even halogen) on over the weekend. Monday morning - the battery was dead as a doornail.

All of the lamps I'm looking at draw less than 1 amp, so even if I went with 4 (1 flood, 1 spot, 2 fogs) then I would still be under 4 amps and only 40 watts. LED's are marvelous little things 

The more I think about it, though, the less I think i will go with 4. I'll be mounting these really low (I like the mount point where adidasguy has his), so I'm leaning towards just 1 spot and 1 flood. Since they'll be so low, I'm hoping the flood will act well enough so I won't need fog lights, too.

As for the Philips +100 - wish I knew about that before I ordered the +80. It's already shipped, and I got it off ebay, so no returns because I changed my mind 

theres not a huge difference from the +80 to the +100 ... just a little more 'width' at about 10-15 metres/yards and very slightly better penetration out around 100-150 meters/yards ..

i had a +80 before ... was still happy with it .. just when it died (i dropped it  ) ... the +100 were only a couple $ more so i went with that ..

you wont suffer with the +80 

Quote from: ron freeman on August 30, 2013, 05:56:29 PM
Can the generator on a motorcycle run fog lights? I put some on a 4-wheeler and the generator couldn't keep up and eventually killed the battery. I like the idea of the extra light. I'm getting older and my eyes don't work so well at night anymore.

I think so. I have them on 2 bikes for 2 years now and always run with them on.
We have enough power for accessories like heated grips, GPS, etc.

My next purchase - 2 led lights. Thanks for the links and ideas

Is bolting them to where the reflector is the best way or would you suggest putting them into the air intake under the headlight?

Do not, I repeat NOT mount anything between the fender / wheel and the bottom of the headlight / fairing. One good sized bump and things collide in a brutal fashion......

What a silly question I asked ..... Goes to show " think before you speak" Thanks for the reminder big rich I shall place them where Adidas has em

there are tons of cheap, well built , tough leds on amazon and ebay. spending more than $70 for 3000+ lumens is completely unneeded.

ill +1 the comments about beam with. 30 degree beams work very well for me, even better for offroad excursions. I have 2 light bars that draw 18watts each, for a total of 36, that illuminate everything in front of me for quite a good way.

in the woods, the light is amazing, nothing, not a single leaf escapes it. yesterday in the woods they were lighting up trees and branches enough for other riders to ask about them, at high noon.

What aux. switches are you guys running? What about a a fuse box? I like the CP-8 from easternbeaver and the BlueSea ST Blade (6 circuit). Though, even 6 circuits may be overkill for the GS. So, I'm even condsidering the 3 circuit only fuse box/wiring harness combo from easternbeaver (3CS) http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/Fuseboxes/3_Circuit/3_circuit.html.

Quote from: 0Bw4n on September 02, 2013, 02:45:24 PM
What aux. switches are you guys running? What about a a fuse box? I like the CP-8 from easternbeaver and the BlueSea ST Blade (6 circuit). Though, even 6 circuits may be overkill for the GS. So, I'm even condsidering the 3 circuit only fuse box/wiring harness combo from easternbeaver (3CS) http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/Fuseboxes/3_Circuit/3_circuit.html.

fuse blocks ?
switches ?
extra wiring ?

yuck ! just plumb it to the headlight, if it blows the fuse try one more time. if it blows it again, then do all that other stuff.

you're just keeping the voltage regulator cooler afterall