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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: numus on August 27, 2011, 07:05:48 AM

Title: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: numus on August 27, 2011, 07:05:48 AM
So I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-eTrex-Venture-GPS-Receiver/dp/B000PDR230
that i never use and realized it has a great compass/speedo screen and probably would be good to mount on the bike... Anyone have any recommendations on a proper way to mount it (most of the mounts i have seen suggest not to use on motorcycle due to vibration?) or any recommendations on a small GPS unit that will achieve the same thing?
Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on August 27, 2011, 09:08:22 AM
Quote from: numus on August 27, 2011, 07:05:48 AM
So I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-eTrex-Venture-GPS-Receiver/dp/B000PDR230
that i never use and realized it has a great compass/speedo screen and probably would be good to mount on the bike... Anyone have any recommendations on a proper way to mount it (most of the mounts i have seen suggest not to use on motorcycle due to vibration?) or any recommendations on a small GPS unit that will achieve the same thing?

I have had two different Garmin Nuvi..on two different motorcycles and a scooter.  Never had a problem due to vibration.

On the GS I simply put a "cushion clamp" around the handlebars, right in the middle......I then took the clip which comes with the NUVI and drilled a hole thru the center and attached to the cushion clamp......done.

It will run for a couple of hours on internal battery power...

I ran a connection to the battery.... This I use for charging the battery during winter lay off.....I have an inline fuse in there plus a nice little connector called "anderson power pole".   I took the power cable which comes with the Nuvi and ran it along some existing wires to meet with the battery connector.....now I can run  the GPS all day on motorcycle power, and charge the GPS too...


I will try to get some photos today....


The nuvi is a cheap one form Wal Mart....$89 or so........


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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: fraze11 on August 27, 2011, 09:28:36 AM
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045066045049052057090045071065049054085/Default.aspx

Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: numus on August 27, 2011, 10:43:47 AM
Quote from: fraze11 on August 27, 2011, 09:28:36 AM
http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045066045049052057090045071065049054085/Default.aspx

This is what i want to get
http://www.mountguys.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=RAP-274-GA16&click=21
But one of the reviews was the warning about vibration.... Not sure if the venture HC can recharge batteries when plugged into the mini-usb plug but i guess i could run a 12V to usb adapter to it...
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Hardwire-Cable-Mini-USB-connector/dp/B001M09L20
That should work i would think to power it... My poor power system is going to be overtaxed soon lol...
Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on August 27, 2011, 04:07:49 PM
Here is what the NUVI looks like on a very simple mount:
(http://i.imgur.com/pjQ5i.jpg)


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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on August 27, 2011, 04:28:25 PM
take two!

(http://i.imgur.com/pjQ5i.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/6I3Iu.jpg)

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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on August 27, 2011, 04:29:52 PM
Sorry....still trying to resize images!!


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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on August 27, 2011, 04:54:11 PM
Take 3!

NUVI simple mount:

(http://i.imgur.com/1sKj2.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/8freC.jpg)

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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: numus on September 01, 2011, 04:07:48 AM
I like the place you mounted... Is it easy to see in the center of the bars like that?

(http://www.gpscentral.ca/graphics/garmin/etrex-vista-h-screen.jpg)
That is what the etrex screen that i am going to be using looks like. You can reassign any of the sections on it to other stuff (like speed, compass direction, ect.)
Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on September 01, 2011, 07:08:25 AM
Quote from: numus on September 01, 2011, 04:07:48 AM
I like the place you mounted... Is it easy to see in the center of the bars like that?

(http://www.gpscentral.ca/graphics/garmin/etrex-vista-h-screen.jpg)
That is what the etrex screen that i am going to be using looks like. You can reassign any of the sections on it to other stuff (like speed, compass direction, ect.)

Yes...easy to see and easy to push the buttons...not far to reach, and get back to handlebar grips...

Etrex is nice....I would put "actual speed" in one of the windows...since GS500 speedo is off 8%~10% it nice to look down and get an accurate speed reading...

Downside of etrex is it is mostly for outdoor sports like hiking, cycling, canoeing etc....does not have "road Directions" 

I ride a lot of back roads and there is always detours...more now due to hurricane washing out lots of roads and bridges...so I really like the NUVI.

But since you already have the etrex, why not use it?

Looks like Garmin makes a small simple handlebar mount for the etrex.....probably would fit right in the center of the bars..smaller and neater than the RAM mount...

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Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: numus on September 01, 2011, 04:32:15 PM
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=744
Found it.. awesome....
Title: Re: GPS units and mounting?
Post by: twocool on September 01, 2011, 07:54:52 PM
Quote from: numus on September 01, 2011, 04:32:15 PM
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=744
Found it.. awesome....

Looks simple and sweet...but did you see the lead time of like 3 to 5 weeks!!!

Maybe some distributer has this in stock already.

I work at a Garmin dealership...but only for avionics...airplane stuff.....can't get any special deals on Garmin's other divisions...

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