R3T driving lights and H4 relay - help?

[valkraider]

I have an R3T with the triumph driving lights that have the switch on the handlebar. I am adding an H4 relay for the headlight but I have questions about the auxiliaries.

Do they already have a relay as installed?

If they don't have a relay, will the Eastern Beaver kit with the single auxiliary light lead work or will I need a whole separate relay or the extra lights?

Has someone here already done this and I am reinventing the wheel with this post?

Thanks (in advance!)

I am going to add words to help this post get found in future searches:

Auxiliary lights
Fog lights
Touring
Driving lights
Triumph lights
Lightbar

--
"Officer, I know I was going faster than 55mph, but I wasn't going to be on the road an hour." -Steven Wright

Posted from my iPhone using the "Tapatalk" app.

 

[MountainMan]

I just went through all this angst a couple of months ago. The Triumph foglights have their own relay that comes with th installation kit. No need to hook into another relay for the fogs.

I also have an R3T and called up and discussed the need for a headlight relay with a couple of different reputable dealers, including Bill at Cascade Moto Classics in Hillsboro (the service manager). The unanimous concensus was that the newer bikes have a significantly more robust electrical system and the relay which cuts out the headlights when starting is more than sufficient in isolating and directing the battery to the starter without interference from the headlights or any other part of the electrical system. After these discussion, I decided not to add one of the EB relays.

One of the struggle I have run into on this site is weeding out that information which may not be applicable to my bike - either because of model, or model year. It looks to me like the headlight relay issue may be confined to the pre-2008 bikes.

 

[valkraider]

That's good to know about the accessory lights. I had read that it had a relay - it would be nice to see a wiring diagram on one to verify it...

The point of the light relay (for me anyway) however is more to get more power to a lower wattage bulb. I want brighter light out of the standard wattage bulbs. I don't want to go with higher wattage bulbs for lots of reasons like heat, additional draw on the alternator, etc etc. So I can buy a higher quality bulb at the same wattage and add a relay and increase light output that way.

An added bonus is getting the voltage out of the ignition switch. I agree that it sounds like they beefed up the switch in later years, and admittedly (knock on wood) I have never had an ignition switch fail - even on older bikes (I have owned and ridden three bikes that were 10 years old). Not that it doesn't happen - just that I think on the new R3 bikes it's probably not a huge concern.

I plan on using the H4 plug version that is more "plug and play" so I can remove it easily if needed.

And I can't trust the folks at Cascade Moto Classics as they wouldn't sell me a R3.

Haha - I actually would to have liked to buy from them but I saved $1400 by buying from I-90 in Issaquah. Peninsula in Port Orchard also would deal on a 2010 and offered me a good buy there, I just chose to go with the 2011 fresh out of the crate at I-90.

Cascade in Beaverton just wouldn't budge off MSRP+delivery at all. Heck, they still want $15000 for a 2009 R3T with no add-ons which book values for $12,500!!! Peninsula offered me the 2010 with all the accessories that the 2010 has standard for only $15400, no way I would pay $15k for a 2009. And as of lat weekend the 09 was still sitting there on the showroom floor.

Ahh, I digress...

--
"Officer, I know I was going faster than 55mph, but I wasn't going to be on the road an hour." -Steven Wright

Posted from my iPhone using the "Tapatalk" app.

 

[MountainMan]

valk, you don't need a diagram to inspect the relay on the foglights - just open up the package in the box and it's in the bag as part of the new harness add-on. It plugs directly into the main wiring harness on the bike and the harness-side plug is under the fuel tank. I'm electrically disabled and even I could do it.

I found that riding at night, I had no problems seeing with the stock headlight output. It seemed plenty bright enough to allow me to avoid the deer and other critters out here in the boons- even in the rain. I was both surprised and impressed and, frankly, couldn't figure out what the others (owners of the older bikes) were talking about regarding dim and flickering lights. I look forward to hearing about how well the relay and bulb upgrade works for you. If you find that it pays off, let me know. I hate things electrical, but like to see as well as I possibly can.

I haven't done any buying from Cascade's sales staff. I punched the "Buy It Now" button on eBay from a dealer in south Bay Area and had mine shipped. I bought a new '08 R3T with 9 miles on it, with sales tax and license to Washington, for $13K flat. I looked for months to see if that deal could be beaten and found only a couple that came close. I think I just got lucky. That was in the fall of '09. My bike was bone stock with no accessories, but I found (through a tip on this website) a dealership in Tennessee that was folding it's Triumph tent and got most of what I wanted for a little less than half price. I still have a few goodies to go, but I'm patient for that sort of thing. And I hate paying retail.

I have worked with Bill the Service Manager a few times. He has been really helpful in answering my questions and doesn't give me the usual "got no time for you if you didn't buy from us" crap. They did my first service at 800 miles and I'll probably take it to them for the 10K service. I may have them install a suspension upgrade then. Elizabeth in Parts has also been really helpful, but I only go to her when Pinwall or the 'net fails me.