Vision Issues - RAM Mount

[Paul_C]

Evening All,

As part of the build up to a classic Kiwi roadtrip (14 Days - North + South Islands), I've been thinking that I need to get my GPS sorted for my Bike. I'm pretty happy with getting a RAM Mount as the word on the forums is that they're pretty good. I've been looking at getting a stem mount; however, as I only have a small GPS designed for walking use (Garmin eTrex Vista HCX) I don't really want to spend half my time looking away from the road and down at the GPS. I'm riding a VFR800, as opposed to a FJR/Concours/K1300 etc. so I think the GPS will be down in front of my chest, as opposed to in my direct line of sight due to the slightly forward riding position.

My questions are:

• Does anyone using a Stem Mounted GPS find it moves their vision too far away from the road? and
  
• Has anyone switched to a windscreen mount so they have more of a 'heads up' view?

[shafty]

Hi Paul,

I use a RAM for my radar, and its great. I use GPS in the car, haven't yet on the bike, but would suggest that its more of a "pull over and have a look" kind of a thing.

Good luck with your adventure

[Rockbuddy]

I have a garmin zumo550 and it comes with a ram mount, i have mine mounted to the handlebars between the risers, the gps is easier/quicker to read than my speedo which is on my tank. i suggest you might want to get a bigger gps, i think your etrex will be to small and you will get annoyed with it

[Disco Dan]

Use RAM mount also - Had stem mount ball but that has since migrated to a being bolted to dashboard in my car!

They can be a pain to fit with the stock rubber - oh and if you stuff it up (ie cut the rubber wrong) your rumbled. Go as deep as you can down the shaft when you fit it - even do a dry run and count your thread/turns. Once your doing it up you can easily go too far and the whole lot pops out the top into your hand.

[Blackbird]

I use the equivalent of a RAM mount from www.motorcycleradar.com for my detector and GPS - My GPS is a Garmin 76 CX, not dissimilar to yours in size. The mount uses the clutch/throttle mounting bolts on 'the 'bird - might be the same as the VFR. Very happy with it for both applications.

Motorcycleradar.com also do a stem mount for the VFR 800 ~ US$69 , don't know how much they are here

[beyond]

Use a ram mount for my radar detector and they are great but I also use a Hard system where the transmitter unit on the radar fires a signal to the red led in my helmet for instant warning.

You have a tachometer and a speedo to check on already and might I suggest that a seconds inattention on a motorbike might just be enough for you to have closer look at some road side ponga trees than you would really like.

Yep... you are going to have to pull over for a check... don't take your eyes of the road for long on a bike mate cos I think you want to be around for lot longer if my guess is correct

A seconds inattention on a bike can mean making the next corner or not, missing that tractor pulling out or not or managing to duck the dumb arse Pukeko that decides to lift off at head height right in your path.

[Gremlin]

The problem with a windscreen setup would be the light of the GPS. Not sure if yours stays on for any period, how long a period, etc, because if you ride at night, it would ruin your vision.

I have mine (radar and gps) on ram mounts, in the middle of the bars, just below my sight line, so it doesn't ruin my vision and its there for a quick nod of my head.

You can glance at them quickly, but I do suggest you pull over to play with it... my riding turns to shit quickly when trying to ride and enter words

[Nasty]

The problem with a windscreen setup would be the light of the GPS. Not sure if yours stays on for any period, how long a period, etc, because if you ride at night, it would ruin your vision.

I have mine (radar and gps) on ram mounts, in the middle of the bars, just below my sight line, so it doesn't ruin my vision and its there for a quick nod of my head.

You can glance at them quickly, but I do suggest you pull over to play with it... my riding turns to shit quickly when trying to ride and enter words

My GPS has a night light set up so that it dims at a certain time of night and plays a dark background with muted lights on it ... I have a ram mount and don't have too many issues .. its attached to the clutch area. But have a navman S150 GPS unit.

[Paul_C]

Thanks for the advice team. I think i'm going to play it safe and just keep it in my pocket! Didn't think of the light/distraction issue. It does turn off automatically at night but I feel like my eyesight is getting worse at night without weakening it further with a GPS.

For the touring that we're doing I don't need the turn by turn and I think the screen will be too small to be able to check it out just with a glance. Maybe I should just get a GPS with bluetooth voice that could tell me where to go...

[Zapf]

I have a Garmin GPS60 Csx and also a Zumo 550.

have used the Csx on the bike, and i would think if u used a stem mount it will be far too low. Also the problem with the hand helds are the battery life and also routing. With the small unit I usually program in the route on PC and then upload it to the GPS.

[mowgli]

The mount uses the clutch/throttle mounting bolts on 'the 'bird - might be the same as the VFR. Very happy with it for both applications.

Hey Blackbird. If that's a recent photo of your bike then perhaps check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

My questions are:

• Does anyone using a Stem Mounted GPS find it moves their vision too far away from the road? and

Use to have a stem mount on the VTR, was good, didn't find it took my eyes off the road too much, but I when riding I was looking at the maps, only using the speed as extra guide