Who gets rid of their idiot lights on their street fighters?

B

bunnyman

Been Around the Block
My idiot lights don't work on my KZ650. No neutral indicator, no brights indicator, no turn signal indicator, nothing like that. I am thinking of shaving the whole works, and maybe even eventually getting a nifty Acewell digital unit or keeping the tack and getting a bicycle computer.

Please give input.
 
JRK5892 said:
why not just make them smaller and do them in one LED or in several small ones
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Here's the rub-

I am mechanically experienced, just not on motorbikes. I am also one hell of an electronics guy on guitar pedals and guitars, as well as making my own triggers for e-drums, but I am intimidated by the electronics of a motorcycle. Maybe I could shave a bunch of stuff with going with the Acewell speedo/tach/idiot lights combo, as there may be instructions on how to connect the idiot lights. I mean, if the bike doen't die when I have the gear between first and second and I am not moving, then I am in neutral, right?
 
That Acewell unit should have a PDF file on their site (didn't check myself - sorry). A lot of gauge manufacturers have installation instructions online.

And the neutral indicator light is pretty handy sometimes. Like when you come to a stop and want to take your hand off the clutch - really nice to KNOW you are in neutral then!
 
The Acewells come with a wiring diagram - or you can download them from their site. All you need then is the KZ wiring diagram to match the relevant wires (or pull apart your KZ gauges and work them out ;))

Seriously dude, if you can fix guitar pedals and make trigger units for sampling cycle wiring is pretty simple.

But anyway, seeing as you say that NONE of your idiot lights work, maybe check your fuses as it sounds like it might be a blown fuse ???
 
I will check the fuses. But the turn signal indicators on the dash do not blink.

Maybe idiot lights should mean "you're an idiot if you DON'T run them"... :p
 
I know this is silly but have you checked the bulbs in the idiot lights? On my kz1000 project i kept all of the "idiot" lights for the vintage look funny thing was all but one bulb were burned out and i thought they werent working until i checked. :)
 
If you build super cool rat pedals and big muffs, you can handle the electrics on a bike. You're already familiar with circuits and troubleshooting, and I bet you have a kickass meter too. First rule: Always keep the smoke INSIDE the electrical equipment, never let it out. ;D I bet you have a blown bulb or two, or a worn out termination at tis' socket. Meter test those lamps, and I bet you find that's the problem..... BTW, they make cool LED replacements for those, and you can get them in cool colors to match your scheme. Ebay is your friend.

Get your wiring diagram, and get cozy with the manual. I've never needed much more than that to get the stuff tested and working. (I'm a tech geek, too.)

loudest143
 
Thanks to all who responded!!!!

I do tend to get rid of "unnecessary" stuff on the guitars I build. I had a guitar with an on/off switch, rather than a volume knob. I quickly put a volume knob back on (but no tone knob). I also tend to shave things quickly, then regret what I have done and have to figure out how to put them back together.

You all have convinced me that I do need the idiot lights. I pay attention to them more than I think I do... I probably would have missed the neutral light most...

I will get a manual and my voltmeter. Usually, I am not this goofy about electronics. But I had a senior moment...

Manual, check fuses and bulbs.
 
I don't have any idiot lights at all left on my XS650. Simple speedo with no indicators at all. Not sure I'll miss any of them.

I read the posts - not sure who convinced you to keep the idiot lights, aside from yourself ;)
 
Tim said:
I don't have any idiot lights at all left on my XS650. Simple speedo with no indicators at all. Not sure I'll miss any of them.

I read the posts - not sure who convinced you to keep the idiot lights, aside from yourself ;)
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Depends on where you live, if you need to get the bike registered, etc.

If you got pulled over here in Oz and you had no warning lights, you'd be up for a BIG donation to the Policeman's Ball... ;D

Also, the oil warning light is a good thing to have if nothing else ;)
 
hillsy said:
Depends on where you live, if you need to get the bike registered, etc.

If you got pulled over here in Oz and you had no warning lights, you'd be up for a BIG donation to the Policeman's Ball... ;D

Also, the oil warning light is a good thing to have if nothing else ;)
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Tickets for freaking indicator lights? WTF? I'd read enough to know they were tough on you but that is crazy...

That said I think miniaturizing them is the way to go, some small LEDs or whatnot.
 
If all your idiot lights dont work now, they probably wont work when you install an Acewell either, you need to fix that problem first. My guess is there is a broken ground somewhere. Usually, the indicator lights share a ground connection(at least on most of the bikes Ive worked on). I am assuming you can still start the bike in N without having to hold the clutch lever? If so, the N switch should be working, but not the gauge lights. Make sense? Check your wiring for the gauges first. And think hard about Acewell. I have an Acewell speedo and I like it well enough, but I will never again do business with ElectroSport. They have the worst customer service i have EVER dealt with in this industry. I doubt its fuses since signals are normally on a seperate circuit from headlights or N safety switch. Unless you blew several, but in that case, other lights wouldnt work. So youve either burned multilpe bulbs and multiple fuses and just didnt bother to fix them or didnt even notice, or theres probably a broken or loose wire or more likely a splice near the front of the bike.
 
Well did you figure out your problem. The oil pressure indicator is the most important if that light comes on you need to know it. I'm no wiz but if you can read a schematic then you can figure out your bikes wiring.
Edit : nevermind you got rid of this bike
 
forty4ma9 said:
Tickets for freaking indicator lights? WTF? I'd read enough to know they were tough on you but that is crazy...
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you have no idea. it's tickets first, dispute later. often with the EPA.
one law details degrees of coverage for rear tyres. ps, it's 45 degrees behind the top of the wheel.
the measurement is taken with a 50kg ballast on the riders part of the seat. if you fail, it's a defective vehicle. easy enough to fix, but you probably lose a few hundred in the process.
the streetfighter guys have taken to carrying a printout of said law in their cowls, and get them ready when they get pulled over. it's enough to take it down to a "warning".
 
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