Installation Instructions

• Mounting the universal mounting plate and related hardware at the rear of the motorcycle.
• Mounting the control head, speaker, microphone, and related hardware forward on the motorcycle.
• Routing the power cable, control-head cable, speaker cable, and ignition sense cable to the
weather-resistant enclosure.
• Mounting the weather-resistant enclosure and radio chassis, and connecting the cables.
• Mounting the antennas to the weather-resistant enclosure.
A universal mounting plate, supplied by Motorola Solutions, is first mounted to either a motorcycle
carrier at the rear of the motorcycle or to the rear frame of the motorcycle itself. The mounting
procedures for the universal mounting plate vary from motorcycle to motorcycle. Therefore, the
procedures given in this manual for installing the mounting plate may not specifically apply, but are
provided for guidance.
The control head, speaker, and microphone are mounted forward on the motorcycle, on or near the
steering column. There are several possible mounting configurations which use a combination of
Motorola Solutions and customer-built brackets. These configurations are outlined in this manual.
Because of the large number of motorcycle makes and models in existence, the customer-built
brackets are necessary to tailor the mounting of the Motorola Solutions equipment to the particular
motorcycle being used. Suggestions for customer-built brackets are given in this manual.
The power cable, control-head cable, speaker cable, and ignition sense cable are routed to the
weather-resistant enclosure position. The enclosure and the radio chassis are then mounted. Special
care is required when connecting cables to the radio equipment within the enclosure.
5.2.1
Important Installation Hints
Consider the following when mounting the radio components:
• Excess lengths of control-head, power, ignition sense, and speaker cables must be routed in the
enclosure as shown in Figure 112: Installing Cables on page 117.
• All components must be mounted securely in order to withstand the constant and sometimes severe
vibration experienced on a motorcycle.
• No cantilever action, which could cause severe vibration, should be generated in the mounting
hardware.
• The control head and microphone must be placed for ease of accessibility by the motorcycle
operator.
• Forward components (control head, microphone, and speaker) should not interfere with visual or
physical access to controls and instruments.
• Forward components should not interfere with the handling of the motorcycle.
• Cabling between the control head and the radio chassis should be run to minimize interference with
operator movements.
• The weather-resistant enclosure should be placed to avoid any interference with the motorcycle
operator.
• Electrical continuity must be present through the enclosure shock mounts to the motorcycle frame
for proper electrical and RF grounding.
• The antenna is designed for mounting on the top of the weather-resistant enclosure.
• Only the supplied microphone mounting clip should be used to ensure secure mounting of the
microphone. This clip has a very strong spring to ensure positive retention of the microphone over
rough terrain. Also, there must be electrical continuity from this clip to the motorcycle frame for DC
grounding.
MN005720A01-AB
Chapter 5: Motorcycle Radio Installation
100