El Cheapo Light mount

[bowhunter007]

I've done this before with my mountain biking stuff, but didn't feel the lights were bright enough for motorbike trail speeds. I used a leftover hand-pump frame mount, for bicycles. The light: A 3-pk of tactical LED flashlights I picked up at Costco for $19.99...Powered by 3 AAA batteries @ 250 lumins. The important part was hand filing the mating surface of the mount itself, so I got the correct aim point for the beam(exactly where I look). I simply bolted it into threaded insert, where the visor attaches to the helmet. I left extra material so it's easier to adjust up/down with a gloved hand. I have quite a few of these in 100, 150, 200 lumins. The wife & kids play the "use, then lose it" game with flashlights. I carry 2 extra battery packs, and one spare light(carried in a pocket attached to my chest protector). Based on previous experience, I should get 1 hr or so at full power, of continuous use. Not ideal for racing, but for a typical trail ride, fine...I think.
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[Clay]

Off road motorcycle guys are very resourceful!
You lose style points for not using duct tape and zip ties!

 

[bowhunter007]

Off road motorcycle guys are very resourceful!
You lose style points for not using duct tape and zip ties!

Those are being held in reserve, as repair or rebuild ingredients

 

[farmerj]

Nice work!

I've been looking for a similar clamp that would attach to my 1-1/8" handlebars.

Any ideas on that?

 

[modette]

This are NOT cheap, but I would recommend them...they are very high build quality. One guy fabricated some brackets and mounted them to the front of his KTM 300 XCW in a stacked formation. The kit comes with everything you need (minus the backets you might need to make). Even a dimmer so ont he road you can turn them down.

http://clearwaterlights.com/infopg_krista.html

Oh their tactical flashlights are also top notch.

 

[roostafish]

I use a Magicshine light for my helmet. It's $89 from geomangear.com. It puts out 900 lumens and has a separate battery pack, easily attached to your handlebars or slip in a pocket. The light head weighs very little. Much lighter than a GoPro. For the price, you just can't go wrong. I use it for commuting on my bicycle, and on night mt. Bike rides. It will go 3 hours and twenty minutes. On a charge on high. Will go nearly six hours on low.

 

[Nick]

When it gets dark i drink beer.

 

[wence]

Off road motorcycle guys are very resourceful!
You lose style points for not using duct tape and zip ties!

If that is the case Clay, I think I win.
I had three led lensers taped to my helmet with thick silver duct tape.Two torches ( one each side), and a helmet light strapped and taped in the middle.
Worked ok but the light was not good enough to ride quickly as you could only be looking about 10 metres in front( if that).
When stopped you can easily see double that.
I may have been limited by dust as I was following a mate.
Great to strenghten your neck muscles too......NOT.
Cheers and Merry Xmas,
Mark

 

[bowhunter007]

I headed up into timber about 45 min before daylight. It works really well. At roughly 100 ft ahead, the beam is just off center(which bothers me). I have some shim stock, so I'll be able to correct it. My intent with this thing was to be able to see through shadows created by the headlamp(which can hide the odd rock, or wet root). After this mornings test run...very happy. 1 hour 20 min run time at full power, and I hadn't ran out of juice(I turned it off, finally). Total investment...$20 + 1.5 hrs of tinkering