I always find the need for power inside the protected area of my tank bag, so I always end up installing a Powerlet Products Powermate Tank Bag Power System into all of my tank bags. There are many ways to complete the installation, but this is the way I have found to work the best for me. 

You’ll need your Powermate Kit, a soldering iron, a phillips screwdriver, and a small adjustable wrench (or appropriate sized ratchet.) 

First, align the steel ring on the outside of the bag, making sure to check the inside of the bag for clearance. (Note: The steel ring is installed on the inside of the bag, but it makes a great template for the soldering iron on the outside.)

Once you have it lined up, use the soldering iron to melt a hole straight through all layers of the bag.

Repeat for the other three holes, and also the center hole. I usually push the bolts through the holes as I make them, just to hold the ring in place.  For the center hole I melt small holes all around the edge, then use the soldering iron in a circular motion to completely remove the bag material.  Remember, it doesn’t have to look neat since it will all be covered by the kit.

Feed the plug side of the kit through the hole from the outside, line up the holes, push the bolts through from the outside, place the steel ring on the inside of the bag, and install the nuts.

That’s all there is to it. I use a dual cigarette-type adapter for the inside of the bag, so I can use my standard cell phone, ipod, etc charging cables.

My Motorcycle Larry ST1300 Riser Plate arrived today and I just finished installing it.  It should make my seating position much more comfortable. 

I also modified the top plate so that I could use my previously installed Powerlet outlet between the bars.  All you need is a custom kit from PowerletProducts.com; order the “ST1300 Panel Kit” but make sure you specify that you need the harness to be 80 inches long. Along with a drill and some courage, you’ll be all set.  Remove the steering stem cover, drill out for the Powerlet outlet, run the wiring down through the steering stem, up over the frame and around the side of the airbox, under the front seat bracket, and to the battery.

Here’s the riser plate before mounting, when I was test-fitting the powerlet. 

And here’s the finished product.

UPDATE 05/23/2007:  You can also add a RAM base along with the powerlet if you want.  I did some experimenting today and this is what I came up with. I used the RAM-BAR u-bolt RAM base.  Just remove the u-bolt and obtain bolts long enough to reach through the base and deep into the pre-existing threaded holes in the top plate to provide a solid mount. 

In the past I have expressed my opposition to mounting a GPS in this location, but I’m going to give it a try to see how it goes.

Continuing my tradition with Bagster, my tank cover and Medea tank bag arrived today.  The Medea is much improved over past Bagster bags that I’ve had; lots of storage compartments now instead of just a large open area.

And, as usual, I immediately installed a Powerlet PowerMate Tank Bag Kit to supply power to the interior of tank bag. (to charge cell phones, iPod, etc.)

Here’s the Powerlet connection I previously installed on my steering stem, supplying power to the tank bag and the GPS.

Just finished installing a Powerlet outlet on the steering stem of my ST1300. 

All you need is a custom kit from PowerletProducts.com; order the “ST1300 Panel Kit” but make sure you specify that you need the harness to be 80 inches long. (UPDATE - 11/15/2007: Powerlet now offers a ST1300 Powerlet Steering Stem Kit that already has the correct length wiring harness.)

Along with a drill and some courage, you’ll be all set.  Remove the steering stem cover, remove the Honda logo so that it doesn’t get in the way, then turn the cover over, and using an 11/16″ hole-saw bit, drill from the bottom.  There’s a small dimple right in the middle that you can use as a guide to drill in the correct spot.  Then run the wiring down through the steering stem, up over the frame and around the side of the airbox (you’ll need to lift your tank for this), under the front seat bracket, and to the battery.

It will be used to power the GPS and also send power to the tank bag through the tank bag Powerlet Kit (which has two “standard” 12v power plugs inside for cell phone charging, ipod, communicators, etc).

You can also add a RAM base along with the Powerlet if you want.  I did some experimenting and this is what I came up with. I used the RAM-BAR u-bolt RAM base.  Just turn the Powerlet outlet sideways to make room, remove the u-bolt, and obtain bolts long enough to reach through the base and into the holes that are already in the stock cover.  I used some class 8.8 M4-.70 x 25 hex cap bolts (along with some washers and lock washers).  It’s hard to tell from the pictures, but the RAM base doesn’t make contact with the bars at all.

The Nelson-Rigg UV-2000 1/2 motorcycle cover also arrived today.

I just installed two Powerlet Outlets on the left and right fairings. Not sure what I’ll use them for yet. 

Everything else I need has been ordered and I hope to have the modifications complete within the next 2-3 weeks.