My buddy Ernie came up with a really cool way to mount PIAA lights on the Katoom. The brackets are all aluminum so weight is next to nothing. He even made a small bracket to move the stock horn up and back to allow room for the lights. The best part is that the lights are behind the little screen thingy that's under the main headlight and that keeps them out of harms way. The brackets also utilize existing holes in the 950's headlight/instrument bracket so there is no hole drilling required, just bolt it on, hook up the PIAA wire harness and switch and you're all set to go. Unfortunately, I cannot report on the on/off road performance at this time, as it's winter here in Wisconsin. Hopefully, come spring I'll have some real world experience to pass along as well. You can contact Ernie at dakotabeemer@hotmail.com if you have any questions about how he made them. Who knows, if you ask real nice, he might even make you a set. Bracket and lights. Bracket and lights in place just under headlight. Now two shots with everything back on.
Nice work! ...does the screen (or plastic bits around it) affect the beam badly? I was in some serious fog last night, about 4' visibility) and noticed how badly the 950 throws light UP ...it was horrible trying to ride through the fog, even the low beams were shooting up at odd angles. ...I'm thinking some good fog or driving lights are in my near future; I really like your mounting solution if it works well.
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you guys. The Screen and/or plastic has little to no affect on the lights. However, if you aim them really low (to low to be affective IMHO) then the bottom plastic bar of the screen thingy will be somewhat in the beam of light. Clear as mud? Cheers, Randy
Why doing it the hard way? just plug and play Xenon check http://forum.lc8.nl/viewtopic.php?t=436&start=90 Greetz
That is one of the nicest light mounting systems I've seen. Is your contact selling the brackets, or selling the template? I'm also curious to know if the lights at that angle really help much. What wattage are the lights? Thanks for your input, and again, nice job! Goldhelocks
Any photos on the bottom side of the mount? is the fore/aft/vert bolt plates attached to the flat/horz plate welded or bolted? I like your idea since I am running a high front fender and it's out of the way.
Not sure about what Ernie is planning in the way of selling this thing. Send him an e-mail, I'm sure he could help you out. The lights I have are the 35 watt but I guess 55 watt are also available but on back order at the moment.
GREAT NEWS Talked to Ernie last night and he is willing to make/sell the brackets and/or the brackets with lights to any Adventure riders that may be interested. Send him an email, Ernie is a great guy to work with! dakotabeemer@hotmail.com
Thanks for the nice complements Randy. Great pictures. It was a fun project to make and turned out very well if I do say so myself. A buddy of mine got me a great deal on 14 sets of Piaa lights so I guess I'll have to sell the brackets as a way to get rid of the lights. When they're gone they're gone. Reach me at dakotabeemer@hotmail.com Thanks Ernie
That's great... IF you do Dutch! (Was outside Rad's office today and there was a pair of wimmen speaking Dutch. With my limited German, I could pick up the gist of what they were saying. Kewl) What'd it say for us US-ians? M
@ Gumee what they say here is that there are plug and play kits avelable that fits in too your (in Europe ) H7 socket of your headlight, whit no modification at all. so you can use the original headlight whit massive ray of light, and no problems whit opposite trafic greets from the Dutch
Just spoke with Ernie, great guy and he is sending me my light bar. I check online and the lights alone are 120 bucks so this is like getting the bar for free. He is also interested in fabricating other components, give him a jingle. Sailah
Ernie, Email sent.... How about posting; Where are you? What method of payment? Lights are included? - :eek1 Holy cow!! TIA bob
Gummee, one thing to keep in mind on the pictures from across the pond, they do not have the same headlight bezel as we do, a friend ordered the european leadlight assembly and it is a lot better that the one we have inthe US. It cost about $155.00 , then you could add the xenon bulb for the same results. Kieth