The $45 Turbo Levo Hardwired Headlight Thread

[PsiLoCybia]

I’ve tested the splitter and it works with two lights however I’m really struggling to run the cables inside the bike. @rsilvers any tips please? Someone on another thread suggested loosening the front motorbolt.

I've literally just installed my cable. Here is how I did it (on a kenevo but should be same)

1. Remove Non-drive crank arm
2. Remove Motor cover
3. Remove shock
4. Loosen off cable holders
5. Use a piece of brake/gear cable to feed down from shock area into motor area
   1. I used a little pick to pull the cable out from above the motor
6. Tape motor connector to brake cable and pull from shock through into motor area
7. connect to motor
8. Unscrew the holder bit near head tube that the cables go into.
9. Feed brake wire up from shock area and use pick to pull out hole near headtube
10. tape lighting cable to brake cable and pull through (required moving other cables around)

Just need to solder the cables up now and test

 

[galaga187]

I've literally just installed my cable. Here is how I did it (on a kenevo but should be same)

1. Remove Non-drive crank arm
2. Remove Motor cover
3. Remove shock
4. Loosen off cable holders
5. Use a piece of brake/gear cable to feed down from shock area into motor area
   1. I used a little pick to pull the cable out from above the motor
6. Tape motor connector to brake cable and pull from shock through into motor area
7. connect to motor
8. Unscrew the holder bit near head tube that the cables go into.
9. Feed brake wire up from shock area and use pick to pull out hole near headtube
10. tape lighting cable to brake cable and pull through (required moving other cables around)

Just need to solder the cables up now and test

I managed it with an old gear cable and a lot of swearing I'm assuming that wasn't a carbon 2019 as you can't get access from the shock area on the carbon.

 

[PsiLoCybia]

I managed it with an old gear cable and a lot of swearing I'm assuming that wasn't a carbon 2019 as you can't get access from the shock area on the carbon.

No, mine is a 2020 Kenevo Comp. Glad you got it done though!

 

[PsiLoCybia]

@rsilvers Thanks for the write up. Got mine setup yesterday and took it out for the first time tonight. It's a great setup, especially as it cost me just over £50 all in!

 

[Swan]

Have we all determined that the amazon lights posted were the best options? I have my wife and my Levos that I'd like to put lights on. And if we end up liking the setup, I have 3 or 4 customers that would like lights as well.. I know the lupine is always an option.. But if we can figure out 50-100 options. That would be way cooler than spending 300+ for the lupine..

 

[grantini]

Have we all determined that the amazon lights posted were the best options? I have my wife and my Levos that I'd like to put lights on. And if we end up liking the setup, I have 3 or 4 customers that would like lights as well.. I know the lupine is always an option.. But if we can figure out 50-100 options. That would be way cooler than spending 300+ for the lupine..

I went Lupine and I'm thrilled with it.

 

[galaga187]

I went Lupine and I'm thrilled with it.

@grantini have you been able to compare to the cheaper setup? I’m genuinely interested to know how they differ.

 

[Swan]

I went Lupine and I'm thrilled with it.

It does look super clean and well done.. But there are 2 of us couples that bought bikes for ourselves and our wives... I know finances are not a big deal for one of us, but 600 for 2 lights is a pretty big chunk when the alternatives are 100..

 

[grantini]

It does look super clean and well done.. But there are 2 of us couples that bought bikes for ourselves and our wives... I know finances are not a big deal for one of us, but 600 for 2 lights is a pretty big chunk when the alternatives are 100..

no doubt, I only had to buy one.... I will also admit that I was concerned about warranty issues...

 

[grantini]

It does look super clean and well done.. But there are 2 of us couples that bought bikes for ourselves and our wives... I know finances are not a big deal for one of us, but 600 for 2 lights is a pretty big chunk when the alternatives are 100..

 

[PsiLoCybia]

Have we all determined that the amazon lights posted were the best options? I have my wife and my Levos that I'd like to put lights on. And if we end up liking the setup, I have 3 or 4 customers that would like lights as well.. I know the lupine is always an option.. But if we can figure out 50-100 options. That would be way cooler than spending 300+ for the lupine..

Having been out for a couple rides I am happy with the setup, however I have had the motor fault a couple times during a ride with both lights on the highest setting. Switching off and back on resolved, so am assuming that the amp draw spiked higher than allowed, with lights not in highest setting have not experienced this nor when lights disconnected.

I haven't seen anyone else report this, but we know the current draw is on the limit of acceptable, and guess there could be variance between the units. I tend now to run one in higher setting and one in mid as that provides plenty of light for me anyway.

 

[grantini]

I've literally just installed my cable. Here is how I did it (on a kenevo but should be same)

1. Remove Non-drive crank arm
2. Remove Motor cover
3. Remove shock
4. Loosen off cable holders
5. Use a piece of brake/gear cable to feed down from shock area into motor area
   1. I used a little pick to pull the cable out from above the motor
6. Tape motor connector to brake cable and pull from shock through into motor area
7. connect to motor
8. Unscrew the holder bit near head tube that the cables go into.
9. Feed brake wire up from shock area and use pick to pull out hole near headtube
10. tape lighting cable to brake cable and pull through (required moving other cables around)

Just need to solder the cables up now and test

I did all that but was still having trouble, if you run into the same, try loosening the top motor mount bolt.

 

[Pyr0]

Tempted to try this, but routing of the cable looks a bit harder on the carbon frames
I'll need a new torque wrench too for the crank arm(s)

 

[AP123]

Resurrecting this old thread.

I bought the light on Amazon and the cable from Lupine.

Does anyone have a link to a connector so that I can keep the battery intact? In a perfect world, it would screw on to keep water out.
Also the Y connector link goes to a missing item page. Would this one work?

Are there any other issues that have crept up with some use with this setup?

Thanks

 

[Techno]

i hear that the light outputs are voltage configurable at the dealer. Ive cheated though and used a chilli technology single headlight and battery battery pack. tbh i only use it level one on the road at night, level three sets fire to trees, it burns out retinas of car drivers.

 

[Techno]

As a by the by, do you know what the light output voltage is on a bosch cx 2020? i heard they were voltage switchable? i guess it achieves this thru PWM? the reason i ask is i want to know how clean the power supply is as i want to run a garmin montana from it.

 

[AP123]

hijack bump:

Does anyone have a link to a connector so that I can keep the battery intact? In a perfect world, it would screw on to keep water out.

Also the Y connector link goes to a missing item page. Would this one work?

Are there any other issues that have crept up with some use with this setup?

 

[AP123]

Anyone?

 

[joliver]

This info is for the original light plug at the Brose Motor, without cutting any cables:

MY 19 2.1 Mag S Motor, 12V supply, 24W, 2A maximum

MY 18 1.3 Motor (FSR only) 6V supply, 2A maximum

MY 17/18 1.2 Motor, 6V supply, 1A maximum
MY 16 1.1 Motor, 6V supply, 1A maximum

As in some cases it is insufficient, especially in 1.1 and 1.2 engines, that is why they use the technique of connecting directly to the 36v engine line.

More info here:

Anyone with experience installing a headlight on Levo/Kenevo?

Im sure this has been covered. but searched for lights and so on.... and found nothing of interest. can someone tell me from their experience - if its worth it to buy the original (and expensive!) cable to hook up a light, to the dedicated connecto on the Brose motor? or just "hotwire it" to the...

www.emtbforums.com

 

[tpbftw]

How is everyones $45 setup holding up?

I fitted the same amazon light setup a while ago, used it only a couple times, always on full brightness. Has worked great, until the other night. Its cold here, winter time, and a bit wet. Went for a 30 minute ride up local mtb park in a bit of mud, some small puddles. It wasn't raining at the time. On the way home, cruising about 40kph (levoicraptor unrestricted) the light cut out and red blue flashing lights on TCU.

Today I washed the bike, pulled left crank off and motor cover and had a look. All looks pretty dry, small amount of mud. Mines a 2019 Levo, purchased mid 2020. There is motofoam in the case helping keep mud out, and the power cables all look fine. No corrosion.

I havent pulled out the TCU yet, but it didnt get wet up top, it wasnt raining.

So I am wondering if it was more a fault with the single light drawing too much with the motor under constant load at 44kph.

Anyone else had issues?

 

[iamanej]

Anyone installed any lights on 1.1 motor? Which one did you?