Additional Powerlet socket "Up Front"?

[Shakey]

Does anybody have any actual experience of installing an additional DIN power socket at the front of the bike?

I don't mean a handlebar mount; I'm thinking of having it discretely mounted somewhere around the steering head or perhaps even drilling a hole in the trim panel at the front of the tank if there's room.

I've ordered a 1" low profile socket and a mounting bracket in case I want to mount to the frame somewhere.

I want it so I can run a DIN to Cigar adaptor cable into my tank bag so I can charge my iPod or phone on the go, thus reducing the number of mains adapters I have to carry and have on the go overnight

[Catchina]

If you want to pm me your email address I can send you a picture of how the powerlet is mounted up front, the dealer set it up for me. It is connected to the power hookup at the front, not wired to the battery.

[SF_Hooligan]

I've gone through a couple iterations on my R1200R. First was a cable socket, which just poked out from the front of the tank. Not super clean, but worked until I figured out what I wanted. I ended up with this arrangement:



I've since updated how the phone (running Navigon) is mounted, much cleaner and less bulky. The plate and the single RAM ball are all on the top left bar mount bolt. It's mostly Powerlet parts but I had to use a bolt from some GS kit from Touratech to make it work. I think. Might have been some other long bolt I had lying around.

Anyway, I'm working on a way to hard-wire my Spot Messenger and have considered the very thing you're thinking of - putting it in the plastic trim on the front of the tank. I haven't been in there recently, but I think it's doable - there's a fair amount of space in there. Could also maybe mount a small plate to hold the plug up under there, like where the GPS plug is.

You could also switch to one of the Bags-Connection tank bags that use the powered mounting system, and wire directly to the mounting collar. Then you can have whatever connectors you want inside the tank bag.

[Shakey]

@Catchina - sounds good, PM sent.

@SF_Hooligan - Nice job, but I was thinking of something just a tad more discreet than that

[Shakey]

Or too much discretion can be a bad thing.

OK so here's my solution to the "I want a discrete powerlet socket near the headstock area" problem.

I bought a mounting plate but in the end I used it as a backing plate just to strengthen the plastic panel. I incorporated the in-line plug and socket so that the trim panel can easily b removed to allow tank removal.

It's really very discrete but it is only possible to do this when you use the right angle type of powerlet plug


The more experienced or mechanically astute amongst you have probably spotted my FUBAR already

Yep - with the bars on full right lock the fork tube touches the socket cover. I've now rotated it 90 degrees anti-clockwise so that the hinge is closest to the steering head. That way, if the fork tube comes in close it pushes the cover out of the way and just about touches the plug top.

I reckon I can live with that because if I have the bars that far over when I'm moving I'll probably have other more pressing things like impending pain and scratched paint to be concerned about

[Shakey]

...... Oh dear! notwithstanding what I said about fork interference at the extreme turn of the bars, this has been playing on my mind. Surely it would be far better to leave the bars to turn unimpeded no matter how unlikely the chance of ending up on full lock?

So I've experimented with bolting my mount bracket onto a number of headstock bolts but they interfered even more.

I've finally bitten the bullet and moved it up near my Zumo mount.
I fixed the bracket by using a longer bolt for the clamp on the GS hand guards I fitted.
The hole I drilled in the tank front valance has been filled with a grommet and the cable to the socket passes through this.

Pretty it ain't but at least it's safe





This'll do fine for now but I think that now I've upgraded to the Bags Connection City Bag, I'll look into changing to a powered tank and bag ring. I'm not keen on having a cable trailed over the tank though .........