BMW LED Auxiliary lights

[Grumpy Goat]

Kisan and Piaa used to be big names in the BMW community.
Not sure if Piaa is still around.

PIAA is definitely still around. I knew them back in the day when I was looking for bright bulbs for my cars.

I always have to chuckle since "PIAA" is also the stock market reference for Pakistan International Airlines Corp. Ltd. I know this because they were a mayor sponsor for cricket back in the days when Imran Khan was a star player. Bit of trivia.

[maxredline]

While waiting for back orders on Wunderlich for a handlebar conversion it seems a good time to do something else. That would be driving lights. While I do have a cheap system from a previous bike I don't plan to mess with the canbus system on the RS.
Previous system being,
Skeen controller
https://www.skenelights.com/online-store...-p80222657
Leds
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo...mens/1699/

After some research I settled on a Denali setup. Some issues with availability like most things these days. I tried to buy everything in Canada first, US second then where ever I could find it. Ended up with Lights, Cansmart controller and adaptor bracket from the UK, MaMo light bar from the US.

D3s D3 Fog Light is the brightest street-legal fog light to pass both the SAE (North America) and ECE (European Union) fog light regulations.
The hybrid lens option is both SAE and ECE certified while the maxed-out spot lens is only ECE certified because it is too bright to pass SAE regulations.
http://https://denalielectronics.com/pro...technology
CANsmart controller
http://https://denalielectronics.com/pro...250-series
Machine Art light bar
https://machineartmoto.com/products/ligh...1200-r-rs/
Denali bracket adaptor
http://https://www.dualsportplus.com/Den....10900.htm

Now the waiting game. Anyone know how to track containers...no just kidding.

[Grumpy Goat]

After some research I settled on a Denali setup. Some issues with availability like most things these days. I tried to buy everything in Canada first, US second then where ever I could find it. Ended up with Lights from UK, controller and adaptor from Canada and the light bar from the US.

Can't go wrong with Denali. Just wondering why you could not source the D3s from Revzilla or Twisted Throttle in the US, as opposed to going over the pond which may be more expensive for shipping. Were they out of stock this side?

[Pyrrho]

Two different dealers I spoke with when asked about their opinions re Denali vs Clearwater was that Clearwater was SO much better... but both times without justification. They hadn't used Denali. In my research so far it appears that it's less expensive, brighter, and just as capable with a wider range of available light sizes.

At this point in my bike purchase I'm just holding my nose and trying to get the best I can afford in every category. Bikers are really missing an in-depth head-to-head comparison between the two brands that looks at the whole package -- features, physical component quality, ease of install, price, etc.

[maxredline]

Can't go wrong with Denali. Just wondering why you could not source the D3s from Revzilla or Twisted Throttle in the US, as opposed to going over the pond which may be more expensive for shipping. Were they out of stock this side?

No stock.
It can be surprising at times how little difference shipping is from Europe.

[Grumpy Goat]

Two different dealers I spoke with when asked about their opinions re Denali vs Clearwater was that Clearwater was SO much better... but both times without justification. They hadn't used Denali. In my research so far it appears that it's less expensive, brighter, and just as capable with a wider range of available light sizes.

At this point in my bike purchase I'm just holding my nose and trying to get the best I can afford in every category. Bikers are really missing an in-depth head-to-head comparison between the two brands that looks at the whole package -- features, physical component quality, ease of install, price, etc.

Clearwater was first to market and they delivered a fine product in their aux light systems. Then came Twisted Throttle / Denali Electronics which offered a cheaper alternative in a market that Clearwater already started to dominate. When the time came for me to get some aux lights I looked at Clearwater and Denali and decided to go with Denali largely because of cost. I certainly don't feel that Clearwater are better, cost premium or no.

I have been a repeat customer ever since and will continue with Denali because, aside from the B6 tail aux light, I have not been let down by the product. The after sales service is very good so even when the B6 failed they covered it under warranty without any problem.

There is a GS owner who is also a Denali dealer in the UK with a channel on YouTube (A Bike Thing) and while I don't believe he has comparisons across the whole ranges of the two brands, he at least compared the Clearwater Dixi vs Denali D7 / D4 / D2 in a shootout a year ago. Fair video too.

[Grumpy Goat]

No stock.
It can be surprising at times how little difference shipping is from Europe.

Yes, I have bought stuff from UK before and the shipping (and the cost of the article) was not bad.

[maxredline]

A Bike Thing is where I got the D3 pods
17:20 mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKioaoLubLA&t=1046s

[Pyrrho]

A Bike Thing's videos (he's a Denali dealer and custom installer) got me interested in Denali. He seems to make a convincing case that Denali's emitter/reflector design seems to improve observed brightness and throw, even compared to higher-rated output systems from Clearwater. What he doesn't compare are all the other bits and bobs. I like the small form factor of a set of DMs either under-fairing or down on the front forks, combined with a set of D3s as primary configured for hybrid throw.

Clearwater doesn't seem to offer the same sort of flexibility with lens options and hybrid vs non, and their smallest light is bigger than the D3. I'm leaning towards Denali so far.

[Grumpy Goat]

If so I can’t honestly say I recommend the DR1s I installed in the Tracer, though. Don’t get me wrong, it throws way down the road but the beam is too narrow for my riding use case. I prefer the D2 which has a bit wider pattern, at the cost of down road distance but in a smaller lighter package. The DR1 lights are very heavy for what it is. I will not get rid of them as they still work well … I just prefer something else.

[ESquared]

Thanks for the pics; this helps a lot, although I'd like to see what the handlebar-mounted button looks like.

Here is the button, blends perfectly onto the handlebar controls.

Great thread and lots of options - almost too many! Like the integration aspect of the OEM kit. I'm actually seeing a "kit" online, but no part number for said kit.

https://www.shopbmwmotorcycle.com/collec...-light-kit

I even put it in the cart to see if it would reveal a P/N, but no go. Anyone have a number I could look up to see exactly what's included?

[runnerhiker]

Thanks for the pics; this helps a lot, although I'd like to see what the handlebar-mounted button looks like.

Here is the button, blends perfectly onto the handlebar controls.

Great thread and lots of options - almost too many! Like the integration aspect of the OEM kit. I'm actually seeing a "kit" online, but no part number for said kit.

https://www.shopbmwmotorcycle.com/collec...-light-kit

I even put it in the cart to see if it would reveal a P/N, but no go. Anyone have a number I could look up to see exactly what's included?

Sierra BMW in Reno has been selling BMW genuine parts for.a long time, they should know the details. The kit looks legit. Re BMW parts number: I think this is a "parts bin assembly kit", I don't just mean this one at Sierra BMW, I think this RS kit. I ordered these lights through my BMW dealer in CO and it was a long list of BMW parts number. The mounting brackets were the last parts to arrive, meaning, all the pieces did not come as one kit in one box.

My "kit list" is in an e-mail I need to find. When I find it, I'll send it to you,

Sierra would know, call them.

PS: I sent you an e-mail
PPS: for the rest of the forum, I found the e-mail, it is a long list of parts, all BMW parts, the pdf was relatively low quality so I just forwarded my e-mail to esquared but I don't have a clear view to post here.

[ESquared]

Thanks for the pics; this helps a lot, although I'd like to see what the handlebar-mounted button looks like.

Here is the button, blends perfectly onto the handlebar controls.

Great thread and lots of options - almost too many! Like the integration aspect of the OEM kit. I'm actually seeing a "kit" online, but no part number for said kit.

https://www.shopbmwmotorcycle.com/collec...-light-kit

I even put it in the cart to see if it would reveal a P/N, but no go. Anyone have a number I could look up to see exactly what's included?

Sierra BMW in Reno has been selling BMW genuine parts for.a long time, they should know the details. The kit looks legit. Re BMW parts number: I think this is a "parts bin assembly kit", I don't just mean this one at Sierra BMW, I think this RS kit. I ordered these lights through my BMW dealer in CO and it was a long list of BMW parts number. The mounting brackets were the last parts to arrive, meaning, all the pieces did not come as one kit in one box.

My "kit list" is in an e-mail I need to find. When I find it, I'll send it to you,

Sierra would know, call them.

PS: I sent you an e-mail
PPS: for the rest of the forum, I found the e-mail, it is a long list of parts, all BMW parts, the pdf was relatively low quality so I just forwarded my e-mail to esquared but I don't have a clear view to post here.

Thanks, Ron, got your emails and will stop by Engle's today and see what they have to say. Your explanation of what Sierra is offering makes, sense; they've figured out "their" version of the right box of parts, so it will be interesting to see what the folks here put together.

[Pyrrho]

All I'd want from the OEM aux light kit is the handlebar switch and a way to integrate its use into some functionality for a Clearwater or Denali setup.

[Grumpy Goat]

All I'd want from the OEM aux light kit is the handlebar switch and a way to integrate its use into some functionality for a Clearwater or Denali setup.

No need if you have the CANSmart Controller with the Denali System. Use your existing switches.

[maxredline]

So far the D3's from the UK have arrived. The brackets from the US are in transit and the cansmart and bracket adaptor are back ordered from Canada, 3 weeks minimum I am told.

[Motorhead1977]

All I'd want from the OEM aux light kit is the handlebar switch and a way to integrate its use into some functionality for a Clearwater or Denali setup.

No need if you have the CANSmart Controller with the Denali System. Use your existing switches.

I added a set of Clearwater Darla lights using their kit and everything functions off my factory switches. Installation was quite easy and I'm very pleased.

[Grumpy Goat]

I added a set of Clearwater Darla lights using their kit and everything functions off my factory switches. Installation was quite easy and I'm very pleased.

Sounds like you have the CANOpener in the kit.

[maxredline]

Are the Darla lights street legal?

[Motorhead1977]

GG, yes, the Clearwater kit included the CANOpener. The most difficult part of the install was choosing where to run the wiring.

maxredline, as far as I know they are legal and the annual safety inspection garage I use said they had no issues with them. I'm certain if they're not some helpful LEO ? will be kind enough to let me know.