| Author | Message | ||
     Unrealtrip |
Well I needed/wanted to get a GPS going on the new Uly so I pulled the Ram mount I had for a handheld style one off my dual sport and ordered up the RAM baseplate for my car's GPS a Garmin Nuvi 205. Once installed, I realized that a) it needed vibration dampening and b) it needed something to waterproof it. So I found a Pelican box that fit the mount almost exactly and used some old bicycle inner tube to make a rubber gasket/cushion. I used a dremel to take down the ridges on the back of the box, and drilled holes to mount the cradle inside it with the RAM mount on the outside. The rubber on either side of the mount, combined with the RAM arm itself seems to mitigate the vibration quite well and of course, it is totally waterproof.  I haven't drilled the hole for the power yet, I'll wrap that up soon here. RAM mount and Nuvi plate  Pelican box   Ball attached    Mounted up case open, I was thinking about how I could make something to prop the case partially open with a dark insert to act as a sunshade.  You can see through the clear case easily  RAM stuff is awesome, strong, easy to adjust and best of all cheap. The universal mount was ~$25 and the GPS base was $8, I got the Pelican at the local REI for $20. Anyway, all in all cheap easy to do, I'm very happy with how it turned out.  | ||
| Towpro |
It probably cost more then you had to spend, but have you seen these?  I think the top cover will even allow you to use the touch screen on your GPS. Run around $80.00 | ||
| Rwven |
Towpro, That's a RAM part? I likey... | ||
| Rwcfrank |
I cover mine with a sandwich bag...What the hell am I thinking? I once made a left turn at the jelly stain.. | ||
| Pso |
I have the 376C and it is also for marine use so water is ok, just do not submerge it. | ||
| Nadz |
Unreal, I did something similar for a friend who wanted to hike with her nuvi... I took the sticker off and belt-sanded the ribs off. Then I wet sanded it down to 400 grit, and finished it with Novus. Result: a waterproof box with a perfectly clear flat window! -Nadz | ||
| Towpro |
Yes, it is a Ram box that works with their mounts. Here is the link to the ram page. | ||
| Mnrider |
Thanks for the link to Ram mounts Towpro, ordered the mounts I need for my Vista C and Nuvi 205 | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Speaking of ram mounts, anyone use the "dual ball handlebar base"? It says it fits the right side on all buell models (bolts into the mirror base).  I have the standard ram mount handlebar base that clamps to the handlebars with a U-bolt, but I can't find a good location to clamp it with my handlebar bag in there. | ||
| Unrealtrip |
That RAM waterproof box looks pretty nice I didn't know they had them actually, I checked out the Touratech ones also, but price and features available for the one that held my particular model GPS held me back on it for now. Eventually I'd like a bike specific GPS that fits in one of those Touratecs, so my plan was to get by cheaply for now so I could reuse my existing GPS. I also didn't know about that dual ball one, that's pretty slick. I've been going back and forth with different ideas to create a platform-like area over the bars for placing things, possibly camera mount, etc. Check out these clamps, they're only $4ea: http://www.velo-orange.com/vohatowaboca.html  (Message edited by unrealtrip on November 15, 2009) | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Those look great! But I'd want to mount it on the little cross bar, which I think is about half the diameter of what that's made for. I could make it work, but once you start adding home made shims and what not, it starts taking away from it's slick aesthetics. I was going to use that double ball thing to mount a GPS on one ball and possibly the camera on the other... Or ipod... hmm, not sure yet I guess. | ||
| Xb12xmike |
I like my mount.  | ||
| Unrealtrip |
Mikef5000: "But I'd want to mount it on the little cross bar" Check this thing out, you could use the concept to make another version to hold a platform or something. http://www.knick-knack.com/howto/motorcycle/cheap- handlebar-camera-mount.html | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I saw somebody with that type of mount... maybe on the "one last ride" ride?! I wonder if I could drill a hole in the back of the T, and mount a retracting key chain to it, and bolt the 'camera mount' part to it! That way under normal circumstances, the camera is mounted in the T just like that link, and held there via the spring force. But if I want to take a picture of something else while riding, I can just grab the thing and pull it up and point it where ever. This kind of key chain:  I'm a little hesitant only because the last time I bolted a camera to a bike, the vibrations killed it. It was a pricey digital camcorder too. But that was on the cycle, which was about 287 times more vibraty than my XT. | ||
| Towpro |
For mounting on the cross bar, I got these clamps from Home Depot. They were in the electrical section. They are a loop of metal, with a rubber isolator inside them. I think 5/8" was for the crossbar. Once there on the bar, a 3/8" bolt tightens them up. The rubber Isolator then dampens some vibration. I also bought one of these clamps for my Clutch cable (1/2" I think). I have the 07 double twisty cable bracket. This new clamp went on the cable,and bent just right so I am using the same bolt, plus I left the stock 07 mount on as well. (Message edited by towpro on November 15, 2009) | ||
| Jim_williams |
I have one of the ram boxes. If anyone wants it, PM me a fair offer. I think it's the med. size. I can measure, but, if I remember right, it's about 4"x6". | ||
| Bttrthnwrk |
Mikef5000: I'd bet money that the spring force of that key chain (or whatever was used) alone wouldn't be enough to hold the camera firmly on the mount. I'd think you'd need to lock it or clamp it down somehow to keep it from bouncing around on its own mount too much when you're not using it by hand. Not insurmountable, I'd think, and it sounds like a good idea. I've often bypassed stopping for shots along the way because removing and later reinstalling the camera on the mount was a PITA. Thanks for the idea. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Hey Unrealtrip, Nice mount, but how about a close up of that nose art....very cool! . | ||
| Mnrider |
I'm going to look for one of those Pelican 1020 cases. I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea.  | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Mikef5000: I'd bet money that the spring force of that key chain (or whatever was used) alone wouldn't be enough to hold the camera firmly on the mount. I found the keychain at the local hardware store, and was pretty darn impressed by it's spring. I bet it'll do! BUT the camera 'base' will 'seat' into the handlebar mount, so it won't just be flopping around by the chain. Something like this maybe:  | ||
| Bttrthnwrk |
Mikef5000: Yeah, that might just do. Great idea - thanks again. I'll have to give something similar a try myself. Good luck with it. | ||
| Avc8130 |
OK, I have been looking for a GPS for a while now...and I have to ask: How the heck are you going to operate the touch screen? ac | ||
| Mikef5000 |
He's not. The idea with his install is to punch in the address before he embarks. | ||
| Avc8130 |
Well I guess that makes sense. I am still trying to find an affordable GPS that will allow me to plan a route on my PC and download it to the GPS. My Nuvi 760 does not really do this. ac | ||
| Mikef5000 |
My nuvi 200 doesn't either. My dad just picked up a Garmin 2720 off ebay. It's waterproof and allows you to connect it to the computer for route planning. They can be had for around $100, but require another $50+ for the mount and cable. It's also not small. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I just bought another Quest (1) for $25 to my door. Claimed no satellite lock, took me 5 minutes to fix it (using instructions I posted here on badweb). A little polite calling to Garmin, and they unregistered the unit from the previous owner (after contacting them and giving them the opportunity to object) and gave me the registration and activation codes for City Navigator 2008. The Quest is now a dead end product... no more map updates. And if you do want a new map for it, you have to pay $80 or something, which totally screws up the "cheap" part of the equation. And the Quest 1 will only hold about 3 complete states of data at a given time (will go coast to coast if you stretch the regions into a thinner straight line) so you need to load different map sets depending on where you are headed. But it lets you make a proper route that will stick, its very durable and completely weatherproof (if you add a $19 external antenna), and will run for 10 hours on a charge, and can be mounted to the bike with a nice $10 RAM mount ($more if you want it powered). So if you can live with those limitations, find a used Quest 1 on ebay for $50 or less that includes up to date enough for you map sets and activation codes. (The other advantage of this is that I feel a lot better leaving a beat to hell small screen under $50 quest on the bike then I would a more expensive GPS... so I'm not constantly worrying about it and can just leave it on the bike...) | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Found this platform and though it might be relevent to this thread. I figured I'd pass it along. Not cheap though.  http://www.twistedthrottle.com/imagecatalogue/imag eview/9907/?RefererURL=/trade/productview/4357/653 / | ||
| Towpro |
Anthony, check your PM on how to use your 760 for what you are trying to do. I have the same one. I setup rides on the computer, download it onto my 760, then take groups on my routes. I have not had a disappointed rider yet! | ||
| Avc8130 |
Towpro, You are quickly rising to the top of my favorite persons list! ac |
