Ram Ball and Farkle Bar

[cmoresky]

G'day riders, hope you can help me on my mod. I spend too much time removing/securing items at the end of a travel day.

I'm considering one Ram ball on each side of the bars and then make or buy a farkle bar to spread out some of the removable accessories.

I'm trying to farkle my new '15 and looking for secure ball mount points for supporting a farklebar type quick remove rack. (carries more weight then single item)
1) I'd like to hear your success with mirror stem mount ball vs. bar mount vs. clutch purch mount, vs. other mount.
2) Is anyone using a farklebar or home made version? I'm thinking of a power box on a bar and using Anderson Powerpole quick power disconnect (because its what I have)
3) Do I need a third mount point for stability of the bar?

My accessories:
GPS, phone, Spot, EZpass, other things I want to remove and tuck into hotel/luggage.

Thanks!

Jeff / Cmoresky
in MA
2015 ST
2009 Vstrom
2015 Zong RX3

 

[MoFarkle]

I use two of these... http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-367U

 

[barkingllizard]

now, why on earth have I never come across this set-up before...

have I been living in a cave or riding too much.....

 

[klunsford]

My question is, where do I get one of those covers for a 2014 S10? That looks awesome.

 

[Cycledude]

now, why on earth have I never come across this set-up before...

have I been living in a cave or riding too much.....

I was considering ordering one of those but got worried it might not work for me , haven't seen it listed to fit the Tenere so ordered the handlebar clamp design Ram mount instead, works fine but blocks gauges vision slightly and the GPS makes access to the key switch not so handy.

 

[fredz43]

now, why on earth have I never come across this set-up before...

Because you haven't been paying attention???? ;D

 

[spinalator]

Looks great, good set up!

 

[OX-34]

I made one up out of about 10 cents worth of aluminium angle. 3 RAM balls and doesn't block central vision:

 

[spinalator]

Ox I think you can land planes with your lighting setup! I like the bar, very functional

 

[cmoresky]

Yes!! That's a great bar!! OX what are those lamps and mounts ??!!?? That's next for me tossing around HID v. LED


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OX-34]

Yes!! That's a great bar!! OX what are those lamps and mounts ??!!?? That's next for me tossing around HID v. LED


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My current lamps are:

On one switch triggered by the high beam wire 2x 3400Lm SPOTS and 2x 34300Lm spread from an Australian electronics and gizmo store like Radio Shack or something

( http://www.jaycar.com.au/Outdoors-%26-Auto-Products/Outdoor-Portable-Lighting/12VDC-%26-Battery-Lighting/3486-Lumen-IP68-Solid-LED-Spot-Light/p/SL3919 )

The two up high are on custom mounts, though that sounds like a fancy term. It is just some scrap aluminium plate that I cut into triangles and fitted to the sides of the screen uprights:



The two lights out wide are just on articulated 22mm brackets:
http://www.motorcycleadventure.com.au/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=103_129&product_id=2658




Under the chin are 4x Twisted Throttle Denali D1s on one switch, triggered by the high beam wire.

My mounting for the Denalis is onto the OEM bar with 2x marine canopy mounts. The four screw together.
http://www.roadtechmarine.com.au/-/Marine-General/Shade-Control-Accessories/Biminis/Canopy-Tube-Coupling-Clamps---Black-Suits-22mm-Tube/p/MBC030



Previously I ran HIDs so this picture looks almost the same:



That bike was written off when my mate was riding and was hit by a car...



My take on the LED vs HID decision is that if you are entering the market now, only buy LED.
It seems just a few years ago we gained access to small enough and light enough HIDs to mount to bikes. That opened up the night for many riders. Here's my BMW K1200R sporting $700 (!!!) lights in about 2007.



But since then LEDs have become better and better, freely available, cheaper and in various shapes and sizes. I believe the number one advantage of LED is that they are instantly on. There is no warm-up period, so in mixed country roads with light traffic you can be on and of the spots every time a car passes and have access to every available lumen. To be fair, the later HIDs powered to 100% within just a second or so (unlike those on the BMW above that took at least 20 seconds to reach full power). HIDs don't like to be turned on and off and on and off. That was my rationale for having two separate switches - to separate the HIDs from the LEDs - so I could choose to use one light type or the other or both, depending on my need at the time.

LEDs famously last 50,000 hours and have lots of light output for little electrical load.

I tried high power LEDs inside my bike headlights, but was unimpressed with the shape and spread of the light pattern - light was blasted everywhere, but was not uniform. They will get better, and will be standard on bikes soon enough.

The Tenere is a great bike for HID inside the headlights even just to save a few sparks for more LEDs. The kit you buy has to have the critically correct dimensions to get a controlled light pattern output. Most just blast light out everywhere. With its shutter system for the high and low beam the HIDs don't get cycled when in use, just on and off with the key. I may try a HID kit one day, but multiple failures seem common in aftermarket kits. They will get better, too.