| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Has anyone mounted a GPS unit up close to the dash under the windscreen? All the installs I see are on the handlebars, but I'd like to try and tuck one into the cockpit. I think the mounting studs for the rearview mirrors would be a good place to get a mount on. Also, having not taken delivery on my bike yet, how dry do things stay under there in light to moderate rain? I'm looking at getting a Garmin StreetPilot i5. It's not a "motorcycle" GPS, but it's about the smallest I can find and has gotten great reviews. | ||
| Khollister |
You need a waterproof unit. Many of the low cost auto units are not, including the i5. The fairing will not provide enough protection to let a non-waterproof unit survive long term. It might stay dry under way due to airflow, but would get wet while stopped. The other thing to consider is visibility. My problem with mounting one low is you will need to really tilt your head down to see it with a fullface helmet on. Without an earpiece to get the audible directions, you will have to constantly look down to get directions. | ||
| Xl1200r |
For as little as I'd use it, the waterproof thing isn't a big deal. I know the i5 is not waterproof, but I don't need it to be. I was just curious how dry it might stay anyways, but it looks like once the rain falls, put the GPS away. I can see your point with the visibility, but I don't think mounting on/near the handlebar would make it any different - in fact I think it would be worse unless you were able to mount it very high on the bars. The earphone thing is a drawback, but I've read that it's pretty easy to wire in a headphone jack off of the internal speaker. It would void your warranty unless you can do it in a way that removes with little evidence of it ever being there. I know I should be looking at a higher priced unit, but I can't justify the cost for what I'd use it for. If I can't make a sub-$300 GPS work, then I'm just going to go without. | ||
| Khollister |
Why not look at one of the waterproof handhelds like the 76Cx or 60Cx? They are pretty popular with the dual-sport crowd and can be had for about $320 on-line. They also have the SiRF III receiver which has much better performance than the older 12-channel chips. They also have the advantage of being useful off-bike if you are into hiking, hunting, etc. | ||
| Buelltroll |
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| Buelltroll |
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| Buelltroll |
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| Xl1200r |
Don't need it for off the bike, would use it in the car though. Those handhelds look like a good option. I'm looking at the Garmin site and I can't really tell how exhaustive the street maps are for these - any idea? | ||
| Mikej |
www.garmin.com/cartography/ In the upper right of the screen on some of the mapping packages there is a preview popup where you can zoom in to see how detailed the coverage is. Not all of the map packages have the popup viewer. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Look at the Quest as well for the $300 or less price point. Somebody around here just got one for $200. Not as good as the ETrex for handheld use, better for car use, fully waterproof. Where is the speaker in that I series? How hard would it be to dig mashed bug goo out of it? Something else to think about... I get bugs in places I didn't know my Buell had. I mounted mine on the mirror mounting point (left side). Works great when close to the mounting point, but I would worry about making too long a mount sticking off there. Every pulse of vibration will already be amplified down the lever arm of the handlebar, and if you then add another 8" of length going back towards the middle, I wonder if it might get a little "whippy". I have pictures here somewhere, but the effect is that my Quest is mounted just to the inboard side of the left hand mirror mounting position (Lightning). Oh, and the Quest is wide instead of tall (rather then the Etrex, which is tall rather then wide). Otherwise, they are about the same size. Not sure where you can wedge them under an XBR fairing, but that might help you pick one as well. (Message edited by reepicheep on January 02, 2007) | ||
| Xl1200r |
There's no way the Quest would fit inside the fairing anywhere without blocking the whole dash, but since it's waterproof, it doesn't matter as much. I think I know exactly how yours is mounted. The speaker on the i-series is on the bottom, and I'm confident I could engineer a way to mount it behind the fairing, so bug guts shouldn't be an issue with it. Too many choices. I think my buddy has a Quest - I'll ask him how he likes it. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
How about running the GPS unit in a tank bag map holder? Wouldn't have to worry about water, and it'd probably be pretty vibration-free. | ||
| Fl_a1a |
I put a clear ziploc bag over my gps and fasten it with a rubber band. I can still press the activate the touchscreen with no problem. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've gotten caught in a light rain with this, and it stayed dry until I slowed down below about 20mph. When I use this thing, I carry quart size ziploc bags with me and I use a couple of rubber bands to secure it. I just couldn't stomach buying a new gps when I had this pda laying around. It works as well as I need it to.     | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Pwnzor, what PDA software you use (or like)? | ||
| Pwnzor |
Using Ostia 6.0 right now, its kinda dated but then that's a PocketPC 2002 OS on that unit. It's the software that came with the Pharos CF receiver. This Toshiba e740 PDA was supposed to be the sh1t back when it came out, but it was so buggy it never proved useful. One piece of software it runs very well however is the GPS program, so now it's a dedicated device. I keep spare maps in my Ipaq and I can transfer them wirelessly to the GPS. I don't mount this thing up unless I'm going on a long trip. The novelty wore off, which makes me glad I didn't drop a grand on a new tom-tom or garmin. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Lunchbox - Putting the GPS in a tank bag is a great idea. I just got a Garmin Nuvi for my car, I think it would work great in the tank bag as it has it's own battery and a touch screen. Thanks - I didn't think of that. Now I have to get a tank bag - damn!  | ||
| Alanshouse |
Install Verizon VZNavigator on your mobile phone. It talks to you through your earpiece so you wont need to look down to read anything. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The tank bag is a good idea, but I'm not getting a tank bag, nor do I want one. I already have a tailbag and saddlebags and I'll never need more storage space than that, and adding a bulky tankbag just so I can use a GPS seems a waste to me. I'm going to have to get to a store that carries the i5 so I can see just small it is and decide from there which way to go. I was thinking of the plastic bag idea, but I wasn't sure if it would be too hokey, but I guess it's not  | ||
| Xl1200r |
BTW - Is vibration that big of a concern? The i5 is supposed to have an internal "drive" that all the maps are stored on, but I'm assuming this is flash memory and not a microdrive. Does anyone know for sure about this? The i3 is the same as the i5, but the maps are not preloaded, you put them on a MicroSD card, but I'm usure if there might still be a drive internally to run the software or anything. Maybe I should get in touch with Garmin about this? And thanks for all the pics - even though I'm looking to try and mount this thing differently, they are helping a ton. (Message edited by xl1200r on January 03, 2007) | ||
| Pwnzor |
Vibration is always an issue. This is Buell we're talking about here. Stick with a solid state device. Anything with a hard drive on your handlebars will enjoy a short existence among the world of the living. | ||
| Xl1200r |
That's what I figured... Waiting to hear back from Garmin as to what the internal "drive" is on the i-series. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Click here for the "motorcycle friendly" line of products from Garmin, I would assume that if the product you're looking for is in here, it should be fine. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Garmin's Motorcycle-Friendly units are basically any of thier in-car units that are waterproof, and a few purpose-built ones. With the exception of two models, they are all about $1000 - I don't really want to spend more than $300, which leaves the Quest. The Quest is nice, but I'm worried about it's limited (115 MB) internal memory which is not expandable. I'm not sure how much I could fit on there. Does anyone have any experience with that? I'm still open to other suggestions. The Quest gets a big plus for being waterproof, but loses from the small memoery, no pre-loaded detail maps, and no 3-D street views. Too many choices. Maybe I'll have to see what my tax refund looks like - In a dream world I'd like to have one that supports XM radio as well. | ||
| Cereal |
Costco is having a really good deal right now on gps. There are a few for under $300. http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?ec=&pos =0&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4843&eCat=BC|79|4842|4843 | ||
| Reepicheep |
XL1200r... it depends on "road density per mile".... Your area is one of the worst.  Detailed maps shown pink, that's got the unit full. The interstates and state routes are already built into the unit, so if you go off the edge of the detail maps, you still have plenty to navigate. Also, you can select detailed maps around your source, around your destination, and just along your planned route. So instead of a big circle, you get a long thread of detail. I think with this approach you can get from NY to LA in a detailed map. The limited memory size is a liability, but a very painless one (for a huge number of conceivable users and uses). | ||
| Xl1200r |
I think for me it would be a liability. I would want to be able to have detailed maps for the areas I visit often, which include a few major cities (New York, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Syracuse), as well as a broad coverage around my local area for local rides in all directions. I don't want to have to worry about figuring out where I'm going ahead of time and make sure the right maps are all loaded. If I'm loaded up for a nice ride into Vermont, and end up going the other way to Syracuse for lunch instead, I don't want to be S.O.L. I'm going to have to research this more, as the waterproof-ness of the Quest is a big plus, although I don't think it will end up being that big of a deal for me in real-world usage. | ||
| Reepicheep |
That makes sense. Make sure you price in the cost of software and memory cards that may or may not be included. That can make some of the "cheaper" units more expensive then the "more expensive" units. My Quest has spent a lot of time in the rain since I got it, a lot more then I expected. The only thing worse then riding in the rain is riding lost in the rain Magellan makes some nice waterproof units with expandable memory, but make sure they include all necessary software for navigation when you price them. They have dropped in price a lot recently, there may be some deals out there. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I haven't heard nice things about the Magellan stuff... it seems hard to use to others who have them. The i5 come preloaded with all of North America detail maps, 6 milliom POIs, etc. The i3 and i2 come with the DVD with all the same maps, but you have load them onto a memory card - they both come with a 128mb card, and the i5 has the open slot if you want to add other areas (like Europe or Australia). It looks as if the Quest comes with the same map package as well. And I know what you mean about riding in the rain. I bought a rain suit last year and it made a world of difference - being able to stay dry and all. Never been lost in it though... | ||
| Reepicheep |
LOL. You will, the day after you buy a non waterproof GPS!  |
