Relay to Cut Off Headlight When Starting

steell wrote:

Guess I should re-phase my statement, I kicked started my 750 fairly often, last year, when I could actually ride. Haven't had the strength to hold the bike up since I started chemotherapy in March.
Howsomever, the cancer appears to be cured (beat the less than 50% odds of survival), and my last chemo will be a week from next Tuesday, so I'm hoping to ride it yet this year

Good to hear you're on the mend..... I guess I will stop whining to my doc about the lower back agony I have been in since I stupidly tried to tie my shoes Monday morning.... and severely reinjured my chronic sciatic problems. Today was the first day since monday I could walk without yelling "AAAGGGHHHH!" after each step.

As my brother keeps saying: getting old sucks, but it sucks a little less than the other alternative.

steell wrote:

Guess I should re-phase my statement, I kicked started my 750 fairly often, last year, when I could actually ride. Haven't had the strength to hold the bike up since I started chemotherapy in March.
Howsomever, the cancer appears to be cured (beat the less than 50% odds of survival), and my last chemo will be a week from next Tuesday, so I'm hoping to ride it yet this year

Glad to hear you are on the upswing. Far to many stories of the reverse. Hope you get to ride soon and get back to the daily grind.

AtLarge wrote:

I'm 5'10'' and 185#. Now that the ambient has dropped and 50W still in the crankcase there ain't no kickin for me.

You're kidding about using 50W right? Ed

I've had two Honda motorcycles, and both have the headlight cut-out feature - stock from the factory. The lights only go out while cranking, but are ON all other times the ignition key is ON.

Seems like it could not hurt to have. I have thought about doing this, but haven't had the time.

I am not aware of any modern bikes having the feature, so the benefit may be very minor. The 6 years versus 14 months is a huge difference if that IS what made the difference.

bountyhunter wrote:

steell wrote:

Guess I should re-phase my statement, I kicked started my 750 fairly often, last year, when I could actually ride. Haven't had the strength to hold the bike up since I started chemotherapy in March.
Howsomever, the cancer appears to be cured (beat the less than 50% odds of survival), and my last chemo will be a week from next Tuesday, so I'm hoping to ride it yet this year

Good to hear you're on the mend..... I guess I will stop whining to my doc about the lower back agony I have been in since I stupidly tried to tie my shoes Monday morning.... and severely reinjured my chronic sciatic problems. Today was the first day since monday I could walk without yelling "AAAGGGHHHH!" after each step.

As my brother keeps saying: getting old sucks, but it sucks a little less than the other alternative.

You ain't kidding about beating the alternative!! :woohoo:

Sciatic nerve pain? Think maybe I'd rather deal with the chemo :woohoo:

650ed wrote:

AtLarge wrote:

I'm 5'10'' and 185#. Now that the ambient has dropped and 50W still in the crankcase there ain't no kickin for me.

You're kidding about using 50W right? Ed

No, the manual recommends 20w50 for the summer weight. I just switched over to 10w40 two weeks ago.

Now that I've got some time on my hands I'm going to do this cutoff mod if I can find a place to mount the relay. Not a lot of room under the seat.

AtLarge wrote:

650ed wrote:

AtLarge wrote:

I'm 5'10'' and 185#. Now that the ambient has dropped and 50W still in the crankcase there ain't no kickin for me.

You're kidding about using 50W right? Ed

No, the manual recommends 20w50 for the summer weight. I just switched over to 10w40 two weeks ago.

Now that I've got some time on my hands I'm going to do this cutoff mod if I can find a place to mount the relay. Not a lot of room under the seat.

I put mine down by the fusebox. The 20A "main line" you want to interrupt with the relay feeds the two smaller fuses so that line should be in the vicinty of the fuse box. I cut the wire and installed a male/female connector set. Then I installed flying leads on the power terminals of the relay with connectors to match up so I can open the line and snap in the relay. I wrapped the whole relay in tape and install it by tie-wraps to the wire bundle feeding the fusebox.

The relay coil power line comes from the starter relay (coil terminal).

Ah, good to know. I was thinking about upgrading the fuse box too like Biquetoast did so I'll be in the vicinity anyway. Thanks BH.

Z1 and KZ900 can actually be started by using hand instead of foot on the kick starter.

This is the truth! Happened to me last week: bought a new battery, it was a bum, wound up kicking it for a week because it "felt more badass" than using a little button. My decision was based upon the fact that, indeed, a proper tuned KZ/Z1 will kick over very easily!

Good luck!
-Mark

mtbspeedfreak wrote:

...kicking it for a week because it "felt more badass" than using a little button....

Yes indeed, and especially satisfying at most any gathering when surrounded by the typical hoard of Harley riders whose new macho machines don't have kick starters. :laugh: :laugh:

I should talk :ohmy: --- my first motorized two wheeler had a rope-pull starter. :laugh:

Good Fortune!