Back up Beeper
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Back up Beeper
I am thinking about adding a small beeper to the reverse system on my 2008 GL1800 8A. The purpose is to rub it in to my Harley riding friends. As I read through the service manual, I realized it is more complicated than I thought. I don’t quite understand the wiring diagram. Does anyone knows a simple way to tap into the reverse system?
Thank you in advance, Kenny
Thank you in advance, Kenny
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 2118
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Back up Beeper
I Like that!
I'll have to do that to my 1500. Sorry, I don't have any 1800 schematics.... 
1800 has reverse indicator bulb on the dash, no? The beeper doesn't pull much power, you should be able to patch it into the indicator bulb circuit....




1800 has reverse indicator bulb on the dash, no? The beeper doesn't pull much power, you should be able to patch it into the indicator bulb circuit....
There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary numbers, and those that don't.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Sounds logical, but to get at the wire loom to the instrument panel, I have to remove the windshield and front garnish. That is a lot of work. I was looking at the reverse switch on the attached picture. However, I am not 100% sure on how it functions. I think this is just a grounding switch. What do you think?
Kenny
Kenny
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 2118
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Back up Beeper
You shouldn't have to get into the instrument panel wire loom at all, there may be other points to access the Indicator power. For the 1500 as an example, I traced in the schematics where the Reverse Indicator bulb gets its power. Followed the line in the schematic to one of the connector pins for the Reverse Control Unit, which on the 1500 is under the seat. That's where I'd tap in the beeper.
Seems 1800 should be similar.
Seems 1800 should be similar.
There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary numbers, and those that don't.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- Andy Cote
- Posts: 905
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:38 am
- Location: Windham, ME
- Motorcycle: 2015 Goldwing, basic black
Re: Back up Beeper
On the GL1500 there used to be a backup light available. Below are the install instructions. Perhaps this will help with a beeper. Again, this is only for the GL1500.
2015 Goldwing, basic black
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
Previously: GL1200 standard, GL1200 Interstate, GL1500 Goldwing, GL1500 Valkyrie Standard, 2000 Valkyrie Interstate, many other Hondas
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Thanks guys, I’ll give it a shot.
Kenny
Kenny
- Rambozo
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
- Location: Disneyland
- Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Ducati Monster
Re: Back up Beeper
Also be sure to lead your buddies into the steepest downhill parking area you can find. 

-
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
You could power it from the white/blue wire at the speed limit relay. It only has power on this wire when the system is in reverse. You will have to ground it somewhere else, the relay is controlled by the cruise/reverse control module and isn’t energized unless you start backing up too fast, so there’s no dedicated ground at it.
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Techdude2000, thanks, I can find a ground quite easily. I’ll check it out.
Kenny
Kenny
-
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Tuchdude2000, I just studied the service manual. I think I can find the white/blue wire near the reverse regulator. Is this the right wire? I probably have to remove the left saddle bag to get to it. Thanks.
Kenny
Kenny
-
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Yes same wire at pin 10 of it. I don’t like pulling off the saddlebags, that’s why I pointed you to the relays under the seat.
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Relays under the seat? That sounds a lot easier to get to than pulling the left saddle bag or the front nose panels. Let me look closely at the service manual tonight, see if I can find it there. Easier to find a ground there too.
My problem is my limited understand of how to read the wiring diagrams. Making everything a guess work.
Thanks a bunch.
Kenny
My problem is my limited understand of how to read the wiring diagrams. Making everything a guess work.
Thanks a bunch.
Kenny
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- Posts: 484
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
You’re welcome, yes those three relays are under the seat in the relay bank. The cover should show the location of each one and you have to pull the cover and flip the individual row of relays over enough to see their wires on the bottom of their sockets. The starter/reverse circuit is the most complicated set of circuits on the bike, it has taken me a few years to figure out how and why it works the way it does.GL470 wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 7:05 pm Relays under the seat? That sounds a lot easier to get to than pulling the left saddle bag or the front nose panels. Let me look closely at the service manual tonight, see if I can find it there. Easier to find a ground there too.
My problem is my limited understand of how to read the wiring diagrams. Making everything a guess work.
Thanks a bunch.
Kenny
- GL470
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 9:06 pm
- Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
May be I’ll leave it for now. I have never explored under the relay bank. I’ll read up on it first to understand how it functions before starting the work. Riding season is here now, I don’t want to be sidelined because I’ve done something I don’t understand.
Thanks a again. I hope you don’t mind if I contact (PM) you when the time comes.
Kenny
Thanks a again. I hope you don’t mind if I contact (PM) you when the time comes.
Kenny
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- Posts: 484
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:11 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
- Motorcycle: 2004 GL1800
Re: Back up Beeper
Ok, sounds good.GL470 wrote: ↑Sat May 16, 2020 7:38 pm May be I’ll leave it for now. I have never explored under the relay bank. I’ll read up on it first to understand how it functions before starting the work. Riding season is here now, I don’t want to be sidelined because I’ve done something I don’t understand.
Thanks a again. I hope you don’t mind if I contact (PM) you when the time comes.
Kenny