ANY Sport bike riders? Need some Advice

[newbiker]

Hi guys,

I recently got a 2016 Kawi ZX6r, with 3200 miles. Aside from some track days & coaching classes, I need to make a few basic upgrades; I was hoping some of you guys can pitch in and share your knowledge/experience. Your Recommendations are hight Appreciated -

- Looking to upgrade the dim OEM (H7, 55W OEM Bulbs) headlights to possibly LED Ultra bright headlight bulbs - in the 6000/6500 temp. I'd still like to maintain the low & high beam (but obviously very bright).

- An exhaust slip on. I am getting some mixed info about this. Some guys say you need to keep the OEM to maintain the CA emissions, and some say bikes are not emissioned right now. So, what's the REAL DEAL? I want it to look tidy, with a smaller can and louder than OEM. Also, don't want to hurt the valves or any other engine issues (or needing a tune). Just plug and play.

I know these aren't really big changes, but then again it's a new bike. Any additional info is also Welcome! Btw, getting suspension setup by Evolution tomorrow.

Thanks! :ride

 

[Junkie]

drop in LED bulbs generally result in less light where it needs to be

 

[R3DS!X]

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-SilverStar-Performance-Replacement-Technology/dp/B0012ETPUE Instead of LED bulbs

Skip the slip on. Extra noise brings extra attention. Also the Intake, exhaust and fueling system were designed to work with each other. I wouldn't change one thing and not the others.

 

[J-Boat]

For brighter bulbs try the Sylvania Silverstar Ultras...

(Edit: what he said...^)

 

[newbiker]

drop in LED bulbs generally result in less light where it needs to be

I had a 2005 CBR F4i before. It had HID lights, you could see it coming from a mile, and lights were super bright. Had no issues.

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-SilverStar-Performance-Replacement-Technology/dp/B0012ETPUE Instead of LED bulbs

Skip the slip on. Extra noise brings extra attention. Also the Intake, exhaust and fueling system were designed to work with each other. I wouldn't change one thing and not the others.

Same thing - my old 2005 F4i had a 2 Brothers exhaust on it. Everything worked well in Sync. That's how I had bought the bike. I didn't do any upgrades, but someone before me had.

Are the newer bikes more sensitive?

 

[295566]

I had a 2005 CBR F4i before. It had HID lights, you could see it coming from a mile, and lights were super bright. Had no issues.




Same thing - my old 2005 F4i had a 2 Brothers exhaust on it. Everything worked well in Sync. That's how I had bought the bike. I didn't do any upgrades, but someone before me had.

Are the newer bikes more sensitive?

Gonna be that guy.

Super bright does not mean better visibility. Everyone could see you from a mile away because you were blinding them with your HIDs in halogen housings. You probably had significantly worse usable light on the road than if you had put a set of quality proper halogen bulbs. Seriously. If you put HIDs or LEDs in halogen housings, everyone hates you.

I believe your new ZX6R uses projectors, so you don't need to worry about the above. I could be wrong though. However, as others have pointed out, there are halogen bulbs significantly better than OEM. If it's not cutting it for you though, HID retrofits can be had. Cheap can work, but don't expect quality or reliability.

As for the exhaust, slip ons are fine, but as others have pointed out, you'll get more attention. Keep the speed down cause the popo will certainly hear you before they see you, and they'll be ready! No need to get a power commander unless you remove the cat. They call them slip ons for a reason... slip on and go...

 

[Scot Steele]

OP: "Not emissioned?" If by that you mean not checked at a smog station, then, correct, they're not checked ("smogged," as the car guys say) in California.

Yet.

 

[Butch]

Scott's steering dampner and dirt bars. Something like that. I forget.

The wisdom here (and perhaps bullshit) is almost infinite.

 

[Moto Beck]

+1 on trying halogen first. I put an LED bulb into a '14 Tuono i had and i actually didn't like the abrupt "cut off" of the light at night (that bike also had projectors). It's great on cars because cars don't lean and it's fine on the bike when you're going in a straight line, but when you're turning and leaned over - i thought the visibility was somewhat worse than a halogen light that isn't as focused but "throws" more light in general.

If you go with the silverstars - buy an extra one and keep it with you in the bike if you have space. My experience with those is that they were really much better than stock but they didnt last long (some as short as 3 months - some as long as a year). THey're cheap to replace though.

On Exhaust - emissions shouldn't matter because bikes in california are not smogged - so this shouldn't be a limiter to what pipe you add.

How loud is too loud is a personal choice - i'd recommend searching your bike or similar model year with different exhaust brands on youtube. It's not perfect but you can kind of get a sense of tone and how loud it is (particularly if the camera shakes when someone is revving it lol).

While you don't need a tune, bikes can certainly benefit from them - (UKSteve can shed some light on that after he flashed his Speed Triple with arrow cans to the arrow map). I wouldn't expect any power gains but you may save some decent weight savings depending on how much of the stock pipe the slip on tells you to remove.

 

[bpw]

Bikes aren't smog checked, but it is still illegal to modify emissions equipment. Likely you won't have an issue but if you get pulled over the slip on could get you a ticket unless it is CARB approved.

Given the really minimal (if any) gain in performance from adding a slip-on to a modern bike combined with the extra LEO attention from the noise they don't seem worthwhile to me. That said, a few of my bikes came with aftermarket pipes and I havn't bothered to swap back to original and never had an issue.

 

[mototireguy]

LED headlight bulb surfaces are not in the correct focal point like a halogen filament or HID arc would be.

Just use higher quality halogen bulbs, and NOT the PIAA voodoo blue BS bulbs. And beware of the high wattage 80/100 watt bulbs. They an overwhelm/melt the stock wiring or in some cases borderline melt the plastic headlight housing.

 

[aminalmutha]

D&D that shit or GTFO.

 

[S21FOLGORE]

Gonna be that guy.

Super bright does not mean better visibility.

+1.

Just because the light looks super bright (when you look into them) doesn't mean you can see better.

Read this link when you have enough time.

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=69572.0

Meanwhile, ....


1) Forget the silvania silverstar line of bulbs. (Or PIAA, anything that has "blue" filter on, to make the light look "whiter".
Read about Silvania Silverstar lawsuit.

https://autolightclaims.com/mainpage/Notice.aspx

https://www.law360.com/articles/556866/sylvania-to-pay-30m-to-settle-headlight-false-ad-suit

2)Your best bet is, relay + heavy duty wiring + hi wattage bulb (optional)
+ auxiliary light (optional).


youtu.be/WVWfIS6bGto


youtu.be/oWbPIoay72Q

3)About Color Temp
You said, you want the "color temperature 6000 K (Kelvin) - 6500K".

That's WAY too blue-ish, to be actually useful for motor vehicle's headlight.

Short wavelength lights such as blue, purple are more irritating to human eyes, that's why they look brighter when you look into them.
Short wavelength lights WILL NOT focus on your eye's focal plane. What it means is, you can not see thing clearly with those head light, regardless the claimed light output. (Lumen).
When the condition gets harder (rain, fog, etc), things get worse. Those blue-ish white light scatters all over, your visibility will be greatly reduced.

And, you will get more, way more eye fatigue, because your eyeballs will have to work extra hard, trying to focus on things that they really can't focus.

Things illuminated by blueish light, always look slightly out of focus, which distort the depth perception, which can get you killed on a motorcycle.

Is that what you want?

 

[budman]

It is illegal to change the exhaust on '14 and newer bikes.

A slip on can be CARB approved, but I personally would not sweat it.

Just don't rev bomb people and all should be good.

 

[EastBayDave]

It is illegal to change the exhaust on '14 and newer bikes. A slip on can be CARB approved, but I personally would not sweat it. Just don't rev bomb people and all should be good.

Exactly, don't rev the piss out of it & ride quietly around town. When you get out to the boonies, enjoy! :teeth

My main reason for a FULL exhaust system (not a slip on!) is for weight reduction 1st, more horsepower second. My bike will loose like 14lbs. just putting on a good pipe. I also would go w/a mid-range to less noise version. The loud race pipes attract too much attention. I'm in love w/the Akrapovic...

Here are some samples for your bike (there's a bunch on UTOOB, do some searching): https://youtu.be/dySMSWQZcPc

Spend some times searching & get the best you can afford. Some pipes are cheap ($500 Black Widow is what I recently bought.) Some can be very pricey up to titanium versions & $2500 or more. How deep is your wallet on that one...

If you ride at night a lot & need the light; get the brighter LED bulb. Safety for cheap to me...

Best of luck! :ride :afm199

 

[S21FOLGORE]

I forgot to add, ...

5) If you really, REALLY want to see better at night (eg, you frequently ride in the pitch black twisty back road in the middle of the night), nothing, I mean NOTHING beats adding AUXILIARY LIGHTS.

Another important thing to remember is, that no matter how bright (you think) your headlight is, they are frame mounted (on your bike).
What that means is that your headlights are NOT going to illuminate where you really want to see. (That's why I said nothing beats aux lighting.)

This may be unacceptable because it makes you look dorky, but it's going to light up where you are looking at.


youtu.be/RuNPu0AKBM4

 

[JesasaurusRex]

14lbs..really?

 

[Whammy]

Lights Mehhhhhh.
illegal on the pipe.
If I had my way id slap a Yoshi on it and call it good!

 

[MysterYvil]

I had a 2005 CBR F4i before. It had HID lights, you could see it coming from a mile, and lights were super bright. Had no issues.

Same thing - my old 2005 F4i had a 2 Brothers exhaust on it. Everything worked well in Sync. That's how I had bought the bike. I didn't do any upgrades, but someone before me had.

Do what you're gonna do. You already answered yorself so why ask?

 

[gixxerjeff]

Scott's steering dampner and dirt bars. Something like that. I forget.

:laughing
Ah, the memories.