Adding a 7" Touch Screen Computer with GPS to my 1991 Kawasaki EX500

[David Hay]

I have been thinking about adding a computer to my motorcycle for a while. There are a lot of obsticals to overcome.

My bike is an EX500 there isn't much room for a computer or screen

I need to keep the power consumption under 50 watts total so I don't kill the altenator

It needs to have some protection from the elements, I don't want this breaking the first time it rains

I need to keep the computer cool enough to run and make sure it has enough power to handle GPS, Music, Windows XP.

It has to be able to survive the shock and vib which is 5 times worse on a bike then in a car.

Here is what I came up with.

7" Lilliput touch screen replaces existing speedo/rpm gauges ($300)
Custom P3 700Mhz Embedded Computer with 32Mb ATI Rage graphics, USB, 3 X Network, Sound, 8-28v regulator. ($1077)
20Gb Hard drive, no need for anything bigger. Can't watch movies while I'm riding Smile. ($85)
128Mb SO-DIMM ($40)
GPS Receiver ($60)
Destinator Software with SDK ($159)
Windows XP home ($100)

Bondo, tools and mouting equipment ($100)

Total installation cost $1921

Value of 1991 EX 500 motorcycle before modifcations $1100

I have only seen one Motorcycle install so far and it used a laptop mounted in a saddle bag. I don't have room for something like that and I want the system to turn on and off with the bike.


More details and pictures here.
http://www.12vsystems.com/index.php?...viewtopic&t=21

[chico222]

That's cool. But I guess I just don't understand putting a computer on your bike. I'm a simple guy, all I need is a speedo and a tach. Looks pretty sweet though.