Installing Driving Lights on Rebel 500
These are inexpensive ($21.99/pair; eBay seller “auto-top”) 3 inch driving lights that do not have any type of beam cutoff so it can blind drivers even if aimed very low. Each light has six LEDs. What I have learned so far: using window tint film on the upper part of the lens (3 LEDs are visible) greatly helps the blinding-drivers problem. The glass lens does not get hot. Turn signal visors might help, too.
Negatives: 1) Non-existent beam cutoff (aiming low and using window tint film helps) ….. 2) Cannot be run as running lights so you have to use a separate switch and just use as additional driving lights. Honda motorcycles turn off the running light each time the turn signal is used, and sometimes this would cause the light to flicker continuously.
EBay item was “Pair 3″ Round LED Work Light Pods Spot Driving Lamp Blue DRL Offroad 4WD ATV UTV”
Note: If LED lights have “Work” or “Off-road” in the description, there is good chance that have non-existent beam cutoff and will blind on-coming drivers.
Size: 3inch ….. LED Power: 30 watts (box said 15 watts) ….. 1800 lumens (box said 3,000 lumens) ….. Beam type: 30° Spot
I put mine in the top bolt of the Rebel radiator (using the stock M6 Rebel radiator bolt). Due to being hard to aim, I wanted these lights to be located high; a bonus is that the supplied wiring reaches the headlight bucket without having to add any wire to it.
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The supplied brackets need to be drilled out using a 3/8 inch drill bit (1/2 inch is too big).
Once you drill the 3/8” hole, use the same bit to enlarge the hole so it fits the stock M6 Rebel radiator bolt.
The stock M6 Rebel radiator bolt has a raised shoulder and is too short unless you drill out the driving light brackets.
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Note: My lights could not be connected as running lights, so the following section does not apply:
Do not connect the two driving lights together!
Connect the left light to the left Rebel running light (striped wire, ground is green wire).
Connect the right light to the right Rebel running light (striped wire, ground is green wire).
This is because Honda motorcycles turn off the running light when the turn signal is operating.
Honda is one of the few motorcycles to turn the running light off when the turn signals are on. They have been doing it since the mid-1970’s. This draws more attention to the turn signal, especially when the motorcycle has additional running lights. It greatly enhances the effect (conspicuity) when you add additional turn signals or running lights – since the running light located a few inches away from the TS going off draws your attention to the flashing turn signal. When I commuted on a 1981 Honda CM400C years ago (had added lights), I used to smile at the Audis that had just came out with that feature – since my antique bike already had it.
The first connector (light blue shell) on the right side of the headlight bucket is for the right turn signal/running light. The wiring is running = striped, ground = green, turn signal = blue.
The first connector (orange shell) on the left side of the headlight bucket is for the left turn signal/running light. The wiring is running = orange/white striped, ground = green, turn signal = orange (wiring diagram says light blue).
Rebel500 