Adding lights to R1200RT

[136602]

I have a 05 R1200RT which I do some long riding on and I would like to add some PIAA driving lights but keep being told by BMW mech. that this can't be done without installing a relay to keep from overloading my elct. sys. cost of $700. I am told that adding anything to the standard elect will kick all sys. out. :dunno Any advice :ear

[ArthurKnowles]

I have a 05 R1200RT which I do some long riding on and I would like to add some PIAA driving lights but keep being told by BMW mech. that this can't be done without installing a relay to keep from overloading my elct. sys. cost of $700. I am told that adding anything to the standard elect will kick all sys. out. :dunno Any advice :ear

Anytime you add auxillary lights the power tot he lights shuld go through a relay. Many, if not most (maybe all, but the cheapest), include the relay in their wiring harness. No relay install will cost $700.00 though. The relay itself only cost about 5 ~ 10 dollars depending on what level of quality you purchase.

If I recall correctly the nwere 1200s hace a Can-Bus system instead of a fuse box and wiring something up to use that can be a challange and somewhat costly, but you should not have to use it for your light install. You can wire your wiging harness for power directly to battery. I'd suggest pulling out the PIAA documentation and see what the install instructions suggest and go from there.

FWIW, I've put auxillary lights on many motorcycles and cars. It's not a difficult task.

[rmeisen]

I am preparing to do the same thing on my 07RT. I also want to add some other items, prepare for heated clothing, etc. I am adding a Centec fuse panel, and a centec relay (about $80 for the pair) so I can have fused, direct battery and igniition-switched power available. There are a number of posts here on the board from very knowledgable folks on how to set all that up. Once in place, you will have a power source separate from the CanBus to cover any accessory load.

[DarrylRi]

I think this subject will get more attention in the Hexheads forum, where the details of the CANbus system are often discussed...

[heavyjetpfe]

I have an 06 R1200RT. I installed the Piaa lights my self in about a half hour. The lights come with a relay to tap into the RT's high beam. They worked perfect from the start with no faults from the canbus. I also have the centec fuse panel installed. Very easy install the directions were clear and easy to follow.

[mtboulder]

I've installed Motolights on my '06 R1200RT and PIAAs on my friend's '05 R1200GS. Both light setups come with relays. I hooked the power for the relay to the small lamp that is on the bottom of the headlight (on the left side (clutch lever side)) of the bike. I stripped back some of the wire on the positive wire to the the small lamp. There are two wires to this bulb. The brown wire is negative (ground). You want to use the other wire. I soldered the positive relay wire to the positive lamp wire and taped it up real good. The thick positive wire goes direct to positive battery post. This wire should already have a 20 amp fuse in it. The thick negative wire goes direct to the negative battery post. The other thinner black relay ground wire can go to any good ground on the bike or the neg batter post.

I have had no canbus issues whatsoever using this approach.

Of courses BMW will blame your PIAA lights for all future problems your bike will have so it may be necessary to disconnect the wires on the battery posts when you bring it in for service. I had a cruise control issue that was initially blamed on the Moto Lights which turned out to be a mechanical problem in the throttle cable junction box and was covered under warranty.

[Axe]

I put them on my 06 R1200RT and wired then direct to the battery and used a switch purchased from AutoZone. No problems at all.