Any 6th Genners With An Autocom/starcom?

I just scored a Starcom Advance for real cheap on eBay. Wondering where you put both the unit and the headset plug.

I'm thinking of putting the starcom on the inside of the right side fairing - does it stay dry enough in there when riding in the wet?
I don't know if there's enough clearance to drill a hole for the headset connection bulk head in the black plastic piece (that sits approximately under the hand grips) since the R/R is there on the right side and the ABS modulator is there on the left side. The horizontal part of the right fairing is in a great location but I'm weary about drilling into such an expensive piece of plastic.

I guess as long as I plan on keeping my beloved VFR forever, it doesn't matter :).

Thoughts?

I have an Autocom unit installed under the seat. There is room under the seat for the hard-wired autocom, power commander and a fuse block. The toolkit is divided between my two saddlebags now. I ran the headset cord to come out in the area where the tank, seat and R/H black sidecover join. When not in use I just coil up the headset cord under the seat. Been working fine that way for the last 5 years.

I have a Starcom1. I keep it in the tank bag. The reason I went that route was because it limits the number of wires I need to connect and disconnect. I put the bag on the bike, plug in the power, and plug in the headset. I keep my radar detector and iPod in the tank bag as well. If I put the unit anywhere else I'd be connecting all the devices to it each time.

If you have a non-ABS VFR, you might be able to squeeze it into the space under the seat where the ABS unit would go.

Dirk

[image: View Post]SpiralGray, on Dec 9 2008, 06:48 AM, said:

I have a Starcom1. I keep it in the tank bag. The reason I went that route was because it limits the number of wires I need to connect and disconnect. I put the bag on the bike, plug in the power, and plug in the headset. I keep my radar detector and iPod in the tank bag as well. If I put the unit anywhere else I'd be connecting all the devices to it each time.


Hm.. true. However, I've got a 2-way radio on a RAM mount and a Garmin Zumo on another RAM mount, so most of the devices stay on the bike for me.

I use RAM mounts for my radar detector and GPS, run their cables into my tankbag, plug them into receptacles in the tank bag, and then run a single common power line with Powerlet plug back out of the tank bag to a Powerlet socket. I keep my iPod and cell phone in my bag, plugging those in also in the lower section of the bag. This way, all sockets and plugs are out of site in the bottom of the bag, and there aren't a bunch of wires all over the handlebar area. Everything can be added or removed right from the tank bag. I use a Marsee tank bag with a clear hard plastic top section for the cell phone and iPod. Works great for me!

Edit: For spelling correction.

[image: View Post]Knife, on Dec 9 2008, 09:08 AM, said:

I use RAM mounts for my radar detector and GPS, run their cables into my tankbag, plug them into receptacles in the tank bag, and then run a single common power line with Powerlet plug back out of the tank bag to a Powerlet socket. I keep my iPod and cell phone in my bag, plugging those in also in the lower section of the bag. This way, all sockets and plugs are out of site in the bottom of the bag, and there aren't a bunch of wires all over the handlebar area. Everything can be added or removed right from the tank bag. I use a Marsee tank bag with a clear hard plastic top section for the cell phone and iPod. Works great for me!

Edit: For spelling correction.


Hm.. thanks. I'm torn, I prefer riding without a tankbag since I have the luggage... I have a tire repair kit and tool kit under the trunk. While I could move that stuff, it's nice having it with me all the time (since luggage isn't always on during my commute). Also, the starcom isn't waterproof I don't think - a recent ride involved 6 hours of hard rain.. even everything under the seat was soaked.

I've an '02 non-ABS. I put the unit between the inner fender and the rear sub-frame. Its a tight fit, but it fits good.

There's also room between near the battery, behind the rear head, and below the seat. Had mine there for awhile until I put a fuse box in its place.

Headset cables come out under the edge of the seat, when not in use, they go back under the seat. Haven't installed a hard connection point for it yet.