ATV Illustrated: Product Review
Cyclops Motorsports Helmet-Mounted Nightlight
By Robert Scott
For off-road enthusiasts, the enjoyment of reiding quads doesn't fade away when the sun goes down (and for those of us living in the southwestern US, where the cooler winter months offer prime riding weather, it seems like the sun sets entirely too early). Although many of today's larger utility and sport/utility/ATVs come factory-equipped with multiple headlights, the majority of purely sport ATVs come stock with very limited lighting. Adding to this lighting problem is the fact that headlights on all the sport models are mounted in a fixed location, meaning that the focus of the headlight is not always where the front wheels are pointed. The ability to see in the direction you are traveling is a necessity for riders wishing to spend a significant amount of riding time after dark. Cyclops Motorsports wants to solve that problem, and to that end has developed a helmet-mounted halogen headlight. We got our hands on one of those units and gave it a thorough test run. Does it live up to the company's claims? Let's see!
Kit Contents
The first thing you will notice as you remove the parts from the package is the robust construction of the light and cables. The 35-watt halogen light is installed in a hard rubber casing with Velcro applied to the bottom. This doesn't mean the light will weigh down yoru helmet when attached to the top, though. On the contrary, none of our testers noticed any difference in how heavy the helmet felt once the Cyclops light was mounted on it. The power wires are contained in a thick rubber insulation of more than sufficient length and a large headset-type jack on the end. The mating electrical jack and an inline fuse holder (with fuse) are also included in the kit. The instruction supplied with the kit, provide wiring for ATVs with or without a battery. The wiring diagrams also provide instructions for using the existing headlight switch, or adding a separate switch (not included).
Installation
We installed the wiring on the 2006 Honda TRX450R we chose as a test unit. Using a voltmeter, we found the wire that powers the high beam on the stock headlight. WE decided to connect power through the high beam, since we figured the helmet light would illuminate any objects immediately in front of us. This also gave us the ability to turn off the light without having to unplug it. The wires were routed under the quad's plastic nosepiece, and the jack was secured to the existing bundle of wires and control cables near the base of the handlebars.
By Robert Scott
For off-road enthusiasts, the enjoyment of reiding quads doesn't fade away when the sun goes down (and for those of us living in the southwestern US, where the cooler winter months offer prime riding weather, it seems like the sun sets entirely too early). Although many of today's larger utility and sport/utility/ATVs come factory-equipped with multiple headlights, the majority of purely sport ATVs come stock with very limited lighting. Adding to this lighting problem is the fact that headlights on all the sport models are mounted in a fixed location, meaning that the focus of the headlight is not always where the front wheels are pointed. The ability to see in the direction you are traveling is a necessity for riders wishing to spend a significant amount of riding time after dark. Cyclops Motorsports wants to solve that problem, and to that end has developed a helmet-mounted halogen headlight. We got our hands on one of those units and gave it a thorough test run. Does it live up to the company's claims? Let's see!
Kit Contents
The first thing you will notice as you remove the parts from the package is the robust construction of the light and cables. The 35-watt halogen light is installed in a hard rubber casing with Velcro applied to the bottom. This doesn't mean the light will weigh down yoru helmet when attached to the top, though. On the contrary, none of our testers noticed any difference in how heavy the helmet felt once the Cyclops light was mounted on it. The power wires are contained in a thick rubber insulation of more than sufficient length and a large headset-type jack on the end. The mating electrical jack and an inline fuse holder (with fuse) are also included in the kit. The instruction supplied with the kit, provide wiring for ATVs with or without a battery. The wiring diagrams also provide instructions for using the existing headlight switch, or adding a separate switch (not included).
Installation
We installed the wiring on the 2006 Honda TRX450R we chose as a test unit. Using a voltmeter, we found the wire that powers the high beam on the stock headlight. WE decided to connect power through the high beam, since we figured the helmet light would illuminate any objects immediately in front of us. This also gave us the ability to turn off the light without having to unplug it. The wires were routed under the quad's plastic nosepiece, and the jack was secured to the existing bundle of wires and control cables near the base of the handlebars.
