ninjette.org - View Single Post - DIY: Adding GPS and Heated Gear / Battery Tender cable

Alex · September 30th, 2012, 07:58 PM

Hi all -

Step one on bikes that make it into our garage, is fitting them with the ability to run a powered GPS, and the ability to power our heated clothing. The harness for the heated clothing has a dual purpose, and can also be used to easily attach a Battery Tender trickle charger to the bike, so the battery is always in good shape without ever having to remove the seat.

I added the GPS mount in the same place it's been on both of our prior ninjettes, just inboard of the left grip on the handlebar. I use a standard u-bolt ram mount, and aim the ball a little rearward:

This is where the GPS sits from the rider's view:

To attach the wiring to the battery, you first need to remove the body-colored side cover. There is one screw to undo, then it can be pulled free. There are 3 or 4 pop rivet type things, that when you pull them hard enough they pop right out of the rubber mount. Then the bike looks like this:

Next, remove the black plastic colored cover in between the fairing and the gas tank. There is one black screw at the bottom, and one silver bolt up near the top. When those are removed, the piece can be pulled free. It also has some of those same rubber/plastic mounts that get pulled free.

Remove the body-colored plastic cover on the opposite side of the bike. It has the same setup of one bolt, and then the rest are just those pop mounts to pull free. Finally, remove the rider's seat. There are two bolts, one on each side, that need to be removed. Then the seat needs to be pulled upwards. The rear of the seat has plastic hooks that attach into the frame, so if you've already removed the bolts, just move the seat around a bit until it comes free (don't force it).

Here's what it looks like under the seat:

Release the latches that are holding the large wiring harness on top of the battery. The latches are plastic, and on either side (toward both sides of the bike). Once released, the whole unit can be pulled upwards:

I suggest taping it up against the rear of the bike so it stays out of the way. There's no need to remove or unplug any of those harnesses. Next, remove the battery cover. There is one screw on the right side of the bike to remove, then the cover can be removed completely:

Next, it's all about choosing how you want to run your wires, attaching them to the battery posts, and then securing them in place. Be careful around the positive terminal, doing your best not to have any tool touch both that terminal and anything on the bike that may be grounded. We ran the GPS wire up the left frame tube, fed it through between the tank and the fairing, and managed to snake it up the same hole that the main wiring harness goes through under the tripletree. Once it is where you want it to be, start using zipties to secure it and make sure it won't move around. I routed the heated gear harness down the left side of the bike, to peek out just a little above the sprocket. It as well needs a bunch of zipties down its length to keep it in place. I then had some assistance with someone who is more careful than me to route the wires under the seat, and add a few more zipties to keep them organized:

Once the wires look good, there's just a couple of things to check. Make sure that the battery bolts are as tight as they can possibly be. If they loosen, weird things start to happen to the bike. Don't just use a screwdriver, use a nut-driver or ratchet to tighten them incredibly hard; that's why they are shaped that way. Reattach the battery cover. Pop that wiring harness back into its slot in the top of that cover. Replace the seat. Replace the black side panel. Replace both body-colored side panels. Enjoy!

Only after we reassembled everything, I realized that 2 or 3 of the zipties and part of the cable run slightly interfere with the panel mount on the left side, so it doesn't fit as flush as it should. I ran out of time to tidy it up, but some weekend when we feel OCD, we'll open it back up and re-run the wires to make sure they don't interfere at all with the plastic panel.

The GPS worked like a charm on today's ride, and the heated gear kept me toasty all morning.

September 30th, 2012, 07:58 PM	#1
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	DIY: Adding GPS and Heated Gear / Battery Tender cable Hi all - Step one on bikes that make it into our garage, is fitting them with the ability to run a powered GPS, and the ability to power our heated clothing. The harness for the heated clothing has a dual purpose, and can also be used to easily attach a Battery Tender trickle charger to the bike, so the battery is always in good shape without ever having to remove the seat. I added the GPS mount in the same place it's been on both of our prior ninjettes, just inboard of the left grip on the handlebar. I use a standard u-bolt ram mount, and aim the ball a little rearward: This is where the GPS sits from the rider's view: To attach the wiring to the battery, you first need to remove the body-colored side cover. There is one screw to undo, then it can be pulled free. There are 3 or 4 pop rivet type things, that when you pull them hard enough they pop right out of the rubber mount. Then the bike looks like this: Next, remove the black plastic colored cover in between the fairing and the gas tank. There is one black screw at the bottom, and one silver bolt up near the top. When those are removed, the piece can be pulled free. It also has some of those same rubber/plastic mounts that get pulled free. Remove the body-colored plastic cover on the opposite side of the bike. It has the same setup of one bolt, and then the rest are just those pop mounts to pull free. Finally, remove the rider's seat. There are two bolts, one on each side, that need to be removed. Then the seat needs to be pulled upwards. The rear of the seat has plastic hooks that attach into the frame, so if you've already removed the bolts, just move the seat around a bit until it comes free (don't force it). Here's what it looks like under the seat: Release the latches that are holding the large wiring harness on top of the battery. The latches are plastic, and on either side (toward both sides of the bike). Once released, the whole unit can be pulled upwards: I suggest taping it up against the rear of the bike so it stays out of the way. There's no need to remove or unplug any of those harnesses. Next, remove the battery cover. There is one screw on the right side of the bike to remove, then the cover can be removed completely: Next, it's all about choosing how you want to run your wires, attaching them to the battery posts, and then securing them in place. Be careful around the positive terminal, doing your best not to have any tool touch both that terminal and anything on the bike that may be grounded. We ran the GPS wire up the left frame tube, fed it through between the tank and the fairing, and managed to snake it up the same hole that the main wiring harness goes through under the tripletree. Once it is where you want it to be, start using zipties to secure it and make sure it won't move around. I routed the heated gear harness down the left side of the bike, to peek out just a little above the sprocket. It as well needs a bunch of zipties down its length to keep it in place. I then had some assistance with someone who is more careful than me to route the wires under the seat, and add a few more zipties to keep them organized: Once the wires look good, there's just a couple of things to check. Make sure that the battery bolts are as tight as they can possibly be. If they loosen, weird things start to happen to the bike. Don't just use a screwdriver, use a nut-driver or ratchet to tighten them incredibly hard; that's why they are shaped that way. Reattach the battery cover. Pop that wiring harness back into its slot in the top of that cover. Replace the seat. Replace the black side panel. Replace both body-colored side panels. Enjoy! Only after we reassembled everything, I realized that 2 or 3 of the zipties and part of the cable run slightly interfere with the panel mount on the left side, so it doesn't fit as flush as it should. I ran out of time to tidy it up, but some weekend when we feel OCD, we'll open it back up and re-run the wires to make sure they don't interfere at all with the plastic panel. The GPS worked like a charm on today's ride, and the heated gear kept me toasty all morning. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)