Anyone have a intergrated tail light from kapsco?
01-10-2013, 12:27 PM
#1
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hawi, Hi
Posts: 87
Anyone have a intergrated tail light from kapsco?
Was looking for an led tail light and came across this
just wondering if anyone has one or has tried one. for the price doesnt look like you can go wrong unless it doesnt work. Did a search for kapsco on the forum didn't see anything refering to a tail light.
just wondering if anyone has one or has tried one. for the price doesnt look like you can go wrong unless it doesnt work. Did a search for kapsco on the forum didn't see anything refering to a tail light.
Last edited by JakeT; 01-10-2013 at 12:56 PM.
01-10-2013, 01:09 PM
#4
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
Integrated for sure looks clean. I've got an integrated led array in mine, although if you're going integrated AND smoked you aren't leaving much for the cars behind you to see... I kept the red housing and it's brighter than smoked or clear (more even light distribution).
smokinjoe would not approve
smokinjoe would not approve
01-10-2013, 01:11 PM
#5
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
I would trust the electronics quality and safety of clear housing in this one more:
Honda VTR1000 LED Brake Tail Light Clear Lens 98 05 | eBay
Honda VTR1000 LED Brake Tail Light Clear Lens 98 05 | eBay
01-10-2013, 02:30 PM
#7
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Posts: 1,456
I just did the led bar conversion to the stock housing and I love it, very bright and good light distribution, much much better then the stock light bulbs, no integrated signals, but I don't care about that, in fact I prefer it separately for better visibility, I even got on one of my other bikes a second set of front blinkers with the running lights and installed them instead of the original blinkers, but that's just me
01-10-2013, 02:35 PM
#8
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
That's the key, generally LED arrays are brighter and are slightly quicker to light up than filament bulbs in tail lights (among other benefits), but integrated is harder to see (proximity to the center of the bike as well as being right next to another light) than separate turn signals.
On the other hand I've seen poor aftermarket turn signals that are way less visible than integrated ones.
On the other hand I've seen poor aftermarket turn signals that are way less visible than integrated ones.
01-10-2013, 02:50 PM
#9
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South of Live Free or Die & North of Family Guy
Posts: 1,456
That's why I don't like after market turn signals, most of them are crappy, to say the list... most OEM's of any manufacturer are better by far due to the vibration resistance built in with tested stems and better wiring quality. You may as well pick and choose signals from other bikes if you don't like yours then getting after market, again just IMHO
01-10-2013, 04:34 PM
#10
Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Snohomish, WA.
Posts: 285
Not to thread jack, but has anyone tried or is using the Integrated unit from AKO Racing? (I posted a couple of days ago).
AKO Racing L.E.D. Integrated Taillights - Street Motorcycle - Motorcycle Superstore
(Pictured unit is just an example not the one that fits Hawk)
Thanks
AKO Racing L.E.D. Integrated Taillights - Street Motorcycle - Motorcycle Superstore
(Pictured unit is just an example not the one that fits Hawk)
Thanks
01-10-2013, 08:44 PM
#12
Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Snohomish, WA.
Posts: 285
I am assuming the one that fits our Hawks is the same shape as stock, not like the one pictured, but I can give them a call tomorrow.
I am interested in the Brightest integrated taillight possible, and realize I may have to come up with something myself if I cannot find something that will be adequate for my tastes.
I am interested in the Brightest integrated taillight possible, and realize I may have to come up with something myself if I cannot find something that will be adequate for my tastes.
01-10-2013, 08:56 PM
#13
Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Snohomish, WA.
Posts: 285
One other note, I would prefer to keep my Rizoma LED turn signals in addition to an integrated taillight. I may end up doing the LED board retrofit that is posted on this forum elsewhere, forgoing the integrated turn signals. I just like the idea of clear tail lens with red leds, (such as 7Moore7 mentioned above), to match my clear turn signals. Haven't decided yet.
01-10-2013, 09:13 PM
#14
Junior Member
Squid
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5
Was looking for an led tail light and came across this 1998-2005 Honda Super Hawk VTR1000 LED TailLights Brake Tail Lights with Integrated Turn Signals Indicators Smoke Motorcycle : Amazon.com : Automotive
just wondering if anyone has one or has tried one. for the price doesnt look like you can go wrong unless it doesnt work. Did a search for kapsco on the forum didn't see anything refering to a tail light.
just wondering if anyone has one or has tried one. for the price doesnt look like you can go wrong unless it doesnt work. Did a search for kapsco on the forum didn't see anything refering to a tail light.
In response to your original question... I have this exact taillight currently. Have had it for about 2 years now. It has yet to fail, so I guess I can assume that reflects decent quality.
However, it is not that bright and is "smoked". The resistors or capacitors (not sure which) that come with it are cheap ceramic units that are supposed to keep the flash rate in check are terrible and I ended up wiring up the unit without them, as a result, my turn signals blink in the typical rapid fashion. My fronts were LED flushmounts as well and caused this already, and I have yet to take the time to correct it as I don't see much of a need to do so.
In short, it's a cheap unit, that is built reasonably well, but not the brightest unit. If you are looking for a unit to have equivalent or better visibility to the OEM unit, look elsewhere, and be prepared to spend more money.
01-11-2013, 07:34 AM
#15
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,869
you could also go this route, although it won't be integrated, it would be bright for sure...
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...etrofit-15217/, maybe even find an old clear housing to use. It's brighter than stock, and draws much less amps.
You could even probably figure out how to get some orange LED boards in there and wire them into the turn signals.
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...etrofit-15217/, maybe even find an old clear housing to use. It's brighter than stock, and draws much less amps.
You could even probably figure out how to get some orange LED boards in there and wire them into the turn signals.
01-11-2013, 08:44 AM
#16
Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Snohomish, WA.
Posts: 285
you could also go this route, although it won't be integrated, it would be bright for sure...
How-to: LED tail retrofit, maybe even find an old clear housing to use.
How-to: LED tail retrofit, maybe even find an old clear housing to use.
01-28-2013, 10:14 AM
#19
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Hawi, Hi
Posts: 87
Thanks guys for all the great feed back. I like that its cheap an in short it works haha. Well Ill definitely start looking for one but with a clear lens. I like the sleeker look of the integrated but definitely safety is also an issue.
10-11-2013, 02:01 PM
#20
Member
Squid
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bangor,Maine
Posts: 32
Alright, so i just ordered this same part ( Kapsco smoke led integrated tail light) And i was taking a first look at everything, it looks like the new tailight doesn't have the same wiring harnesses as the stock light. Hopefully someone who has installed this light before can give me a few pointers on what wires to splice and where. I took my multimeter out and did a few voltage tests to identify what the stock wires are ( +, -, or Brake) I think i've got that all sorted
stock wire config = brown +(pos), Green -(neg), Green/Yellow stripe= Brake. Basically all i need for info is which wires do what on this new Kapsco integrated light ? If anyone has done this before and could put in some knowledge that would be a huge help
stock wire config = brown +(pos), Green -(neg), Green/Yellow stripe= Brake. Basically all i need for info is which wires do what on this new Kapsco integrated light ? If anyone has done this before and could put in some knowledge that would be a huge help
10-11-2013, 03:41 PM
#21
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Rome, GA
Posts: 458
I have this tailight installed on my bike, bike came with it. I don't like the turn signals, I think its asking too much from cagers to pay attention to so I run some short stalks as well. P/O didn't install the resisters so it blinked fast as well til I installed the new signals. All wires were cut and soldered. I will get you some pics of the connections on sunday or monday to post if you'd like so you know what colors go where.
Been screwing with my Bandit 400 today just to find out that it was sold to me with bad valves and I just don't want to mess with the bikes anymore today
taking the hawk on a 4 hour run through the mountains tomorrow
Been screwing with my Bandit 400 today just to find out that it was sold to me with bad valves and I just don't want to mess with the bikes anymore today
taking the hawk on a 4 hour run through the mountains tomorrow
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
spitfirerecords21
Modifications - Cosmetic
7
05-22-2012 09:59 AM
CNI Dawg
Classifieds
11
06-08-2006 07:28 PM
