04-01-2026, 10:01 AM
Challenge: take a look at the two BMW factory installed horn/siren units attached to the police crash bars on my '21 RTP, and figure out which of the ten or so wires running into them are triggered by the factory horn switch on the handlebar. All of these wires were used to run the siren, PA system, and very loud police "get your attention" horn. Find the horn-specific wires, remove the police sirens, and just attach the wires to a regular horn.
Reality: BMW made the wiring on the RTP so complicated and police-specific, that there are no wires that "just work the horn" among the ten or so wires running to the two siren units. But hey, good luck, I found the factory horn wires that would be used for the civilian horn, taped up under the fairing. Should be simple enough to strip these wires and attach them to a simple horn, mounted under the fairing.
Reality 2: BMW programmed the ECUs on the RTP bikes specifically so that the factory horn wiring is non-functional. It can be made functional if the bike is taken to a BMW dealership and the computer is flashed from "service spec" to "civilian".
Gotta love how BMW makes things more complicated than they have to be.
But, I did have fun, and took the picture of my coworker and me, ran it through ChatGPT, and told it to make us superheroes.
Reality: BMW made the wiring on the RTP so complicated and police-specific, that there are no wires that "just work the horn" among the ten or so wires running to the two siren units. But hey, good luck, I found the factory horn wires that would be used for the civilian horn, taped up under the fairing. Should be simple enough to strip these wires and attach them to a simple horn, mounted under the fairing.
Reality 2: BMW programmed the ECUs on the RTP bikes specifically so that the factory horn wiring is non-functional. It can be made functional if the bike is taken to a BMW dealership and the computer is flashed from "service spec" to "civilian".
Gotta love how BMW makes things more complicated than they have to be.
But, I did have fun, and took the picture of my coworker and me, ran it through ChatGPT, and told it to make us superheroes.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.
