Installing Lightbar

[roadhawg]

would like to hear from anyone that has installed aftermarket light bar.
is it difficult to install? splice wires, or plug in?
thanks for any help/advice!

[mr500]

I put one on few years back. Cobra brand. Was not hard at all. Adjusting the dman thing was the hard part for me lol.


I highly recommend using a relay. I came off the hot from my headlight for the trigger so the LB would come on with my headlights. Worked great. You can get relays anywhere. I just bought 6 of them W/ a wired connector off ebay for cheap. I don't need 6 but I have them when I need them lol


Relays are your friend!!!!!!!

[BudMan]

As already mentioned you should definitely use a relay.
If you want it to come on with the head light than use that to trigger it.

Power source connects to 30
Ground to 85
Trigger to 86
Load to 87

I attached a picture of a relay in case you need it.

[hammer]

I totally agree the relay is the way to go. I prefer to trigger the relay from the running light wire. It also comes on with ignition but if you lose your headlight power for any reason, you still have the driving lights. Good choice for me as recently I have been having intermittent headlight out problems. (Probably related to stator/rectifier issues.)

I also intercepted the power wire at the light bar and ran it to a simple switch on the handlebar. That way I can run without them if I need to. Mine are higher wattage and I don't need the extra power drain if I am in traffic. If I stick with this bike I will likely go to LED in the driving lights too.

[MAS Tequila]

Get Chuckster's lights, they install using 2 of the windshield bracket bolts on each side.

They arrive with the relay and everything needed to install them correctly.

The instructions are easy to follow.

And they're priced right.

[ldhthept]

Chucksters lights also easier to adjust once installed.

[VulcanE]

Like everyone else said, use a relay. Mine is the Cobra brand, and it wasn't hard to install, but after a few times of removing it (I have to, to remove my fairing), I made longer wires to it so I could just remove the 2 mounting bolts under the triple tree, and rotate it forward and lay it on my front fender with a towel to protect the fender.

[radco]

I also use a relay on mine! I wired it to shut off when the high beam comes on ! In some states that is the law!I use my old broken Honda light bar I also mounted my spots on my crash bars with P clamps and that give a nice triangle light pattern

[ray2]

Have the Kaw brand light bar. Had to reuse the rubber gromets from the stock turn signals on the new light bar and plug the wires into the aux plugins in the head light housing. they are only on when using low beam. Do not know if 1600 have aux hook up in head light.

[Zuniga]

Good day,
Rainy day so I started early before any of the games would start, installed a new light bar made by Cobra $223.27 Very simple installation, didn’t add a relay but I’ll follow everyone’s suggestion and put one at a later time. There is a accessory terminal in the headlight housing where I powered them up. The two lower side air deflectors had to be removed, but I left the brackets, thinking of installing something else later on.

[yoda]

I would echo that Chucksters is a simple and uncluttered setup. I wired mine to be PA compliant for inspection, which means the relay is triggered by the headlamp low beam, and goes off with high beam. I also have a switch in the power circuit so I can turn them off if desired. i don't use that function very often, as I like to be seen, as well as to see.

[Navigator]

Agree on the relay. I bought the Cobras before I even knew Chucksters was selling them. They are beautiful quality and easy to install but the lights slave off of the headlight wire, a goofy set up. I should have installed a relay and the new owner will be doing so.