I've been/am a gadget freak and some farkle is required on almost any bike. Basically farkle falls into three categories: Mapping, Intercom/communication, and Stealth. I have some opinion on various farkle listed below.
Garmin Zumo Series GPS
I've used a series of Garmin GPS units over the years. They are the best in my opinion. I prefer the 276/376C series due to their versatility but they are out of production and a little hard to find. Consequently I've migrated to the Zumo series of Garmin GPS which, allegedly, were designed with the motorcyclist in mind. Evidently motorcyclists don't want to see much other than the route they are riding on their GPS as the sad note with the Zumo series, in my opinion, is they reduce the amount of visible stuff like roads, lakes and towns, when zoomed out to a level that orients the user to the "Big picture". The older GPS let you see everything and you had the ability to alter how much you saw or didn't see. Too hard for a motorcyclist to manage I guess, so we end up with dumbed down units that contain useless stuff like picture viewers and calculators. Oh well, sigh, sniff. Time to get over it.
I used both BMW versions of the Zumo 550 and the Zumo 660. The BMW branded ones have more memory than the standard Zumo and have a much better warranty. The new BMW Zumo 660 has a very useful cradle with push buttons, so one does not have to use the touch screen. Basically, you can't go wrong with either. A plus on the new 660 is that Mapsource comes in both PC and Mac versions. The Mac version adds some features not available on the PC, but nothing so significant that you need to run out and buy a Mac.
I preferred the Zumo 550. There is too much idiot stuff on the 660 for my tastes such as the map turning into a terrain map when zoomed out past 5 miles. I really dislike that, preferring to see a frigging map - the damned terrain is visible if you move your head around so who needs this feature? The Zumo 550 has push buttons on the left side so you can zoom in and out, and do other stuff without having to use the touch screen. To get that feature set on a 660 you have to buy the BMW version. In either case however, the units are fast at recalculation, provide audio out, Bluetooth connectivity, and in general get the job done.
That said, I recently decided to buy a Zumo 665 - which still has the funny terrain map feature I dislike - however I just didn't see a GPS unit that had the functionality I decided I needed other than the 665. Specifically, these are a fast processor, XM Radio capability, Cell Phone interface, Weather Mapping, and Traffic Advisory functions. The Zumo 665 provides all of this with a Bluetooth interface. Unfortunately I've had problems with the Zumo 665. The Bluetooth audio output was almost inaudible for a while when trying to listen to the XM Radio - software updates seem to have resolved this. The XM radio will drop audio. At first I thought it was the trees that interfered with satellite reception but it happens out in the plains states as well. Various software updates have not resolved this, nor has a change in the radio/antenna (XM Weather works flawlessly). But these are minor annoyances compared to the routine shutdown of the unit.
For no apparent reason the unit will shut itself off and you have to restart the thing. It is a common problem noted on the Zumo Forums. I've had three replacement units and all exhibit the behavior. I kept the last unit as it shuts down the least of any of them - maybe once per ride, and when I restart it it picks up where it left off. The other units I sent back required you to pull the battery, or hard reset, just to get the unit to start up.
I am not an advocate for this product right now. It does have the stuff I want and the weather map function that I really need is excellent, but for my money - and yours - it should work flawlessly. The Zumo 665 does not in my experience. Please note that Garmin has been responsive but it seems, given the number of units I've obtained from them trying to resolve the shut down problem, that there are major issues with the product. I'll use it till something else comes along.
What good is a GPS unit on a bike anyway? Read the section below on Navigation.
It is a useful tool.
I used both BMW versions of the Zumo 550 and the Zumo 660. The BMW branded ones have more memory than the standard Zumo and have a much better warranty. The new BMW Zumo 660 has a very useful cradle with push buttons, so one does not have to use the touch screen. Basically, you can't go wrong with either. A plus on the new 660 is that Mapsource comes in both PC and Mac versions. The Mac version adds some features not available on the PC, but nothing so significant that you need to run out and buy a Mac.
I preferred the Zumo 550. There is too much idiot stuff on the 660 for my tastes such as the map turning into a terrain map when zoomed out past 5 miles. I really dislike that, preferring to see a frigging map - the damned terrain is visible if you move your head around so who needs this feature? The Zumo 550 has push buttons on the left side so you can zoom in and out, and do other stuff without having to use the touch screen. To get that feature set on a 660 you have to buy the BMW version. In either case however, the units are fast at recalculation, provide audio out, Bluetooth connectivity, and in general get the job done.
That said, I recently decided to buy a Zumo 665 - which still has the funny terrain map feature I dislike - however I just didn't see a GPS unit that had the functionality I decided I needed other than the 665. Specifically, these are a fast processor, XM Radio capability, Cell Phone interface, Weather Mapping, and Traffic Advisory functions. The Zumo 665 provides all of this with a Bluetooth interface. Unfortunately I've had problems with the Zumo 665. The Bluetooth audio output was almost inaudible for a while when trying to listen to the XM Radio - software updates seem to have resolved this. The XM radio will drop audio. At first I thought it was the trees that interfered with satellite reception but it happens out in the plains states as well. Various software updates have not resolved this, nor has a change in the radio/antenna (XM Weather works flawlessly). But these are minor annoyances compared to the routine shutdown of the unit.
For no apparent reason the unit will shut itself off and you have to restart the thing. It is a common problem noted on the Zumo Forums. I've had three replacement units and all exhibit the behavior. I kept the last unit as it shuts down the least of any of them - maybe once per ride, and when I restart it it picks up where it left off. The other units I sent back required you to pull the battery, or hard reset, just to get the unit to start up.
I am not an advocate for this product right now. It does have the stuff I want and the weather map function that I really need is excellent, but for my money - and yours - it should work flawlessly. The Zumo 665 does not in my experience. Please note that Garmin has been responsive but it seems, given the number of units I've obtained from them trying to resolve the shut down problem, that there are major issues with the product. I'll use it till something else comes along.
What good is a GPS unit on a bike anyway? Read the section below on Navigation.
It is a useful tool.
Intercom - Scala Q2, G4
Intercom units are useful if you ride with a passenger. They can let you know they need a bathroom, food, or fluids without having to bash you on the helmet to get your attention. The downside is they can natter away when you might prefer they shut up.
Bluetooth units get better and better each year, as is the the case with most technology. At the moment, on one of my bikes, I use a Scala Q4 as an intercom and an interface with my GPS. Battery life is good for a day's riding and the units charge quickly in a motel. Voice quality and intercom facility is acceptable, however audio volume when wearing earplugs is poor, in my opinion. Using this device eliminates having to be physically connected to the bike. VOX operation needs improvement, but I'm told by the vendor that upcoming units will have this improved. In the interim, I'm reasonably satisfied.
If all you need is a simple intercom, and a way to get GPS guidance into your head, then try a Bluetooth system; just don't expect good audio volume if you wear earplugs.
Bluetooth units get better and better each year, as is the the case with most technology. At the moment, on one of my bikes, I use a Scala Q4 as an intercom and an interface with my GPS. Battery life is good for a day's riding and the units charge quickly in a motel. Voice quality and intercom facility is acceptable, however audio volume when wearing earplugs is poor, in my opinion. Using this device eliminates having to be physically connected to the bike. VOX operation needs improvement, but I'm told by the vendor that upcoming units will have this improved. In the interim, I'm reasonably satisfied.
If all you need is a simple intercom, and a way to get GPS guidance into your head, then try a Bluetooth system; just don't expect good audio volume if you wear earplugs.
Communication - Starcom1 Advance
I like to have audio alerts about radar, traffic, and GPS directions on bikes I use for long distance riding. I also like to chat with truckers at night. An ability to chat with a passenger is welcomed too. Since the Bluetooth units don't yet allow FRS or CB connectivity they won't be included here.
I evaluated a lot of systems about 12 years ago and the Autocom seemed to be the best on the market at the time so I built my system around it. It was a simple to install and very capable product. FRS and CB radio could be connected so bike to bike or bike to 18 wheeler communication needs were accommodated. Autocom recently went out of business - at least there wasn't a U.S. distributor for a while and I learned it was acquired by the company that makes the StarCom series of intercoms - a former competitor of Autocom. Though the Bluetooth units I had been evaluating are acceptable, I wanted better audio (louder) output as I wear a full face helmet and earplugs. I also needed FRS/GMRS bike to bike and the ability to use CB on occasion. Since Autocom was no longer an option I decided to try the StarCom 1. It works as well as the Autocom - perhaps a bit more fiddly - but it meets my need.
Interface with GPS, Radar Detector, Intercom, iPod, Cell Phone all work well, but acquiring the specified cables for each peripheral item does run the cost up.
I evaluated a lot of systems about 12 years ago and the Autocom seemed to be the best on the market at the time so I built my system around it. It was a simple to install and very capable product. FRS and CB radio could be connected so bike to bike or bike to 18 wheeler communication needs were accommodated. Autocom recently went out of business - at least there wasn't a U.S. distributor for a while and I learned it was acquired by the company that makes the StarCom series of intercoms - a former competitor of Autocom. Though the Bluetooth units I had been evaluating are acceptable, I wanted better audio (louder) output as I wear a full face helmet and earplugs. I also needed FRS/GMRS bike to bike and the ability to use CB on occasion. Since Autocom was no longer an option I decided to try the StarCom 1. It works as well as the Autocom - perhaps a bit more fiddly - but it meets my need.
Interface with GPS, Radar Detector, Intercom, iPod, Cell Phone all work well, but acquiring the specified cables for each peripheral item does run the cost up.
Radar Detectors - Escort 9500ix, and Adaptiv
Speed wastes fuel and no matter how nice the LEO may be, a chat on the side of the road is a 20 minute delay. Airborne LEO have all the advantages....so I don't make a habit of speeding, but it is easy on a bike to quickly and inadvertently go over a few mph and become vulnerable. My main intent in using a radar detector is to be alerted to LEO activity around small towns. So far it has worked as intended, and often in rural areas I would not have suspected.
I use an Passport 9500ix. I chose this over the very popular Valentine1 because the audio interface with my StarCom 1 was simple and the detection ability of the 2 units is almost identical. Many people chose the Valentine1 because its dual antenna system permits an arrow system letting the user know where the radar is e.g. up front, behind, or off to either side. The Passport 9500ix does not have this ability but you can tell if the LEO is coming at you or is following. It has much better filtering of false signals.
Purchasers of this Escort unit get downloads periodically of radar based intersection cameras and speed camera locations. You get an audible alert when approaching one. Since the unit is GPS enabled it provides ample warning. Filtering is excellent. Suggested and recommended.
I acquired an Adaptiv TPX radar detector marketed and sold to motorcyclists. Being weather resistant with a good mounting system is good for motorcycle applications, and the reviews seemed encouraging - so I went for it. It is rain resistant and has some interesting features however it is larger than I expected and the power cable is overbuilt making installation tougher than necessary when space under the fairing and seat is limited. Originally, I had real difficulty getting the unit to function well - and I was pretty critical of it - but I have been able to get the thing to work reasonably well. Reasonably well means detection range is acceptable for K and Ka bands if you are not running at warp speed. A casual 5 or so over the limit and you should have a decent chance of slowing down once alerted.
What I don't like: The Adaptiv picks up other radar detectors with glee. It also does not like rain. Mine got wet and started to cycle on and off until I turned it off and let it dry out. The liberal application of RVT in the seals resolved that. But sometimes it just got pissed off and cycled off and then back on even on a dry 95 degree day. It turned out to be a loose connection where the power cord enters the main unit. You cannot mute X Band in Highway mode, but you can in City mode which helps. Unfortunately there is no auto mute, so you have to manually go from Highway to City to City No X if you want any semblance of quiet as you roll through a small town - UGH!
The Adaptiv TPX radar detector is sufficient in the detection arena, provides resistance to rain water, and has a slick on/off cradle so you can easily remove the head unit for safe keeping. These are good features but the product has a way to go in my opinion. It is OK for the money but if you need the best detection available, and who doesn't when riding a bike, look at Escort and Valentine 1 products. The new Escort Redline is about the best available, and the venerable Valentine 1 can't be beaten. You can make them rain tolerant in many different ways.
I use an Passport 9500ix. I chose this over the very popular Valentine1 because the audio interface with my StarCom 1 was simple and the detection ability of the 2 units is almost identical. Many people chose the Valentine1 because its dual antenna system permits an arrow system letting the user know where the radar is e.g. up front, behind, or off to either side. The Passport 9500ix does not have this ability but you can tell if the LEO is coming at you or is following. It has much better filtering of false signals.
Purchasers of this Escort unit get downloads periodically of radar based intersection cameras and speed camera locations. You get an audible alert when approaching one. Since the unit is GPS enabled it provides ample warning. Filtering is excellent. Suggested and recommended.
I acquired an Adaptiv TPX radar detector marketed and sold to motorcyclists. Being weather resistant with a good mounting system is good for motorcycle applications, and the reviews seemed encouraging - so I went for it. It is rain resistant and has some interesting features however it is larger than I expected and the power cable is overbuilt making installation tougher than necessary when space under the fairing and seat is limited. Originally, I had real difficulty getting the unit to function well - and I was pretty critical of it - but I have been able to get the thing to work reasonably well. Reasonably well means detection range is acceptable for K and Ka bands if you are not running at warp speed. A casual 5 or so over the limit and you should have a decent chance of slowing down once alerted.
What I don't like: The Adaptiv picks up other radar detectors with glee. It also does not like rain. Mine got wet and started to cycle on and off until I turned it off and let it dry out. The liberal application of RVT in the seals resolved that. But sometimes it just got pissed off and cycled off and then back on even on a dry 95 degree day. It turned out to be a loose connection where the power cord enters the main unit. You cannot mute X Band in Highway mode, but you can in City mode which helps. Unfortunately there is no auto mute, so you have to manually go from Highway to City to City No X if you want any semblance of quiet as you roll through a small town - UGH!
The Adaptiv TPX radar detector is sufficient in the detection arena, provides resistance to rain water, and has a slick on/off cradle so you can easily remove the head unit for safe keeping. These are good features but the product has a way to go in my opinion. It is OK for the money but if you need the best detection available, and who doesn't when riding a bike, look at Escort and Valentine 1 products. The new Escort Redline is about the best available, and the venerable Valentine 1 can't be beaten. You can make them rain tolerant in many different ways.
Navigation - Why you should have and use a GPS on your bike when touring.
Navigation – why would a motorcyclist bother with a GPS when paper maps have served us well since shortly after Columbus arrived in the New World? Someone once said the only good thing about a GPS on a motorcycle is its ability to precisely report the location of the motorcycle accident. Well, there are other good things they can do.
Paper maps work, no argument and they do fit into the clear panel on top of a tank bag quite nicely and you can write things on a paper map that you want to remember. I still carry a large USA map as it gives me a “big picture” view of my riding environment, and comes in handy at night when thinking about the next day’s ride on an unplanned trip; all good.
I dove into the GPS world however after a trip that took me through the Chicago area and a lot of the east coast. This is an environment with toll roads, and interchanges located close to one another, and lots of traffic. Trying to locate my next interchange off ramp in heavy traffic was a chore. I often found myself in the wrong lane once I saw the sign I needed, and had to pass an exit, make a weird loop, and get back on track – traffic conditions simply didn’t allow me to safely get into the correct lane in time.
And then there were the toll roads and Turnpikes – never fun on a motorcycle to easily manage correct change with gloves on. Never mind the grease and oil accumulation on the road right by the thing you toss your change into.
A GPS unit makes all that easy and more so if it is paired with an audio system like an Autocom or a Bluetooth device like the Cardo Scala Rider where audio from the GPS is fed into your helmet speakers. Simply have the GPS route you through a city and you get audible commands like “In one mile take exit 5 right” then “in 500 yards take exit 5 right”. Complete the exit and hear “in 5 miles take exit 145 left”. All you have to do is focus on getting into the right lane safely because you have enough advance notice of your next turn without having to consult a map, or a list of hand written turn by turn directions, while scanning the horizon for road signs – and dodging cars and trucks. Best of all, a GPS can be programmed so routing from one place to another avoids toll roads, freeways, dirt or the converse for the adventuresome. Nice.
Ever wonder where the next gas station might be? My GPS can tell me. I program it to bring up an icon that appears about the same time as my low fuel light comes on. I press the icon and a list of all the nearby gas stations appears. I want a Chevron station, locate one on the list, and the GPS asks if I want to go there as part of my route. I press the yes icon and get directed right to the gas I want. Afterward, the GPS takes me back to my original route, if I was riding a planned route.
I try to plan my long trips with a daily destination, and often have a motel reservation secured. A GPS will let me know how many miles are left till I get to my destination, and at what time I will arrive. On more than one trip I have changed my plans requiring me to cancel the reservation and make a new one somewhere else. I can pull over at a convenient spot, and since my cell phone is connected to my GPS I can have the GPS dial the motels, speak to the desk via my Scala Rider, and get on with my ride. I do all without getting off the bike or fiddling with paper notes and manually dialing a phone; pretty nice if it is raining.
I have completed quite a few Iron Butt Association rides and have a few more to check off my to-do list. This type of riding is a time distance endurance equation and a rider needs to accurately compute their average speed required in the allotted time to complete the ride, accounting for getting gas, eating food, and other considerations. Essentially, this provides a computation detailing the number of hours you have riding at an “average speed”, the number of hours allowed for “stopped time” at that average speed, and so on. A GPS unit can monitor these data providing you a “real time” measurement of how you are doing relative to how you should be doing.
Lastly, I’ve found myself someplace while on a ride but not exactly sure where that is. Trying to find my precise location is difficult more often than not, but a GPS will let me know. I just have to zoom out and see where I am relative to the big picture. And, it is true that a GPS is useful when broken down or there is an accident and you have to summon help. Get your coordinates off your GPS and provide them to emergency services and they can get right to you. The beloved paper map cannot do that.
A GPS isn’t required for fun while motorcycling, but I believe you should consider one. If you are a BMW rider please know the BMW navigators are Garmin units and you could buy the non BMW versions for a little less. The downside, with a non BMW unit is you miss out on the larger memory the BMW units have, and the extended warranty BMW provides you.
Paper maps work, no argument and they do fit into the clear panel on top of a tank bag quite nicely and you can write things on a paper map that you want to remember. I still carry a large USA map as it gives me a “big picture” view of my riding environment, and comes in handy at night when thinking about the next day’s ride on an unplanned trip; all good.
I dove into the GPS world however after a trip that took me through the Chicago area and a lot of the east coast. This is an environment with toll roads, and interchanges located close to one another, and lots of traffic. Trying to locate my next interchange off ramp in heavy traffic was a chore. I often found myself in the wrong lane once I saw the sign I needed, and had to pass an exit, make a weird loop, and get back on track – traffic conditions simply didn’t allow me to safely get into the correct lane in time.
And then there were the toll roads and Turnpikes – never fun on a motorcycle to easily manage correct change with gloves on. Never mind the grease and oil accumulation on the road right by the thing you toss your change into.
A GPS unit makes all that easy and more so if it is paired with an audio system like an Autocom or a Bluetooth device like the Cardo Scala Rider where audio from the GPS is fed into your helmet speakers. Simply have the GPS route you through a city and you get audible commands like “In one mile take exit 5 right” then “in 500 yards take exit 5 right”. Complete the exit and hear “in 5 miles take exit 145 left”. All you have to do is focus on getting into the right lane safely because you have enough advance notice of your next turn without having to consult a map, or a list of hand written turn by turn directions, while scanning the horizon for road signs – and dodging cars and trucks. Best of all, a GPS can be programmed so routing from one place to another avoids toll roads, freeways, dirt or the converse for the adventuresome. Nice.
Ever wonder where the next gas station might be? My GPS can tell me. I program it to bring up an icon that appears about the same time as my low fuel light comes on. I press the icon and a list of all the nearby gas stations appears. I want a Chevron station, locate one on the list, and the GPS asks if I want to go there as part of my route. I press the yes icon and get directed right to the gas I want. Afterward, the GPS takes me back to my original route, if I was riding a planned route.
I try to plan my long trips with a daily destination, and often have a motel reservation secured. A GPS will let me know how many miles are left till I get to my destination, and at what time I will arrive. On more than one trip I have changed my plans requiring me to cancel the reservation and make a new one somewhere else. I can pull over at a convenient spot, and since my cell phone is connected to my GPS I can have the GPS dial the motels, speak to the desk via my Scala Rider, and get on with my ride. I do all without getting off the bike or fiddling with paper notes and manually dialing a phone; pretty nice if it is raining.
I have completed quite a few Iron Butt Association rides and have a few more to check off my to-do list. This type of riding is a time distance endurance equation and a rider needs to accurately compute their average speed required in the allotted time to complete the ride, accounting for getting gas, eating food, and other considerations. Essentially, this provides a computation detailing the number of hours you have riding at an “average speed”, the number of hours allowed for “stopped time” at that average speed, and so on. A GPS unit can monitor these data providing you a “real time” measurement of how you are doing relative to how you should be doing.
Lastly, I’ve found myself someplace while on a ride but not exactly sure where that is. Trying to find my precise location is difficult more often than not, but a GPS will let me know. I just have to zoom out and see where I am relative to the big picture. And, it is true that a GPS is useful when broken down or there is an accident and you have to summon help. Get your coordinates off your GPS and provide them to emergency services and they can get right to you. The beloved paper map cannot do that.
A GPS isn’t required for fun while motorcycling, but I believe you should consider one. If you are a BMW rider please know the BMW navigators are Garmin units and you could buy the non BMW versions for a little less. The downside, with a non BMW unit is you miss out on the larger memory the BMW units have, and the extended warranty BMW provides you.
Power to the Tank Bag
Over the years, I have added all sorts of powered accessories to my bike. Things like GPS, GMRS Radio, Intercom, and so on. Usually the major components of the intercom system fit under the saddle with power acquired from a power strip of some sort. GPS and other things like radar detector mount on the dash or handlebars and all the leads get fed under the fairing to the intercom unit which is the central hub for collecting audio and distributing it to my ears. It often requires a lot of wiring and extension cables and I'd take pride in making sure the mess looked like a professionally installed mess.
All that is fine if you ride a bigger bike but it becomes a challenge, often insurmountable, when one rides something like a BMW K1300S. There is no room under the saddle for stuff, and there is precious little room under the fairing panels for routing cables, wire, and what not. The solution is to put all that stuff in a tank bag that is powered from the battery and do it neatly so the Tank Bag still functions as a Tank bag.
Here's how I did mine: I use a Cortech 10 Litre Tank Bag - not the Super Mini; they look similar but the Super Mini is a tad bit too small for me.
Helmet lead comes out of the built in port on the right side of the bag
StarCom1 intercom unit fits into a little pocket in the lid of the tank bag. A small hole was made at the bottom of the pocket for the power lead and GMRS radio lead - both plug into the StarCom1 on its bottom.
Leads for audio input can be seen on the top of the intercom unit and they feed down the right side of the bag lid to the bottom of the bag where they are arranged flat. A hole was melted with a soldering iron in the front panel of the bag through which the audio leads were poked, and zip tied into a small bundle. RVT applied to keep water out.
A PowerLet Tank Bag power lead was used on the other side of the bag. Power comes from the bike's switched accessory port which is fused at 5 amp and controlled by the CAN-BUS.
All the cordage is laid out on the bottom of the tank bag and then covered by some cardboard which is then covered by the blue cloth to make it neat. I gave up perhaps 1/2 inch of depth in the bag doing it this way. Note, there is a cigarette lighter type plug visible. That ties into the system and powers my iPhone to keep it charged and blue toothed to my GPS.
Here's the layout of my farkle:
Zumo 665 XM antenna - I need weather map data and this is a good location out of the way.
Back to the tank Bag. At night, when traveling, I merely disconnect the power lead, and the audio leads and take the bag inside the motel or tent with me. Easy to set up in the morning and my GMRS radio clips to the left side when I choose to use it. If it rains, I just put the rain cover on and ride.
All that is fine if you ride a bigger bike but it becomes a challenge, often insurmountable, when one rides something like a BMW K1300S. There is no room under the saddle for stuff, and there is precious little room under the fairing panels for routing cables, wire, and what not. The solution is to put all that stuff in a tank bag that is powered from the battery and do it neatly so the Tank Bag still functions as a Tank bag.
Here's how I did mine: I use a Cortech 10 Litre Tank Bag - not the Super Mini; they look similar but the Super Mini is a tad bit too small for me.
Helmet lead comes out of the built in port on the right side of the bag
StarCom1 intercom unit fits into a little pocket in the lid of the tank bag. A small hole was made at the bottom of the pocket for the power lead and GMRS radio lead - both plug into the StarCom1 on its bottom.
Leads for audio input can be seen on the top of the intercom unit and they feed down the right side of the bag lid to the bottom of the bag where they are arranged flat. A hole was melted with a soldering iron in the front panel of the bag through which the audio leads were poked, and zip tied into a small bundle. RVT applied to keep water out.
A PowerLet Tank Bag power lead was used on the other side of the bag. Power comes from the bike's switched accessory port which is fused at 5 amp and controlled by the CAN-BUS.
All the cordage is laid out on the bottom of the tank bag and then covered by some cardboard which is then covered by the blue cloth to make it neat. I gave up perhaps 1/2 inch of depth in the bag doing it this way. Note, there is a cigarette lighter type plug visible. That ties into the system and powers my iPhone to keep it charged and blue toothed to my GPS.
Here's the layout of my farkle:
Zumo 665 XM antenna - I need weather map data and this is a good location out of the way.
Back to the tank Bag. At night, when traveling, I merely disconnect the power lead, and the audio leads and take the bag inside the motel or tent with me. Easy to set up in the morning and my GMRS radio clips to the left side when I choose to use it. If it rains, I just put the rain cover on and ride.