All should be easy!
Is it safe to assume all options on the RT-Limited are dealer installed? They do not come installed from the factory, correct....or do some of them? I want to understand which, if any, options I will not be able to get because I did not factory order.
As a minimum I would like to:
1) mount my iPhone as my GPS device and to place/receive calls to/from my fellow riders
2) talk to my passenger helmet to helmet without pushing any buttons, or maybe one button
3) Cup holders - Brand?
4) Be able to adjust airflow on me and my passenger - which windshield and wind deflectors are worth the money?
What options and electronic connections are recommended to do this?
1) Phone mounts are abundant - see the sponsors here on the main page. I got the kit from Spyderpops that bolts onto the handle bar mount, with an "X-Grip". Works great!
2) Sena kit (high$), or there are some cheap sets on Amazon that do actually work OK. Bluetooth is the way to go
3) Couple choices - just Google Spyder RT cupholders. One mounts to the handlebar, one mounts to a B-Ball (all kinds of mounting and brackets available)!
4) The RT has an electric windshield, put it up or down as you please. There is a kit to add several deflectors under the mirror (a sponsor again I believe).
I recently traded in a 2013 ST (leans you more forward style) for a 2016RT-S. Now comments about the RT-S versus RT Limited (here comes the war lol!):
The RT-S is the "base" model. The RT Limited adds the GPS and Chrome accents for $2K more. I went with the RTS and bought the phone mount with X-Grip. Works just fine! However... In order to get the sound on your stereo - you pull off the right side covers (tons of videos, don't be shy!), and you will a USB plug and a 3.5mm plug. Just go to Radio Shack and get a 6' 3.5mm extension cord, plug it in, route it up and out at the handle bars or where ever you wish. Plug it into your phone and viola! Set your radio to NAV or AUX. I turn on Pandora and Google maps, works great! You can also plug in an iPad or a thumbdrive with toons in the trunk to the USB.
As far as USB power, the RT is lacking. It is very easy to remove the center cover with the two gauges. When you unplug those gauges the gas and temp show up on the LCD. You then can replace those gauges with a great dual USB or a 12V socket. You can also get a blank 52mm cover. There is a video of how to use a suction cup B-Ball ($8) that twists on and off, modify it and it fits perfectly on one of those holes. Then you can get a cup holder with the B-Ball mount, and you beverage does get swished around like it would mounted to your handle bar while your steering. I ran 12V and ground to the battery terminals (comes with the kit).
Another thing I did was move a fuse on the left fuse block as you face the open frunk, to put power on the socket in the trunk 100% of the time, so I can toss my phone or GPS in the trunk and let it charge while eating or whatever. The fuse slots are labeled socket switched and socket battery I think, just move the fuse over one slot to battery. There is a YouTube video showing it close up.
That $2K I save by going with the RT-S over the RT-L went to get my bumpskid with LED's and rear LED brake kit from Spyderpops! Got a dash kit from WrapMySpyder.com to cover the plastic dash with a shiny black carbon design. Plus a new cover and many other farkles! I got the Intense Red 2016 with black wheels, would look silly IMO to have chrome on it. I'm thinking now of taking off the grey plastic pieces and painting gloss black (next project).
Lastly - if you like to work on your bike (not that much talent is needed for most kits you get, they are plug and play!) - definitely gets the Magic Mirror kit from the sponsor. The mirrors are held on by a thin piece of plastic - watch some their videos. One of my mirror mounts cracked when my wife leaned on it, sat a bit loose. The kit will replace all the cheap plastic with super strength magnets. Whenever you run a wire or need to take a side cover off to plug something in, the first step is always to take the mirrors off. Each time you take them off you risk damaging the plastic clips. This is why the Magic Mirror kit is really important.
So I'm with most others - 2015 and save the money for all the cool stuff you will add! Save a bit more with a RT-S over RT-L (unless you want the GPS all pre-installed, which is cool!).
Book done:clap:
Steve
