'98-'01 VFR Radar Screamer Install

I got a ticket from a local cop on the way to work one morning and decided that I needed a bit of electronics help. I try to watch the speed limit as well as I can but let's be serious...it's pretty damn hard while on a bike. I explored the helmet speakers option and do not like a cord that can be ripped out of the helmet or off the bike. I then found the Radar Screamer and had a few fellow riders that loved them, so I decided to give it a try. It's basically an amped speaker to a 108db speaker that connects to the earphone jack on a radar detector so equipped. I found out that the Sensoro Traveller II wasn't compatible with the screamer so I had to fork out the big bucks for the Passport 8500 (rated number 1 over Valentine through radartests.com). Let's get down to business ;)

Supplies: Wire cutters, electric tape, small wood screws or the like for speaker install, crimpers, black wire loom (Radio Shack), and various zip ties.

1) I decided to deal with the speaker first since I had no idea where I was going to install it. I ride all year long so I needed to try and protect it from the rain as well as I could, the right windscreen post seemed most appropriate. I used some small wood screws with clear silicone on the threads underneath as a thread lock and sealant. Make sure you test the clearance at a full left lock of the bars prior to the actual install....otherwise you'll have a few unneeded holes.

2) I removed the right fairing and reached underneath to get the speaker wire coming down from the windscreen post. I used double sided tape to mount the interface unit right on the inner right fairing and the thermometer sensor has some great zip tie points for additional support. The picture on the right is all connected, zip tied, and with the wire loom to traverse the length of the bike to my rear mounted accessory fuse block.

3) With the Passport 8500 I also got the Direct Line cord for a hardwire instead of using the Cigarette Lighter Adapter. Below on the left you can see both cords ( screamer speaker cord and detector power cord ) which were zip tied and then covered with electric tape to protect the tank paint. The right picture shows the cords with tape and the lower wires going back to my fuse block to power both items.

4) Below you see the wire loom protecting the wires as they pass by the engine. The right picture shows the loom under the seat zip tied to the rail to keep things clean.

5) This is a shot of the fuse block and ground bar I have installed. You can use the battery posts, but I firmly recommend a switched fuse block if you add accessories like me and don't want a dead battery one day.