Rental Bike-Sat Nav

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I will be touring in the USA and want to bring my Zumo 550 GPS with me. I can remove the cradle from my Nomad and buy another power cable (cradle to 12v), mine is hard wired. But how about connecting up the 12v end? I will be renting a Harley Electra Glide (no chance of renting a Nomad). Does anyone know if there is a socket or somewhere to connect up a power plug on a Harley. I need a quick easy way to get a 12v supply to the GPS. I know this is a question relating to a "Harley" not a Kawasaki, but perhaps someone my have some knowledge? Thanks.

[VulcanE]

John. The Electra Glides with fairings have a standard cigarette lighter in the lower left of the inner fairing. At least all the ones I've seen have.

[cactusjack]

Good question. I'm not sure if an Electra Glide Classic comes with a 12v outlet. I know the Ultras and Ultra Limiteds do. One caution: the placement of the outlet in the fairing is such that HD cautions about using it as a power source. If the accessory adapter sticks out much, it could hit the tank if the bars are locked to the left.

I use a USB adapter in mine, which sits flush and then I have a Garmin USB cable that plugs into that. My Garmin requires 5vdc, which is the output of a USB adapter. Check and see if your Garmin requires 5vdc (the 12v adapter should step the voltage down).

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I have heard a few Harley riders mention that a cig. adaptor can hit the tank if its not a "small" one. My Zumo 550 has a charger which states 5v, and the battery is 4.2v so there must be a step down mounted in the cradle for the bike and a step down in the cig. adaptor or the cradle for the car. The USB cable that comes with the 550 is very short, I will see if I can get a longer one and a USB adaptor for the cig. socket as you mentioned. If I cant sort it out that way I will need to try and source a "small" cig. plug.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Just rent a Goldwing, they come with GPS and a lot of other goodies. Just a thought.

[ringadingh]

Ask the place your renting from if there is a plug on the bike. And they may install one for you if you give them some notice.

[schoeney]

I like the Gold Wing idea too.

What part of the USA are you going to ride? If you want to meet a few members I am sure some would like to meet you too.

[cactusjack]

It's much easier to rent a Harley than a Goldwing.

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schoeney, I am planning the trip for next year, two weeks in September. I would like very much to meet up with some members, already mentioned to VulcanE (Cliff). I am going to fly into DC (with wife), pick up a rental bike and star heading South. Ideas for the route so far include the Skyline Dr, Blue Ridge Pkwy, Cherohala/The Dragon, The Snake, maybe Land Betwen The Lakes. Planning to do a one way rental, flying out of Atlanta. I have considered the Wing but to honest I am not that keen, I have rented several Electra Glides and found the ride very similar to my Nomad. In previous years my wife and I have flown into L.A./San Francisco/Vegas/Denver and toured California/Nevada/Arizona/Utah/Colorado. This time we thought we would come over to the East to tour. I have spent a lot of Bucks renting bikes (Eagle Rider) and often thought I could have BOUGHT a Harley for what I have spent renting and left it in the USA ready for the next vacation (not really a viable option though).

[dakota7557]

They are currently advertising renting harleys for $85 per day at the Black Hills Harley...I'm sure the price will go up when the people get here for the rally though.