Quite Ferocious? Actually Obedient? ZX12R Head Cover Gasket Replacement, Shorai Battery, Highsider Turn Signals, and More

The 550 bike is so much fun that I ended up buying a GPZ 550 as well.
So I’ll be picking it up tomorrow and will be out until evening.

We’ll be able to see it tomorrow. Should I film the pickup video too? I’m excited.

Now, I’d love to just enjoy myself, but reality isn’t that kind.
Next, the parts arrived, so I’m going to install the turn signals.

If KatieX is truly an effective motorcycle buyer,
motorcycle replacement would become much easier.
The selling part is really the bottleneck, so if that becomes easier, the convenience would be very high.

Eye discharge concerns—that’s the age we’re at. ZX 12 R

The owner mentioned that there’s some debris inside the headlight that’s bothering them a bit.
Yeah, that would be bothersome—it’s surprisingly large.

So I sucked it out with a vacuum pump.
I’m not sure what it was—looked like a centipede or millipede, I’m not really sure, but it was the dried-up remains of one of those.

It must have crawled in through the gaps.

Still going strong! NOVSIGHT LED H4 Headlight Bulb

I’m removing the old HID and replacing it with a modern, super convenient LED headlight bulb.
I’ve been using NOVSIGHT LED H4, so I’ll go with that.
*For motorcycles!
I recommend black.
It might just be a feeling, but I think the black one is easier for the tester to pick up—or is that just my imagination?

Various other manufacturers sell these too,
but you can’t really know until you actually try them, right?
I use this one because I have the experience of it being safe and reliable when installed.
The overall quality and inspection are generally OK, and the HI/LO difference is solid, so you can feel confident.

Installing Daytona Highsider LED Turn Signals

When it comes to ultra-compact LED turn signals, it’s basically a choice between Daytona’s Highsider or Kellermann.
Lately, there are some questionable E-marked turn signals popping up on Amazon.
Sure, inspection stations check for the E-mark, but they don’t verify the license sheet, right?
There are definitely some gray-area products out there in the world. *Completely black?

This turn signal only has about 0.3 sq or so.
If you try to crimp the spade connector as-is, it’ll snap easily.

So I upgraded it to 0.5 partway through to make it more durable.

I installed it like this.
Then I realized I forgot to order an LED-compatible turn signal relay.
When it comes to LED turn signal relays, it’s gotta be Daytona! There’s no other choice.

You can install it with rubber mounts just like the original.
The new design works both vertically and horizontally.
Amazingly, it can handle up to 100W, so you can use it as a hazard relay too.
I always use this turn signal relay. It’s a proven product.

As I disassemble, all sorts of little things come out.

I also cleaned out the ram air duct and the inside of the upper cowl.
The well nut under the storage compartment was worn out, so I replaced that too.

And then there’s this mysterious issue where the seat won’t close properly.
If you push it hard, it clicks shut, but it just feels wrong.

It’s an issue with how the lock arm engages, so adding a washer to lower it just makes it rattle.
Yeah, super rattly.
I’m getting the sense that this Kawasaki has some pretty bad design compromises.

I used that special metal-lined trim from Amazon I mentioned the other day generously
as a buffer for the rattle.
The result is great—it clicks shut reliably every time and opens smoothly.

When you reduce stress in these little areas, it makes a big difference.
If it didn’t close properly and flew off, that would be dangerous.

So there’s more to come.