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NiteNurse Occasional Visitor
Joined: Sep 27, 2005 Posts: 3
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:51 pm Post subject: Fitting a PDA to sports bikes |
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I thought I would show how I fit my IPAQ 5550 (with TOMTOM 5) to my Blackbird.
I also have a car so at first I used to take the suction mount and use that to fix my pda to the bikes screen.....big mistake...it 'unsuctioned' at 100mph whilst touring in France.
I searched the web for M/C mounts but found they fell into 2 categories
1) very expensive and usually for Garmin setups
2) Made to fit tubular handlebars.
I fitted the mount to the headstock using 2 wide cable ties and its as staedy and as secure as a rock (well it was last month in France again well into 3 figure speeds).
I also have a 'cigarette lighter' wired in to provide power to the pda / GPS reciever.
If it rains I just slip a polythene food bag with a press seal over the pda for when it's bucketing down.
[img][/img]
I hope this is usefull for anyone wishing to use a pda on a modern sports bike. |
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lbendlin Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: 02/11/2002 22:41:59 Posts: 11878 Location: Massachusetts, USA
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Nice work. Personally I would strongly advise against any form of PDA mount that is not of the "slide in from top" variety. The clam mounts are just not safe enough.
There are plenty of cheap active slide-in mounts available, from Brodit, Arkon, and Herbert Richter. _________________ Lutz
Report Map Errors here:
TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ |
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feef Occasional Visitor
Joined: May 09, 2006 Posts: 13
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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If you don't need to 'use' the PDA and only view it when on the go, and you don't mind something a little more fidly, then I can recommend an "otterbox"
It's a waterproof case for PDA units, and with some modification and a RAM mount, you can fit it to most bikes. It means you can't use the touchscreen on the move, as you need to open the lid to access it, but it Does let you see the screen, and does mean it's waterproof.
a |
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gpsn3wbie Regular Visitor
Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 176
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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feef wrote: | If you don't need to 'use' the PDA and only view it when on the go, and you don't mind something a little more fidly, then I can recommend an "otterbox"
It's a waterproof case for PDA units, and with some modification and a RAM mount, you can fit it to most bikes. It means you can't use the touchscreen on the move, as you need to open the lid to access it, but it Does let you see the screen, and does mean it's waterproof.
a |
i thought the otterbox had a clear membrane on the lid which let you use the touchscreen through it?
maybe theres other models. |
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feef Occasional Visitor
Joined: May 09, 2006 Posts: 13
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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gpsn3wbie wrote: | i thought the otterbox had a clear membrane on the lid which let you use the touchscreen through it?
maybe theres other models. |
I've never had my hands on one.. I didn't fit my PDA to my bikes because
a: I'd been told the otterbox had a hard lid,
b: my PDA died and I buoght a Garmin Quest 2
c: I'm using my FJR more than my sportsbikes and i have a RAM mount for that
so my plans for the otterbox never materialised. If they have a membrane to allow usage, then I should have done something about the kit earlier :D
a |
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lbendlin Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: 02/11/2002 22:41:59 Posts: 11878 Location: Massachusetts, USA
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, they have membranes, and these work surprisingly well. _________________ Lutz
Report Map Errors here:
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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gpsn3wbie wrote: | i thought the otterbox had a clear membrane on the lid which let you use the touchscreen through it? |
They do, all the touch screen functions work fine through the membrane. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject: Re: Fitting a PDA to sports bikes |
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NiteNurse wrote: | I also have a 'cigarette lighter' wired in to provide power to the pda / GPS reciever. |
Does that cigarette lighter socket have a waterproof 'bung'? Can I ask where you got it? I've been looking for such a fitting for my Pan for a while now! _________________ Darren Griffin |
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pharmamike Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 37 Location: North London
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject: Waterproof socket |
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You can get waterproof cigar lighter sockets from marine supply shops. Cost is from £15-£20.
I have been meaning to put one on my Pan for quite a while, but have been making do with a non-waterproof one inside the left fairing pocket.
Mike |
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jjturner Occasional Visitor
Joined: May 13, 2006 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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feef wrote: | If you don't need to 'use' the PDA and only view it when on the go, and you don't mind something a little more fidly, then I can recommend an "otterbox"
It's a waterproof case for PDA units, and with some modification and a RAM mount, you can fit it to most bikes. It means you can't use the touchscreen on the move, as you need to open the lid to access it, but it Does let you see the screen, and does mean it's waterproof.
a |
Ram also do there own version, an Aquabox, but you have to make sure your PDA fits as its quite tight (72mm internal width). If it works with yours, its quite good as it a lot cheaper and doesn't have the flip front of the otter, just a thicker rubber membrane.
I have mine mounted via the headstock using a standard RAM mount and an expanding Rawplug. It on a GSXR750 with an autocom in the tankbag, cables out the back of the box for sound and power (via a USB power unit). |
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ragamuffin Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jan 23, 2007 Posts: 1
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Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject: PDA on a motorbike |
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I run my satnav whilst on the bike solely using audio instructions rather than looking at the screen.. this way I can use a magnetic tank bag with all the gumf stuck in. The PDA just sites in the lcear waterproof pocket at the top. Cigarette lighter mounted on yoke. Works well but can be annoying having to pull pda out of clear pocket at top of tank bag just to change destination.. I have been looking at Navigons software as it has voice commands for destinations .. maybe able to rig a microphone to pda and use solely on voice commands.. |
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biker01 Occasional Visitor
Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
I have a Zire (Palm) with kirrio sat nav,no bluetooth connection
I have problems seeing the screen in sunlight?
Do you guys have the same problem?if so then why mount them on the front of the bike?
I have mine in my topbox with the reciver on the tank(i get interference from it to my Starcom unit if it is too close )
All works well for me most of the time ,but some instructions can be misleading if you cannot see the screen
So i would like to change the location if it was worth it.
Thanks
Biker |
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alix776 Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 03/05/2003 14:45:49 Posts: 3999 Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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ram mounts have a bike mount that would work and also have a specfic holder for and otter box i have one on my mountain bike and i think it would work well on a motor bike _________________ currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl |
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welshbiker Occasional Visitor
Joined: May 08, 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Cardiff
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Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Waterproof socket |
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pharmamike wrote: | You can get waterproof cigar lighter sockets from marine supply shops. Cost is from £15-£20.
I have been meaning to put one on my Pan for quite a while, but have been making do with a non-waterproof one inside the left fairing pocket.
Mike |
I picked one up on Ebay last week for £12, and a couple of quid postage, and there were quite a selection to choose from.
One question though - i'll need to wire in a fuse when i fit it later this week as it didn't come with one attached. Whilst i'm confident enough to wire the fuse into the circuit, i have no idea if it goes on the +ive or -ive side. Please could someone advise??!
Many thanks and best wishes,
Welsh Biker _________________ "You can take the boy out of Wales,
but you cannot take Wales out of the boy!!" |
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pharmamike Occasional Visitor
Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 37 Location: North London
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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Assuming that your electrics are -ve earth, you put the fuse on the +ve side of the socket. Power needs to flow from battery through fuse to socket to device to earth (frame).
Hope that's clear.
Mike |
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