Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: martin_14 on August 16, 2016, 04:51:38 AM
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I've been munching on this for too long: extra lights.
In Germany, as usual, almost everything is forbidden and has to be TÜV approved, so that eliminated 99% of the stuff coming from China, ie cheap. The main reason is that you have to have a clear cut-off line (I think that's the term in English) in order to avoid blinding oncoming traffic, to which I agree. Conspicuity shouldn't be at the expense of other people's rights.
There are 3 possibilities, it seems: fog lights, extra driving lights (low beam) and extra high beam lights. Fog lights are used a lot to increase conspicuity more than to actually light up the road in front of you, so I discarded those immediately. Whatever I took, it was going to be LED (conspicuity is included, and the consumption is negligible) and I wanted more light for night driving. My next thought was that if I got low beams, I could run them on all the time if I wanted (increasing conspicuity) with an independent switch, and also have them hooked to the high beams, so when these are engaged (and therefore the low beams turn off) the LEDs would replace the low beam somehow. So that was it, I had my decision: low beam LED lights.
Eventually I came across these little guys here (https://www.louis.eu/artikel/highsider-satellite-led-low-beam-headlight/10034290?list=211464323&filter_article_number=10034290), they are low beams. I contacted the manufacturer (apparently German, but I suspect Chinese made) and they promptly answer with comprehensive, no-BS data of their lights, and I learned that they put out 520 lm each in a compact housing of just 2 inches diameter. So I bought two of these low beam driving lights. I might even add high beams later on (link (https://www.louis.eu/artikel/highsider-satellite-led-high-beam-headlight/10034291?list=211464438&filter_article_number=10034291)).
Now comes the question: where should I mount these low beam LED things? low, by the front wheel? high, by the mirrors? somewhere in the middle (explain)?
I mean, what's the consensus regarding the location of the different type of extra lights? I know that fog lights should be placed as low as possible, working lights as high as possible. Where would you add low beams, or high beams?
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On our bikes, I've seen them mounted many places. I suppose my favorite would be 1 mounted under each mirror. Premier Cycle Accessories sells a nice little beveled button mount for these types of lights. There are many styles and manufacturers of these lights to choose from, Denali...Clearwater (my favorite)..etc.. Although I'm not sure if they are approved for an in Germany application...Best of luck
PS...I like the Clearwaters because they have many options for controlling the lights from 5% to 100%...separately switched...relayed...CAN-BUS...through the horn....Flash to pass...you name it. Best of luck...Rob
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On our bikes, I've seen them mounted many places. I suppose my favorite would be 1 mounted under each mirror. Premier Cycle Accessories sells a nice little beveled button mount for these types of lights. There are many styles and manufacturers of these lights to choose from, Denali...Clearwater (my favorite)..etc.. Although I'm not sure if they are approved for an in Germany application...Best of luck
PS...I like the Clearwaters because they have many options for controlling the lights from 5% to 100%...separately switched...relayed...CAN-BUS...through the horn....Flash to pass...you name it. Best of luck...Rob
horn? nein!
flash to pass? nein!
you name it... (sigh)
:banghead:
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LED Rider.com With the Keen auto dimmer. Great customer service and support. They work with the stock dimmer switch. Totally adjustable low beam, Insanely bright high beam. I mounted mine using the before mentioned under mirror mounts. Ran the wires through a small hole I drilled in the bottom of the mirror assembly and bike. Ran the wires through the mirror assembly. Totally clean and as unseen as you can get. I tried to attach some pics, no luck.
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Try the pics again. I was on my phone the first time.
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KawaC14, how or where did you get the mounts off the bottom of your mirrors to mount the led too? That's a clean look and if it is one thing I like is a mod that looks like it belongs on the bike and yours does, clean and sleek. Any info would be helpful. Thanks Robert
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Martin,
I'm aware of the rules in Germany etc.
But, I have a dumb question.
Many lights are available that are very similar to the ones you posted.
Would anyone know if you installed one that is not German made?
Assuming yes, how would they know?
Do they look on a list of approved lights, when the bike is inspected..??
If they catch an unapproved modification, what is the result?
Reason for my question.
When there, Bernd had to buy a specific tire for his BMW.
(That specific tire {ME-880} had to be Approved in Germany)
{The BMW I'm referring to is older and newer tire designs (ie: ME-888} are not researched and added to the approved list}.
I wondered why he couldn't mount whatever he wished and wear it out before the next inspection.
Ride safe, Ted
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Ted, I was told that if you were stopped and the police discovered it..you were ticketed. If you were involved in an accident, the insurance might not/would not pay.
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Arghhh...
But I know yours has many changes.
Is there a different rule for an American that lives over there?
Ride safe, Ted
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We have a choice of using the local TUV station or using the one on post. The one on post takes US specifications into account as well as German regulation. It can be tough to meet their interpretations of the law but it's not impossible.
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conny_rider,
sorry for the late reply but I'm in Sicily and internet is not readily available.
Anyway, it's exactly as amphibsailor explained: in case of somebody having a look at it (police, TÜV, insurance...) you get in trouble.
There is no list with the approved lights, but the lights themselves come with a logo stamped on them that shows that they comply with European regulations, just like the helmets or windshields. You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Forum_for_Harmonization_of_Vehicle_Regulations
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World Forum for Harmonization..... gotta love it. ::)
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Ok, thanks.
I understand more now.
Ride safe, Ted
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Hey Robval1987. Sorry for the delay, been a bit busy.here is the link. http://www.pca-one.com/index.asp. (http://www.pca-one.com/index.asp.) I used the Keen auto dimmer from LED Rider.com. They have outstanding customer support. Anyhow, I just ran the wires up into and through to cavities in the mirror mounts.
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Hey Robval1987. Sorry for the delay, been a bit busy.here is the link. http://www.pca-one.com/productDetail.asp?productID=7899 (http://www.pca-one.com/productDetail.asp?productID=7899) I used the Keen auto dimmer from LED Rider.com. They have outstanding customer support. Anyhow, I just ran the wires up into and through to cavities in the mirror mounts.
FIFY
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World Forum for Harmonization..... gotta love it. ::)
What could possibly go wrong? :o
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FIFY
TY