Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: theAmazingKickstand on December 08, 2013, 10:16:50 AM

Title: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: theAmazingKickstand on December 08, 2013, 10:16:50 AM
Hey All,

I want to install a heated vest which has a normal chord that goes directly to the battery. On this bike does the wire have to come out of the little battery house (Meaning that I will have to leave the side panel cover cracked open) or are there terminals somewhere else? A different option?
I havn't looked into plugging everything into the cig lighter yet.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: ZG on December 08, 2013, 10:45:56 AM
Here's what I did...


http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10985.msg134329#msg134329 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=10985.msg134329#msg134329)

Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: B.D.F. on December 08, 2013, 11:23:12 AM
Jay's link is good, and there is a pile of information available about this on this as well as the COG forums. Just a suggestions but doing a search will probably give you some ideas. Please do ask any questions though and someone will chime in.... maybe even help but certainly chime in.... :-)

Brian

Hey All,

I want to install a heated vest which has a normal chord that goes directly to the battery. On this bike does the wire have to come out of the little battery house (Meaning that I will have to leave the side panel cover cracked open) or are there terminals somewhere else? A different option?
I havn't looked into plugging everything into the cig lighter yet.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: maxtog on December 08, 2013, 01:02:48 PM
I want to install a heated vest which has a normal chord that goes directly to the battery. On this bike does the wire have to come out of the little battery house (Meaning that I will have to leave the side panel cover cracked open) or are there terminals somewhere else? A different option?I havn't looked into plugging everything into the cig lighter yet.

You can't use the lighter socket or the wiring to it; it will not supply enough power and is only designed for low-power like a cellphone charger or GPS.  Whatever you install, it MUST be fused.  You can use a fuseblock as Jay (ZG) suggested, but that is just one option.  On my bike, I ran a single fused cable from the battery (positive) and to the under-seat area and used that for power (for the jacket and my heated seat, which also runs to a controller up front).  I then have a plug that is on a pig-tail that just hangs from under the seat and that is what I plug my jacket into.  When not used, I can just push it up in there and it isn't even seen.

If you plan on adding other accessories, then a fuseblock is probably a good idea.  If I could turn back time, I probably would have taken that route.
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: theAmazingKickstand on December 08, 2013, 01:56:52 PM
You can't use the lighter socket or the wiring to it; it will not supply enough power and is only designed for low-power like a cellphone charger or GPS.  Whatever you install, it MUST be fused.  You can use a fuseblock as Jay (ZG) suggested, but that is just one option.  On my bike, I ran a single fused cable from the battery (positive) and to the under-seat area and used that for power (for the jacket and my heated seat, which also runs to a controller up front).  I then have a plug that is on a pig-tail that just hangs from under the seat and that is what I plug my jacket into.  When not used, I can just push it up in there and it isn't even seen.

If you plan on adding other accessories, then a fuseblock is probably a good idea.  If I could turn back time, I probably would have taken that route.

Thank You.

The fuse block looks a bit too involved for me to get into right now. I havn't taken the battery out yet. You're saying there'e a path for the vest wire to run under the seat? At most the only other thing I might add are heated gloves.
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: maxtog on December 08, 2013, 04:02:10 PM
The fuse block looks a bit too involved for me to get into right now. I havn't taken the battery out yet. You're saying there'e a path for the vest wire to run under the seat?

Yes.  The battery is not completely covered.

Quote
At most the only other thing I might add are heated gloves.

With heated grips, I can't ever see needing heated gloves.  My hands are never cold.  And with the seat and jacket (actually a vest) heated, my butt and torso aren't either.  Just the rest of me is frozen  :)  The heated seat is not terribly helpful, but the vest is extremely important.

Worst are my legs and face/neck.  And when my face gets cold, my nose starts to run and that isn't very compatible with motorcycle riding.   Everyone say "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew"
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: Stubby on December 08, 2013, 04:14:54 PM
Do the fuzz block it's worth it IMO and pretty easy and makes it so much easier to add other stuff later on.
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: Tarheelbob on December 08, 2013, 06:23:03 PM
Don't overthink it. You can route the pigtail for the heated gear from the battery many different ways out of the battery box, to exit where it is convenient for you. I didn't want to pull the tank when I did mine, so I routed the lead out the right side as shown:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_1.JPG)

When not using it, it tucks up nicely out of the way, as shown here:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: maxtog on December 08, 2013, 09:46:19 PM
Don't overthink it. You can route the pigtail for the heated gear from the battery many different ways out of the battery box, to exit where it is convenient for you. I didn't want to pull the tank when I did mine, so I routed the lead out the right side

I have never pulled my tank and I was able to route it under the seat and to the left side (where I need it).
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: TallyRex on December 09, 2013, 03:42:43 AM
Yes.  The battery is not completely covered.

With heated grips, I can't ever see needing heated gloves.  My hands are never cold.  And with the seat and jacket (actually a vest) heated, my butt and torso aren't either.  Just the rest of me is frozen  :)  The heated seat is not terribly helpful, but the vest is extremely important.

Worst are my legs and face/neck.  And when my face gets cold, my nose starts to run and that isn't very compatible with motorcycle riding.   Everyone say "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew"

Heated grips are fine for the palms, but the back of my hands get very cold, so I use Gerbings.  Replaced the 5 amp fuse with a 7.5 in the acc plug and they work fine.

Wear a fleece neck collar that extends up to your nose and your neck and face will be ok.  Three pair of lonjohns keep the legs warm
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: theAmazingKickstand on December 09, 2013, 12:16:45 PM
Don't overthink it. You can route the pigtail for the heated gear from the battery many different ways out of the battery box, to exit where it is convenient for you. I didn't want to pull the tank when I did mine, so I routed the lead out the right side as shown:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_1.JPG)

When not using it, it tucks up nicely out of the way, as shown here:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_2.jpg)

This is exactly how I ran mine because I couldn't get the red plug to fit in any of the cracks along the tank.
Thank you.
Agreed on heated grips. In town they're fine. At 90mph with 34 degrees out they're not enough for me.
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: clogan on December 09, 2013, 12:31:32 PM
Don't overthink it. You can route the pigtail for the heated gear from the battery many different ways out of the battery box, to exit where it is convenient for you. I didn't want to pull the tank when I did mine, so I routed the lead out the right side as shown:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_1.JPG)

When not using it, it tucks up nicely out of the way, as shown here:

(http://people.delphiforums.com/tarheelbob/Concours_14/Pigtail_Routing_2.jpg)

That's what I did, except I fished the pigtail out the left side, 'cause my gear connector comes out the left side of my jacket.  I keep my head and neck warm with a full face helmet, and a gaiter on my neck. Rode last weekend at 20 degrees, no problem.
Title: Re: Attaching heated gear?
Post by: Son of Pappy on December 09, 2013, 06:37:31 PM
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=motorcycle+neck+scarf&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R4.TR6.TRC2.A0.Xarab+scarf&_nkw=arab+shemagh+keffiyeh+scarf&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=motorcycle+neck+scarf&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R4.TR6.TRC2.A0.Xarab+scarf&_nkw=arab+shemagh+keffiyeh+scarf&_sacat=0)

Almost a must have in the ADV world and works great on the street.