GPS Mount For Motorbike

[Shivers]

I've got a Garmin GPS unit (very small...maybe smallest one on the market). I'd really like to mount it on my motorbike somehow and was wondering if anyone here has done the same and could share how they did so (a picture or two would be a plus). I only want to mount the mount for the GPS (if that makes sense), so I can remove the actual unit when I park the motorbike. If it matters, the motorbike I have is a Yamaha Elegance.

[travelling_man]

I've got a Garmin GPS unit (very small...maybe smallest one on the market). I'd really like to mount it on my motorbike ...

 

I looked into doing this as well with my garmin 265. You can find many pictures in google images but if you begin reading about it you find that most guys talk badly about any gps mount hooked to the motorcycle. Almost every comment I read was the same -- bumps and vibrations knocked the GPS loose and it dropped.

 

I bought an armband but haven't tried it yet. You can google "GPS ARMBANDS" if you are interested. Of course, you can't connect the power while it is on your arm, so it must be charged, but there is no chance of losing your GPS.

 

Good luck.

[Shivers]

Mine is pretty secure on the mount...almost have to fight with it to get it off, but I guess that could change with some wear and tear.

 

Thanks for the tip about the armband...I'll look into it.

[travelling_man]

I need to upgrade my maps, so I took the garmin out of the car and tried it in the armband and it works fine.

 

The reason I wanted it on the bike was to GET BACK from where I was. I like to roam sometimes and I have found myself on the bike and not knowing where to turn to get back to a point I was familiar.

 

Now that I know the armband works, it may be time to go exploring again!

[Edge]

I've got a Garmin GPS unit (very small...maybe smallest one on the market). I'd really like to mount it on my motorbike somehow and was wondering if anyone here has done the same and could share how they did so (a picture or two would be a plus). I only want to mount the mount for the GPS (if that makes sense), so I can remove the actual unit when I park the motorbike. If it matters, the motorbike I have is a Yamaha Elegance.

 

If it's the 60CS/X you have then there is a purpose made handlebar mount.

 

Lots on ebay eg HERE - usually from USA - don't know if the Garmin agent in Bangkok has them.

 

Looks like this - strong fixing but easy to release.

 

 

[Phill]

These folks make some of the sturdiest cradles I've used: http://www.ram-mount.com/Products/MotorcycleMounts/tabid/128/Default.aspx#/wizard

 

They work on street as well as off-road bikes, secure & protect the GPS unit quite well.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited August 11, 2011 by Phill

[Shivers]

Phill...that's an excellent site. Unfortunately, when I search for the mount I need, they don't have one listed for the type of motorbike I have (think they only list motorcycles. Looking through their stuff though gave me some ideas on how I might make my own...or describe it to a Thai guy to make for me since I don't have any tools (a drill and saw would be needed for what I have in mind).

 

Edge...The GPS I have is a Nuvi 250...mall square one as opposed to the walkie-talkie looking ones. I searched eBay and Google and saw a few, but it require waiting for an unknown amount of time to be delivered, which I'd rather not have to do if I can help it.

 

Travelling_Man...I'm the same way...like to just wonder about, but need my GPS to get me home. I don't mind whipping it out on occasion to check my location...or even holding it while riding sometimes, but neither of those things are ideal. It would be great if I could just mount it...and would likely be safer as well.

 

I think I'm going to hit up a Thai shop today to see if they can fabricate something using the mount I have.

[Shivers]

Solved my mount problem today. On the way to the Friday meeting I stopped off at a motorbike repair shop on 3rd Road. The guys working there didn't speak English (no surprise), so I did a little show and tell for what I wanted and they still weren't sure. I finally pointed to a drill and asked if I could use that...think they agreed more out of curiosity than anything else. I changed the drill bit to a bit of a larger one than what was in there and drilled through the mount that came with it and into the motorbike, just forward and to the left of the right side mirror. The guy then gave me 3 screws and a screwdriver and I finished the job. In the end, it cost me 50 THB, which sure beat paying for some sort of special mount. If anyone is in seeing it, post up here and I'll go take a picture of it and get it posted.

 

Thanks for the suggestions and comments.

[travelling_man]

I'm interested to know how you are going to secure the gps to the mount to prevent from shaking loose on potholes and speedbumps. That is where the complaints on the internet were focused.

 

Sure, I would like to see a picture. And when I pull the GPS out again, I'll take a picture of my "shoulder mount".

[up2usexyman]

I mount mine on my big bike using velcro. It's the commercial quality stuff. If your unit is small/light it will work fine.

[Shivers]

Here are two pictures of how I attached my mount to my motorbike. I had it on there last night, and today while driving around (and over speed bumps and potholes)...no vibration or bump moving it around. It's quite secure in that mount. In fact, if a bump does jar it loose, the bump will be so large that it's probably going to jar other things loose from the motorbike (namely, me) and the GPS is the last thing I'll be worried about.

 

 

[Edge]

Here are two pictures of how I attached my mount to my motorbike. I had it on there last night, and today while driving around (and over speed bumps and potholes)...no vibration or bump moving it around. It's quite secure in that mount. In fact, if a bump does jar it loose, the bump will be so large that it's probably going to jar other things loose from the motorbike (namely, me) and the GPS is the last thing I'll be worried about.

...........................

 

Me being picky (no surprise) and the Elegance being an auto', is there any reason why you didn't fit it on your coffee cup / mobile phone hand side, so that you could operate it in motion without taking your hand off the throttle?

 

I'd have thought that's the first thing Thai guy would have thought of - but maybe not for 50 Baht?

 

The real test may be over time, as Garmin said that these cheap car units couldn't cope with the internal vibration caused by a bike when they launched the purpose made (and more expensive) Garmin Zumo.

Obviously they would say that, but the Zumo is also weatherproof of course.

 

Meanwhile, the smaller (too small?) Garmin 60CS/X continues to be the unit of choice for many bikers, off roaders, cyclists and hikers the world over.

[Shivers]

Simple answer to your question...safety. Why would I want to look all the way down where the cup holder is to see the GPS screen, which isn't exactly large? Safety also answers why it's on the right side...preventing me from operating it while in motion. I have no Desire to attempt to ride a motorbike and work my GPS unit at the same time. I'll program my destination prior to departing and shouldn't have to mess with the GPS until I arrive...and that would just be to turn it off. If, on the rare occasion, I want to make an adjustment mid-trip, I'll take the extra minute to pull off to the side of the road to do so. For those who are more experienced at riding motorbikes, I'm sure they can afford to risk more for various conveniences...I'd rather not.

 

As for the Thai guy and the 50 THB...he didn't think of anything...all he did was loan me the drill and provide me with 3 screws and a screwdriver. If he had some sort of thought about what I was doing, then he either kept it to himself, knowing I wouldn't care what he thought, or kept it to himself because he didn't know how to tell me what he was thinking due to the different languages we speak.

Edited August 13, 2011 by Shivers

[Edge]

Simple answer to your question...safety. Why would I want to look all the way down where the cup holder is to see the GPS screen,

 

Misunderstanding - Ii didn't even know you had an actual cup holder, I was just referring to the hand auto riders use to hold coffee, phone, food, a ladder or whatever else they do with that hand. I meant same position but LHS

 

Safety also answers why it's on the right side...preventing me from operating it while in motion. I have no desire to attempt to ride a motorbike and work my GPS unit at the same time. I'll program my destination prior to departing and shouldn't have to mess with the GPS until I arrive...and that would just be to turn it off. If, on the rare occasion, I want to make an adjustment mid-trip, I'll take the extra minute to pull off to the side of the road to do so. For those who are more experienced at riding motorbikes, I'm sure they can afford to risk more for various conveniences...I'd rather not.

 

In that case you're probably right in fitting it on that side.....for you.

[gogo dog]

What do the screws actually go into? Is it the plastic faring, the brake master cylinder or something else?

[Edge]

For anyone interested in the Garmin 60CSx unit, it looks like this :-

 

 

 

The fixing shown wouldn't work on scoots with no accessible handlebar area.

[Shivers]

What do the screws actually go into? Is it the plastic faring, the brake master cylinder or something else?

 

Just the plastic faring from what I can tell. I haven't a clue what's under there, but that little raised part I screwed it into isn't on the left hand side. I stopped drilling as soon as I felt it break through, and the screws aren't especially long (and were a little larger than the hole I initially drilled. Maintenance will likely involve checking to see if the screws work their way out...but I honestly don't see that happening (quite tight). If they do though, I'll post up here and let you all know I have to think of something else.

[Edge]

 

Just the plastic faring from what I can tell. I haven't a clue what's under there, but that little raised part I screwed it into isn't on the left hand side. I stopped drilling as soon as I felt it break through, and the screws aren't especially long (and were a little larger than the hole I initially drilled. Maintenance will likely involve checking to see if the screws work their way out...but I honestly don't see that happening (quite tight). If they do though, I'll post up here and let you all know I have to think of something else.

 

I seriously doubt that will last long.

 

Assuming you can't use nuts and bolts or get some steel fixings and washers the other end of your self tappers, I'd say that as you've wrecked the bike plastic already, unscrew that suction cup (if I'm seeing it right) get some epoxy resin or something in there, screw it back on and hope it stays put.

 

Or maybe I'll be wrong.

 

 

 

[rookie]

Here are two pictures of how I attached my mount to my motorbike. I had it on there last night, and today while driving around (and over speed bumps and potholes)...no vibration or bump moving it around. It's quite secure in that mount. ...<snip>...

 

On most better mounts, the rubber ball which connects to your gps case holder absorbs a lot of the road shock.

Many mounts have 2 rubber balls, to help absorb road shock; one at the base of the mount and a 2nd where the gps case holder attaches.

They work surprisingly well...even off-road in the boonies!

Just remember to always take your gps unit off the bike when it's parked...they are highly desirable by thieves!

[Kurt Belyeu]

The GPS Guy (Arabic) on level 3 of Tukcom sells mounts that strap on quickly and use your existing snap in mount.

 

Kurt

[Shivers]

Thanks for that info Kurt...I'll swing by and check out what he's got. Although my mount is working quite well, I'm curious what else is out there.

[Shivers]

For those interested, I attached my GPS mount to my new motorbike today. I used a clamp, which was a plus so I didn't have to drill into the bike itself. I think it's quite nice...better than I had it on my old bike.