Lighting the Way: The Tusk Motorcycle Enduro Lighting Kit
As our WR250F dual-sport build progressed, the time came to tackle the lighting system. This was the final major hurdle in getting the bike street legal—at least by Montana standards. The state doesn’t require inspections, but we still aimed to meet the spirit of street legality, even if we weren’t obsessing over every DOT marking. That’s where the Tusk Motorcycle Enduro Lighting Kit stepped in.
What’s in the Box?
The Tusk kit is a well-rounded package that includes:
- LED mini-stalk front turn signals
- LED flush-mount rear turn signals
- Flasher relay
- Hydraulic brake switch
- LED taillight with brake function
- Dual sport folding mirror
- Compact control switch and On/Off switch
- Complete wiring harness
- Horn
This kit is designed for motorcycles that already have a headlight and battery—perfect for our WR250F. The real appeal? It’s nearly universal and easy to install with minor modifications.
What Riders Are Saying
User feedback on the Tusk kit is… mixed. Some riders praise the ease of installation, bright lights, and overall value. Others criticize the durability of the rubber-mounted blinkers, the quality of connectors, and the lack of headlight integration or mounting hardware flexibility. It’s clear this kit does the job, but it isn’t without compromise:
The Good:
- Easy-to-follow wiring diagrams
- Works well for basic legal requirements
- Affordable and mostly plug-and-play
- Excellent customer service from RMATV/MC
The Not-So-Good:
- Fragile turn signal mounts
- Some connectors and switch components feel cheap
- Not compatible with every bike without modification
- Control switch could use better integration
Despite the gripes, the general consensus is that it’s a solid value—especially for states like Montana where inspection isn’t required.
Tusk Front Turn Signals
Our Experience
Budget was a big factor in this project. The goal was simple: get the WR250F just legal enough to ride forest roads and gravel stretches near the mountain house. The Tusk Enduro Kit fit that bill perfectly.
Installation was straightforward. I’ve done a couple of dual-sport conversions before, so I didn’t need to reference the video tutorial much—but for new builders, the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC install video is a huge help. I loosely fitted all components first, tested the system, then routed and zip-tied everything down once I confirmed functionality.
The Tusk kit is mostly self-contained, except it does rely on the bike’s battery. My only real gripe is the separate on/off switch for the lighting system. I’d prefer wiring it through the ignition so it powers off with the bike—something I may revisit later.
Headlight Woes
While the Tusk kit doesn’t include a headlight, we paired it with the Polysport HALO LED headlight. The install went smoothly. I snipped the damaged OEM plug, crimped on the included connectors, and wired it into the stock headlight circuit.
Unfortunately, the performance was underwhelming. The beam was dim, hard to aim, and just not usable for night riding. That said, we’re not in a rush to upgrade—Fitness Junkie, now armed with a motorcycle learner’s permit, can’t ride after dark anyway. But better lighting is on the radar.
The License Plate Mount
To finish things off, we used the EnduroPlate license plate holder. It’s pricey for what it is, but its rubber mount and magnetic retention system keep the plate from rattling loose or getting damaged. We’re gradually switching all our dual-sport bikes over to this setup.
Signal Upgrades for Safety
The stock Tusk rear turn signals were practically invisible in daylight—especially once we mounted the license plate. They tucked in nicely and were well protected, but that low-profile design came at the cost of visibility. In fact, the rear signals were almost entirely blocked by the license plate bracket, which was a safety concern for road use.
We replaced the rear signals with a set of Kinstecks Flowing LED Turn Signals—an Amazon find from a previous project. At around $16, they were a budget-friendly upgrade that dramatically improved brightness and visibility. The wires were short, so we had to do some custom wiring to get everything connected cleanly, but the result was worth the effort.
The stock Tusk front turn signals were originally mounted by drilling holes in the headlight bracket. It worked—but it wasn’t ideal for visibility. To get them positioned a bit farther out and better protected, we ordered a pair of DRC U-Bend 2-Bolt Triple Clamp Turn Signal Mounts from SICASS Offroad. These mounts attach to the upper triple clamp bolts and provide a cleaner, more outboard location for the signals. Bonus: they’re partially shielded by the handlebars and handguards, offering a bit of crash protection. The front signals were also replaced with the same Kinstecks Flowing LED Turn Signals we used in the rear, improving brightness and daytime visibility across the board.
The Kinstecks Flowing LED Turn Signals were a great upgrade in terms of brightness and visibility. Thanks to the Tusk kit already using LED signals, there was no need for a new flasher or resistors. Time will tell if they hold up to the abuse of dirt riding, but for now, they’re keeping Fitness Junkie safe and visible.
With the lights installed and working, we hit the street for a test ride. The system works well, and aside from the dim headlight and initial turn signal placement issue, the bike is now fully dual-sport functional. We’ve come a long way from mismatched bolts and mystery brake leaks.
Stay tuned—next up is performance tuning, and we’ve got plans for gearing changes and maybe even some electrical upgrades. Let’s see what this WR250F can really do.
