why is a short ground recommended rather that a run back to the battery ?
I would think that the path thru grease and bearing would create more noise

 

Run it to the battery.

 

What he said!!

 

Well...no. Three kinds of ground. Earth ground, not relevant here since you have rubber tires, circuit ground, not relevant here, and Chassis ground. The battery is connected to the chassis making the entire chassis the same electrical point on the schematic. Running a wire back to the negative post only makes a really long point of failure and is no more electrically sound than the shortest path to the chassis. Electrons will take the easiest path back to positive, which means if there is something like grease or dirt in their way they go around. If you have ever chased a bad ground you know this to be true.

 

Not picking up what ur laying down here.
Can I ground it to the handlebars?

T

 

So you're telling me that a ground on the triple tree that has to deal with the bearings and grease in the neck is a better ground than going straight to the battery. If this is what you believe then you can hook yours up just like that. I'll keep doing and recommending what I know to be a solid ground. Shortest ground doesn't apply here.

 

Cudos for a well thought out and articulate response. Much appreciated.

That said. Ground to the battery OP.

 

Trust me when i say this...... listen to SBates and Gan.

Electricity likes the path of the least resistance. A solid, non stop connection back to the source is the least resistance.

The other guy doesn't like the least resistance path, he's a contrary Mary.

 

If it’s a car then use a short chassis ground. Bikes go to the battery

 

Biketronics instructs people to run the ground to the radio mount bolt. That is a very short run. I wouldn't think there would be anything different about their amps that would require a shorter ground, right?