Kawasaki Engineering??? V2K

[airchuk]

Well today I did the first work on my V2K that wasn't a simple "bolt on" mod. What i ended up with seriously disturbed me. Really has me wondering what Kawasaki was thinking.

In the headlight bucket we have 2 "4 pin" flat connectors, described as accessory connections. I metered out the one with red wires, all 4 wires were hot. Well I hate vampire splices, so I snipped one with the expectation that I would crimp a Trail Tech connector on it. This would then power my Cobra lightbar.

Well - wrongo Kawasaki breath - this connector with 4 wires has only one true hot wire, the other 3 fed internally by the connector. So no big deal......

Here's the gotcha -

this connector is part of the tail light and brake light circuit. ALL FOUR WIRES ARE REQUIRED TO BE INTACT TO FEED THE TAIL LIGHTS. I would expect my tail lights and brake lights to be on a dedicated, isolated circuit, not incorporating some ACCESSORY feed in the headlight bucket. So as it stands now, if my lightbar causes a fuse to blow, I have no rear lights at all.

Now the real pi$$er to me is that to get at a fuse, I need to -
1) pull the right side cover
2) release the back seat (cable pull)
3) remove the front seat (2 bolts)
4) remove the left side cover screw
5) NOW access a fuse

Not very good engineering on their part. Well I see my project list starting for the winter. That lightbar comes off that circuit.

I'm going to look at the mx manual again this evening to see where I missed that.

Be VERY careful with your wiring. They are doing some strange things with it.

[msa1956]

well, actually its not really that bad, where else are they going to put it? at least the fuse panel and relays are covered and not in the open, remmber there is not a lot of places to hide things on a bike.

[gonzosc1]

lightbar should be on its own circuit, $25 gets you a nice harness

[airchuk]

fuses are typically hidden under side covers that are removeable.... this is not normal, having to remove both side covers and both seats to gain access. the whole thing about sharing an accessory with my brake lights has me shaking my head in disbelief. typically the brake and tail light circuit is dedicated and isolated.

[trikebubble]

Tough break man, I bought the std. Bug-Eye headlight version...............which seems to come with an aircraft landing light for a headlight. No driving lights for me.

Hope you get it sorted out.

[V2KCruiser]

I installed an accessory fuse block where the OEM tool kit used to go:

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...tml#post632626

[bluestringer]

Gonzo is right, light bar should be on it's own circuit. Read up on doing the circuit on Gadget's site.

[airchuk]

Read up on doing the circuit on Gadget's site.

I know how to do the circuit. My complaint is -

why did K put an "accessory" plug in the headlight bucket if it taps into the ESSENTIAL brake and tail light circuit? There is a 15 amp accessory fuse in the box - duh. I wouldn't think of wiring my airplane like that. Not even close to being right.

I'm going to "FIX" this - it's going to rain here all week.

[airchuk]

I installed an accessory fuse block where the OEM tool kit used to go

excactly what I had in mind........ I don't mind wiring things like this, but I really hate surprises -

[moparman]

Originally Posted by airchuk

Now the real pi$$er to me is that to get at a fuse, I need to -
1) pull the right side cover
2) release the back seat (cable pull)
3) remove the front seat (2 bolts)
4) remove the left side cover screw
5) NOW access a fuse

FYI, you don't have to do all that. Just pop the left cover at the front and swivel it out. Try it, it works fine.

[REFUGIO]

On my 900 ...the accessary leads in the headlight bucket are on their own dedicated, fused circuit.

Are you sure you got the correct wires for accessaries?
Never heard of the accessary leads being tied into the rear lights.

[gonzosc1]

Originally Posted by airchuk

I know how to do the circuit. My complaint is -

why did K put an "accessory" plug in the headlight bucket if it taps into the ESSENTIAL brake and tail light circuit? There is a 15 amp accessory fuse in the box - duh. I wouldn't think of wiring my airplane like that. Not even close to being right.

I'm going to "FIX" this - it's going to rain here all week.

the best use of the accessory plug in the lightbucket is for the on/off switch for the lightbar. or tap into the blue and yellow stripe wire for the on/off switch as this wire will not be affected by the high/low beam switch..
the main power would come from the battery with relay and fuse inline

[Cabo]

I fed my light bar direct off the battery and used a relay that is powered by the headlight circuit si they would come on when you start the bike.