Mount for GPS?????

[Scottsscooter]

I would like to buy a nice mount for my GPS.... I thought I seen where someone had their GPS mounted, with a holder, onto the vertical mount of the Honda windshield....I liked that it was higher then the handle bars.. I need ideas and what hardware I need....

[_Sheffjs_]

I mounted the phone holder (sold for ATVs) to my windshield support.   It works well

[hungryeye]

I use a Samsung Note 5 Cell, I bought a handlebar mount with model specific snap in holder, I listen to local radio via internet and XM. I find the cell phone navigator works better than any other gps, when using gps in phone the woman inside my phone interrupts the radio when telling me where to turn, I don't have to look at it at all. On my other bikes I just leave the phone in my pocket on short errands and still listen to radio.

[idcrewdawg]

I navigate with the phone. The newer phones, that are IP68 or better, are water resistant to a pretty impressive depth for phones so riding in the rain isn't really an issue. You just can't use the touch screen, but why would you while riding.

For a mount, I use the Ram-X brand, as I find it fits my phone well and holds it very secure regardless of how bumpy the road, or how much wind I get.

The bigger problem you'll run into while in wet weather is charging the device. While it's raining, you have to have a water tight connection to prevent the connections from causing a short internally. The one I have doesn't have the water tight set up, but I don't ride in the rain with my phone connected to the power to worry about it. Even a GPS would need a water tight connection, and most use the 12V plug which isn't any better than a USB plug for phones.

The reason I prefer my phone over other GPS options is live traffic rerouting that comes with Google Maps. I've been driving down the interstate, and it'll tell me of a delay ahead and reroutes me around it if the delay on the route is longer than being rerouted. Saved myself 30 minutes once because of this. You can find GPS units to do this, but they typically require some kind of subscription service. I don't see the point in paying for something that comes with my phone already. On top of that, if I use Google Maps, versus using Waze or any other routing system I've tried, it'll turn the sound on the music down and announce the upcoming turn with road name. Waze will many times not have the road name.

I also like Google Maps on my phone over other navigation options I've encountered because I can plug in way points for the ride and plan the route exactly as I want to take it rather than as the program wishes to route me for my end destination.

You can see how high up the mount puts the phone in this short clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GerBlSfLoB0

I've considered moving it to the left so it's easier to touch with my hand when I want to acknowledge something that pops up. I'm still on the fence if I'm gonna move it or not.

[bscrive]

I use a map.  Every time I use a freakin GPS it sends me off to nowhere land.    I hate those pieces of crap.  You don't get lost using a map.  :cool dude:  It may be impossible reading one when riding, but that's what gas stops are for.

[idcrewdawg]

sends me off to nowhere land. 

I thought that was half the reason for riding. 

[dinosnake]

I navigate with the phone. The newer phones, that are IP68 or better, are water resistant to a pretty impressive depth for phones so riding in the rain isn't really an issue. You just can't use the touch screen, but why would you while riding.

Let's see:  

• find food
• find gas
• locate where you are
• change music, source or track, to suit mood
• alter destination on change of mind
• examine cross and side roads for alternate choice of path
• zoom out map to examine both oncoming traffic conditions and road path

I do all this, and much more, on my GPS's.

I thought that was half the reason for riding. 

Exactly!!  It sounds like many of you miss the alternate operation of a GPS: let it HELP you get lost.

Just...wonder.  Then use the GPS to assist you, lost as you are, to guide yourself in a general direction of meandering plus locate the services you need whilst on your trip to nowhere.  Time to go home?  Push the Home button and you're all done.

Takes all the fear and effort out of, intentionally, disappearing for a while.

[hungryeye]

But when you get a phone call does the GPS answer it and turn off the radio, or in the GPS case turn off loaded music? I don't think GPS's have nation wide radio yet?

[dinosnake]

But when you get a phone call does the GPS answer it and turn off the radio, or in the GPS case turn off loaded music? I don't think GPS's have nation wide radio yet?

Yes, they do have nation-wide radio: my Garmins have XM and the newest 590 supports Pandora.

The GPS certainly cuts out the music for phone calls.  On my older Garmin, which did not stream music very well, I used an iPod and the Bluetooth headset automatically did the switching between music and phone calls (the latter came through the GPS)

[hungryeye]

I had an old Garmin with XM, it was great for 10 years ago but the use of Cell does all that, I use XM in a car and have the internet option + am/fm radio world wide, its just a matter of preference. I feel the compact cell phone with all that stuff is much easier to deal with unless you're using a flip phone.

[dinosnake]

But, as is noted, you can't conveniently use the touch screen.  But even worse: you only get functionality where you have cell phone service.

If you still have cell phone service, you haven't traveled far enough 

[hungryeye]

Cell service is nation wide on interstates, few places it don't work for me. I don't use any touch screen options, and I do mostly travel on interstates for the long haul. I really only use GPS in local towns to find stuff, by cage I have voice commands, if needed on my bike I stop and figger it out. We all have different methods. I've seen guys with Ipads mounted on their handlebar. I guess I'm a minimalist.

[dinosnake]

Yeah, WebBikeWorld brought the idea of mounting your iPad into common light.

It's a damn stupid idea IMHO.

I travel many areas that have no cell service, longest was 3 days out of service area.

[dinosnake]

I would like to buy a nice mount for my GPS.... I thought I seen where someone had their GPS mounted, with a holder, onto the vertical mount of the Honda windshield....I liked that it was higher then the handle bars.. I need ideas and what hardware I need....

Check out Leader Motorcycle mounts; RAM of course; Touratech; Bracketron (you may have to search a bit, it seems like they've buried the mounts on their website somewhere); and Techmount.

I have used several Bracketrons.

[Scottsscooter]

Thanks all for ideas... I went to Aerostich yesterday, and bought a nice Ram mounting setup....

Scottsscooter
2014 Blue F6C