Mounting GPS units?

**scorpio** · 9th March 2009, 08:32

Hi all. I was just wanting to know if anyone has a GPS unit on their bike and if so how have you mounted it, are there specific mounting brackets you can get for bikes?

**Nasty** · 9th March 2009, 08:38

http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/

**vifferman** · 9th March 2009, 08:49

I've used two (2) on my bike - a Navman and TomTom. Both were mounted on the underside of the windshield using the standard suction cup mounting devices. The TomTom was fine, but the Navman jiggled around like a Mad Jiggly Thing, and eventually came loose. I suspect this was because it was larger and the mount sat out further from the suction cup.
If I use the TomTom on a long ride, I'll stick the suction cup to the speedo face, as it's better positioned, and I won't need the speedo as the GPS is more accurate anyway. If it rains, I'll stick it in the map holder of my tank bag.

**Karl@Alpha** · 9th March 2009, 09:32

Otter box do a GPS box that will protect it from water and V drinking bugs...
Can mount them to your bars but I dunno about clipons.

**Disco Dan** · 9th March 2009, 09:43

Pictures and reviews:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...7&postcount=25

**Road Guardian** · 9th March 2009, 11:30

My GPS comes with a Velcro strap on it, much like a big watch strap. Its long enough that I can strap it around the bars towards the center.

**The Pastor** · 9th March 2009, 11:40

A gps is pretty much useless in nz. You cant really get lost aye. Just ride for an hour till the next servo.

Good in the city for finding an adress i guess, or in the bush.

**scorpio** · 9th March 2009, 12:20

Originally Posted by Nasty

http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/

Wow that website is really expensive because you have to buy each component of the mount seperatley you can't just buy one standard bracket. I have a tomtom one the suction cap seems to hold it onto the tank quite stongly but that is only when the bike is not running (haven't tested it while actually riding it as am to scared it's not going to hold). I don't have a wind sheild so can't attach it to there.

Am thinking i might rig up some contraption so that I use the suction cap it came with but if it comes loose i'm not going to lose the unit. There is a loop on the back of the unit for a lanyard so that may come in handy

**vifferman** · 9th March 2009, 12:26

Scorpio - have you looked on TardMe? There are some cheap universal GPS/cellphone holders on there. You might be able to adapt one of those to fit the bike. Otherwise, your idea with the lanyard is a goodun.
If sticking it to the tank doesn't work well, try sticking it on the speedo - you won't need it when the GPS is working.

**Hitcher** · 9th March 2009, 15:34

Buy a Garmin zumo 550 and all of the mounting kit you need comes with it.

**banditrider** · 9th March 2009, 18:46

Originally Posted by scorpio

Wow that website is really expensive because you have to buy each component of the mount seperatley you can't just buy one standard bracket.

Good gear & good service. I wasn't happy with my zumo on the bars so got a centre mount for it - now it's in the ideal position.

**ntst8** · 9th March 2009, 19:09

Originally Posted by renegade master

A gps is pretty much useless in nz. You cant really get lost aye. Just ride for an hour till the next servo.

Good in the city for finding an adress i guess, or in the bush.

But its a good toy and you can't have too many toys. And the speedo is accurate (my bike reads 9% fast!!!), and when on the road it can tell you where and how far to a selection of petrol stations when you hit reserve, and if set to record your trip you can later show officer that you really were only doing 105 at that time and place, and it can tell what elevation you are at (really good for pissing off your mates with constant useless info), and its just a good toy, did i say you can't have too many of those? And yep finding addresses when on the road is good too.

**MaxB** · 9th March 2009, 19:37

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

Pictures and reviews:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...7&postcount=25

Be aware that the kit is the right one for the model.

Your pictures show the fittings for the ZX11 C but too late I realised the front ends are different (120 to 125 mm forks)

RAM mounts are good but when I got a stem mount there was no way it was ever going to fit. The ZX11 D stem cap was only a few mm thick which was not enough to hold it steady with the expanding bung system.

Your pictures show the fittings for the ZX11 C but too late I realised the front ends are different (120 to 125 mm forks).

In the time it took RAM to suggest an alternative I machined out the stem mount to accept a clip-on cap screw and reduced the stem mount length to drop into the clip-on recess. I replaced the original cap screw with a longer one of the same grade. Now it is solid as a rock.

**KiwiKat** · 26th May 2009, 17:25

I am looking at wiring in a 2 port accessory (cigarette lighter plug) for GPS and heated handgrips possibly also for laptop. Just wondering what your suggestions would be e.g. 5 amp fuse or .... ?