Recently traded in my RKC for a CVO Street Glide. On the RK, I had power for the GPS hardwired and then used a quick connect plug when I wanted to pull it off the bike. On the Street Glide I have a cig lighter and figured it would be easy to simply wire it with a lighter power plug. That was until I read the owner's manual that said do not use the lighter for a power supply.

Is this just typical owner's manual warning BS or is there a reason not to? Also, does anyone know if the cig lighter is always hot (powered) or if the bike has to be on or turned to ACC?

 

I was wondering the samething. The owners manual says it will damage the cig lighter and cause it not to work properly.
Only thing I can see it causing is the cig lighter not staying in properly. Which doesn't bother me since I don't smoke.
I plugged my GPS into the cig lighter and it worked fine.
And yes the bike has to be turned on for the cig lighter to work.

I'm thinking it's just HD covering their *** just in case it does damage it.

 

I've been powering my Zumo with the lighter outlet for years, using the West Marine plug. No problems

 

I have used mine for a couple of different GPSs. Used it from Oralndo FL to Pigeon Forge Tenn in poring rain laast year. No problem. 1 Magellan & 1 Lowrance. I have also used it to charge my Iphone.

 

I have my GPS wired to the cig lighter & have had no problems at all.

 

Have Garmin Zumo 550 and do not plug in the Cig Lighter. My mechanic/installer had it set up very clean using the "little" plug by the CD/radio player as the wiring goes through inside my fairing all the way up to left handlebar grip.

Thorey

 

Yup, my Garmin is plugged into the lighter and I've never had any problems with it.

 

I use a USB adapter in the cig plug to operate my GPS or Phone or anything else with a USB plug. No problems.

 

I always use my lighter socket to power my GPS.

What other than possible exposure to the elements is the difference between a car and motorcycle cigarette lighter? Hell, I run everything off the car sockets, Laptops, CD players, MP3 Players, GPS, Radar Dectors...ect

I think this is another one of those HD does not recommend using Synthetics in your bike kind of thing.

 

Be careful when you do a full turn to the left, some plugs can impact the tank.