Member Contributer didit Posted July 3, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 3, 2009 I've read through many a thread here, seeing where others have mounted their GPS units. Even when riding, I've thought about where I would like the screen to be and what is comfortable & easy access. I knew I wanted a unit that would also handle MP3. Luck would have it and patience would be rewarded. A few months ago I found a TomTom 930 for sale, locally for $150 / Brang New! After many evenings of sitting on the bike and imagining where it would finally go, I came up with the following. I have a DB smoked screen for local rides. There aren't many places within 500k that wouldn't know where I am. I kept my stock screen just cause I could. Sketched up and then designed what I figured would work. Went to my local plexi fabricator and came up with a winner. I worried about possible radar locations too, but alas, my brain was ahead of me. There is a perfect spot for a radar detector to sit, with a generous dose of velcro. May eventually paint the screen to hide things, but for the upcoming trip for the Summer Summit and beyond, it'll work just great. Next, to install the power adaptor in the stem (courtesy of tightwad). The following process took all of 15 minutes (with picture taking) and less than 2 minutes to swap out the screens. 1 all the parts.jpg 2 ram mounted to bracket.jpg 3 bracket to screen.jpg 4 tomtom snapped in.jpg 5 DB screen for around town.jpg 6 Stock GPS screen for touring.jpg 7 from the front.jpg 8 riders perspective.jpg I will be dabbing some silicone on the outer screw locations to keep them in place. Used Stainless of course. I'll also carry a heavy 'freezer bag' / sandwich size, which fits just perfect. TomTom still snaps in with the make shift water protective cover. Also thought about using some small rubber washers between the screen and bracket to help with potential vibrations. Heading out if a few days for an 800k test run / training ride. Prepping for Colorado. Comments welcome. Anyone think it would sell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superfunkomatic Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 i think that looks totally slick. great idea having that fabricated. i bet you could sell a bracket like that for members - radar detectors, cameras, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tightwad Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Very Ingenious! I had a different yet similar idea: And with my MP3 player and Amp: Let me know if you get many vibrations, I had to fight them on my bike for the Camera, which mounted against the windshield at the top of my mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 Nice setup........... Using the old noggin......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 2002 Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 I have toyed with many ideas to mount my GPS. I always wanted it high and in the center. I have slowly become a mini RAM mount warehouse with all the different arms and ball mounts I have acquired. None of my mounts worked the way I really wanted. They either blocked a guage or idiot light. They made the key difficult to access for starting and stopping the bike. They settled with hard bumps in the road and required re-adjustment. (With an older GPSmap176... heavy) The recent acquisition of a NUVI (much lighter) got me to toying with the idea of getting the GPS front and center again. I toyed with RAM mounts, but was still never satisfied. Tony's post got me to consider popping holes through my stock screen. I had considered this long ago, but could never cross the hurdle of drilling holes. Finally, I decided that getting the GPS where I wanted was more important than 3 holes. Here is my take on Tony's mount. I used 1/4" polycarbonate (Lexan) I used a RAM mounting bracket to mount the NUVI. It is very secure and I have every confidence that the NUVI will never come out. I have not sourced stainless hardware at this point, but will soon. Just snug the mounting bolts. The 1/4" polycarbonate would easily overcome the stock windscreen. Use nylock nuts so they won't loosen. The windscreen curves in 3 dimensions and it would be practically impossible to match the curvature, so geometry dictates using just 3 bolts. This view approximates what I see. Although with left/right parallax I can actually see all of the display windows. With a slight shift of my head I could see most of the tach, if I wanted. With a helmet on, the chinbar is just at the bottom of the screen in my field of vision. Test rides have revealed minimal vibration. The display is easily legible while riding. The touch screen works well with gloves. Like Tony and others, I will either remove the NUVI or stuff it in a sandwich bag should rain become a concern. Be sure to design your mount to work well with the GPS mount, take into account the release and any cable routing concerns. Now it is time to source parts to build an integrated 5V power supply. I am planning on using a 7805 IC chip and a couple of capacitors. But for the time being, I will just use my cigarette lighter and the supplied plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Ranger77 Posted July 16, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 16, 2009 The only problem I see is the gps getting really hot from the UV's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer ki-speed Posted July 16, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 16, 2009 Since you never look through that windscreen anyway, take a spray can of Krylon Black gloss paint (the krylon that's made for plastics) and spray the back side only. It will look great from the front, and also make it easier to see the GPS with the dark background. Also helps keep hot sun off dash and GPS. I did this and like the looks and function. ki-speed (Mark) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer didit Posted July 16, 2009 Author Member Contributer Share Posted July 16, 2009 Lee, Looks great. Glad I could provide the courage to apply the drill. Nice results! I 'STILL' haven't been able to ride since mounting. Working for everyone else these days, trying to tie up all the lose ends for the Summit trip. I am hoping to use the bottom section of mine for a future radar detector. With that in mind, I'd want to leave a 'view window' for the sensor to read through the Krylon spray, but yes painting it is a plan to both protect it from UV and improve contrast on the screen. I've got the AC adaptor kit yet to install too. Thought about that when drilling the extra holes on the bottom of my bracket. Two holes (one for GPS one for radar) and space to gather extra cord with a velcro strap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer V-FORE Posted July 16, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 16, 2009 Looks Great...way to think it through :beer: , Just like your business card Vision, Faith, Reality Very good job!! Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer ki-speed Posted July 16, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 16, 2009 I have my Radar Detector (Escort 8500i) mounted in a similar way (kinda keeps it out of officers view). The painted screen does not affect the detector picking up radar, but it will not pick up Laser through the painted screen. Usually with laser your toast any way. I can see my detectors display, but rely on the audio (for alerts) which I have connected to my communications system. I usually have my Rader Detectors display set so it is a voltage meter so I can monitor the charging system. ki-speed (Mark) I am hoping to use the bottom section of mine for a future radar detector.With that in mind, I'd want to leave a 'view window' for the sensor to read through the Krylon spray, but yes painting it is a plan to both protect it from UV and improve contrast on the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Axel_7 Posted July 17, 2009 Member Contributer Share Posted July 17, 2009 I have my Radar Detector (Escort 8500i) mounted in a similar way (kinda keeps it out of officers view). The painted screen does not affect the detector picking up radar, but it will not pick up Laser through the painted screen. Usually with laser your toast any way. I can see my detectors display, but rely on the audio (for alerts) which I have connected to my communications system. I usually have my Rader Detectors display set so it is a voltage meter so I can monitor the charging system.ki-speed (Mark) I am hoping to use the bottom section of mine for a future radar detector.With that in mind, I'd want to leave a 'view window' for the sensor to read through the Krylon spray, but yes painting it is a plan to both protect it from UV and improve contrast on the screen. I was only a day away from getting the RAM mount for the GPS but know U2 have started to make me think???????????????????????? Lee how did you deside on size and shape (who bent it up.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee 2002 Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I have my Radar Detector (Escort 8500i) mounted in a similar way (kinda keeps it out of officers view). The painted screen does not affect the detector picking up radar, but it will not pick up Laser through the painted screen. Usually with laser your toast any way. I can see my detectors display, but rely on the audio (for alerts) which I have connected to my communications system. I usually have my Rader Detectors display set so it is a voltage meter so I can monitor the charging system.ki-speed (Mark) I am hoping to use the bottom section of mine for a future radar detector.With that in mind, I'd want to leave a 'view window' for the sensor to read through the Krylon spray, but yes painting it is a plan to both protect it from UV and improve contrast on the screen. I was only a day away from getting the RAM mount for the GPS but know U2 have started to make me think???????????????????????? Lee how did you deside on size and shape (who bent it up.) I mocked the thing up using cardboard, cutting and bending until I got what I wanted. Then it was just a matter of transfering the design to Lexan. As for the cutting and bending, I have access to a fully stocked shop and was able to use a sheet metal brake. (Take note: Lexan (polycarbonate) will bend --- Plexiglas won't) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer didit Posted July 28, 2009 Author Member Contributer Share Posted July 28, 2009 Evaluation: Well I finally got out for a good ride. No problems at all! I have the brightness turned down and can still see the screen. Minimal vibration with the exception of bumps, but very little at highway (or a little more) speeds. MP3 works very well too. Only issue with the music part is too many menus if I want to skip a song. Oh well, se lavi. Swapped out the screen for some local errunds. Tomorrow it's a call to the RCMP to report my lost plate then off to the insurace Co with $18 for a new one. Man, it's so hot here that the metal just melts off the bike. Had the plate held on with double looped, heavy zip ties. The zip ties are fine but the pate is gone and there is a small piece of metal pinched off. I seem to recal a slight noise but don't have the time to go around re-tracing my route day. Must move forward. Anywhoo, love the mount and am looking forward to using it for 3 weeks of travel. It covers most of the tach, but when I tuck, it's all good. Speed on the GPS really shows me how much my speedo is out. Now if I could just figure out how to adjust that dam healer??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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