GPS users ...

Hi folks,

I am looking at getting a GPS to use on my bike. Looking at the current stock of "motorcycle" gps', the prices on those dedicated devices are punative.

What have you folks done to use GPS with your bike? How have you dealt with vibration issues? Water resistance? Sun exposure? Use with gloves? Other issues?

 

I have a Garmin 60Csx. I use a handle bar mount. I don't use it all the time, but when I do, it pops right off the mount when I need to leave the bike. (I use if for other purposes, and can quickly move if from car to bike to hand, etc.). It is water resistant to 3 meters for 30 minutes so a little rain is probably not going to hurt it. With the city navigator, it will take me just about anywhere on the street. Doesn't do point of view, but overhead map view. Does turn by turn, etc.

 

TomTom something, fits in my pocket =)

 

I have a tom tom one on mine. You can't use it with gloves and I wouldn't mess with it while moving. I have just put mine in my fork bag - never had a problem or it does fit nicely in your pocket.

I have not used it in rain - I suspect in a hard rain I would put it up

 

Velcro and a little safety fishing wire.. but it was a 20 dollar gps so go figure

 

Not to hijack but that is an interesting arrangement for your fork air valves.

Can you tell us something about it?

 

Compression fittings and hard plastic hose, it all seems pretty basic.. It came with the bike so i don't know where it came from


Anyone know if GPSs are legal to replace the speedometer incase i ride around without gauges?

 

I don't see why they wouldn't be. What legal requirements are there other than staying below the posted limit?

I would trust the GPS info (on a good GPS) over my 30 year old speedometer any day.

 

but the odometer is on the speedo, so without that you've got no "actual" mileage of the bike.

 

I use my GPS to test my speed. It came in handy on vacation when my BFs junk car would loose the speedo on occasion.

As far as using it on the bike, I have a handlebar mount for my Tomtom one. I also have the 12v plug in on my bike. The Tomtom's don't have a great battery life, maybe 2 hours. My old Garmin C330 would go for about 4 hours.

I've never used it in rain. I don't know about using it with gloves, I would say that would be damn near impossible given the tiny touch screen. I never used mine while moving on my bike. (car is another story )

 

Garmin Zumo 450 FTW! Yeah, expensive, but it works. With gloves. In the rain. In a box, with a fox. No vibration worries.

My original road-surfed due to a mounting flaw. The screen cracked/was non-functional, but the unit itself kept recording right up until the battery ran out a few hours later. Another motorist found it and returned it to me via Garmin who replaced it gratis. Great product (other than the mounting, make SURE the security screw is cinched down!), good customer service if you can wait on hold long enough, and yeah, occasionally good people in the world.

BTW, I used to use an old Garmin GPSmap 76s on the bike since it's water proof, but vibration was a serious limitation. It would freeze up constantly - something that never happened in the car and only occasionally in an airplane. I believe in hacking, repurposing, and DIY, but I also believe sometimes you just need the right tool for the job if you can at all afford it. To me it's worth the lack of frustration.

 

A little off topic but...
Schumauster, I am curious about your fork adjustment mod shown in the picture. Swing by for a burger and show it off?

 

I'd like to get your view on it too Robert - I'm interested - could be a good mod

 

Oblivion,
I was wondering about the Zuma's, but they are so freaking expensive.

Has anyone tried a Magellan Maestro or Roadmate? According to Magellan they are able to handle spills and a bit of rain, but certainly not submersable or something you'd leave outside during a heavy rain.

And Robert, you'd better share with us all. Heck, if I still lived in Monrovia, I'd stop by for that burger too.

 

I use a garmin nuvi 360 - it was $200 at the time. It is not waterproof, but ziplock bags are. I'm having a problem with the power cord at the moment - it wants to vibrate enough to switch on/off at times. This is after 20,000 km though and an elastic band seems to have fixed the problem.

Unplugging the power cable means it runs 100% properly... and the elastic band means it only reboots when you hit a big bump. This is the first year that it has done this...

 

This is on my C90, The amp for the Ipod and speakers is in the shield pouch with a lighted switch, Ram mount in center for the GPS.

 

I'm using a Mio Moov 300, 4"x3" screen. I keep it in my map pouch on my tank bag. Installed a power cord off the head light which runs in through the earbud opening in the tank bag to power it.

 

Have used a Garmin i5 in the cage for the last couple of years. Last week I found the courage to try it out on the bike.

A couple of thoughts

Could not hear it while at speed even with the visor open.
Found myself a little too pre-occupied with whether or not it would stay on.
Abosolutely loved the fact that I can see what is around the next turn!

Will search for a more secure mounting solution and hardwire it to my Tender lead.

Overall a good addition to the bike

 

Just to add a quick note to the thread. I have recently tried my GARMIN330 (I think that's the model) on mine. I zip tied the car mount to the handle bar and clipped on the GARMIN. Then I held my breath and let off the clutch.............................and it stayed! I then got out on the main road and got up to speed........it was still there! Then I got ballsy and started deliberately hitting potholes...lose pavement...grooves...small animals....and it stayed! So now my next question is how to I wire in a cigarette lighter socket to my bike to keep it powered on long trips. (NOTE:::NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE TESTING OF THIS GPS)

 

Wiring a lighter socket is easy - red to power, black to ground. Make sure there's a fuse in the line somewhere. It's up to you if you go right to the battery or connect to switched power (such as the headlight lead).

Personally, all of my 12v accessories have 'Accessory Plugs' on them (Radio Shack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062212 ) - the two-pole kind common to battery tenders. That way I can plug right into the tender lead that's connected to my batteries. To use the accessories in a car, I have a pigtail with a male cig. plug and a properly polarized accessory plug. Polarization is key - remember the positive is shielded on the battery side (and thus is exposed on the device side).

 

I use a cheap Tom Tom I got from WallMart for $99. I mounted to my tank bag. I only watch for the next turn and distance marker. I only use the tank bag on long rides. I like to ride till I get lost then get the GPS out and use it to find my way home.

 

I have this thing called map-map. It's quite inexpensive (except in Chicago) but unfortunately not very weatherproof.

 

I heard they make bags for the map-map that are very water proof and designed to attached right to the tank.

 

Great info Oblivion! I will indeed use those plugs that you provided the link for. It will definately "clean up" the look and not make it seem "do-it-yourself" I would like to see more info from fellow bikers on how well the mount clips for the GARMIN hold up. This is on the suction cup mount that goes on the windshield of a car. I zip-tied mine to the handle bar and the mount itself isn't going anywhere...but I am a bit aprehensive about how strong the actual clips are that holds the GARMIN to the mount.

 

My Zumo came with a RAM mounting system. I already had a RAM base mounted to the steering yoke on my Seca, so it slapped right on. I have a base mounted on my WR250R and in my wife's car. Easy peasy. The mount itself is solid. I lost my unit when it came out of the cradle.

 

I have the Zumo 550, and wouldnt have anything else. Yes it is expensive but it is great. Blue tooth, mp3 player. Easy to wire.. A must..

 

I looked at the Zumo, but the p;rices were just waaaaayyyyy too expensive.

There is really no significant reason why those should be so more expensive than regular units. A little bit more casing in casing for strength, vibration, and water resistance, and a screen bright enough for sunlight. That doesn't justify a $400 premium.

I ended up getting a refurb'd Magellan Crossover. It seems to promise everything I want and with the audio output I can plug it into my Chatterbox along with my cell phone.

 

The pain of the price is temporary. The rewards of having a Zumo, long-lasting. I don't regret my 450 purchase a bit. Now that I have a Blackberry with bluetooth, I might like the 550 just to see if it was worth stopping to take a call when my phone is buzzing incessantly at my hip, but really, I'm probably happier without it.

 

Hope no one takes this the wrong way but ! F#@& the GPS ! I use a map and a compass. Why you ask? Because I have a Garmin mounted and it is always losing signal in the clearest of days, its never reliable and no, there is nothing wrong with it. Also, its dangerous to continually be looking down at the GPS. I always route out the first 100 miles on a simple white sheet of paper in dark black ink and simply put directions like: 60W to 62S, 62S to 44W, 44W to 155N, etc........ This is much safer and is easily referenceable.
The only thing I've found the GPS good for is once I get into a large metro area, is to find a specific hotel, landmark, restaurant, etc.... So the garmin stays INSIDE the tank bag until this sort of use comes up. Just my 2c.

 

Well, my plans for using a GPS is to go hit the road, get lost, and be able to find my way home. Having a little forecast down the road is helpful too. Then, after I am good and "lost" and it is time to head home (or some other destination), I can say "lead the way ..."

One of the first times I went out for a ride, I was in an area with lots of twisty roads (obviously not in Michigan) and I couldn't tell which way I was going or where I would end up on any given road. I would take one road seeming to go in the right direction, and 10 minutes later I would be at least 90 degrees off track ... That was when I decided I needed a GPS. It has just taken a while to get there.

I want to be able to say, "that road looks interesting" and not have to worry that I will end up lost, out of gas, and up a creek without a paddle ...

Mike

 

Yep something is wrong with your garmin. Mine won't loose signal on the worst of days. I can even find signal inside my house.

Put it up higher. Like a hud. Only need to look about as often as you would at a map.

Yep, they are great at that, and finding your way home from a turn here, turn there adventure...

Just my 2c

 

I also want a GPS for the bike? I saw the new Strike Genius in action at the Gold Coast show last month. Looks to be the goods. Software has been customised for the bike so it is easy to operate. Not sure on the price point yet. Anyone heard?

 

The price is $499 - I saw it at Ulysses Albany and I reckon it is a winner. I don't know when it is out.

 

ktcubed.. i found a handlebar gps mount for 1" diameter bars whereas my handlebar is 7/8" i think. is this what you have for your Garmin 60 SCX? I also have the garmin map 60 style gps and it is wonderful. the 1/8" difference probably doesn't really matter but was just curious

Also guys, I've been thinking about a radio.. anyone know or tried something like this? Ebay

 

RAM makes a waterproof case called Aquabox that will go on any RAM mount. I use one when I take my $100 NAV system on the Venture.

I used a mount that piggybacks on the mirror mount hole.

Then I wired an audio plug into the intercom system so "Sarah" can whisper in my ears as I ride. :wink:

 

Garmin NUVI 500 (or 550). IPX7 Waterproof and ruggedized (for vibration). $250 new.
I've been using one for a couple of months and I love it.
I highly recommend trashing the stock mounting cradle for a Ram Mount cradle and your choice of RAM Mounting systems. The stock cradle is junk...and on a bike your GPS is trash is the mounting fails!
BTW, to date none of the other Garmin Nuvis are waterproof and ruggedized...just the Nuvi 500 and 500.
I would have like the larger touch screen of the other Nuvi's, but I'd rather have the water proofness of the 500.
They run about $250....much less expensive than the ZUMOs.
They have a rechargable battery, but I bought an aftermarket 12v power cord and mounted the little box part under my tank with the other electronics. The plug comes out in front of my gauges and plugs into the back of the unit.
Sorry, don't have any pics small enough to attach on here.
Email me if you want pics of my GPS setup.
Mike