Lighting Options Can Be Fun!
We'll admit it. Half the fun of riding at night, whether it be on our ATVs or in our Side-by-Sides, is trying out some of the latest and greatest options when it comes to lighting. Sure, every machine usually comes with headlights and tail lights from the factory - and those will do just fine - but the aftermarket is where it's at if you want to stand out in a crowd and add some character to your ride.
Here we check out a few of the latest lighting options that the powersports market has to offer.
If going fast at night is what you enjoy doing, chances are you prefer the extreme brightness and far reach of HID spot and flood lights. These lights are common among desert racers of all types, and they can pierce the night and light up the road like it's noon on the hottest day of the year. These lights typically come with more hardware than other lights (HIDs require a ballast), but the performance is worth the extra installation time and the higher cost.
LED light bars have become all the rage, and you can't walk into an off-road shop or visit an off-road website without being bombarded with LED lightbar choices. There are a number of reputable brands that make a high quality, very bright lightbar - and along with those companies, there are even more China made brands that sell for a lot less money. Usually you get what you pay for, however, so in the world of lightbars, it pays to do some research before you purchase.
LED lightbars come in a variety of sizes - usually ranging from 6" up to 50", and can be single or double row, as well as have a combination of spot and flood LEDs.
Lightbars are very popular with the UTV crowd. They look great, they are easy to mount, and they don't pull a lot of power from the factory charging system.
For the ATV enthusiast, there are plenty of options for adding light to your factory lighting system. Bullet-style beam lights have been popular for a long time, and are usually handle-bar mounted and easy to install. There are also LED light bars and smaller spot lights that are made specifically for the ATV crowd.
LED lighting is popular with the ATV consumers due to the fact that LEDs are easy on the charging system; however, the Halogen lights are still popular among ATV riders.
You can't go anywhere at night in the dunes without seeing lighted whips on just about every vehicle out there. Lighted whips used to consist of a small, colored filament bulb on the end of the whip (or safety flag), but over the years lighted whips have gotten considerably more fun with the LED light craze.
Nowadays, it's possible to have a full LED lighted whip that blinks in different colors, has color chasing patterns, or is simply one very bright color choice. Lighted whips come in varying lengths and thickness, depending on if it's to be used on a quad or a UTV.
Lighted whips are one of the easiest ways to make your machine stand out at night.
Again, the LED lights have made it possible to do some cool stuff with your toys, including adding a great LED brake light strip to give your UTV a very modern, sleek look at night.
The rear facing, red LED brake light tubes are usually high density and durable, and very bright.
These lights are commonly seen on very custom, expensive UTV builds, as they lend an air of luxury to any machine they are installed on.
Who says the grown ups get to have all the fun? Common among the younger riders (and those just young at heart) are motion activated, light-up valve stem caps.
These small LED lights screw right onto your valve stems, and are designed to blink whenever they sense motion. Once your wheels are spinning, the LED lights seem to blend together and give a very unique light pattern to your wheels.
Replacement bulbs and HID headlight kits are quite popular for those who tend to do a lot of night riding. In addition to whatever other extra lights might be installed, the HID replacement kits can put out 6 times the amount of light of factory halogen lights.
There are replacement bulbs and light kits for just about every popular manufacturer out there, and can be a very effective way to give yourself more light at night without spending a ton of money on other lighting accessories.
With the introduction of LED light strips, ground effects are becoming more and more popular within the UTV industry. Using LED light strips of varying lengths and colors, it's easy to install these strips of color underneath fenders or under body panels to give a bright, underglow of color when riding at night.
They are usually self adhesive, and are easily wired into the factory wiring harness. They can be routed to a switch or just hardwired into the ignition to come on anytime the key is on.
The light strips are a very economical way to add some serious customization to your ride at night.
Here we check out a few of the latest lighting options that the powersports market has to offer.
1. HID Lights
If going fast at night is what you enjoy doing, chances are you prefer the extreme brightness and far reach of HID spot and flood lights. These lights are common among desert racers of all types, and they can pierce the night and light up the road like it's noon on the hottest day of the year. These lights typically come with more hardware than other lights (HIDs require a ballast), but the performance is worth the extra installation time and the higher cost.
2. LED Light Bars
LED light bars have become all the rage, and you can't walk into an off-road shop or visit an off-road website without being bombarded with LED lightbar choices. There are a number of reputable brands that make a high quality, very bright lightbar - and along with those companies, there are even more China made brands that sell for a lot less money. Usually you get what you pay for, however, so in the world of lightbars, it pays to do some research before you purchase.
LED lightbars come in a variety of sizes - usually ranging from 6" up to 50", and can be single or double row, as well as have a combination of spot and flood LEDs.
Lightbars are very popular with the UTV crowd. They look great, they are easy to mount, and they don't pull a lot of power from the factory charging system.
3. ATV Spotlights
For the ATV enthusiast, there are plenty of options for adding light to your factory lighting system. Bullet-style beam lights have been popular for a long time, and are usually handle-bar mounted and easy to install. There are also LED light bars and smaller spot lights that are made specifically for the ATV crowd.
LED lighting is popular with the ATV consumers due to the fact that LEDs are easy on the charging system; however, the Halogen lights are still popular among ATV riders.
4. Lighted Whips
You can't go anywhere at night in the dunes without seeing lighted whips on just about every vehicle out there. Lighted whips used to consist of a small, colored filament bulb on the end of the whip (or safety flag), but over the years lighted whips have gotten considerably more fun with the LED light craze.
Nowadays, it's possible to have a full LED lighted whip that blinks in different colors, has color chasing patterns, or is simply one very bright color choice. Lighted whips come in varying lengths and thickness, depending on if it's to be used on a quad or a UTV.
Lighted whips are one of the easiest ways to make your machine stand out at night.
5. LED Brake Light Strips
Again, the LED lights have made it possible to do some cool stuff with your toys, including adding a great LED brake light strip to give your UTV a very modern, sleek look at night.
The rear facing, red LED brake light tubes are usually high density and durable, and very bright.
These lights are commonly seen on very custom, expensive UTV builds, as they lend an air of luxury to any machine they are installed on.
6. LED Valve Stem Lights
Who says the grown ups get to have all the fun? Common among the younger riders (and those just young at heart) are motion activated, light-up valve stem caps.
These small LED lights screw right onto your valve stems, and are designed to blink whenever they sense motion. Once your wheels are spinning, the LED lights seem to blend together and give a very unique light pattern to your wheels.
7. Replacement Bulbs
Replacement bulbs and HID headlight kits are quite popular for those who tend to do a lot of night riding. In addition to whatever other extra lights might be installed, the HID replacement kits can put out 6 times the amount of light of factory halogen lights.
There are replacement bulbs and light kits for just about every popular manufacturer out there, and can be a very effective way to give yourself more light at night without spending a ton of money on other lighting accessories.
8. LED Strip Lights
With the introduction of LED light strips, ground effects are becoming more and more popular within the UTV industry. Using LED light strips of varying lengths and colors, it's easy to install these strips of color underneath fenders or under body panels to give a bright, underglow of color when riding at night.
They are usually self adhesive, and are easily wired into the factory wiring harness. They can be routed to a switch or just hardwired into the ignition to come on anytime the key is on.
The light strips are a very economical way to add some serious customization to your ride at night.
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