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kawasaki Z650 motowerk footrests causing brake light headaches!

K9Commander

Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2025
Messages
9
Hey everyone, so my brother just tackled installing those Motowerk Footrest Lowering adapters on his 2023 kawasaki Z650 this past weekend.

He's a taller guy, and that extra spacing, especially combined with his taller Kawasaki seat, really helps him out.

But now he's got a new problem, that he can't get the rear brake lever adjusted right. When he turns the rear master cylinder push rod clockwise, the lever moves down fine (he set it to about 1.5 inches lower than the footrest).

The weird thing is, when he pushes the rear brake lever, the stop light doesn't come on. And get this, the front brake lever wouldn't actuate the brake light either!

He asked for my help, so I checked the manual and found the brake light switch. just looking at it, I think it's not gonna be easy to adjust.

I ended up putting the master cylinder push rod back to its original position, and now the brake lights work again!

I'm just wondering if any of you have been down this road with these adapters and can offer some advice
 
Hey, that's a common problem when you lower the footrests. You might need to adjust the brake light switch since the new position of the pedal can prevent it from activating.

Have you checked if the rear brake light switch moves adequately when you press the pedal? Sometimes, you may need to reposition or add a shim to the switch to get it to work properly.

Going back to the push rod was a good move, but you'll probably need to tweak both the rod and the switch together.

Have you located the switch? I'd be happy to help if you need some advice on how to adjust it.
 
Lowering adapters often mess with brake light switch timing coz the lever moves differently. You'll prolly need to tweak or reposition the brake light switch to get it working right. If that's a pain, some add an adjustable switch or find a new spot to mount it. Keeping the push rod close to stock length usually fixes the problem too.
 
Footpeg lowering kits often mess with rear brake ergonomics more than people admit, manufacturers don't design for these mods. If the brake light switches aren't triggering, that's a safety risk, your brother might need a custom-length push rod or a brake switch relocation to make this setup actually work right
 
My buddy's got a 2022 Z650, he's 6'3" and went with the Knight Design lowering pegs instead of Motowerk. They gave him the legroom he needed, and the brake light switch adjustment was way smoother. We found that following the bike's manual for switch alignment worked better than the adapter instructions. You might want to check that out.
 
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