BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I am considerring mounting my Navigon 5100 GPS on the bike to help me find my way. I keep getting lost, and while that is somtimes interesting, it is not conducive to on-time arrivals.

I would like to mount it near my line of vision so I don't have to avert my eyes from the road very long (or far), so I was thinking of the inside of my sport windshield where it would also be sort of protected from the elements (but it is not waterproof so I'd take it off in a downpour). But I think a since the windscreen is mounted on rubber well nuts which allows it to vibrate, it might be hard to read and maybe not too good for the GPS. Has anyone done this? Are these real problems with mounting it in this location?

Well I cannot commet on mounting the GPS on the windscreen. However I have mounted my GPS (TomTom Rider) on a Ram Mount construction together with such rubber-metal dampers (http://www.directindustry.com/prod/sten ... 56970.html) and I have no problem in reading my GPS ...

Brgds
Oliver

FWIW, I have a "touring" screen on my R850R, a biggy with four mounting arms.

My first attempt to mount a GPS was to one of those arms, and it was a signal failure.

On rough roads, the weight of the GPS and it's mounting caused the whole arm to break.

Fortunately, I could get the replacement arm, at only vast expense, from my friendly BMW dealer.

The next effort was rather more successful.

I got a length of timber doweling, and mounted it between the top two windscreen mounting arms, right out against where the windscreen fits. I used fairly hi-tech mountings.... cable ties, or do you guys call them zip ties.

This time I did away with the adjustable GPS mounting bracket, and, when I am off for a longish ride, I simply cable tie the GPS directly onto the wooden strip.

This brings it up into my line of sight, holds it at a fairly near vertical angle, which helps keep the sun off its screen, and has survived 4,000 kms trips on fairly rough roads.

I just cut the cable ties when I want to remove the GPS, and use more when I need to remount it....

No problems with vibrations, good visibility, will take a pic later today.

regards,CrazyCam

Crazycam, I like your idea, simple yet effective!

I bought a "waterproof" holder for my Garmin Nuvi GPS on eBay which came with a handlebar mount. I mounted it between the two handlebar clamps and adjusted it so it's not distracting yet I can see if quickly if I need to. I thought about putting it in the windscreen area, but I don't want to get distracted from the road with the GPS screen.

I ran this system for mounting stuff on my R for a long time, and have done the same on my GSA.

The clamps are marine bar fittings and are very strong. I drilled them to take M6 bolts and provide the right clamping action. On the R, there is just enough room for them to clamp around the bars next to the outside area of the bar mounting clamps. With bar risers, they will fit in-between. You can get them in several bar sizes. These are 7/8" to match the bars. I think I used slightly larger ones due to the bend of the bars and so they would go around the slight curve of the R bars. Can't remember now.

Anyway, you need two sets and a piece of 7/8" bar to give a mounting bar higher up and with mopre space than the actual handle bars. I cut down some old handlebars for a straight bit. I've even used 1" bar for another bike and you could just add an extension piece if you wanted them higher.

Pics are self-explanatory. The gear shown is on my GSA. Really easy, really stable and strong, but also has enough 'flex' to move instead of smashing your GPS if you hit a bird or fall off. Tightness is adjusted via the M6 bolts and nylock nouts used to mount the clamps. Note also that the placement of the clamp 'feet' will position the bar a little forward or a little back, depending on what you are mounting.

Works for me.

Look at Tech-Mounts--I think their offices are near you so you could try them out.

the gps is too heavy to mount on the windscreen.
It can be mounted on the bars, remain mostly in your line of sight, and not cover any dials. It can also be protected from the rain.

I have a older StreetPilot III, that I mount to the handle bars, dead in the center.
It's a removable GPS, as I use it in the car sometimes.

1. The first part that is permanently attached to the handle bar is the ball mount.



http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx

2. Next a ball mount is permamently attached to the back of my GPS:



http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx

3. Then a Ram Arm connects the 2 ball mounts. (I have a one inch, and a 3 inch arm, I used to have a XM radio hooked up also.)




http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx


The RAM mount site has wizards to identify the GPS model and bike model, and will suggest mounts.


http://www.ram-mount.com/

Brake reservoir mount, go here.

http://www.gpscity.com/ram-mount-motorc ... -base.html

Rats!

I am now very embarrassed....

I did take a picture of my lo-tech GPS mount, using my phone, and it doesn't look near as suave and sophisticated as any of the stuff the rest of you have posted.

Then, I found that I didn't know how to post that image to the board.....

<sigh>

regards,CrazyCam

I got a RAM mount from CycleGadgets.com and affixed it to my handlebar. I used a old inner tube to protect the bar. Has worked well since 2004.

Those are all great ideas. Thanks guys.

I played around with the placement this weekend and decided the two spots I could see the GPS and all the other instruments best was between the handlebar mounting brackets or mounted at the upper left of the clock, high enough to not block the speedo, which is better since it's higher up and more in my line of vision. I briefly tried sticking it to the speedo glass, which would work fine since the GPS speedo is more accurate than the bike's anyway, but I use my trip meter to keep track of gas, so I don't want to cover it up. I'm going to try to make a bracket to mount it above the instrument cluster to the left of the clock. I'll post a picture when I get 'er done!

I didn't think being diretly in the line-of-sight was the best idea, or even necessary. There's also the reach factor when needing to touch it while driving. So I installed mine just to the side of line-of-sight and in a position that allows me to keep the base of my hand in contact with the bike via the left handlebar controls pod and base of the mirror, which keeps things in balance as opposed to taking a hand completely off the handlebars. It sits up high enough to be easily seen and doesn't block the bikes instruments.

Another thing I did not do: I didn't run the GPS power through the switch, it comes directly off the battery. This enables me to fool around with routes without turning on my key. Maintaining power to the GPS while the bike key is turned off (refueling etc) also preserves where I'm at in my route, immediately taking up where I stopped without having to recall the required program. I don't worry about leaving it on as the unit doesn't draw enough power to speak of; besides, anytime you leave the bike your well advised to remove the GPS anyway.

Good idea about being able to steady the bike and your hand if you need to use the touchscreen, and it is still high up where you don't need to divert your eyes far to look at it so you can still keep the road in your peripheral vision. There is a ram mount for the top of 1150 clutch fluid reservoirs that would mount the GPS there (pointed out above).

But I'd be concerned that being so exposed that even the slightest drizzle could destroy your GPS. We get them frequently and without warning here. At least behind a shield it has a chance in a light rain.

Sunbeemer wrote:.........But I'd be concerned that being so exposed that even the slightest drizzle could destroy your GPS. We get them frequently and without warning here. At least behind a shield it has a chance in a light rain.

Yeah...I've been waiting for a rain to kill it. I've been caught in a few showers that didn't bother it. I have reached up to unplug and put it in my pocket. If I were on a long trip I'd get a waterproof housing.

I bought a zippered waterproof case with a universal handlebar mount for my Garmin Nuvi.Case is mostly filled with foam packing to get the touch screen up against the window. Only ran of the internal battery for day trips so far . Could lash up a connection to the power outlet if needs be. Its a distracting lump to have wobbling around on the bars ,but found that using the picture guide only was handy when in foreign parts. North East Nottinghamshire.

You can find waterproof bags to carry a car GPS with a bar-mount on the 'net - I've seen them on Amazon for starters. One of those might do the trick.

Other than that.... have you tried simply using the suction mount on the inside of the screen, just like you would on your car screen?

I've done exactly that with my car GPS unit on my Rockster for the last year, and it sits in a good position to be viewed above but not obscuring the bike instruments. If the suction mount is a good 'un then it's very unlikely to come loose (you could rig up al lanyard in case you are worried about this, but I've been over rough roads at pace without mine flying off into the scenery).

You're right that the screen will protect the GPS from showers, but I'd not risk it in some heavy rain (I've heard of people wrapping the GPS in clingfilm as weatherproofing, but haven't tried this myself). I'd take it off in a downpour (I put the GPS under the clear map pocket of my tank bag if I need it in the rain, then return it to the screen mount when the weather clears).

I've also mounted one with the suction mount on the tacho face - I was lucky that my GPS mount base let me do this without covering the oil warning light and the low fuel light by offsetting the suction mount to the top-left of the tacho glass.

I found this GPS mounting idea which looks great:

http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/B ... -2011.html

It is shown for R1200R, but should work for most other bikes. Basically you replace one of bolts used to mount your handlebars with a
new one, with ball on it. Then you hook up your regular GPS mount on it.

The company producing these is in UK and it is impractical to ship to US. I was wondering if it possible to produce something like this
cheap locally. Maybe it is a matter of buying a plastic ball and drilling a hole in it and putting a long bolt through it. The parts should not
cost more than $10.

If enough people are interested maybe we can put our efforts together to produce a small batch?

I'd be interested in that concept. Going to try mine on the suction mount just on the speedo glass.

I've now got one of these....

http://www.buybits.com/Product/14146.aspx

Got fed up of all the rain we've been having, and also its not just the Sat Nav that can be killed by the rain - the charger unit isn't weatherproof and goes Phut! So I looked for a new solution.

My Navman 5" screen satnav unit (same as a Mio basically) uses a mini-USB input power supply with 5V, 1A input (just like off your PC USB Ports and one of the reasons I chose this unit - as it means I can charge the Sat-Nav off pretty much anything, anywhere using a basic USB-Mini USB lead), which is exactly what this weatherproof power supply provides that comes in this kit. The kit also means that I can leave the supplied mount and charger unit in the car, and easily swap the satnav unit between the bike and car without transferring leads and mounts as well - grab the satnav and go.

An added benefit is that my phone uses the same charge voltage (although micro-USB, but I have an mini-micro USB adaptor) so on a trip away I can also charge my phone off the same lead.

The charger box lives under the seat (which can be turned off) - in fact it fits nicely in the spare space in my fuse box. The lead is plenty long enough to get to the 'bars.

The lead into the sat nav can be disconnected using the weatherproof connector outside the actual bag as well. The bag fits securely on the mount, but can be taken off easily for security when away from the bike.

Mounting? Mine is in the centre of the bars and suits me best there. I have also tried it on one of the smaller diameter bars on the screen mount I have (tip - make a thicker mount point for the clamp easily by cutting a section of rubber fuel line and split it to go over the bar, then wrap some self-amalgamating rubber tape over it to secure it and build it up as needed). They offer heaps of other mount options as well anyway if you don't like this one.

I also bought a cheap stylus off Amazon and it's mounted on the bike in a short piece of tube taped to the screen mount. This keeps it safe but easily accessible so I can grab it to work the Satnav touchscreen without taking my gloves off.

I've only had this lot for a few weeks, but so far I have to say I'm pretty happy with the solution, and the cost. Sat Nav was on offer at UK 100 Pounds (what's that, about 160 Dollars US?) and the mount kit is cheap enough and could be used on other satnavs anyhow.

I have a simple, home made solution.

I use my Android phone with Google maps for the actual Sat Nav (I prefer a pre-planned route laid over a moving map to blindly following directions - but I have software for that if I need it)

The phone has a layer of "soft" Velcro stuck to the back (also makes it slightly nicer in the hand and pocket).

The bike has a plate of ally roughly 4" by 1.5" (Dural I think), mounted to a bolt (between 2 rubber grommets) which threads into a K1200R mirror mount clamp (a pair of, cast-offs from putting handguards on my ex's K12). Glued strongly to the ally plate is a 1/4" thick layer of sorbothane (sp?) rubber to provide even more vibration protection, and glued to that is a "rough" sheet of Velcro. The phone can then be stuck straight to the plate.

For security, I have a small length of bungee cord (taken from a disassembled bungee net) tied in a loop which can be strung around the whole assembly.

For rain, I have a transparent, open ended plastic bag (actually an Aquapac with the fastenings removed) which slips over the assembly and provides good protection.

The USB power lead (absolutely necessary, GPS connection uses a LOT of battery power) is hooked into the bike under the tank (secondary DIN socket, with an adapter to a regular car socket, then an adaptor to USB, all hidden away). I don't leave the USB lead on the bike, it takes seconds to put on or remove, and the standard USB cable that came with the phone is long enough to nicely reach from the airbox round the tank and up to the bars.

The plate can also be rotated so I can have the phone either in portrait or landscape (useful for travelling north-south, or east-west respectively).


Simple, cheap and it works.