Clearwater Lights’ new Valkyrie auxiliary motorbike lights pack a surprising 5,500 lumens into a sturdy aluminum housing that’s simply 3 inches in diameter and weighs solely 14 ounces. That’s extra compact than different standard Clearwater Lights fashions (e.g., the 6,000-lumen Erica is 3.73 inches in diameter and 20 ounces).
There are two Valkyrie fashions. The Valkyrie with five-spot LEDs is designed for long-range visibility. The Valkyrie Twin combines three-spot LEDs to light up the street far forward, with two fog LEDs to light up the street straight in entrance of the bike, in conjunction with the street, and in corners.
The spot LEDs venture a mixed 8-degree/15-degree round pencil beam. The fog LEDs venture a 60-degree wide-angle beam. Notice that the fog optics are directionalso Valkyrie Duals have to be mounted with fog LEDs positioned on the backside and oriented parallel to the bottom.
I needed a compact auxiliary mild for my 2025 BMW F 900 XR to extend conspicuity throughout daylight. I additionally needed the flexibility to show night time into day, as I’ve grown accustomed to with Clearwater Ericas on two earlier BMWs.
Valkyries use Clearwater Lights’ proprietary CANopener system to combine seamlessly with BMW’s electrical system, with no tapping or splicing wanted. Lights are managed utilizing the bike’s OEM switchgear.
On the XR, the CANopener module engages with the bike through the Lean Angle Sensor beneath the seat. I unplugged the manufacturing unit harness and plugged within the CANopener, then plugged the BMW manufacturing unit harness again into the CANopener, which has a pass-through inbuilt.
The engine guard bars that I added to my XR supplied a handy place to mount the lights utilizing equipped {hardware}. Then I related the lights and routed the varied wires and cables neatly to keep away from contact with suspension, steering, and elements that get scorching. Lastly, I hooked up the facility wires to the battery. The set up wasn’t tough, though I took my time getting acquainted with a brand new bike and making certain every part was safe and tidy.
Valkyries function adjustable brightness in 10% increments, utilizing the XR’s “surprise wheel” controller. I set mine to twenty% when the inventory lights are on low beams to boost conspicuity throughout the day and enhance lighting with out blinding oncoming visitors after darkish. On excessive beams, I set them to 100% to mild up the night time. Adjusting these settings is straightforward.
How do the XR’s OEM lights examine to Valkyries Duals? I waited for darkish and rode a loop of my favourite darkish, rural again roads. To start, I used solely inventory lighting (with Valkyrie Duals turned off) and made psychological notes on visibility down the street, to the perimeters, and in corners. After I returned to the identical begin level, I switched on the Valkyrie Twin lights by holding the flip sign cancel change in for 2 seconds, which toggles them between On and Off. The development from OEM low beams alone (which I discover fairly good for a motorbike) to OEM lights with Valkyrie Duals added at 20% output is outstanding, each lengthy vary and to the perimeters. When utilizing excessive beams with Valkyrie Duals set at 100%, the advance over inventory lighting is astounding.
I repeated this take a look at on the identical darkish roads with the Valkyrie five-spot LED mannequin and located a equally monumental enchancment over inventory lighting. The five-spot mannequin has longer attain and nonetheless lights up corners fairly properly. The Duals solid a wider unfold up shut and to the perimeters and nonetheless have good attain.
I selected the five-spot Valkyrie for the down-the-road focus and the flexibleness to mount the lights (with their non-directional optics) wherever it’s handy. Simply resolve what you need lights to perform for the place and the way you trip.
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Clearwater Lights are precision manufactured within the USA. Full Valkyrie kits vary from $649 to $814, relying on bike mannequin and mounting choices.
