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AdMore SMT Light Bar with Smart Brake Technology
By Matt DeWald #174635
CONSPICUITY! AS A GROUP, BMW riders, we like high-performance machines dressed as Christmas trees. Adding lumens on the bow of our rides is commonplace, but what about the stern? Being seen from behind can make all the difference in gaining a distracted driver’s attention before it’s too late. That’s where AdMore pro- vides a solution. Introduced in 2016, the
second generation AdMore SMT Light Bar with Smart Brake Tech- nology includes an eye- popping 81 Cree LED lights, plus three super bright white LEDs situ- ated in a central-strobe pattern. And that’s only the beginning of the prod- uct’s features. The Light Bar differentiates itself from other offerings by incorporating not just static red brake lights, but amber turn signals in a progressive lighting sequence as well. But the product’s key
brake light illumination with moderate deceleration resulting from moderate to severe downshifting. Obviously, this brake light warning increases the conspicuity of the rider during downshifts, without hav- ing to disrupt the balance of the bike by using the brake lights. To AdMore’s credit, the sensitivity of the accelerometer is adjustable to the user’s liking. I ultimately increased the sensitivity two notches to
the center. The Light Bar is completely CANbus compatible as well, so there is no issue installing it on late-model BMWs. With a power draw of only eight watts, many older-model BMWs with limited electrical capacity can still use this as a workable accessory. I found changing the settings to be sim-
ple, but in truth the default settings were almost perfect. The license plate illumina- tor can be turned on or off based on the installed loca- tion, local regulations, and user discretion. The included lightweight aluminum bracket should last the life of the motorcycle without cor- rosion, while the waterproof wiring outfit, body, and plas- tic lens of the Light Bar (avail- able in clear or smoke) is rugged enough for a broad range of applications, includ- ing off-roading. Depending on the user’s skills,
electrical
feature is its on-board integrated accelerometer, which continually gauges deceleration and, if necessary, actu- ates the brake lights without the rider having to apply the actual brakes. The latter is extremely useful in certain situations, such as quick downshifts when there is traffic behind the rider. During our 400-mile test ride back
The AdMore SMT Light Bar features begin with progressive amber direction signals, an accelerometer for brake light actuation during downshifts, white strobe lights during brake application, and programmable settings. I opted to install the AdMore SMT Light Bar below the license plate on this 2013 R1200R.
help ward off distracted New Jersey
drivers. Measuring 8 inches wide, 1 1/4 inches
from Das Rally to central New Jersey, we put the accelerometer to the test. Using the factory settings, we observed accelerometer-actuated
24 BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2017
high and 1 inch deep, the AdMore Light Bar provides a menu of lighting options, all cus- tomizable through a microUSB connection between your computer and the light bar. Configurable features include brake light brightness, accelerometer sensitivity, license plate illuminator, and enable/disable control of the strobing white brake lights in
installation
can be DIY using basic tools and the included instruc- tions. I opted for professional installation, which took approximately one hour of labor. The AdMore SMT Light
Bar is an excellent addition for safety- minded riders who want to be noticed going, not just coming! It is available through Twisted Throttle (
www.twist-
edthrottle.com) or straight from AdMore (
www.AdMorelighting.com). This Cana- dian-made device retails for $199.99. The kit contains all the necessary wiring and hardware, including an aluminum mount- ing bracket, wiring harness and wire-tap connectors for easy installation.
member tested
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