All motorcycles exhibit a definite loss of electrical current flow in just a few years.
All makes of bike can develop serious (and expensive to remedy) starting issues due to this common problem.
This listing is for the Motolectric HICAP II kit for the Aprilia Caponord 1000 as shown in the listing gallery image at left.
(Note that the Caponord 1200 takes a different kit)
Many of the Aprilia bikes have as bad or worse starting issues as the Ducati bikes.
The Aprilia SXV kit is actually our best selling kit at 500+ kits.
Dealer price on this kit is $182. Buy on this listing to get the $153 rider self-mechanic price.
Our kit pricing is based on lead lengths and whether they require custom terminals to replicate the OEM layout and look.
The reasons for slow and difficult starting issues are many;
A) the OEM loom actually has tinned brass solenoid/starter terminals (brass flows only 26% of the current that copper flows)
B) it also has steel battery terminals (steel flows only 10% of the current that copper flows)
C) the OEM loom uses a generic grade of wire which is prone to oxidation along its length (not just on the ends where you might see the corrosion)
D) the wire diameter is borderline as to whether it can flow the required current
E) the wire is usually a cheap grade of copper and it is a low strand count which limits the energy transfer
All of the above creates chokepoints along the circuit path that can cause a good portion of the required current to be changed to heat resulting in the starter receiving far less current than it requested
The under-engineered circuits can have dramatic voltage drops in just a few years resulting in hard starting, reduced battery/starter/solenoid life and fouled spark plugs.
We have been making and selling a version of this starting circuit upgrade since 2002.
We now market the kit for all the big twin motorcycles as the
MOTOLECTRIC HICAP II
High Capacity Oxygen Free Copper DC Distribution Circuit
It is 99.99% Oxygen Free Copper from tip to tip and can effectively flow 240+ amperes of current to start a motorcycle (it will flow 70 amps all day long).
We now make model specific kits for Aprilia, BMW, Cagiva, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Norton, Triumph and Suzuki bikes.
We currently make over 80 kits in our full series.
Please see our other listings for the other models.
We have upgraded our original kit to a MKII configuration.
HICAP II -
1666 strands of oxygen free copper [wire is custom made to our specifications],
silicone insulation [much more flexible than PVC jacketing and takes the temp rating to 300F],
all kits now use seamless ETP copper terminals [highest quality obtainable],
kits with custom fabricated terminals - terminals now made from seamless solid C101 oxygen free copper bar,
new custom made terminal boots [easier to fit over starter and solenoid studs and have more resistance to moisture ingress]
The HICAP offers many benefits;
- improves your starting to better than when your bike was new - most bikes start in less than a second (assuming you have a decent battery and your starter isn't worn out)
- enhances your pride of ownership in your motorcycle - the quick start eliminates that sinking feeling as the engine cranks over and over while you wonder if it will actually start this time
- longer battery life - when your bike doesn't start quickly your battery has to flow current for 3-5-7+ seconds. SLI (starting, lights, ignition) 12 volt batteries as supplied for motorcycles are not designed for this type of extended current flow. This extended high current discharge reduces the life span of your battery. Extended high current discharge cause the oxides in your battery to become soft. This action is cumulative (they get softer during each extended discharge) and the oxides do not "bounce back" (they don't harden back up between discharges). Depending on the type and age of the battery as little as 8-12 high discharge events can cause the oxides to soften enough to deteriorate (begin falling off the battery grids). Once this starts the battery degrades at an advanced rate. Our kit with its near instant starting will minimize the chance of this happening and allow for the longest life possible from your motorcycle battery.
- overall better electrical system performance - the substantially larger (250%+) negative lead stiffens the electrical system for much better current flow at all times. That means better battery charging and brighter lighting along with better performance from all parts of the electrical system (many riders report everything from better idling to better power)
- virtually eliminates the chance of the aggravating "fused solenoid syndrome" - when current flows through the solenoid contacts for extended periods it can fuse the contacts together. If this happens your starter will crank the motor until you cut the power by removing a bttery connection. At that point the solenoid must be replaced before you can use the bike. This problem is more common than you would think.
- maximizes the life of your starter and sprag clutch - some big twin motorcycles are notorious for chewing through starter motors. By reducing your starting to the shortest time possible our HICAP can reduce the wear on your starter motor by up to 95%. Ducati starter motors run from $500 (USA) to $1200 (Australia). Starter and sprag clutch installation is not trivial.
- minimizes your impact on the environment - the proper disposal of lead acid and agm batteries (often classified as toxic waste) is an ongoing problem. By extending the life of your battery you reduce the number of batteries you use during the ownership of your bike. You save money and there are fewer batteries to dispose of: everybody wins.
Our HICAP II upgrade kit will restore your starter system to better than when your bike was new.
The HICAP will pay for itself in reduced operating costs for your motorcycle.
OUR KIT REQUIRES NO CUTTING OR SPLICING OF ANY OF YOUR OEM WIRES.
It is built overspec so that it will deliver its superior performance for many many years. Normal installation is to replace all the leads in the starter circuit. Depending on the particular motorcycle the HICAP may be run in parallel with the OEM leads if they are woven into the main loom. We have photo install guides online. When your kit is shipped you receive an email with a link to our very comprehensive install guides.
Our kit is *VERY* easy to install. If you can get to your battery, the starter and solenoid you can install the kit.
No highly technical expertise is required.
Descriptions of the photos at the top of this listing
1) complete 3 lead HICAP II kit for the Aprilia Caponord and Futura series of bikes
2) cutaway of the type of high purity copper terminals we use and our technique of stripping our wire long and then forcing it into the closed ended terminals to maximize the area of contact between the strands and the copper terminal
3) cross section comparison of our product vs. OEM and alternate aftermarket solutions from auto parts stores
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1) OEM Ducati lead
2) OEM Triumph lead
3) cheapie Ducati M900 replacement kit for (supposedly) 1999 bike - based on our measurements it will not fit the bike (knockoff of our original kit for the E900 circa 2003)
4) chain autoparts store prebuilt 4 GA lead
5) small autoparts store prebuilt lead 4 GA lead
6) marine grade bulk 4 GA ($5.69 per foot)
7) marine store prebuilt 4 GA lead
and
8) the HICAP II 1666 strand 4 GA - all the other leads are substantially smaller actual gauge due to their low strand counts - low strand count = cheap wire
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4) graphic shows how low strand count wire as supplied in almost all OEM bike looms have large gaps that allow for corrosion along the length of the wire. Also note that the stands actually only touch on a small portion of their surface. High strand count wire as we use in our product effectively fills these gaps resulting in more actual copper conductor and much higher contact area to flow the needed current
5) an example of the type of hidden corrosion commonly found on starter circuits after only a few years
We have sold the HICAP replacement starter circuit kits to riders in over 24 different countries around the world since 2002.
You just will not believe how easily your bike can start!
1) we don't just give you a replacement lead, we give you a much larger lead for high current flow for a very long time. Kit includes 3 new starter circuit leads; 1 from the battery positive to the starter solenoid, a lead from the solenoid to the starter and a new return lead from the engine ground to the battery negative terminal
2) our circuits are made with 4 gauge 99.99% Oxygen Free Copper which is made up of 1666 individual strands of copper wire in a rope like configuration. Oxygen Free Copper is a special type of copper that has been smelted under much cleaner conditions than conventional commercial grade copper. The cleanliness required to minimize the amount of oxygen has the additional benefit of minimizing the amount of other impurities, resulting in a copper that resists corrosion and the attendant reduced current flow capability longer than other types of copper. That is why it is used extensively in the advanced robotics industry and other fields where a long service life and long term high performance are essential. Our high strand count and rope configuration are optimized to flow 12 volts and still be easy to install in tight turns. The high strand count also helps minimize the possibility of vibration developing microscopic fractures in the copper strands that can reduce current flow
3) our terminals are 100% electrolytic tough pitch copper. We supply our kits with a high grade silcone based dielectric grease that you use to coat the terminals to minimize (and monitor) any corrosion. The terminals are closed ended to create a circuit sealed against the environment. All terminal joints are double high pressure swaged to maximize surface contact and then reinforced with a layer of dual wall shrink tubing at the juncture.
All MOTOLECTRIC HICAP kits include;
A) a strip of 3M synthetic steel wool for polishing up all mating surfaces to a bright shine prior to installation,
B) a quantity of very high quality silicone based dielectric grease to help maintain a top quality connection
C) a quantity of shrink tubing to allow you to blank off the OEM starter lead if needed
D) tie-wraps so you can do a clean tidy installation
Special Shipping Note - all same location shipments are "combined". You only pay for the first kit and we pay for any additional kits on the same transaction. So if you have multiple bikes - if you buy a kit for each at the same time - you save.
Please read the Ebay feedback comments from riders who have bought the HICAP kit. Comments below were sent direct to us and show that regardless of the make of bike or the cost of the particular kit, absolutely all the riders have been extremely pleased with their purchase and the resulting upgraded performance of their starting system
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Installed the kit this evening. I have to say, I am astounded. I really did not think it would make such a difference. It started within a fraction of a second without any of the usual lazy cranking. Thanks so much, I really am impressed with the quality of your kit and it certainly worked as advertised!
The kit arrived this week and I installed it with the aid of the instructions on the website. I must admit that I was impressed with the quality of the kit. Everything went well and the Hyper starts better than it did before.
Thanks for the trouble free transaction and professional service.
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Well I installed the gran canyon starter lead set today,,,, in a word astounding!!! Literal one second starts cold/ hot it doesn't matter,,, can't say enough about your great product ,, and ebays feedback is not long enough to let me express my satisfaction,,, excellent job thank you so very much pete,,,,(a very satisfied customer),,,, now I have to buy one for my s4monster
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Thanks for your help and kit. No problems with install and my Ducati 996S starts like it never has before. One push of the button, it didn't even have to do a full roll over and it was running. Well though out kit with a outstanding quality. I'm truely impress and amazed at how it completely solved the slow starting. You should offer it as a package to Ducati they would certainly be equally amazed.
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Just wanted to thank you guys for your awesome battery cables for the Ducati 999. I would have sold this
bike if it wasn't for Motolectric. She starts first time every time and will surely increase the starter
life. I love this bike now and wouldn't trade it for nothing. Thanks again for saving my ride.
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The other 2 kits purchased perviously have made a world of difference in starting reliability, Monster & 999.
Your cables are the first thing to be added on a 1997 Ducati ST2 I've just bought.
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Michael,
Thanks for your message and the info.
I have seen your photo guide for installation and it is very comprehensive with all stages shown with really clear photos.
Why can't everyone take the effort that you obviously have if they are trying to illustrate something.
The level of detail of the installation and the clear passion that you have for your products went the major way to me placing my order.
I am already telling everyone about you and your company.
Looking forward to receipt, fitting and easy starting of my Paso.
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THANK YOU!! I fitted the kit today and words can't describe how happy I am
with the result. You obviously have done your research, because it has
achieved everything you have claimed.
