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PIAA Hgwy Lights--install issue

4K views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  phil323 
#1 ·
My dealer ordered a PIAA Highway Lights set and the accompanying kit for my new Adventure. The bar that came with the kit doesn't fit the 2012, but the parts catalog indicated that it does. So, the dealer hasn't been able to install them. Taking initiative, I contacted the PIAA rep by email explaining the dilemma. He copied me on an email that he sent around to his people stating not sure how to help this customer, and then asking if the customer has engine guards maybe offer L brackets to mount his lights.

I do have the OEM engine guards that came with the Adventure. They have not had the vibration problem that others have experienced.

Any suggestions for mounting the lights? Looks like the rep is leaning toward an engine guard mount solution. Thoughts?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Personally I would rather fab up a mount somewhere than attached them to the engine guards. I have an 08 and it does not really have a vibration issue, but if you reach down and grab the engine guard at speed I still think it vibrates too much that I would not be comfortable mounting PIAA's on them. Now that is just me. On the other side of the coin, look at all the shaking Harley's with lights that don't burn out from the teeth rattling vibes on those bikes...
 
#4 ·
SW Motech ( Twisted Throttle ) has a very nice set of light mounts that bolt to the upper body work. Couldn't be happier with mine, fit is perfect and they are easy to install. Completely reversible ( if you don't drill a hole to hide the wires.)

 
#5 ·
SW Motech ( Twisted Throttle ) has a very nice set of light mounts that bolt to the upper body work. Couldn't be happier with mine, fit is perfect and they are easy to install. Completely reversible ( if you don't drill a hole to hide the wires.
Realshelby, if you get a chance can you take a close-up picture of the mounting and where you put the toggle switch? Thanks.

The lights look awesome.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Any suggestions for mounting the lights? Looks like the rep is leaning toward an engine guard mount solution. Thoughts?

Thanks!
My thoughts are, don't bother with them.

They will provide you with some extra illumination; not only for you to see with, but for other drivers to see you.

However, they will eventually break. Either from the "never escaping" vibrations that occur during normal riding, and added vibrations while riding rough roads, and more importantly WHEN you drop your bike.

I had one set that I mounted to a custom light bar that I built. The light bar held up, but the PIAA lights did not. Two separate incidents; I first broke the left one, (hit a deer and went down), then broke the right one, (cold tires, cold pavement, took a turn too "hot", and went down. My fault.)

The second set were mounted INSIDE 4" diameter steel well casing sections(!), that I welded to my crashbars. They still didn't hold up.

I got tired of buying them, and the "cool look" that they exuded wore off. I don't use any driving lights anymore.

Save your money, and the meager electrical output of your bike for more important gear.

That's my opinion and thoughts.

Here is a smashed PIAA driving light that was mounted to a SW-Motech crashbar. This was the result of hitting a deer.


The right light broke 10 days later when I laid the bike down.

Here I am cutting the well casing housings off of my crashbars in the spring of 2010.


In 2012? One very lean machine with not a lot of extras and can withstand the rough New England roads. And, some of Canada too!




B.L.
 
#11 ·
PIAA Lights

I bought some mounting brackets from my dealer made by Warn Industries. I mounted them to my OEM engine guard and they are perfect imho. The lights are 510 lights from PIAA and the mounting brackets were about 25.00 for the pair in a shiny black finish. I believe they are actually made for ATV's but they fit the OEM engine guard perfectly. Wish I had a picture to show u.
Wife has the camera on vacation. Nothing bulky to mount and u can mount them just about anywhere on your engine guard. Good luck.
 
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