Add a USB power jack...
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
@RiderX , Im not one to disagree with you on the worth of carrying a usb power pack. Darn handy devices!
But, when youve a charger that youre riding, it kinda makes sense to generally use it, and keep the power pack topped off and available for those times no charger is available. Be it sitting around the campfire, in the tent, etc.
But, when youve a charger that youre riding, it kinda makes sense to generally use it, and keep the power pack topped off and available for those times no charger is available. Be it sitting around the campfire, in the tent, etc.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Well, obviously my solution will not work for those very specific and unique scenarios. Typically when one goes for a ride, he is not camping for days on end. Even if one does camp for days on end, most campgrounds have power. How many of us here have taken a trip where we camped days on end without "no power sources anywhere around for days one end"? I would be very shocked if you camped for days on end at multiple campgrounds and not one had power. Also, one does not typically ride for 12 hours hour per day. If one does, there are usually several stops for gas, food, etc.., where one could find power.
I have a scenario for you. Let's imagine he actually had a cigarette lighter, which he doesn't (which makes my suggestion even more relevant), and installed the USB cigarette lighter adapter and it works great. Let's then imagine if he is riding in the mountains at night and an alien space craft hovers over him and emits an electromagnetic pulse, thus draining all of the power from his bike and his GPS stops working. What then? Or if he is riding when he hits a bump and his GPS falls of his mount - I guess the USB cigarette lighter adapter would be of no use then either.
I hope you get my point. You probably do not so let me explain it. Any one of us could make up multiple scenarios that completely negate perfectly good and helpful suggestions.
What is up with people lately? Sheesh...
I have a scenario for you. Let's imagine he actually had a cigarette lighter, which he doesn't (which makes my suggestion even more relevant), and installed the USB cigarette lighter adapter and it works great. Let's then imagine if he is riding in the mountains at night and an alien space craft hovers over him and emits an electromagnetic pulse, thus draining all of the power from his bike and his GPS stops working. What then? Or if he is riding when he hits a bump and his GPS falls of his mount - I guess the USB cigarette lighter adapter would be of no use then either.
I hope you get my point. You probably do not so let me explain it. Any one of us could make up multiple scenarios that completely negate perfectly good and helpful suggestions.
What is up with people lately? Sheesh...
you do realize this is the TOURING forum. People ride 12+ hours a day exploring all parts of the US. Why would anyone want to sit at a gas station every 2 hours charging a device? That assumes there is even one on a day-route. In some rural areas of this country (parts of Arkansas comes to mind) they won't want a stranger sitting at a gas station for an hour 'charging' a device.
At that, if one is leading a funeral procession or charity ride with 100s of people following (those run an entire day here) to have to force a group to stop so you can 'charge your device' is an absurd suggestion.
If you're solely running around locally for a few hours alone, maybe, but as a long term solution - no way.
Some of your comments show a broad lack of experience and ignorance.
Also, your comment above
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 304
From: Providence Forge, VA
do you even own a motorcycle?
you do realize this is the TOURING forum. People ride 12+ hours a day exploring all parts of the US. Why would anyone want to sit at a gas station every 2 hours charging a device? That assumes there is even one on a day-route. In some rural areas of this country (parts of Arkansas comes to mind) they won't want a stranger sitting at a gas station for an hour 'charging' a device.
At that, if one is leading a funeral procession or charity ride with 100s of people following (those run an entire day here) to have to force a group to stop so you can 'charge your device' is an absurd suggestion.
you do realize this is the TOURING forum. People ride 12+ hours a day exploring all parts of the US. Why would anyone want to sit at a gas station every 2 hours charging a device? That assumes there is even one on a day-route. In some rural areas of this country (parts of Arkansas comes to mind) they won't want a stranger sitting at a gas station for an hour 'charging' a device.
At that, if one is leading a funeral procession or charity ride with 100s of people following (those run an entire day here) to have to force a group to stop so you can 'charge your device' is an absurd suggestion.
My responses come off as condescending because, for no good reason, I am being forced to defend myself. If you had just made a helpful suggestion, this entire back and further would not have occurred. Continue to reply if you like but I am done with this conversation. It is clear to everyone who is in the wrong here but tell yourself what you must.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,534
Likes: 8,370
From: Inland NW
Gotta love winter 
I would certainly choose one of the MANY solutions to simply wire into the 12 power outlet (cig lighter) wiring in the fairing, and mount in the available hole. The one I posted was also water proof.
This would be in every way preferable to any power pack that you had to continually charge, as a source of power for any accessory.
I carry a couple of those little USB power packs, as well. I have one in each truck, and one in my saddle bag. It is purely a back up plan, to ensure that I have something to charge my phone in the case the world was ending, zombies were at the back door, and I wanted to call an Uber, but my iPhone was dead.
I would certainly choose one of the MANY solutions to simply wire into the 12 power outlet (cig lighter) wiring in the fairing, and mount in the available hole. The one I posted was also water proof.
This would be in every way preferable to any power pack that you had to continually charge, as a source of power for any accessory.
I carry a couple of those little USB power packs, as well. I have one in each truck, and one in my saddle bag. It is purely a back up plan, to ensure that I have something to charge my phone in the case the world was ending, zombies were at the back door, and I wanted to call an Uber, but my iPhone was dead.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
Your response is almost laughable. You keep coming up with one-off scenarios where my suggested solution would not work. If we all were to do that when others make helpful suggestions, no one would bother even replying because of fear of their suggestion being ripped to shreds. That is exactly what you have done. Others in this thread have found my suggestion to be helpful. Instead of just replying with a helpful suggestion, you chose to be rude and snarky and just rip my reply to shreds. I ask you, is that a good look for the forum?
My responses come off as condescending because, for no good reason, I am being forced to defend myself. If you had just made a helpful suggestion, this entire back and further would not have occurred. Continue to reply if you like but I am done with this conversation. It is clear to everyone who is in the wrong here but tell yourself what you must.
My responses come off as condescending because, for no good reason, I am being forced to defend myself. If you had just made a helpful suggestion, this entire back and further would not have occurred. Continue to reply if you like but I am done with this conversation. It is clear to everyone who is in the wrong here but tell yourself what you must.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 1,151
From: Brandon,Fl
Look 6'' back from your headlight plug and there will be an orange wire with a white stripe and a black wire right next to it, these are switched power. Orange is positive and black is your ground, connect to these and you are good!! I have been powering phones, gps, gopros for years this way..
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,312
From: Virginia
That's what I did on my Sportster, zip tied the tender to USB adapter to the frame under the seat and ran a USB cable under the fuel tank to the handlebars where my phone was mounted.
I did have one USB adapter die after a long day of riding in the pouring rain.
Now that I have a touring bike and don't need that set up, I still carry the USB adapter and a USB cable in my tour pack just in case I have to charge my bluetooth headset.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 83
Likes: 22
From: New Hampshire
Everyone's suggestions have been great! There's no need to get in a fluff over any of them. When the bike lift gets here I'm going to start fiddling with things and see what I can come up with. Order of battle:
1. Since I was absolutely wrong and I do have a cigarette lighter, try weatherizing existing USB adapters using that, which shouldn't take a lot of work because that location looks pretty well protected. I missed it because it's tucked down low under the left handlebar and has what looks like a big grommet in it that completely hides the easily recognizable chrome rim, not a push-in lighter. I looked where barneyboy's inner fairing image has a hole, pulled that grommet out, and there it was. I chalk that up to not seeing what I expected syndrome. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
2. If 1 fails I'll probably do what I originally intended by putting one of RKZen's IPS-rated USB plugs in an unused switch slot, patched into the switched wiring that Hammerhead Pat indicated, or something similar. I do have a wiring diagram so finding a suitable wire to run a USB converter shouldn't be all that.
Thanks for all your help...
1. Since I was absolutely wrong and I do have a cigarette lighter, try weatherizing existing USB adapters using that, which shouldn't take a lot of work because that location looks pretty well protected. I missed it because it's tucked down low under the left handlebar and has what looks like a big grommet in it that completely hides the easily recognizable chrome rim, not a push-in lighter. I looked where barneyboy's inner fairing image has a hole, pulled that grommet out, and there it was. I chalk that up to not seeing what I expected syndrome. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
2. If 1 fails I'll probably do what I originally intended by putting one of RKZen's IPS-rated USB plugs in an unused switch slot, patched into the switched wiring that Hammerhead Pat indicated, or something similar. I do have a wiring diagram so finding a suitable wire to run a USB converter shouldn't be all that.
Thanks for all your help...
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 229
From: Saskatchewan
1. Since I was absolutely wrong and I do have a cigarette lighter, try weatherizing existing USB adapters using that, which shouldn't take a lot of work because that location looks pretty well protected. I missed it because it's tucked down low under the left handlebar and has what looks like a big grommet in it that completely hides the easily recognizable chrome rim, not a push-in lighter. I looked where barneyboy's inner fairing image has a hole, pulled that grommet out, and there it was. I chalk that up to not seeing what I expected syndrome. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Thanks for all your help...
Thanks for all your help...
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May 12, 2014 04:19 PM