Help installing Zumo 660

[Cucho]

Good day STers,

First of all, I need to stress that I'm totally inept when it comes to electric installations, so please when you reply talk to me as if I were five.

I need your expertise to assist me in installing a Garmin Zumo 660. I understand it needs to be hard wired directly to the battery. I know I will need to take off some of the plastic on the right side but don't want to take more than is required. So if you've ever done this and can share the steps(where to run the cable, where does it go on the battery, etc) and pics, it be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance. By the way, I have ST1300 '07.

 

[jmcarruth]

There is a switched 12v accessory power lead just behind the left mirror you can access by removing the L. mid fairing. What I used as power source for my Nuvi 550 sterp down transformer and mini usb power lead (fused). Honda sells a plug in for this but I just figured out which lead was switched (+) and fabricated a copper connection to both it and ground. Has worked fine for three years.

 

[SmashVol]

Good luck at this is a future endeavor of mine and will look and listen.

 

[pixguy]

I have a Fuzeblock (www.fuzeblocks.com) under the rear seat which supplies switched power. It isn't necessary to remove any body panels; just snake the wires through to the Fuzeblock and cable tie them to the frame. I drilled and tapped a hole in the plate between the handlebars for a RAM ball and use a RAM bracket to hold the Zumo.

 

[klaproth]

The electrical part is easiest if you buy a Honda quartet harness, for about 25$, it installs under the left cowling. here is a link to instructions:

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?7714-ST1300-Quartet-Harness-Installation

AS far as installing the GPS itself, you can put it a multitude of places, but up on the dash is probably the best- I tried it down between the handlebars, but it meant looking down to see where I was going ( I don't listen to the GPS, I have to keep an eye on it). I mounted it on the dash, on a ram ball. I used a mount similar to the RBIS ( do a search) that I fabricated, and it has worked very well.

Good luck on it!

 

[Jrnyer]

Did you get the wire harness that is included with the gps?
The harness has a + and - that can attach to the battery. But, it will always be hot.
There is a thread Joe posted to tap into a hot wire on the clutch side panel next to the battery so the gps will only come on when you turn the key.
Fish the wires under the left side of the fuel tank with a coat hanger. Easy to do.

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56085

As far as mounting the gps, check out MotorCycleLarry.com website.

 

[billo]

Quartet location. Follow link by klaproth above for more.

 

[Reginald]

if you've ever done this and can share the steps(where to run the cable, where does it go on the battery, etc) and pics, it be greatly appreciated.

Since I have the cowls off I thought I'd show you the easy way,.. the attached picture shows the accessory Hitachi plug I used. If you don't have an accessory harness get one (about $50). You can use it for other features such as heated grips and electrical cigarette plugs for charging phones. On this Hitachi plug are a switched and un-switched plugins. I used the switched,... no drained batteries here! Be sure to fill any holes and wiring with electrical grease from your friendly auto parts store.

See other comments on how to install accessory harness/quartet harness. Honda lists the part as an accessory harness from it's web site.

The easiest access to the harness is by removing the inner cowl under the headlights and near the glove boxes. Look for other threads on how to do this.

Link to get connector: http://www.electricalconnection.com/electrical-components/hitachi.htm

 

[Cucho]

Thank you all for your suggestions. As I said, I'm in the dark when it comes to electrical stuff. After reading the suggestions, it seems that the easiest way is to buy the Honda quarter harness and install it on the left side. Too bad I went ahead and removed all the tupperware from the right side thinking I can connect the wires from the GPS directly to the battery. But for the life of me, I don't see how one can snake/fish out the wires underneath the gas tank. I'm assuming I need to lift it? I really hope I didn't just remove the right tupperware for nothing, and you can give me a quick and dirty way to get this freaking GPS installed from the right side.

 

[Cucho]

Did you get the wire harness that is included with the gps?
The harness has a + and - that can attach to the battery. But, it will always be hot.
There is a thread Joe posted to tap into a hot wire on the clutch side panel next to the battery so the gps will only come on when you turn the key.
Fish the wires under the left side of the fuel tank with a coat hanger. Easy to do.

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56085

As far as mounting the gps, check out MotorCycleLarry.com website.

Whatever wires came with the GPS which are attached to the cradle.

 

[Throttlejockey]

Just lift the tank up and it will be easy.

Connect the wires like this post Mellow did. https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?56085-ST1300-Switched-Power-Tap
This is how I did mine and it works great. Lifting the tank only takes about a minute to do.

Here's how I ran my wire in from the GPS. I also recommend this mount. There's no better place for it. No need to look down and take your eyes off the road. http://shop.sporttouringgear.com/RBIS-Single-Ball-System-for-ST1300-HST13-RBIS-1.htm

 

[Cucho]

Just lift the tank up and it will be easy.

Connect the wires like this post Mellow did. https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?56085-ST1300-Switched-Power-Tap
This is how I did mine and it works great. Lifting the tank only takes about a minute to do.

Here's how I ran my wire in from the GPS. I also recommend this mount. There's no better place for it. No need to look down and take your eyes off the road. http://shop.sporttouringgear.com/RBIS-Single-Ball-System-for-ST1300-HST13-RBIS-1.htm

I'm not concern about where to mount the GPS because the bike came with a MCL handle bar risers with a Powerlet connector and a RAM ball. My challenge is the electrical connectIon. I already removed all the right side tupperware, so I will lift the tank and will try to fish out the wires and connect them directly to the battery.

I'm getting a bit frustrated, so I may end up taking the bike to the Stealer so they can install it for me :-(.

 

[Throttlejockey]

Don't connect it directly. It will still draw power even when shut off.

 

[Cucho]

Don't connect it directly. It will still draw power even when shut off.

I only see one cable (red) on Mellow's post, so where do you plug in the other wire(black)?

And you said you did what Mellow did, so you didn't have to remove any of the front tupperware? You just lift the gas tank and somehow fished the wires through?

And just so we're on the same page, this how the cradle with the wires look like http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-zumo-660-and-665-motorcycle-cradle-with-integrated-power-cable.html

 

[Throttlejockey]

Black wire can be grounded anywhere.

 

[Jrnyer]

Best to ground it to the battery

 

[docw1]

I connected mine to the quartet harness, which is a good thing to get for future farkles. There are connections where you can keep it on with the accessory switch, although, since the GPS has its own battery, that's not critical, unless you want to listen to music or the phone through helmet speakers with the engine turned off.

 

[Reginald]

But for the life of me, I don't see how one can snake/fish out the wires underneath the gas tank.

I don't think you need to do that for the accessory harness. The plug in should be located just below the frame and above the engine. Here's some pics. The first one locates the plug area. The second one show my wires leading to the plug. Its not under the fuel tank, at least for me.

 

[SMSW]

I've spent the winter tinkering with my bike - mostly doing a lot of wiring for powerlets and aux lights and a louder horn. I too thought I needed to lift the tank, but someone here suggested I follow the big black wiring harness that Honda installed.

I started at the front right of the bike where the horn is located, ran my wires (encased in loom - either split plastic tubing or a woven synthetic fabric) just below the edge of the tank (no need to lift or even unbolt it) heading aft. The Honda harness dives inside the frame near the rear end of the valve cover - my bike had a couple of pieces of foam there. I took a coat hanger, straightened it out, and bent it into a gentle curve with a small hook on the end. I stuck it in next to the harness, and hooked the hooked end from the area where the top of the shock absorber attaches with another piece of wire. Then I taped the wires/loom assembly to the coat hanger's forward end and pulled the hanger out from the shock end. You are now within inches of the battery. No need to lift the tank at all.

Having said all that, I too recommend that you use a quartet harness to give you switched power. I did that for my powerlets and it was quick, easy and a neat install.

Btw, use finely stranded wire, preferably rated at 90 deg C or higher.

 

[Jeff F]

I have a Fuzeblock (www.fuzeblocks.com) under the rear seat which supplies switched power. It isn't necessary to remove any body panels; just snake the wires through to the Fuzeblock and cable tie them to the frame. I drilled and tapped a hole in the plate between the handlebars for a RAM ball and use a RAM bracket to hold the Zumo.

Carlos, if you're thinking of installing very many more electrical devices the FZ1 fuzeblock is the way to go IMO. Its slick. It allows 6 devices that can all be changed from switched to constant by simply moving the fuse over a space. A very handy design especially when you're not sure how you want to set things up, like maybe for a TPMS or GPS. Other reasons too. Installing it now is very little added effort and could save you lots of time in the future.

I didn't think I'd need the space for 6 new gadgets but I seemed to have filled it. GPS, heated grips, heated clothes, fork lights, mirror lights, TPMS.

I expect you know alll about the great resources in the Articles section, but just in case here's a start ...

Curt Gran's Farkle-Accessory-Wiring-Primer Definitely worth a read - or 2 (Thx again Curt for all your guidance and inspiration)

ARTICLE ST1300-Fuse-Block-Install-(FZ-1) One idea.

I had a quad harness on my ST. At the time choosing it over a fuse block seemed like the better option although I'm not sure why now that I`ve had both setups.

One more thing - If you do the fuseblock thing I'd suggest a visit to Princess Auto (Cdn version of Harbor Freight for our US friends). They have colour coded spools of automotive wiring in several gauges. I also picked up some large heat shrink tube (3/8" I think) to run my wiring in. Feed several wires thru each tube as added protection for the wires and a nice clean install, -- don't shrink the tube. Looks just like a factory install. ;-)

Oh ... and isn't raising the tank on an ST needed periodically anyway? The air filter is in there IIRC. That's the way to go IMO. Raising the tank is simple. Honda even gives a you prop rod. Still got yours?

Anyway ... if you need some hands-on help I'm sure one or more of us would be happy to be there for you. Just ask. We could even have an impromptu tech day somewhere. Several others will need things done too, I expect.

Cheers,