Motorcycle Light Bars: Everything You Need to Know
Motorcyclists love their chosen mode of transportation because it is an efficient, cost-effective, and most of all, fun way to get around. But motorcyclists and motorists alike know that the biggest drawback of motorcycles is the safety concerns that surround this mode of transportation. Motorcycles are exposed to the elements and they put riders in an extremely vulnerable position that leaves their lives at the will of the other drivers on the road. For this reason, motorcyclists are constantly looking for ways to improve their safety on the road and make themselves more visible to other drivers.
LED motorcycle light bars are an accessory that is becoming an increasingly popular addition to bikes and cruisers across the world. These light bars come in different configurations and have different purposes, and they can range from driving light bars for motorcycles to a light bar motorcycle headlight configuration, to rear light bars for motorcycles. Depending on the type of light bar and its mounting position, LED motorcycle light bars can serve to either help the motorcyclist see the road more effectively, help other motorists to see the motorcycle itself more clearly, or both. In this comprehensive guide, we will inform you about the different options available when it comes to motorcycle light bars, how you can mount light bars on your motorcycle, and how to choose a light bar based on your specific needs. Read on for more!
Types of Motorcycle Light Bars
As you begin to shop for light bars for your motorcycle, you will quickly become overwhelmed with the number of options available. Motorcycle light bars are available in various different powers, configurations, and functionalities. Plus, LED lighting for motorcycles does not stop at just light bars. There are light strips, LED replacements for existing bulb lights on the bike, and much more. In this section, we will run down the major types of LED light bars that are available, and outline their primary functions as well as some details to consider when purchasing.
Headlights
Headlights are the most common type of LED light bar that you will see on the road. LED light bars that are designed for use as headlights can either replace your current bulb headlamps or be used as supplementary lighting on the road. The superior brightness of LED’s coupled with their amazing power efficiency makes them a great headlight option. You can double the brightness of your current motorcycle headlights by using an LED light bar instead and actually save on the amount of power they draw from the battery.
When shopping for LED light bars that can be used as headlights, you will notice that they have various options for beam patterns. Typically, these include spotlight, floodlight, and combination patterns. Each beam pattern has pros and cons that should be considered when choosing a light bar.
Floodlight beam patterns are great for illuminating wide swaths of the road at a short distance. If your current headlights are spotlights, you could consider supplementing them with an added LED light bar that boasts a floodlight beam pattern. This way, you can illuminate both far away areas (spotlight) as well as the areas of the road that are on either side of your motorcycle, a short distance ahead. A floodlight/spotlight combination is great for driving on country roads at night, where you will want to illuminate a far distance ahead because of your high travel speed, as well as the sides of the road so you can see potential obstacles such as deer.
Spotlight beam patterns are more common on motorcycles than other vehicles because they tend to be driven on-road at high speeds. Because spotlights illuminate far away objects and roadways, they are ideal for this kind of driving. Your current spotlight motorcycle headlights could be upgraded to brighter and more efficient LED bulbs, or you could supplement or replace them entirely with a new LED light bar motorcycle headlight. Regardless of the specific configuration you choose, a spotlight-style headlight is generally a great choice for motorcyclists.
Combination style headlights offer both spotlight and floodlight type of lighting. Light bars that offer combination beams are a great driving light bar for motorcycles. You really cannot go wrong this style of headlight beam – just be sure to choose a good-quality manufacturer and a mounting position that does not obstruct or interfere with any other components of the motorcycle.
Rear Light Bars for Motorcycles
Another major use for LED light bars on motorcycles is to use them for brake lights and combination lights that include brake and turn signal lights. Many of the accidents involving motorcyclists occur when they are rear-ended by vehicles that were too close behind or not adequately alerted to the fact that the motorcycle was slowing down. By installing an ultra-bright LED light bar that is specifically designed as a brake light or combination light on the rear of your bike, you are making an upgrade that has the potential to save your life down the road.
Light bars for the rear of motorcycles come in a variety of configurations. Most of these light bars max out at around 18 inches of length and are mounted horizontally behind the motorcycle’s seat. Some of them function purely as an ultra-bright, noticeable brake light, while others feature a brake light in the center and turn signals on either side of the light bar.
A great benefit of using LED light bars as signal lights is that unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs utilize a number of individual small bulbs to produce light. This means that many rear light bars for motorcycles feature signal patterns when the light is illuminated, particularly for turn signal lights. Signal patterns refer to lights that light up in a successive pattern, rather than merely flashing. For example, a right turn signal LED light might light up from left to right, creating a ‘wave’ effect, but still flashing as well. This feature not only adds style and sophistication to your motorcycle, but it also provides you with a more noticeable signal light, thus making your ride much safer!
Other Types of LED Lights for Motorcycles
Not all LED lights for motorcycles are mounted on the front or rear of the bike. Other types of lights, such as auxiliary and accent lighting, can be found virtually anywhere on a motorcycle. LEDs are quickly becoming the preferred choice for accent and auxiliary lighting on motorcycles because of their long lifespan, brightness, and low power consumption.
When it comes to auxiliary lighting, it is hard to beat a light bar mounted on a swivel. Such light bars can be utilized as both an auxiliary headlight for nighttime driving, as well as an offroad style or accessory light that is capable of lighting up a campsite or workspace. When mounted correctly, you could even swivel such a light bar to illuminate the bike itself while you work on it.
Accent lighting is generally considered to be strictly aesthetic. However, when it comes to motorcycle accent lighting, it can also function to make the bike more visible on the road. Accent lighting can be mounted virtually anywhere on a motorcycle, and when it comes to LED accent lighting, usually comes in the form of light strips rather than light bars. These flexible strips are highly energy efficient and come in a variety of colors. They look great almost anywhere but are especially popular when mounted around the frame and under the tank of the motorcycle. Another popular configuration for LED accent lights on motorcycles is to mount a strip around the perimeter of the underbelly of the bike, which produces a “street glow” effect. Your motorcycle can look like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie during nighttime driving! Make sure to mount a switch for your LED accent lights so you don’t use unnecessary battery power during daylight hours.
How To Mount Motorcycle Light Bars
So, you’ve read this article and you are feeling confident in choosing a great light bar set up for your motorcycle. Perhaps you have chosen a light bar motorcycle headlight or a rear light bar for motorcycles. Whatever the case, you will need to figure out a way to mount your new light bar. There are some important considerations to make when you are considering how and where to mount your new motorcycle light bar, and this section will provide you with some great advice for doing so.
Size Matters
The first thing to do when buying a new light bar for your motorcycle is to break out the ruler. Just because a light bar technically fits on your bike does not mean that it will look good or provide the function you desire. Be sure to consider the dimensions of the light bar you are purchasing and envision the exact mounting position on your bike. In addition to aesthetics, the size of your light bar is important for providing the function you desire. If mounted improperly, or if the light bar is too large, you could throw off the balance of your bike.
Mounting Hardware and Location
You’ve chosen your new LED light bar and measured to be sure it fits in the location you want to put it. Now, you must figure out how exactly to mount your new lights. Most light bars include mounting brackets and hardware. Typically, for larger light bars, this hardware includes two brackets that may or may not have an adjustable configuration. If they are not sliding brackets, be sure that the area you wish to mount the light bar has the correct spacing to mount both brackets. Always follow the instructions that come with the light bar and torque your mounting hardware as specified by the manufacturer to prevent unwanted flying light bar accidents!
Wiring, Power, and Switches
Once your light bar is mounted in place, it is time to configure the wiring and add switches if necessary. For auxiliary and accent lighting, switches that are easily accessible by the rider are always recommended. Most LED light bars can be wired directly to the motorcycle’s 12v power source, and because of their high rate of efficiency, no additional modifications are necessary. However, for configurations that include a large amount of auxiliary and accent lighting, rather than ones that simply replace headlights or rear lights, an upgraded power source might be necessary. Heavy-duty motorcycle batteries capable of handling larger energy draws are available for exactly this purpose.
Now that you have read this article, you should be completely prepared to purchase a new LED light bar configuration for your beloved motorcycle. Not only can these lights make your bike more stylish, but they can also provide added safety benefits that could save your life while on the road! Make sure to check out LED Equipped’s full line of motorcycle light bars. We offer great quality brands at affordable prices. Thanks so much for reading!
Sources:
https://gazettereview.com/2016/06/best-led-light-bars-motorcycles/
https://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-driving-lights/
http://lightbarland.com/led-light-bars-for-motorcycles/
http://lightbarreport.com/led-light-bars-for-motorcycles/