Mounting MIT 100

[RetArmy]

Any ideas on where to mount the unit? Where did you mount yours? I was thinking RAM mount, tank bag or under the seat. Any owners that can tell me what controls the volume when talking on the intercom? I would guess that each device attached to the unit will control its own volume.

[crazykz]

I put mine under the seat on top of the lower fuel tank. I can take a picture possibly tonight. You have to push some things around and you can have anything over or under it or the seat will crush whatever it is. Ask me how I know.

Curt

[RetArmy]

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

[crazykz]

Ok, here's the pic. The MIT-100 is the square silver looking thing because I wrapped it in aluminum tape. Long story but it has nothing to do with the operation of the MIT-100. I carefully ran the other cables down around up under the tank on the right side. I then connected the extensions to them and put them all in a wire guide (that plastic tubing with a slit in it) and that just fits in between the frame and the airbox. It tucks in there nicely. Be sure to keep an eye on where you run those cables so they are not pinched by anything. The tank hinges so getting it past that point is a bit of a challenge. It's hard to describe and it's even harder to get pictures of it but I may have them buried somewhere if you need them. Might even be posted on the sight but I haven't searched.

Hope this helps with placement. Make sure you get as much out of the way as you can because the seat comes almost right down on this thing.

Curt

[RetArmy]

Thanks a lot for the picture. It really helped.

[crazykz]

Cool. It's about the only spot because it allows you to get the headsets into the spots for the rider and passenger.

Curt

[Schavlan]

OK, I got the MIT-100 into the bike last night. I bought it from Sierra Electronics for about $300, including the GMRS radio and freight. The MIT alone was $199.

I haven't had a passenger yet, but the intercom works in the garage. I haven't tested it at speed on the bike, but I think it will be OK.

It took me a while to install it. One reason is, I just got the bike about a month ago, and I was unfamiliar with removing the body work. Once I figured out how to do it, I started installing the MIT-100.

I wound up moving the control box a couple of times. I finally settled on putting it in the rear tail section, and powering it from the rear light. I installed the whole thing with double stick tape and zip ties. I didn't have to drill any holes. This is great, because if I ever sell the ST, I can remove the intercom and reinstall it on my next bike, and the ST will still be stock.

Is this really a German unit? I ask that because I thought the Germans always did things twice as much as needed, whereas the Japanese do things with NO adders. Some of the cables just BARELY reached, without any spare length.

I have plenty of cable for the passenger intercom connection, and the power leads. All the other cables are stretched taught. In fact, I'll probably buy extensions for the Audio and Driver jacks. Right now, they exit the bike in the center, near the support handle for the center stand. The audio cable is pretty straightforward. The Driver headset jack looks like it's just a mouse extension cable.

I can mount the GMRS radio on the passenger backrest support at the back of the bike. That's a good place for it and it's out of the way.

The cell phone interface works. I have a Treo 650 so I can get a program that will allow it to auto answer. I mounted the cell phone connection into the left fairing cover so teh cell is out of the way all the time.

I guess I only have one disappointment, and that's volume. There is no volume control at all. The MIT relies on the volume of the individual input devices. That's no problem with the GMRS and cell, because I can increase the volume of those devices sufficiently.

My MP3 player is something else entirely. I think MP3 players are made with a volume cap deliberately, so children don't make themselves go deaf. I just can't get the MP3 player loud enough to hear on the bike.

I have a Sony portable radio designed for joggers. This works fine so I’ll use that instead.

I looked into the MixIt unit that Curt recommended. It looks like that would work for me, however rather than spend an additional $179 for a mixit on top of the $300 I already spent, I'd just return the whole setup and get a Starcom. With the same GMRS radios, that would cost about $550

I have no data on the MIT’s robustness.

Can you get better? Sure you can. But you have to pay more. I think this will satisfy my needs, and I'm happy not to spend more.

So, in essence, I'd say the MIT is not the best unit, but it seems like the best value, provided, of course, that it suits your needs.

Here's a bunch of photo's. I'm not sure they'll post in the correct order, but the names should be self explanatory.

[Schavlan]

My new system worked flawlessly over the weekend. Even in the SNOW !!

Thanks to Curt (crazykz) for all his help.