GS-Riders International

The Fernblau kit for the R 12 GS comes complete with the lights, relays, cables, connectors, an Autoswitch, and two mounting brackets. This version of the kit costs Euro 131 / US$ 175 / S$ 270. The bracket is designed by Fernblau as a fit for the R 12 GS. The Autoswitch is added at choice for cost price. All other items included in the box are part of a Hella FF50 light set. Other constellations are available, such as using cheaper Taiwanese lights, or without the Autoswitch.

The Hella FF50 lights are known as one of the best performing smaller sized lights. I chose two fog lights. Pencil beams or even a mixed set-up are available. The lights work with (included) H7 bulbs.

The Fernblau bracket is made from massive 3 mm black powder coated aircraft aluminium.



The Fernblau brackets add about Euro 35 to the price of the Hellas. To my opinion it is worth the extra money.



Not much left to see from the mounting clamp



and also not from the bracket



The oval shape picks up the shape of the main lights. These lights are one of the few which do match very well with the GS, almost like factory accessories.



There was no manual included for the installation of the brackets. Mounting is so obvious and easy, I did not need a manual.

6 Months Update and Opinion

Fernblau brackets: Solid. Unobtrusive. Good.

FF50: They are brighter than the main light, and give more light to the road's side. Actually I would not need the main light anymore. That beam is not much visible when the FF50 are on.

Autoswitch: I found there is no point. It means extra cabling, and what's wrong with a switch, I thought. I am running the FF50 via a handlebar switch from Louis part no. 10032918 and relays, triggered from the wire for the parking light. I don't mind the extra switch on the handle bar.

The brackets are not sold alone.

Shipping of the Fernblau kit to the US (e.g. Colorado) costs with no insurance US$ 19, with insurance US$ 47.

All lights on vs. turn signal brightness

Quoted from "Anonymous"

Peter
a. Did you have to remove the tank to run the wirings?
b. Why did you tapped off the parking light wire for the trigger ? Is it the only way ?
c. I want to do the same..but which wire do I tap off on the parking light wires - the ones from the canbus or the one on that is earth ?

a. No
b. If you use a relays (and you should), you need a trigger voltage. You may use anything which has switched power. The parking light is easily accessible. But you could as well use the main lights, or the rear light, or switched power from the ignition switch.
c. Two options:

1. Tap the relays trigger via switch into the parking light's yellow wire, and use a ground for the other relays trigger connector
   
2. Use both wires from the parking light.

85 & 86 = relays trigger
30 = + from the battery, 87 = lights

My chosen relays location. Relays made water resistant with heat shrink tube:




PS: My apologies to you, I had to disable posting for unregistered. It was my mistake.

Quoted from "ghostrider1964"

Peter I have the Adventure and was wondering how these lghs compare to the lights on the adventure. My auxilary lights do not overpower the main lights by any means just kinda illuminate the lower holes from the mains...Living in deer country, I would like more lighting... :yes:

The FF50 are a lot brighter than the BMW lights, and they have wider illumination. But if I lived in a deer country I would go for the real thing, the Hella Xenon Micro HID.

The small and light FF40