GPS: To wire or not to wire... that is the question.

[Jeffreydas]

Been using paper maps forever... Love the plotting, Love the unknown.
Don't love finding the right hotel when I'm tired, don't love wondering where the next gas station is in the middle of nowhere.
Plus, I would love to know if there may be a nicer ride just over yonder and what the best detour is in a pinch (avoid 15 near Chapel Hill in a rain storm)... so I'm getting a GPS.

From my needs and research (thanks r1550r.net), I'm going with the waterproof Garmin Nuvi 550 with Ram mount.

But to wire for that once in a while week long trip (the only time a GPS would be on the bike)? or just use the manufactures claimed 8 hour battery life and plug to accessory outlet in a pinch?

What are your thoughts?

and I'm no wrencher, when some of you guys say how easy it is to wire up, well, I guess I'm just not there yet. I like easy and go. (I can check tire pressure, mind you)

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to hearing your responses.

JC

[challey]

If you have the accessory outlet, you could simply buy a plug and wire the GPS to it. This This is what I did a number of years ago as "temporary" solution to hard wiring my GPS - I've never gotten around to the permanent solution. It's pretty convienient - it only takes a minute or 2 to put the GPS and less than that to take everything off.

I used the right-angle plug from these guys:
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/pr ... ?Item=PLUG
for obvious reasons.

Charlie

[Dr. Strangelove]

I wired mine. My zumo does not last anywhere close to 4hours, I think, but not 8 for sure. I have a fair amount of farkles (heated vest circuit, motolights, accessory plug cigarette light size, sirius radio) online and a better solution for me was to add an accessory fuse panel--to which I plugged the zumo--switched power, btw.

My concern was that I would use it only sometimes, not for most rides--I commute--and the ugly bracket would always be there. It is a hassle to remove the bracket and mount-not something you'd do on a daily basis. So I usually have the zumo on board and the bracket is still an eye sore, but I live with it as the zumo in place hides it.

PS if you do wire it, you need to know how to remove the tank to get at the guts. Can be done without, I suppose, but you want to see the travel of the wire. And you prob could do it with one of those "add-a-fuse" things

John

[Twempie]

I have a TomTom Rider 2 (my next unit will be a Garmin) hard wired to the battery. My RAM mount is permanently bolted to the handlebars, above the ignition, so the GPS looks as if it's part of the instrument cluster, and isn't too obtrusive. If you hard-wire, you don't have to carry any additional chargers and wires with you - which I find to be a big deal on multi-week trips. Yes, the hotel feature did save my ass a couple of times. When hard wired, you just clip on the unit and go - no farting around with wires, chargers, etc. I also found that on trips, my GPS works really well in conjunction with a AAA map.

When I first bought the unit, I tried the "temporary" approach, taking it off and on, plugging it in to the ciggie adapter, etc. But I got tired of farting around and decided to hard wire to the battery. My GPS is off the bike more than on, but when I need to use it, I just clip it on and go.

[drsales1]

The absolute easiest way is to go behind the power adapter,and notice the two power wires that attach by slip fit connectors. Just pull those and slide in the bare wire end of the GPS. There is enough room to make a solid connection when you re-attach. Hint these wires are hot so you will have power 100% of the time.

Did mine this way never been disappointed.

[PA Rider]

I strongly suggest that you do wire your GPS unit. See link. This is the setup I use for my Zumo 660. The Zumo is water resistant so I did not need the cover for the GPS unit. It works great. Easy off/on. I have it wired to my Battery Tender lead. Also can charge cell phone on the go. This is not the most inexpensive way to go though. But Twisted Throttle has great customer support to make sure you order the right setup for your particular ride.


http://www.twistedthrottle.com/imagecat ... ist/721/0/

[sjbmw]

Garmin sells a BMW accessory socket power cable. I am non electrical too.

hook up ram mount, run cable under tank bag, under seat lip, into accessory socket.

It all comes off quickly.

[iowabeakster]

Definitely wire it. For the cost of a couple battery replacements...you will never run out of power. There are many ways of doing it. Some instalations are slick and pretty...some ugly...all of which are better than running out of juice when you have a generator spinning under your gas tank.

[Jeffreydas]

Thanks everyone! Great info to work with.