Keeping the Crooks At Bay

There's always a couple of ways to deal with bike thieves. Photo by Jerry Southworth.

Thieves are brazen these days; the Son’s Of Bitch’s will take what’s yours without batting an eyelash, getting a huge rush as they ride off with your motorcycle in broad daylight. Short of guarding your bike with a loaded gun, baseball bat, or battle-axe, if someone wants it bad enough they’ll find a way to get it. Fortunately there’s a company out there tipping the scales in favor of law-abiding citizens everywhere. From the mean-streets of Folsom, CA comes Digital Guard Dawg, a high-tech company offering a bevy of security products aimed squarely at thieves. The basis of all of DGD’s products are rooted in a technology known as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). These guys have nailed it, the system is simplistic, automatic, keyless, and reliable, what more could you ask for? Now, Harley owners with bikes which predate the current 2007 factory security system featuring a key fob to allow the engine to start, can easily set their bikes up to do that and a whole lot more.

Digital Guard Dawg’s Keyless Ignition Module (KIM) includes everything needed for installation on your Harley-Davidson, as well as other motorcycles. The Smart Relay comes prewired to the harness for easy installation. We ordered an extra Dawg Tag so we’d have two, just in case.

Over the years RFID developed many well-known uses including; Mobil’s Speed Pass, pet ID chips embedded under their skin, employee ID badges, and dash-mounted units, allowing vehicles to bypass toll plazas or access HOV lanes. Recently the technology found itself in the form of push button starting on high-end cars like Vett’s and Mercedes Benz’s.

After a very simple programming procedure where the Dawg Tag (seen here) communicates with the keyless ignition module, the KIM system was ready to protect Joel’s bike.

What separates the DGD’s Keyless Ignition Module (DGD-KIM) system from the OEM’s offerings is its ability to be easily installed on virtually any motorcycle. The KIM model is designed not only as an additional layer of security, but it allows for removal of your stock ignition switch, providing you with totally keyless operation of your motorcycle. The KIM unit disables your bike’s electrical system unless you authorize the starting sequence to begin. This is where the RFID technology comes into play. The system consists of two major components, a Smart Relay, and a Dawg Tag working in tandem allowing the motorcycle to be started only when the Dawg Tag is communicating with the Smart Relay. Communication between the two can only take place if the Dawg Tag is in the range of the Smart Relay, no communication, no starting, period.

The brains of the system are built into a small package no larger than the stock starter relay. Requiring only 1-1/2 inches of space, the Smart Relay is chocked full of over 300 high-quality electronic components, which comprise its inner workings.

The micro circuitry built into the Smart Relay and the Dawg Tag, is what makes it all happen. Each time you walk more than 10-feet from the bike (with the Dawg Tag in your pocket, on your belt etc), the system automatically arms itself 30-seconds after you depart, walk back, and the bike is ready to start. DGD utilizes a KeyLock encryption system designed with more than 6 billion different codes assuring no one else’s Dawg Tag will work on your bike. Inside the Dawg Tag is a 3-volt lithium battery designed to give one – three years service depending on use. Also inside is a pair of switches allowing the user to fine-tune the systems range up or down. There’s even a switchable manual/automatic mode allowing for a higher level of control over the units operation.Wiring harness

The KIM’s keyless feature is a function of the wiring harness supplied with the kit. Once installed, you no longer have to insert your key and turn the ignition switch. Once the KIM system is installed all you have to do is walk up to the bike, flip the run/stop switch to run, thumb the starter and you’re off.

We installed the KIM system on a 2005 Road King. The process began by removing the seat, disconnecting the negative battery cable, and removing the dash panel. Here our man Joel, service tech at Bennett’s Performance Inc, located in Signal Hill, CA disconnects the large three-wire connector that mates to the stock ignition switch.

Depending on the model of motorcycle installation will vary; the basic install goes like this. Three wires go to your stock ignition switch connector; two wires go to your existing run/stop switch along with a jumper, and one wire goes to your battery’s negative terminal. There is also a connection for an optional accessory switch (included) for bikes that operate accessories without the bike running. Anyone competent in wiring techniques should be able to install the system by following the well laid out, easy to follow instructions. DGD even offers chrome ignition switch covers if you decide to remove your ignition switch from the dashboard. The covers are available with a variety of H-D designs and logos on them.

Prior to bolting the dash back in place Joel removed the stock ignition switch and replaced it with this cool-looking cover we got from Digital Guard Dawg.

The KIM kit is designed to fit all year H-D’s, and Buell’s as well Victory’s, Indians, customs, and even metric bikes. The system sells for $399. If you like the security aspect of the KIM system but could do without the keyless operation, (removal of the stock ignition switch) DGD sells the DGD-1, and DGD-2, which include a Smart Relay and Dawg Tag. Installation of the DGD-1, and DGD-2 consists of swapping out the stock starter relay and connecting a power wire to the battery, that’s it. Like the KIM, the DGD-1’s, and DGD-2’s Dawg Tags must be present in order to start the motorcycle. These units sell for $169 and fits Harleys from 1985 to present, as well as many other applications. You can also purchase spare Dawg Tags and additional relays if you own multiple bikes and want to control all of them with one Dawg Tag. Depending on which state you live in you might even qualify for a discount on your motorcycle insurance by virtue of having a passive starter interrupt installed on your bike, now what could be better than that?

Joel will need to access the wiring that goes to the bikes stop/run switch. The Deutsch connector that makes the right hand control connections is located in the nacelle behind the headlight.

Once he located the proper Deutsch connector Joel unclipped the male and female halves from each other. Harley uses black connectors for the right-side wiring, and grey connectors for the left-side wiring.

Since completely removing the gas tank is a messy pain in the ass, Joel removed the rear-mounting blot from the bike…

…before removing the two front mounting bolts. Doing so will allow him to lift the tank slightly, accessing the area between the tank and backbone to fit the KIM’s wiring harness.

With the tank lifted Joel easily fished the grey, and white/black tracer wires under the tank and into the rear of the nacelle.

Connections to the bikes wiring harness will require Joel to remove the grey, and white/black tracer wires from the Deutsch connector, which run to the right hand control. He begins by removing the rubber retention wedge with a small screwdriver.

Next, he inserts the screwdriver releasing the retention pin that secures the white/black tracer wire. With just a slight tug on the wire it released easily from the connector.

Joel then performed the same procedure to release the grey wire from the Deutsch connector.

Included in the KIM kit are two Deutsch terminal pins. Joel attached them to the grey, and white/black tracer wires he pulled into the nacelle.

These two wires were then inserted into the Deutsch connector placing them in the same position as the original wires were. Joel then reinserted the retention wedge and was done wiring the Deutsch connector.

Next, Joel pulled out the short jumper wire and heat-shrink tubing that would be used to connect the two wires he removed from the Deutsch connector.

Male pin into female receptacle, it’s just that easy.

A little heat from a lighter is all it takes to shrink up the tubing to secure and insulate the connections.

Time to reconnect the Deutsch connector and replace the headlight assembly.

Joel took a few moments to determine the exact location where the KIM wiring harness would reside. From there he trimmed the three wires coming from the harness (red, red/black, red/gray) to the proper length, stripped the ends and crimped the three ¼-inch male spade connectors to the wires.

The three wires were then attached to the stock wiring connector Joel removed from the ignition switch in image three. As with the Deutsch connector the color-coding of the new wires is the same Harleys factory color-coding.

Helping secure the wires to the connector is a large piece of heat-shrink tubing. Joel couldn’t resist breaking out the MAPP torch to make quick work of it. Joel took it easy with this thing; it’s got a lot of heat and could have easily melted the wire’s insulation.

All that’s left for wiring was to attach the fork connector to the black wire running from the module, and attach it to the negative battery terminal. All Joel had to do was remount the gas tank, dash, and seat, and reconnect the battery.

Starting the bike was now as easy as Joel walking up to it with the Dawg Tag in his pocket, flipping on the run switch and thumbing the starter. As long as he has the Dawg Tag within 10 feet of the bike he could start it, if the Dawg Tag was not present he could not start the bike. At this point Joel has had the KIM system installed on his Road King for six months and has had zero problems with it. He rides the bike on a daily basis and is impressed with the KIM’s simplicity, security, and ruggedness.

Sources
Digital Guard Dawg Inc.
24988 Blue Ravine Rd.
Building 108-129
Folsom, CA 95630
916-337-1040
www.digitalguarddawg.com

Bennett’s Performance Inc.
1940 Freeman Ave
Signal Hill, CA 90755
562/498-1819
www.bennettsperformanceinc.com