Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: h2smokin on September 22, 2012, 06:01:50 PM
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Looking for descent set of bulbs for my headlights and a source maybe? I had a pair of the bulbs from murphs but they did not last long. I figure maybe 150hrs before both low beams went out . Now down to just the highs or swap back to the stockers I kept. Any other descent bulbs out there I can try . I'd try to get some hid's but I'm no good at electrical stuff although willing to try . I heard they've come down in price and at $60 a pair regular ones it might be worth a try. Thanks
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I had the murphs bulbs in for almost 2 years and 22k miles before one of them died..... Could that have been a fluke?
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I didn't have much luck with them, either. Very short lived from what I remember. I went back to the stockers.
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Murph doesn't make the bulbs, he just sells them. ;) Stock bulbs seem fine to me, will probably just stick with them.
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Really?
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Had pretty good luck with Silver stars, lasted over 4yrs in my Vstrom, with significant better light output, actually, that rather ugly Suzuki front end had the BEST stock light housings ive ever ridden! better than my new c-14, I ride at night at least once a day, (commuting)
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Really?
Wasn't 100% sure you knew that. :loco:
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Appreciate it..
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I used the bulbs from murph as well. I had three of them go out in what I consider to be a very short time for a bulb. Installed an HID kit that has as many miles as the other three bulbs put together and still on the original HID bubls.
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I used the bulbs from murph as well. I had three of them go out in what I consider to be a very short time for a bulb. Installed an HID kit that has as many miles as the other three bulbs put together and still on the original HID bubls.
I have been using "Murphs" (Phillips) bulbs now for over a year, no prob. But I probably ride much less than you do. If I get annoyed, I will probably finally break down and install an HID kit.
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I used the bulbs from murph as well. I had three of them go out in what I consider to be a very short time for a bulb. Installed an HID kit that has as many miles as the other three bulbs put together and still on the original HID bubls.
:thumbs:
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Is there a relatively easy plug and play type HID kit out there? I may just say screw it and get it over with . I've heard the lighting is great and when I do ride long distance it is usually an overnight ride to avoid people and traffic .
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Is there a relatively easy plug and play type HID kit out there? I may just say screw it and get it over with . I've heard the lighting is great and when I do ride long distance it is usually an overnight ride to avoid people and traffic .
I have the HID kit from A&R and am very happy with it. :)
http://www.aandrmotorsport.com/store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=1426 (http://www.aandrmotorsport.com/store/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=1426)
http://www.aandrmotorsport.com/directions/concourshidinstructions.html (http://www.aandrmotorsport.com/directions/concourshidinstructions.html)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/jaywilcox/IMG00768-20120107-1550.jpg)
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The A&R is the same kit I have too.
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I would love to have that HID kit, however the install looks like a pain in the arse and I don't feel like attempting to do it. :-[
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I would love to have that HID kit, however the install looks like a pain in the arse and I don't feel like attempting to do it. :-[
Yeah, that is what was holding me back too. Having to go straight to the battery and having to use two ballasts and two igniters makes it much more complex. It is too bad a kit couldn't be invented that somehow could use a single ballast/igniter box that runs both bulbs and pull the power it needs from the stock connectors.
I already know one day I will do it, but right now, laziness wins.
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is that a complete kit for both lights ? Not that bad $ if it works good coupled with the auxillary lights I want I'll be good to go
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Had pretty good luck with Silver stars, lasted over 4yrs in my Vstrom, with significant better light output, actually, that rather ugly Suzuki front end had the BEST stock light housings ive ever ridden! better than my new c-14, I ride at night at least once a day, (commuting)
Same here, but went with the Silverstar Ultra. The Philips bulbs didn't last all that long for me. +1 on the V-Strom having the best lighting. One of the things I miss from the DL1000. If you take some time to get the aim / level, correct; the C14s work pretty well. May move up to the A&R Hids at some point,
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The install is fairly simple. If a mechanic installs it for you, it should not cost more than 1 to 1.5 hours labor for the install.
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My source for quality halogen bulbs.
http://www.rallylights.com (http://www.rallylights.com)
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If you go with the A&R kit, call Rob if you have questions or concerns.. All HID lights come in different Kelvin ranges, depending on your preference. 4300-4500K is the top of the white spectrum of light. 6000K starts the blue spectrum.
I didnt want to draw attention to my lighting and stayed with the super bright white 4500K. I did recently have to replace one bulb (three years, was in on the first group buy on our forum) but decided to do both. I believe Robbie charged me 50 bucks for the two bulbs. I did not replace the ballasts. The kits are.... Night and Day difference from the stock bulbs...pun intended
JJ
Ps.. Make sure you get them to throw in the LED city lights too!!
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The install is fairly simple. If a mechanic installs it for you, it should not cost more than 1 to 1.5 hours labor for the install.
It doesn't look hard, and I am actually pretty mechanically inclined. Now getting me motivated to do something like that is a whole other thing. I feel the C14 lighting is still better than most, but wouldnt mind a bit more of a white light. I will probably just give some better bulbs a shot, there are other items I want more than the HID kit.
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I had 4 Silverstars in 22K miles. Highs kept leaving me.....I replaced with a set of Hellas 3K ago from Pep Boys. They were 44 bucks for the pair but well worth it....These things are the same wattage as the stock but seem brighter and wider light path to me, my buddies always make me lead now so they can see better. I wanted Murphs but my high blew out on the Silverstar and I was forced to head into Pep boys to get home on a moonless night in rural Indiana
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The lights require separate (electrically separate) ballasts so they cannot use one instead. Each burner (HID lamp) needs its own power supply and igniter and they can't be combined. Besides, it is actually easier to wire each side separately and closer to where each new bulb will be going on the bike. I just loosely tie- wrapped mine to the induction tubes just in front of the frame- they have been there for years with no sign of falling out yet.
I believe you could wire the HIDs in place by tapping into the original factory headlight circuit. It would take a couple of new parts, specifically H4 lamp connectors (connectors that emulate the physical appearance of the original H4 lamp) and a bit of wiring in the harness but I think it would be easier than running a pair of wires back to the battery. HIDs do draw a bit more current than stock H4s but only for a few seconds and then they ramp down to actually using less current; I measured mine at 42 watts per side vs. the stock lights at 55 watts. I believe the factory wiring will easily handle the small current surge at start up (it takes a wile to heat up wire by overloading it with too much current, not just a couple of seconds unless the overload is tremendous compared to the normal running current of the circuit).
Brian
Yeah, that is what was holding me back too. Having to go straight to the battery and having to use two ballasts and two igniters makes it much more complex. It is too bad a kit couldn't be invented that somehow could use a single ballast/igniter box that runs both bulbs and pull the power it needs from the stock connectors.
I already know one day I will do it, but right now, laziness wins.
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I love my A&R kit. Two years and over 30,000 miles of well lit riding.
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It doesn't look hard, and I am actually pretty mechanically inclined. Now getting me motivated to do something like that is a whole other thing. I feel the C14 lighting is still better than most, but wouldnt mind a bit more of a white light. I will probably just give some better bulbs a shot, there are other items I want more than the HID kit.
I was lucky to have jamminjere install mine. It was very straight forward and I am sure I could do it now that I have seen it done. If I remember correctly, it took less than 1.5 hours and that was with him explaining the process to me :).
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I use H4 Osram Nightbreakers from powerbulbs.co.uk. They are a high efficiency bulb that puts out more light than stock but doesn't draw any more power.
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I use H4 Osram Nightbreakers from powerbulbs.co.uk. They are a high efficiency bulb that puts out more light than stock but doesn't draw any more power.
How about these?
http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/osram-nightbreaker-night-breaker-h4-two-bulbs (http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/osram-nightbreaker-night-breaker-h4-two-bulbs)
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I have the A&R kit and the lighting itself is great. Most likely just me, but it was my most difficult farkle
install because of wire clearance issues. It's dark down in there and hard to get my medium size hands
in there. If I were to do it over again, I would spend the extra money and get two totally separate sets
of lights and not the special combined unit that A&R sells for the C14.
My biggest problem was getting the brake line hose to not constantly hit the right HID wire coming out
of the reflector. The little two skinny wire combo coming across the front to go to the right side HID was problematic
as well. Several times I thought "there it's finished" then I would shine a bright light down there and turn
the front wheel lock to lock. Something wire or hose was always rubbing or binding on something else.
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I already know one day I will do it, but right now, laziness wins.
Damnit all. I can't stand it anymore. I just ordered the damn A&R kit. The damn discount code still works, too.
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Damnit all. I can't stand it anymore. I just ordered the damn A&R kit. The damn discount code still works, too.
Congrats Max! :thumbs: :chugbeer:
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How about these?
http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/osram-nightbreaker-night-breaker-h4-two-bulbs (http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/product/osram-nightbreaker-night-breaker-h4-two-bulbs)
That's the ones.
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That's the ones.
I will point out that all those claims on halogens with "90% more light on the road!!" and such is mostly total non-sense. When you get any real scientific info about it, you quickly find out that those are just made up marketing numbers that don't equate in any way, shape, or form to the real world. I tried stuff like that and measured maybe a 10% brightness difference. The biggest change is that they dip the low-beam area of the bulb in blue dye/paint.
Generally, Halogen at XX wattage in is YY total lumens out with not much variance. What really remains to differentiate them is cost and quality/life.
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Max,
Im sure you will love the HID's
On the inside of the fairing, on both sides you'll see a flat spot near the main fairing brace. They send sticky velcro pads for mounting the ballasts. Dry fit the ballasts in those spots if you already have something tied to the induction tubes like a power commander, etc.. Once you see them fit in that fairing spot you will know what i am talking about. Apply the sticky velcro on the fairing and back of ballast and finish the wiring..
Dont forget to tell us how much you love them ;)
JJ
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Max, Im sure you will love the HID's
On the inside of the fairing, on both sides you'll see a flat spot near the main fairing brace. They send sticky velcro pads for mounting the ballasts. Dry fit the ballasts in those spots if you already have something tied to the induction tubes like a power commander, etc.. Once you see them fit in that fairing spot you will know what i am talking about. Apply the sticky velcro on the fairing and back of ballast and finish the wiring..
Dont forget to tell us how much you love them ;)
Thanks, I will let you know..... if I can get those canyons off first! (eeek)
I am actually pretty good with electrics/electronics, so I am sure I can do it, I just need to get off my lazy butt when they get here and do it.
My last night trip last week I could barely go the speed limit from visibility issues- it just seemed especially dark (wooded area, no moon, no other vehicles, slightly misty). And it is a route I go several times a year and I am always worried about being able to see deer or anything else in time. The stock Concours lighting is so much better than my ZRX was (and yep, took the same route on that bike too, I would avoid that route at night if I could help it) but it just isn't quite enough to feel "safe".
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where did I miss the discount code or are my eyes getting worse?
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Since I avoid riding in the dark like the Black Plague, I have come to the conclusion that my lights are just fine as they are.
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+1
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where did I miss the discount code or are my eyes getting worse?
It's in a thread actually about HID. But so you don't have to search, it is "farkle", which is like $15 off plus free s/h.
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Wow what a deal. Cheap enough even if your afraid to ride in the dark!
JJ
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I bought my bike in mid February, installed the HID kit from A&R in probably early March. I've put 6500 miles on the bike and I have never rode at night. Now as the days get shorter and shorter and the ride to work gets darker and darker I am finally getting to see how awesome this light kit is.
+1 on the A&R light kit. :)
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I bought my bike in mid February, installed the HID kit from A&R in probably early March. I've put 6500 miles on the bike and I have never rode at night. Now as the days get shorter and shorter and the ride to work gets darker and darker I am finally getting to see how awesome this light kit is.
+1 on the A&R light kit. :)
+1... :thumbs:
Winter is coming, it won't be too much longer until it's dark when I go into work in the mornings :( , and dark when I come home at night sometimes too if I have to stay late at the office past 4:30 (which thank goodness is rare ;) )...
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Since I avoid riding in the dark like the Black Plague, I have come to the conclusion that my lights are just fine as they are.
Me too but on rare occasions it just happens.
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I would like an AR-15, that would get much more use from me. ;)
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jamminjere you mentioned the 4500k bulb did you mean 4300k? I want as bright as I can since half my riding at least is at night . I only ask because the 4300k is the one they show. Thanks
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Disregard last question. I went ahead and ordered the 4300k set of lights . "farkle" still worked . $120 total including shipping . Figured why not upgrade now instead of ending up doing it later.
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Damnit all. I can't stand it anymore. I just ordered the damn A&R kit. The damn discount code still works, too.
Damnit, I already have the damn box from USPS sitting here now. I guess I have to tear apart the damn bike tomorrow.
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The brightest HIDs are right around 4,100 degrees Kelvin although anything in the low- to- mid 4K range is about the same. By 5,000 Kelvin the light is taking on a blue cast and is going down in lumens (light output). Same thing going the other way- by 3,400 Kelvin the lights have an orange bias and again the light output is going down.
HIDs are usually not offered in steps of a couple of hundred degrees Kelvin so if the place you bought yours from sells them as 4,300 K, that is the only thing they will have in that range. The next steps would probably be 6,000 K and 3,000 K up and down respectively, not 4,100 K or 4,500 K. A few hundred degrees change is not apparent to the human eye either unless directly compared to another light of the same type and apparent brightness, for example on the same car.
Brian
Disregard last question. I went ahead and ordered the 4300k set of lights . "farkle" still worked . $120 total including shipping . Figured why not upgrade now instead of ending up doing it later.
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It really isn't a big deal, at least not in the same realm of doing something like changing the air cleaner.... Then again you can cut the installation effort in half if you only put in one HID.
:-)
Brian
Damnit, I already have the damn box from USPS sitting here now. I guess I have to tear apart the damn bike tomorrow.
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Damn you guys. I have a pair of the "Xtreme" bulbs on the way, but just ordered a set of A&R HIDs after reading this post.
Despite bad luck with 2 previous (non A&R) HID sets for my ZRX, I am hoping that these do the trick for the C14.
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Damn you guys. I have a pair of the "Xtreme" bulbs on the way, but just ordered a set of A&R HIDs after reading this post.
Sorry bro, it happens... ;)
Congrats! :chugbeer:
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I got mine today, super quick shipping. Got email on sat. with shipping # and here today . Now to get over the intimidation of the wiring harness and such . I hate electrical work
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I found that the H4 Phillips bulbs at Walmart are least expensive and if you get the super bright ones in sets of 2 for cars, it is more affordable. I went through about 4 changes on my '06 C10 before I found on that lasted over 2 years. I also started the bike with the light switch in high beam, so if it burned out my low beam would be available until I could get a replacement. That method seemed to have made the bulb last longer.
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So, what type bulb is the small bulb? Kawasaki parts list only shows their p/n, not the bulb type. I have seen some C14's with a LED conversion bulb in the small sockets, but I did not book mark it and cannot find it now. :(