Mount up! - Show off your bike attachments

[Rogue_Shadow]

Ello
Sorry if in the wrong section. I'm looking to cover some longer distances on my SV this year, so I've been looking at various mounts and cases for phones / sat navs.
However because of the handle bars and fairing, fitting a ram mount could be abit of a problem.

https://image.sportrider.com/f/8858290/146_03_1zoom+2003_suzuki_sv650+gauges.jpg

Ideally I would want the sav nav screen visible to the left of the speedo, so yoke attachments are a no go. Mainly because I'm more comfortable glancing at the speedo and the sat nav,
than looking straight down completely offset from the direction i'm travelling. Could just be me

So I'm gathering a few ideas on mounts by looking at other peoples.

What have you got mounted on your bikes and how?

And while your at it

Phones VS Dedicated Sat Nav (Tomtom ect)
Visual prompts VS Voice prompts

I understand sat-nav users range from commuters, tourers or even riders uncomfortable with navigation amongst others.
But any Pictures, opinions and or reviews would be mucho appreciated
Cheers

[Moo.]

If you dont mind putting a screw through that dashboard left of the speedo, you could buy a sat nav and mount is backing plate onto the dashboard with a screw (could probably use velcro...) and mount it there

I just used a cheapy car sat nav, in a hein gericke streeline gps bag which has velcro straps on the back
____________________
A2 Passed 18/6/10

[BigDan1190]

A ram mount won't be a problem. Get a mount that goes in the stem cover, such as this or this


Or, if the worst comes to the worst, do what I have on my bike (previous owner did it, I use it );

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XW3WacL2Kk



Phone VS Satnav
I've used an app called CoPilot on my iPhone for years. Had it on the 3G, the 4, and now the 5. Its always been perfect, never got me lost, has a GPS speedo, warns about speed cameras... Its win.
I've never used a proper GPS, but why bother buying one when my phone does it all for me. Massive saving.


Visual VS Voice
If its one or the other, DEFINATELY visual. Because voice can sometimes play up or be a bit confusing. Especially when there is a multitude of turnings, side roads. I don't ever use voice prompts, visual is more than enough. Before I had a mount, I popped the phone in my pocket, earphones for for directions, and the amount of times I got lost very close to a destination, or took the wrong turnings at complicated junctions...

[recman]

I'd be tempted to make a bracket which fits around the upper triple clamp where the Suzuki badge is.

My sat nav set up is just a cheap ebay zip case plus handle bar bracket but the sat nav is a tomtom xxl which means I cant see the speedo wherever I mount it.

[Redoko]

Smart phone.

Music, smoothly interrupted by directions.

No problem.

No mount.

No fuss.
____________________
"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[daemonoid]

Where's the option for look at the map before I leave, memorise the directions and pull over to use a smart phone if I get really lost?

Never really needed any more than that, even travelling across Europe and India it's just a matter of remembering a couple of road numbers and place names.

My missus is still surprised I can do this, but it's just practice. I took her to her new "niece's" christening. 45 min drive, never been near the place before and didn't make a single wrong turn.

Sat nav turns us into idiots, the only time I've made really dumb decisions as far as directions go is by following a sat nav. One particular incident I was in the car and ended up on a road that turned into a cycle path which I then had to reverse back up - much to the amusement of the French locals. I stopped using it after that and it was much easier!
____________________
current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[WannaBeDude]

Where's the -

Use Map
Use head
Tablet 3g if need be
Listen to engine note

OPTIONS OR GTFO
____________________
Jogging on, destination living.

[barrkel]

As previously said, finding a RAM mount that fits shouldn't be a problem.

Dedicated satnav etc.: this depends. If you're going abroad, you'll want offline maps and directions, and this rules out most of the vanilla options that come with phones. I mean, you can kind of get by with e.g. offline caching in Google Maps on Android, but if you're covering 300 to 600 miles in a day, and you want to change your route, you'll have to cache quite a bit. I think, for serious touring, a dedicated satnav is the better option; I have a Zumo 550 with 40k on its odometer, IIRC. I also use it in rental cars so I don't have to pay to rent one too.

Voice directions alone work fine on the open road (on motorways etc. you can just go by signs), but are inadequate for navigating a big city like London or Paris. The voice directions will be too late and too ambiguous. I've tried it; it doesn't really work. The fact that some places - Manhattan NYC especially, I recall - mess up GPS signals doesn't help. With a map display, you can usually figure out where you really are even when the device is a bit confused.

Dedicated devices also make it easier to work with pre-planned routes, while some phones don't have enough charging capability to last for a long navigation even if plugged in all the while.

My vote is for dedicated bike satnav if you can afford it. That way you get screen that works with gloves on, has a waterproof charging mount, etc.

[Enduro Numpty]

[Derivative]

Velcro on back of phone.
Velcro on tachometer.

100mph no wobbles.

[Werny]

Big Dan has pretty much covered all you need in his post.

I use the same case on mine but with a car satnav and visual only. I use the car satnav simply because we already had it and I don't have (or want) a smart phone.

Also, Big Dan? Wash your hands!

[pepperami]

Something like this?

https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/pepperami_photos/IMG_0329.jpg
https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/pepperami_photos/IMG_0330.jpgWired to the battery via a fuse = win


Two trips to Scotishland and no problems
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Copycat73]

i have a Zumo 550.. does exactly what it says on the box.
you do have to listen & watch & slow right down when in tight urban areas... the speed camera alerts are very helpful


https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Image1559.jpg

https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Image1560.jpg

https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Image1562.jpg

https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Image1563.jpg

https://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab232/copycat73/allsorts/Image1564.jpg
____________________
Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[c-m]

I tend to use a mobile phone as I find them far more flexible when adding extras.

I do have a dedicated GPS receiver that I used to use with an old Nokia N80 running tom tom, but I find that on modern phones the GPS is more than good enough.

So far I've tried Tom Tom, sygic, and Nav Free.

Sygic is my favourite, though it can sometimes provide very odd routing.

For a recent trip to Barcelona I tried Nav Free, but it's options are more limited, and the maps lacked the details of the others.
____________________
Motorcycle headlight bulbs and HIDs
Blogging about my bike and trips
https://ridershandbook.com/

[Rogue_Shadow]

Thanks for all the help guys

I think i'll go ahead and use my old TomTom One in a water proof RAM case.
Similar to this setup

https://sv650.metromain.net/sv_pics/gps_02.jpg

https://prtclmn001.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Trips/Picture-005/708311999_H4J7h-L.jpg

[BigDan1190]

[Clanger]

[Vracktal]

My custom mount, basically a standard satnav mount for a car, with the suction cup removed and a screw put through it instead, which bolts into a hole I drilled in the fairing.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8347819860_6284d83881_z.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8346765699_258846c3ba_z.jpg

Works good and cost almost nothing.
____________________
2007 BMW R1200R: On road
2009 BMW G650X Challenge: On road
1975 Norton Commando 850: Off road, awaiting recommissioning

[Rogue_Shadow]

dumb question, then I'll leave you alone

Two types of this ram mount

https://www.bcmaccessories.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/265x265/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/a/ram-b-231-1.jpg

Two options
1) 0.5" to 1.00"
2) 0.5" to 1.25"

Having a blonde moment, Ram mount 1 will be more than enough to fit a SV clip on right?

[BigDan1190]

Most (if not all) motorbike handlebars are 1". But, yours are clip ons, so might be different.

Order the parts from "BuyBits", and you get a decent returns policy incase you order the wrong part.

The ball needs to be the 1" ball btw.

[Rogue_Shadow]

Thanks again Dan

[Nick_Giles]

Is there anyone who manufactures a removable clamp that would grip onto the top of the screen.?

https://image.sportrider.com/f/8858290/146_03_1zoom+2003_suzuki_sv650+gauges.jpg

That would be good and get me to spend some coins.


Nick
____________________
Peter Cook: "I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly".

[BigDan1190]

Trust me, you wouldn't want it on the screen or plastics due to flex and vibration.

[Rogerborg]

Standard car windscreen suction mount, SHLURP on screen, job done.

I was quite surprised that it worked given the curve of the screen, but it's yet to fall off.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Nick_Giles]