92KK 84WW Olaf
Life time member
Number of posts : 7954
The car I drove for quite a few years when delivered to the Scandinavian market had a different battery arrangement despite being same engine and mine having the same preheater. No differences in electrical options or accessories. I suspect it was to allow for much greater use of air con, defogging, heaters etc.
This doesn't happen with bikes because no need to set them up for riding in -10 or -15C.
But the high load and cold has a huge effect on the battery and a start on a cold morning is quite telling. That's why I wouldn't put the 20A 200CCA battery in my K. Too marginal in our climate although 99% of the time I would get away with it but I want 100%. On the Honda it would happen after a run that I used the lights on there wouldn't be enough in the battery to start the engine again....but it had a kick start so that was manageable.
Trouble is the place BobT lives in is warm enough there won't be a heated grip or heated suit in sight.
I too had to deal with needing extra light and it made such an amazing difference it was worth it. Sadly my experience to date with LED lights etc is that while they can be vastly more efficient the lumens don't seem to be where you want them.
When I popped the 160W H4 in the K it was awesome and the early K isn't all plastic so will take it. I have the ceramic bulb holders and relays and it was better than any of the cars.
On the Honda I wired the extra lights to the original wiring but with a switch so there was an option to have them on or off when using full beam, wired through a separate relay. Like the K it didn't have any relay as standard so it was easy and just ended up with two relays.
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1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles.
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles
Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500