Mounting a GPS - any thoughts?

Hi all
I have appalling navigational skills and can get so lost, so easy, its
uncanny!

Anyways, I have a Garmin Nuvi 215 sat nav that I use in the car (nice and
compact so fits in the pocket when I park the car up)

I cant afford a bike sat nav as they are scary prices!!
Ideally, I'd like to fit my existing sat nav onto my bike (Honda CBX750 Bol
D'or)

At the moment the bike doesn't have a power point to run the sat nav so
initially I'll be relying on the sat navs internal battery (not perfect but
it will do for now)

So, best way to mount one? I was going to get something like:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GPS-SATNAV-CA...S_Accessories_Software_ET&hash=item4cf67142bd

(ebay item number: 330552132285 )

But not sure that this would work with clip ons (I could be wrong - hence
asking)

Wondering if anyone had other solutions (other than insulation tape, cable
ties and a plastic bag)?

Sadly, money is a huge factor (meh!)

I look forward to comments... no really, I do

Cheers

Peter

 

I suspect it'd be shit with clip-ons. I use one of those cases (from
buybits.com) with a RAM ball mount & arm. Gives you much more
adjustment for getting the position right, & easily switchable between
bikes.

 

Actually I had one of those briefly- returned it, and the Nuvi 765T, and got a Zumo
550 instead. Huge difference in price but nice to have a purpose-made GPS for the
bike.

Not the best solution but if you're skint it's just OK. A RAM ball mount and a RAM
Aqua Box is a much better (although rather large) solution (I also bought this and
returned it before buying the Zumo!) to using a Nuvi on the bike. If you have clip
ons, you will most likely have to rig up some sort of auxiliary mount with a short
length of suitable 7/8" diameter tubing to mount the clamp on.

Running power to the GPS is
no big deal, there's any number of ways to do it. I suggest adding a charger lead
to the battery (fused of course) and then adding a cigarette lighter socket that
plugs into the charger lead. Then you plug your bog-standard cigarette lighter
powered universal USB charger into that and a short mini-USB lead to the GPS.

http://www.pashnit.com/pics/products/powerlet/outlets/PKT-101-24_p_478_webl.jpg

 

As Krusty says, look for a RAM mount for your bike. The Ebay seller has a
version of that case with a RAM ball item no 330552895738

http://www.ram-mount-uk.com/bike-mount5.htm doesn't mention the CBX (nor
does the US version) but if you email them then they may suggest a solution
(perhaps include a photo of the handlebar arrangement).

 

Yup RAM are the boys for this sort of thing - and as Wessie says get
in contact with them. I had a bit of an odd set up (road book and
various bar mounted switches) and didn't have room for their "normal"
stuff. A couple of photos by e-mail and they suggested something I'd
have never found - top guys.

cheers

SS

 

A temporary or "occasional use" solution might be a tank bag with
transparent map pocket on top. It has worked for me in the past.

 

Peter Ackers escribió:

If I were to want to take my satnav on the bike, I'd just stick it in the
map pocket of the tankbag.

 

I'm sure that CBX750s have a rack for strapping GPSs to...

 

Hi all
Thanks for the input.
I wasn't sure if there was a simple, cheap solution (there never is LOL)

So, it looks like some innovation maybe required!
During a moment of clarity (i) I suddenly remembered the bike has a cover in
the fairing covering fuses (or some crap, I dunno)
It looks this (stock pic, not mine):
http://www.fj1200.info/IMAGENES/CBX/cuadro.JPG

The fuse cover (the thing with a clock glued to it in that pic) looks like
it may be a useful mounting point for a sat nav?

Think we maybe onto something! Plus, with the fairing, it maybe worth while
at some point mounting a ciggy lighter point for power? hmm....

I have also heard of a Givi handlebar bag kind of thing that can take a sat
nav - not looked into these as yet but the above may be the way to go.
http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/givi-universal-gps-holder.htm
Not sure if they are any good or if they will fit with the clip ons.


(i) Still struggling with flu :-( over two damn weeks now. Bike been stuck
under its cover for two weeks!! Meh! All the petrol's probably evaporated!!


Cheers

Peter

 

It would appear that unlike you and many in these parts I have a
functioning brain well equipped through millions of years of evolution to
find my way home and thus am able to plot my way to the end of the road
and back unaided but reading the comments around these parts from those
who share your disability I conclude that being a thick ****, a hundred
quid richer and lost is infinitely preferable to being a thick **** with
expensive broken toys who is also lost.

 

Hmm, where might one get a RAM ball on a stick for steering stem
mounting ?

I looked a while back for a 'competitively priced' waterproof GPS case
for the bike, but my mojo failed me.

Is the Arkon one the best option ?

Paul.

 

Few said:

/me slaps forehead

Of course!
should they be magnetic or non or does it matter in real life?


Cheers

Peter

 

Telferizer

 

http://www.buybits.com/product/3599.aspx

Or just find something else suitable here:

http://www.buybits.com/catalogue/1738.aspx

They're cheap and quick.

 

buybits.com can probably get them if they don't stock them. I just use
the U-bolt mount.

Seems to do the job. Mine got drowned in France last year & the GPS
stayed dry, which is the main thing.

 

Not really, it's a bit shit doing that. Can't see the screen if it's
sunny, & a pita trying to see where you're meant to be going at
confusing junctions with lots of options.

 

It isn't a good idea. At all.
Unless you use an audio link and listen rather than looking down.

 

Yeah, I looked at that option, but looks like a candidate for
pilfering off the bike, as it's only held on with an allen screw.

I think the through stem might be a little harder to get out, as I was
gonna loctite the ball to the threaded bit ...

Paul.

 

I know prices of this stuff falls rapidly as they start getting meerkats
to penetrate but they are not that cheap yet Shirley?

 

rick escribió:

I don't think I'd use mine "on the move" like that. I don't in the car. I
listen to the spoken instructions in towns. Other than that, I stop the car
to look at the thing, so I'd stop the bike. But the thing that a map holder
is best suited to is holding a map. Again, stopping to read it though. I
can't imagine trying to follow a map whilst moving. Sounds dangerous to me.
Yeah, safety nazi and evfink.

Just been assured by my surgeon that I'm in tip-top health and can eat what
the hell I like as the problem was down to inherited cholesterol and I'm
taking pills for that.

BP currently 110/65. Mind, have dropped 9 kgs by reducing alcohol intake.