My Baja designs SQUADRON LED light install

[stevepsd]

I just completed my SaddleSore 1000, leaving at night to avoid the traffic so I put these lights to the test. They are INCREDIBLE in their range, intensity and beam pattern. When using them with my low beams, I have them set to around 40% via the dimmer. It fills the low beam pattern nicely and I wold say almost double the range of the stock lights, all without blinding on-coming traffic.

When on flip them on to full intensity, the night is not melted away but is blasted into OBLIVION! This is not an exaggeration, as I am not the type to hype up whatever is new - engineer/analyst background you know. These lights are really that good. Since I had them on for a good 12 hours straight (except for gas stops) I can confirm that my mounting of them within a few mm of the plastic headlight surround using the OEM fog light mounting location causes no issues with the headlight surround melting, plus it gives a great beam pattern (with a slight tweak of the light mounts).

If you ride at night, you really should try them, because you will be impressed.

 

[baja designs]

I just completed my SaddleSore 1000, leaving at night to avoid the traffic so I put these lights to the test. They are INCREDIBLE in their range, intensity and beam pattern. When using them with my low beams, I have them set to around 40% via the dimmer. It fills the low beam pattern nicely and I wold say almost double the range of the stock lights, all without blinding on-coming traffic.

When on flip them on to full intensity, the night is not melted away but is blasted into OBLIVION! This is not an exaggeration, as I am not the type to hype up whatever is new - engineer/analyst background you know. These lights are really that good. Since I had them on for a good 12 hours straight (except for gas stops) I can confirm that my mounting of them within a few mm of the plastic headlight surround using the OEM fog light mounting location causes no issues with the headlight surround melting, plus it gives a great beam pattern (with a slight tweak of the light mounts).

If you ride at night, you really should try them, because you will be impressed.

Glad to see your enjoying them steve
Thanks for the support. We'd love to see some pics of the whole bike with them
Thanks
Mike
BD

 

[~TABASCO~]

I AGREE Steve !

These things are awesome ! I was in the back woods off road, in Arkansas a few weeks ago pretty late at night.... I'm GLAD I had a set !!! ???

 

[Tremor38]

Hey
They are pretty plug and play, very basic skills to complete, we have a ton of people that buy these and the install is no problem for them.
Also we have extremely knowledgeable tech support guys just a phone call away happy to help.
If you have any questions please feel free to pm me or give me a call
Thanks
Mike
BD
760 560 2252
ext 101

With all due respect, I have a set of Squadrons on my bike and I wouldn't have any other because they really throw the light and are very well-built; however, a dimmer unit with just bare wire ends and a relay harness setup to go straight to the battery and use high beams to energize the coil is pretty far from 'plug-n-play.' There is room for improvement in that respect...particularly with a relay harness that is designed with the dimmer unit in mind and instructions that encompass more options for those with a non-electical background. Take the dimmer unit out of the equation and yes, I would call that 'plug-n-play.' 8)

 

[stevepsd]

With all due respect, I have a set of Squadrons on my bike and I wouldn't have any other because they really throw the light and are very well-built; however, a dimmer unit with just bare wire ends and a relay harness setup to go straight to the battery and use high beams to energize the coil is pretty far from 'plug-n-play.' There is room for improvement in that respect...particularly with a relay harness that is designed with the dimmer unit in mind and instructions that encompass more options for those with a non-electical background. Take the dimmer unit out the equation and yes, I would call that 'plug-n-play.' 8)

Agree completely.

I did not want to make a big deal out of this when I said they were not really plug-n-play, but they are not.

This is a generic kit, not designed specifically for the ST, so...... you do need some basic electrical skills, schematic reading ability and be able to put connectors on wires. And this is probably what most people who buy Baja Designs stuff can do anyway. It is not rocket science, but does take some skill to do correctly.

Even if you don't know how to put this together, there are lots of people on the Forum that will give you a hand. Just do not expect to simply plug them in.

 

[Bigbore4]

First, thanks to Stevepsd for his work. I noodled out my own WD from my switched power strip and got everything installed, all based on the sketch and photo's you posted.

The bad news is my dimmer module is not working. Chased down a new battery for the fob to make sure, that wasn't it. I only have lights when I hit the high beams and the bypass or whatever they call it picks up. This tells me my wiring is good.

Really frustrated, a bit obsessive about my wiring, everything is clean sweet and heat shrinked, I really don't want to deal with a bad dimmer module. Email sent to Baja, we shall see.

The good news is anyone that has not installed this yet, you can squeeze the module in under the triangular cover in front of the instrument display, right side of the bike. Convenient hole for the wires and everything.

 

[~TABASCO~]

First, thanks to Stevepsd for his work. I noodled out my own WD from my switched power strip and got everything installed, all based on the sketch and photo's you posted.

The bad news is my dimmer module is not working. Chased down a new battery for the fob to make sure, that wasn't it. I only have lights when I hit the high beams and the bypass or whatever they call it picks up. This tells me my wiring is good.

Really frustrated, a bit obsessive about my wiring, everything is clean sweet and heat shrinked, I really don't want to deal with a bad dimmer module. Email sent to Baja, we shall see.

The good news is anyone that has not installed this yet, you can squeeze the module in under the triangular cover in front of the instrument display, right side of the bike. Convenient hole for the wires and everything.

You say you just installed HID in your headlights? And your using the BAJA dimmer? More than likely the HID is cooking the "controller" pwv on the BAJA hard ware board. The 'noise' from the HID headlights will cook the dimmer box. I've gone through all of this on my bike. If you would like more info just contact me.

 

[Tremor38]

You say you just installed HID in your headlights? And your using the BAJA dimmer? More than likely the HID is cooking the "controller" pwv on the BAJA hard ware board. The 'noise' from the HID headlights will cook the dimmer box. I've gone through all of this on my bike. If you would like more info just contact me.

+1. Move the dimmer module away from your headlights and cross your you fingers in hopes that it still might work.

 

[Bigbore4]

Now that there would have been some handy information in the instructions.

I'll pull it down and move it as far as I can given the wire lengths. If that solves it I can rebuild the harness. Dang that was a sweet unused out of the way spot for that box!

Thanks for thanks tips, hope it aint fried.

 

[stevepsd]

If EMI is the cause, there are a couple of things you can do.....and I had to do on my Tiger with DDM HID's that played havoc with my CANBUS instrument cluster.....make a Faraday cage.

I ended up wrapping all of the HID wiring in aluminum tape (the self stick kind you can buy for duct work). That worked for me on my Tiger1050 as the HID wiring was close to the instrument cluster and but the main HID ballasts were far enough away.

You could also wrap the Baja Designs dimmer in aluminum tape and its associated wiring.

Just keep it simple, and don't leave any gaps. You can then cover it in tape, shrink wrap, etc....Pretty easy and simple to try to see if it works.

 

[Bigbore4]

If I wrapped the dimmer assy would it then not work?

My display seems OK on a very short test, Maybe 15 or 20 minutes total run time in the garage.

As soon as I a) get some more free time and b) feel like braving the high heat in the garage I will have a run at getting it as far from the HID stuff as possible and see what happens.

 

[stevepsd]

If I wrapped the dimmer assy would it then not work?

My display seems OK on a very short test, Maybe 15 or 20 minutes total run time in the garage.

As soon as I a) get some more free time and b) feel like braving the high heat in the garage I will have a run at getting it as far from the HID stuff as possible and see what happens.

The display on the ST is not a CANBUS, so it should be ok..the problem was on my Tiger1050.

With the dimmer wrapped in aluminum, the remote might still work as it is a lower frequency (probably somewhere around 300Mhz) and not as easily blocked as the high frequency switching 'noise' coming from the HID's.

 

[Bigbore4]

Ya know come to think of it I never tried em without starting the bike and the subsequent automatic turn on of the headlights. I will try them with key on, not started and that should confirm if I trashed the module or not. Then I can figure out some shielding.

 

[stevepsd]

And you have to use the on/off button on the remote to turn on the dimmer module the very first time it is powered on. Found this out the hard way when I turned them on, and no lights....started checking for voltages...and remembered about the remote. Turn it on once and it's all set.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Just some useful info, mine worked great in the shop and checking everything out.. I was pleased. The first five minutes everything worked still and was great... After a ten minute ride one of the lights where flickering and then the remote would not turn them off or on. I pulled out the PWM and the side was all melted out... Long story short I ended up making my bar mount on/off switch. My choices where to make a simple on/off switch or take out the HID head lamps.... Check the BAJA PWM, if you see a melted bubble on the side the box is toast... In my home work I found that this is not a "Baja" issue, its just that the noise off HID and PWM's is like oil and vinegar... they don't play well with each other AT ALL......

 

[Darzuk]

Has anyone mounted these lights with the Yamaha crash bars that come under the headlights? I tried the mounting position suggested here but it seems they would be a obscured by the crash bar. I'm looking for suggestions on position and what type of clamp you used.

 

[Bigbore4]

And you have to use the on/off button on the remote to turn on the dimmer module the very first time it is powered on. Found this out the hard way when I turned them on, and no lights....started checking for voltages...and remembered about the remote. Turn it on once and it's all set.

Yup, remembered that

Just some useful info, mine worked great in the shop and checking everything out.. I was pleased. The first five minutes everything worked still and was great... After a ten minute ride one of the lights where flickering and then the remote would not turn them off or on. I pulled out the PWM and the side was all melted out... Long story short I ended up making my bar mount on/off switch. My choices where to make a simple on/off switch or take out the HID head lamps.... Check the BAJA PWM, if you see a melted bubble on the side the box is toast... In my home work I found that this is not a "Baja" issue, its just that the noise off HID and PWM's is like oil and vinegar... they don't play well with each other AT ALL......

I am in contact with Baja support and he has told me repeatedly the HID should not be the issue. I tend to agree with you (and others) now that I think it through, the box needs a radio signal, it is managing the lights with PWM. The HID's are ferocious noisy.

I am going to double check the wiring, and inspect the box as you suggest, and try them before I start up and headlights off. Baja volunteered to send a box or fob, I asked him to Next Day both and I will rerun either failed components or the stuff he sent. We'll see.

 

[Darzuk]

I just want to say thanks to Stevespd for his wiring diagram and pics. I'm not great at wiring and my wiring is nowhere as pretty as yours but it worked right from the get go! Dimmer on low beam and full power on high just as advertised. Now I just need to find a decent looking and functional mounting bracket. Thanks again.

 

[stevepsd]

I just want to say thanks to Stevespd for his wiring diagram and pics. I'm not great at wiring and my wiring is nowhere as pretty as yours but it worked right from the get go! Dimmer on low beam and full power on high just as advertised. Now I just need to find a decent looking and functional mounting bracket. Thanks again.

How about these Techmount clamps, offered in 7/8", 1" & 1-1/8" for $50 from our friends at TwistedThrottle?

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/4214/714/

 

[Tremor38]

How about these Techmount clamps, offered in 7/8", 1" & 1-1/8" for $50 from our friends at TwistedThrottle?

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/4214/714/

I vote we just change your forum name to 'answer man,' cause you definitely got 'em! ::008::