Lunasee Wheel Lights Installed

[3dogs]

I just installed the Lunasee Wheel lights on my 05. Here are some picts.

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Here are all the parts that come with the lighting kit. Lots of aluminum brackets to make it fit multiple bikes. Light pods (4 of them) can be seen at lower right.

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Right rear side, pod mounted on the brake strut using a 90 deg bracket that came with the kit. Light reflecting tape is already installed.

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Left rear side, pod mounted on top of the drive shaft housing--90 deg bracket used.

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Pod mounted for front wheel, right side --left side similar. Used bracket bent in a "U" shape. Used the threaded hole that mounts the fender. Pod uses a removable clip between it and the bracket for easy removal for tire changes (clip comes with the kit).

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Lighting controller mounted under the seat.

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Close up of right rear lighted up. Tape keeps glowing after about 3 minutes with the light turned off.

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Both wheels lighted up. The tape is brighter than it show in the photograph. Can't mistake what a driver sees for anything but a motorcycle.

There was much discussion about the cost of the kit ($110+ depending on where purchases). Is it worth it? It depends on how one looks at the value of increased visibility at night. Many of us use flashing brake lights, or headlight modulators in the hopes that they will make us more visible--I guess if you never get rear ended, or have some asshole turn left in front of you then the answer is yes, they work--and are worth the money. The Lunasee side lights are the same--If no one every hits me from the side at night--then they were worth the money??? They are better than the crap reflectors that came with the bike!

One side effect of installing the lights is that they can make you appear younger than you actually are--I'm 62 and if I ride to the local Saturday bike night--all the kids (anyone under 40) will think I'm another kid with cool wheel lights--that's got to be worth something??

 

[pista]

I like it. This is on my short list after suspension upgrades.

 

[bwv]

You should change your handle to TRON

Nice lights

I wonder if us DIY type folks can just buy the tape?

 

[gixxerjasen]

The tape is hard to come by. I tried the stuff off of amazon and it doesn't work around the wheel very well nor did it stick to the wheel very well. I've found a guy who makes these for bicycles and also sells them in 17" rim size. Just need to order them. I've got the lights already, just need to stop being lazy. Maybe this will motivate me.

 

[3dogs]

The tape is hard to come by. I tried the stuff off of amazon and it doesn't work around the wheel very well nor did it stick to the wheel very well. I've found a guy who makes these for bicycles and also sells them in 17" rim size. Just need to order them. I've got the lights already, just need to stop being lazy. Maybe this will motivate me.

The tape can be purchased directly from Lunasee for $25 (enough for both wheels with some left over for repairs). They also make a tape applicator for $4 that applies the tape evenly around the wheel. The tape is easy to apply and it does go around the wheel without wrinkles. I tried a short piece on my wheel to see how well it stuck (takes several hours to cure) and once applied it won't come off without some effort---don't expect it to come of in regular use, or even washing the bike. Lunasee says that they will have other colors available later this year--maybe red or blue??

 

[gixxerjasen]

Nice! That's half the price of the other place, though they do carry blue, but it's not presently in stock.

 

[graler]

Ok that stuff looks really cool. Particularly the video on the lunasee site that shows the system when it is first turned on. It is slick how the light flows after it initially gets juiced. Wondering how it would look if you didn't put a full ring but sections. Slow speed that could look neat - other thoughts alternating colors.

 

[infrared]

Some states in the USA place limits on the colors of lights visible from the front, or rear. Here, red or blue would be illegal, if visible from the front. I can only run two "extra" lights on the front,anyway. It probably depends on the LEO, if you get a ticket or not here, with the wheel illumination. I do like the look, though. Check with the local DMV office, to be sure. I got download .PDF copies from them of the driver's manual, and the supplement covering motorcycles, which makes it easy to Search for specific words.

Cheers,

Infrared