Author Topic: X21 or similar wiring devices?  (Read 402 times)

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Offline Tm.3v0l

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X21 or similar wiring devices?
« on: November 29, 2022, 08:50:52 PM »
Just bought a 1974 cb750 that's been customized and modified into a cafe racer style bike. Pretty bare bones. No turn signals, horn, idicator lights etc... I'm planning on bringing back a lot of the stock elements and doing more of a resto-mod build.

Popped open the headlight yesterday and noticed some of the wiring was slightly toasted. It all looks repairable but now I'm considering doing a ground up wiring rebuild. Has anyone used an x21 or motogadget wiring module? What has been your experience? I'm wondering if it would be worth the investment or just another gadget that'll break after a few hundred miles...

THANKS!

Offline Bodi

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Re: X21 or similar wiring devices?
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2022, 10:48:00 PM »
Check the M-unit and electronics forum.
Many riders have installed the M-unit and love it. From the questions asked in the forum, it seems like it may be a bit tricky to get hooked up and working properly. Particularly if you're not familiar with the circuits or with doing wiring.
I haven't used one but I have rewired a few bikes (cafe style and choppers) with minimal harness. The minimal harness isn't very complex even if you do have turn signals. You basically have a battery and charging system, switches, coils & points, horn, head and tail light, and instrument lights. Only a few wires are needed for all of that. Search "Santee Box" for an idea of what's needed.
Honda made it pretty complex to have added features - multiple fuses, turn signals that are also running lights, the neutral safety system... and the really complicated parking light circuit.
Using a simple on/off key switch with one fuse eliminates a lot of wire and complexity.
If you find the Honda wiring diagram daunting, check out a 70s Italian bike's. Or don't, it will just give you a splitting headache.
With an M-unit (or similar) it looks like power plus all loads and switches get wired directly to the module. Not difficult but the harness wiring isn't designed for that, wires pretty much go from switches to loads and don't necessarily go past where the module gets mounted. I think you would want to make up a new harness specifically for the M-unit. I would have no problem doing that, and would use appropriate high flex wire with cabling tape.

Offline newday777

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Re: X21 or similar wiring devices?
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2022, 12:21:40 AM »
Welcome aboard Tm.3v01
Lots already written on doing all that in the M unit section

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/board,185.0.html

Also, go to the New Members section and introduce yourself and your bike. Post a picture of your bike of how you got it.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/board,58.0.html
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline calj737

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Re: X21 or similar wiring devices?
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2022, 05:30:29 AM »
Since the bike you have has been stripped pretty heavily, and you’re intention is to “restore” some functional elements back onto it, I’d opt for a either buying a new harness or wiring from scratch. Reason being it’s rather likely the original harness (if present) has likely been butchered up and if you splice into it, you may well end up with gremlins. Nothing more aggravating than chasing an electrical gremlin on a vintage bike.

I’m a huge fan of the mUnit. Power to it from the battery. A wire from the handlebar switch to the mUnit and then run a wire from it to each component that draws power. Pretty bang on simple and bulletproof. Only issues I’ve ever seen is folks using Bluetooth from their phone to the mUnit to control it. This is not required. Check out the mUnit sub forum and you’ll see some wiring diagrams already drawn up you can refer to.
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline PeWe

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Re: X21 or similar wiring devices?
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2022, 06:44:14 AM »
I should order a complete new harness, (main loom)
+ new handle bar switches with fresh wires. (My CB750 K2 use cheap versions that work well.)
+ harness from alternator and up with a white wide connector.
The wirings are often damaged anyway.
+ new pilot lamp harness
 Bulb holders usually rotten ss they are in stock gauges too.

+ New ign switch that probably are not there.
Old ones can have bad contact inside causing voltage drops.
Installing 3 relays for headlight Lo, Hi and ignition will bypass those drops except for 12V to regulator that can get wrong battery status, therefore wrong charging.

Rear brake switch + front brake pressure switch might be gone too if bike has been cafeed

Fresh wiring and connectors will ensure a good working bike you can trust with working charging system too.
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Tm.3v0l

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Re: X21 or similar wiring devices?
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2022, 07:59:46 PM »
Awesome! Thanks so much for the info everyone. I'll check out the m-unit section. Definitely leaning more towards installing one