CB installation

[Andy Cserny]

I have a 2014 RT and have bought a CB radio and communication harness which I plan on installing myself. The instructions seem straight forward, however everything seems simpler than it really is. Has anyone had experience doing the CB and communication harness install? Are there any pitfalls, any helpful suggestions?
Andy help/hints would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Andy

 

[finless]

You also ordered the entertainment harness correct?
If not you will need to have this.

Bob

 

[Andy Cserny]

CB install

You also ordered the entertainment harness correct?
If not you will need to have this.

Bob

Thanks Finless,
yes I have ordered the entertainment harness. I bought the whole thing from Pit Bull and have read through the instructions several times and a couple of issues give me concern. One is where to find the hole through which the antenna harness has to be passed/fished through and the other is where the radar detector and gps plug into the entertainment harness.
I have asked Whit Beeny at Pit Bull whether the radio that comes with the RT is the same one which comes on the RT Limited, which model can have the CB installed, and he assures me that it is the same, I looked it up in the parts manual and it lists the same part number for both models. I was told by the Service Manager at another Spyder dealership [ to remain anonymous] that the CB radio replaces the radio that comes in the RT and has to be removed and sent back to BRP . I think I will shy away from that dealership.
Andy

 

[bluestratos]

I have installed 2 cb setups, one in my 2011 and one in my 2014. The instructions are wrong about which wires go where at the radio to cb hookup, they are backwards. Both connectors are the same. If backwards the phone will not work when bluetoothed.

Other wise all the connectors make sense when you have the bike apart. If you use an ealier model cb kit on a 2014 there is an adapter kit required, the dealer should know about this. If not get ahold of Lifestyles Honda in Mt. Vernon WA, they set me up right the first time.

The anntena that comes kit is usless, it has no range. You cannot just use any antenna, the set up, the antenna is pripriatory but J&M audio sells one that works great.

Also, no harm in making sure the cb is properly grounded to the frame. Just add one from the backing plate of the CB to a good ground point.

Good luck

 

[Andy Cserny]

CB install

I have installed 2 cb setups, one in my 2011 and one in my 2014. The instructions are wrong about which wires go where at the radio to cb hookup, they are backwards. Both connectors are the same. If backwards the phone will not work when bluetoothed.

Other wise all the connectors make sense when you have the bike apart. If you use an ealier model cb kit on a 2014 there is an adapter kit required, the dealer should know about this. If not get ahold of Lifestyles Honda in Mt. Vernon WA, they set me up right the first time.

The anntena that comes kit is usless, it has no range. You cannot just use any antenna, the set up, the antenna is pripriatory but J&M audio sells one that works great.

Also, no harm in making sure the cb is properly grounded to the frame. Just add one from the backing plate of the CB to a good ground point.

Good luck

Thanks Bluestratos,

I didnt know about the update kit, but the dealer is sending me one. Are the plugs for the radar detector and GPS readily apparent and what do they look like, what color, how many conductors? I took the Kennedy Technologies adapter kit for the GPS and radar detector from my previous two Gold Wings and have the audio output from them connected together and then fed into the 1/8 inch audio connector that plugs into the DIN plug in the top case. I can listen to the radar detector/GPS and the radio, but not at the same time. I hope I can feed these signals into the harness somewhere and that the radio has a mixer internally, the BRP brochure claims that this is possible, I hope!?
Having had lots of experience with this, I hope you can ease my misgivings about this.
Andy

 

[bluestratos]

Not being familure with your set up I am at a loss. Some the hareness connectors share mutilple functions so tracing what does what would be difficult for me to advise on. The factory setup connects the CB to the radio, then out to the communication cable that goes in line. The GPS audio connector is on the right side (sitting on the saddle) up near the back of the fuel tank so it is easy to find. J&M makes a blue tooth cb that mounts on the bars and may be able to accomplish what you want easier than making your system work.

Sorry I could not be of more help,

Randy

 

[finless]

Not being familure with your set up I am at a loss. Some the hareness connectors share mutilple functions so tracing what does what would be difficult for me to advise on. The factory setup connects the CB to the radio, then out to the communication cable that goes in line. The GPS audio connector is on the right side (sitting on the saddle) up near the back of the fuel tank so it is easy to find. J&M makes a blue tooth cb that mounts on the bars and may be able to accomplish what you want easier than making your system work.

Sorry I could not be of more help,

Randy

You should feed these audio connections into the GPS connector that is already on the bike. The GPS input overrides anything else playing. That is when the GPS or radar detector says something.

Bob

 

[Andy Cserny]

You should feed these audio connections into the GPS connector that is already on the bike. The GPS input overrides anything else playing. That is when the GPS or radar detector says something.

Bob

Finless and Bluestratos,
you both have been of great help and I thank youall. I am going to Spyderfest, but dont think I will have time to tear off and put back all the tupperware, so will do that after I get back and will post on this topic then.
Again, thanks for your input.
Andy