My blog of a Jetmax 250

[WirralGhostHunter]

I have just come back from a ride, only about 20 km and the headlight glass was hot. I just wish I had felt the glass after a ride with the standard halogens fitted. I might be a bit paranoid on this but I don't want them to blow or damage the lens. The higher wattage halogens are heaps better showing a whiter light and further beam. Cheers to All

Hey ethron, next time I do a night ride I will see what the temp on the lens is like and get back to you

[WirralGhostHunter]

It was dry and warm today, I wanted to take my cruiser out but it was my turn to wait in for a delivery
Well this was the time to fit my new eye level stop/tail light to my scoot.
All pretty easy, rear box off, tupperware off, connect and route cable, put everything back together. I'm pretty pleased with the results
Next job on the agenda - LED Running Lights - stay tuned!

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[bikerdoc]

The original 35/35W halogen bulbs also make the polycarbonate lenses a little warm to the touch when the headlights are switched on. There is likely little difference in the heat intensity between the manufacturers supplied stock 35/35W & the 55/60W that are usually installed with most vehicles, that said though, one does have to pay attention to the stock headlight wiring as I mentioned in my Jetmax related thread. My advice would be to periodically check on the headlight plugs for signs of melting due to heat. I wanted to swap the headlight wiring harnesses for new ones after swapping the standard 35/35W for 80/100W (which were drawing to much for the stock wiring), but CFMoto only sell the harnesses complete with the headlights. The headlights also contain the plastic fairing parts. So when I ordered the harnesses I got a spare pair of headlights just to get the headlight wiring.

In terms of the park lights, I also swapped them for some LED's which do the job and are certainly better than stock. I wanted to actually have a pair or set of LED's up front that I could use for daytime riding, without having to have the headlights switched on. Unfortunately the cost to buy the single LED 5W was way more than I was willing to pay and there's no guarantee that they'd provide much more light. I occasionally only ride with the LED's upfront, but usually resort to having the HID's on, which are so much brighter.

As for the rear and the setting of the tail-light/stop-light being set quite low, there is an alternative as I found out, without having to spend a whole lot of money. I just recently purchased a new ADLO 2012 model topbox (www.adlo.net) that integrates a LED stop light into the top section of the top box. I've wired that into the stop-light wiring and it works real nice. ADLO have a couple of other models that incorporate the LED stop-light also e.g. models "2013" & "929" which are about 42L versus the "2012" 37L. ADLO go by the name BESTEM overseas, so it might be worth shopping round, as the prices for the BESTEM are still way cheaper than many other top box brands in overseas markets.

[bikerdoc]

It was dry and warm today, I wanted to take my cruiser out but it was my turn to wait in for a delivery
Well this was the time to fit my new eye level stop/tail light to my scoot.
All pretty easy, rear box off, tupperware off, connect and route cable, put everything back together. I'm pretty pleased with the results
Next job on the agenda - LED Running Lights - stay tuned!

job_done.jpg

Good install with I'm sure will be effective. I'd made mention that there is a brand that manufactures some nice top boxes without the exorbitant costs often associated with some of the better branded top boxes (ie. GIVI). ADLO is one such brand, although they market globally as BESTEM, which maybe another company that just buys ADLO boxes and re-badges ADLO's or has the BESTEM name added ex-ADLO. As for cold weather riding with the Jetmax, snow hasn't stopped me from riding, and pleasantly with the handlebar muffs in place you will likely find there is a stream of warm air that ascends up from the front tupperware (radiator) and out through the plastic handlebar covers directly near the handgrips. With handlebar muffs on you will find that they combined with warm flow of air are really comfortable. The handlebar muffs also keep out the rain too. In the winters here in -4'C I'm often riding wearing leather fingerless gloves on with no ill effect.
Those small single LED's I considered buying and drilling out some holes either to the side or at the bottom of the headlights and installing there to give a nice manufactured look, but never got round to it. Curious to see how you might get on with the install and fitment of your LED's.

[WirralGhostHunter]

As for the rear and the setting of the tail-light/stop-light being set quite low, there is an alternative as I found out, without having to spend a whole lot of money. I just recently purchased a new ADLO 2012 model topbox (www.adlo.net) that integrates a LED stop light into the top section of the top box. I've wired that into the stop-light wiring and it works real nice. ADLO have a couple of other models that incorporate the LED stop-light also e.g. models "2013" & "929" which are about 42L versus the "2012" 37L. ADLO go by the name BESTEM overseas, so it might be worth shopping round, as the prices for the BESTEM are still way cheaper than many other top box brands in overseas markets.

I wish I would have gone for one of these, it would have saved me a lot of faffing about.

[WirralGhostHunter]

LED running lights installed and working - time 2.5 hours (including tea breaks and bacon butty).
All pretty straight forward, tupperware off only on the right side and I was able to tap into the wiring and fit everything.
Final photo shows them switched on, doesn't look much, but remember the stock side lights are also on and they are not visible.
In the flesh they are really bright, I cant wait to try them out tonight. Lets see if I get any more "sorry mate, I didn't see you" excuses now.
Ride Safe

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[ethron]

LED running lights installed and working - time 2.5 hours (including tea breaks and bacon butty).
All pretty straight forward, tupperware off only on the right side and I was able to tap into the wiring and fit everything.
Final photo shows them switched on, doesn't look much, but remember the stock side lights are also on and they are not visible.
In the flesh they are really bright, I cant wait to try them out tonight. Lets see if I get any more "sorry mate, I didn't see you" excuses now.
Ride Safe
Hi WirralGhostHunter, What a great job on the running lights. The spot you chose is perfect and probably the only place as the piece going across the very bottom under the headlights is too narrow and is not flat. Did you put clips on the plastic edge to screw into?. How many watts are the little LEDs?. I'm sure going to do something the same because, as you say, the stock side lights are weaker than a torch globe. I was going to look for T10 LED wedge globes to replace these stock side lights but they said not to place them near halogens as the heat will shorten the life. Just attached a couple of ideas from wishlist. Cheers led 2.jpgled 3.jpgled 4 posi lock.jpgled 5.jpgled.jpg My wish list which I may use. Ha..Not sure why message says to post this reply it has to be at least 5 characters. I'll try again.

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[ethron]

Good install with I'm sure will be effective. I'd made mention that there is a brand that manufactures some nice top boxes without the exorbitant costs often associated with some of the better branded top boxes (ie. GIVI). ADLO is one such brand, although they market globally as BESTEM, which maybe another company that just buys ADLO boxes and re-badges ADLO's or has the BESTEM name added ex-ADLO. As for cold weather riding with the Jetmax, snow hasn't stopped me from riding, and pleasantly with the handlebar muffs in place you will likely find there is a stream of warm air that ascends up from the front tupperware (radiator) and out through the plastic handlebar covers directly near the handgrips. With handlebar muffs on you will find that they combined with warm flow of air are really comfortable. The handlebar muffs also keep out the rain too. In the winters here in -4'C I'm often riding wearing leather fingerless gloves on with no ill effect.
Those small single LED's I considered buying and drilling out some holes either to the side or at the bottom of the headlights and installing there to give a nice manufactured look, but never got round to it. Curious to see how you might get on with the install and fitment of your LED's.

Hi Bikerdoc, Thanks for the info on the 55watt halogens. I'll take what you said on board. I agree with you on the integrated ALDO boxes but hasn't WirralGhostHunter done a great job on his box. I have seen on the web flexible LED strips with dual density (stop/tail) in the center and amber array at either end. I'll definitely do something to improve the running lights as WGH has done. Just wondering if you get very windy days and how it pushes you around on the Jet Max ?. I seem to get some white knuckle rides in strong gusty winds and I suppose the higher screen and the rear box isn't helping. Cheers :)

[bikerdoc]

Yep indeed WGH has done a fine job of adding the extra LEDs on the rear end ;)
Ethron if you can find either ADLO or BESTEM top boxes where you are check for the models that have the integrated stop/tail light. There are a few other Chinese boxes available abroad but depending on who is doing the importing the "brand" names often vary. A search on ebay and craigslist or similar may very well turn up some of the cheaper than Givi branded top boxes. I know Shad top boxes are out there and having seen a number of models in person in NZ can recall at least one model with an integrated stop/tail light - not the cheapest though, roughly half the cost of a comparable Givi branded box, but double most good quality Chinese boxes IMHO.

Can't say that I have noticed much buffeting with cross winds, but then perhaps that would vary based on wind velocity, tyre pressures, tyres themselves, riders weight, bike weight, top box, and bike ergonomics etc. I run larger than standard tyres, have fitted a seat cushion of sorts so consequently sit about 3cm higher, I weigh 95kg, stand 182-183cm tall, carry a lot gear under the seat (tools which I tend to use for others, air compressor, and other odds & ends). All this would tend to make the bike behave differently.

[WirralGhostHunter]

A picture is indeed worth a thousand words
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