Installing the Satellite Navigation System on the Dashboard of the Moto Guzzi Norge (by Capitan Farloc)

Own a beautiful Moto Guzzi Norge and want to add some tech to your rides? In this guide, we show you how to install a GPS navigation system directly on the dashboard — securely, neatly, and without affecting your bike’s aesthetics. A simple DIY solution that’s perfect for long-distance riders who don’t want to lose their way!

Introduction

Motorbikes are both a passion and a way to unwind for me. On weekends, I love going on little getaways, either alone or with friends. 
A few years ago, I bought a second-hand Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 GT, and for some time, I’d been planning to equip it with a satellite navigation system. Recently, I decided to go for it and bought one—probably made in China, not overly fancy, but it gets the job done in the end.

Where to Mount the Navigator

The navigator I purchased came with a mount designed for standard motorcycle handlebars. However, my bike has a forged alloy handlebar with a unique shape, leaving no suitable points for attaching it. The manufacturer, in fact, offers an accessory for this model, the mount you can see in the photo, which secures the navigator to the centre of the handlebar.
Initially, I considered installing my navigator in the same position, but it felt impractical. It was both too far from my field of vision while riding and too horizontal, leaving it overly exposed to sunlight.

So, I decided to use the uppermost part of the dashboard, shown in the photo, which is the cover for the housing of the motorised windscreen adjustment system.
By mounting my navigator in that section of the dashboard, I could position it more vertically. Being in the lower part of the windscreen, it would allow me to glance at it while riding without having to take my eyes too far off the road.

Modifying the Navigator Mount

At this point, I got to work. First, I removed the four screws from the navigator’s mount that were holding the ball joint. This joint is used to attach either the clamp for the motorcycle handlebars (the one visible in the photo) or the suction cup included in the kit for use on a car's windscreen.

What You’ll Need

I went to a DIY store to buy:

1. A pack of screws with the same thread as the ones I removed (M4 metric, 4mm in diameter) and 4cm long.
2. Some M4 self-locking nuts.
3. An aluminium tube with an inner diameter slightly larger than the screw diameter, to use for cutting spacers to fit onto the screws.

Removing the Screw Heads

Using my mini drill and a diamond cutting disc, I quickly removed the hexagonal heads from four of the screws I bought. Afterwards, I smoothed the edges of the cuts and slightly tapered them using the same disc.
This process could potentially damage the thread and prevent the nut from being screwed on. To fix it, all you need to do is insert a nut from the untouched end of the screw and screw it all the way through until it passes over the cut section. This simple step restores the damaged thread to its proper condition.

Preparing the Spacers

Next, I worked on the aluminium tube, cutting it into four pieces to create spacers. Two were approximately 1 cm long, and the other two were about 2.5 cm long.

Mounting the Screws and Spacers

I screwed the four previously cut screws into the holes of the navigator's mount. To ensure they wouldn’t come loose, I secured them using the simple nuts (the ones included in the package with the screws), tightening them at the base as "locking counter-nuts".

Finally, I placed the spacers onto the screws, positioning the shorter ones at the top and the longer ones at the bottom.
This allowed me to mount the support at a slight upward angle rather than completely vertical, tilting the navigator’s screen towards the rider’s eyes to make it more visible.

Mounting the Navigator Support on the Motorcycle Dashboard

I removed the windscreen and opened the back cover of the motorised windscreen adjustment unit.
With some difficulty, I managed to mark the points to be drilled. Using a battery-powered drill-driver, I created the four holes needed to insert the screws for fastening the support.

Once the screws were inserted into the mount (don’t forget to include the four spacers), I secured everything by fastening it with four self-locking nuts. Given the inevitable vibrations on a motorcycle, these are essential to ensure they don’t come loose over time.

Electrical Connection (Negative Wire)

At this stage, I connected the power supply, fastening it onto the waterproof socket on the mount. I then routed the wire through to the inside of the dashboard, securing both the power supply and any excess wire to the motorcycle’s frame using a cable tie.
To the negative wire—the black one—I attached a terminal connector, which I later tightened under one of the fastening screws for the windscreen motor to ensure a solid ground connection to the bike.

Connecting the Positive Wire

For the positive wire connection, I used a “current-tapping clamp,” which is the red item shown in the photo.
I’m not sure if it has more “technical” names, but if you ask for it by that name at an auto parts store, they’ll know exactly what you mean.
The price should be around one euro each, and one will be enough for our purpose.
Its function is right in its name—to tap into the current from one wire and transfer it to another.

The current-tapping clamp, once opened, has two slots for inserting wires—one is "through" and the other is closed at one end.
After identifying a wire that carries voltage only when the bike is running (on my motorcycle, I used the dipped beam light wire, which cannot be turned off), I placed it in the "through" slot. In the other slot, I inserted the red power wire for the navigator. When the clamp is closed, a metal blade pierces the soft plastic insulation of the wires, making contact with the copper strands underneath without cutting them. This creates an electrical connection between the two wires.

Conclusion

Once everything was reassembled, the end result was quite satisfying. Although the navigator doesn't feature a particularly effective anti-reflective screen, the brightness is decent enough. Mounting it in this position (with the addition of the sunshade on the mount) makes it easier to see during trips.

The placement on the dashboard seems more protected compared to the manufacturer’s accessory, which left it somewhat exposed to the elements. Overall, I’m very pleased with the final result.

I hope you like the idea and, above all, that this article has been helpful to you.
Warm regards to everyone.
Luciano (Capitan Farloc)