Hi, just wondering if anyone has fitted a car satnav. I've got a spare decent Garmin car unit so thinking of fitting it to the multi. I've seen brackets that allow it to be mounted above the dash with a handlebar size tube so just looking for examples if anyone has done this or similar. Cheers
There are a number of solutions out there such as RAM mounts but you main issue would be waterproofing so I suspect you need to consider a case, or tank bag with a window?
Cheers. Yes it would likely live in a case. I've just done a bit of googling and found a givi case which has a visor which should be good. I used a normal phone case with no sun visor for a john o groats to lands end ride which was useless in the sun. Just need to figure out if it will all fit behind my PP short screen.
I have a Garmin car unit that I put in a waterproof pouch, which is mounted via a ram mount and a ball attachment on the handlebar clamp. I tend not to use it much nowadays as smartphone navigation is easier/better, but I tend to carry it as a back-up if I'm doing a big trip.
I use a nuvi 1490. Cheap on eBay so don’t care if it gets wet. I don’t ride in storms anyway. It’s been in my bike 4 years no issues. I’ve accidentally hit it with the sprayer at the car wash a couple of times. No issues. Works great. Cheap. Replaceable for $30. Only issue imo is you need to be careful with usb cable. I got one with a 90 plug on it so less stress on the receptacle. I prefer the higher contrast graphics on the older one too. Also works with gloves as it’s a pressure based touch panel.
@Vtwin4fun Absolutely. Car Satnav units are cheap and that's all I use. Garmin Zumos are priced only for "idealists". You can get a Navihalter bracket or your local www.iconicparts.uk product and use whatever GPS you have with a Ram-Mount cradle. I use only Garmin Nuvi's but you can use whatever unit you want.
Cheers Darr, that looks great and fits well behind the PP screen which is the detail I am after. Do you have any issues if it rains?
It does fit well which is one of the reasons I like Nuvi's. 1) They're thin (1.5 cm thick on average) see photo 2) They're full featured and high resolution (the models I like to buy) 3) They're inexpensive ( the last one was dirt cheap at CAN$60 or about 36GBP on ebay). I really don't care if I lose or break it. The trade-off is that they are not waterproof: at least not to the extent of a Zumo, They can handle a bit of rain. Although I try to ride each day during our 7 months season here in Ontario, I'm what you UK guys call a "fair weather rider". Notwithstanding, I put over 10,000 kms of local riding during that period and I don't tour. All this to say that I have been caught in a downpour and just slipped the GPS in my pocket. The Nuvi's can run for awhile on its internal battery. I also carry a zip-lock sandwich bag under the seat should I ever need the unit in the wet. I doubt I'll ever need it.
Just be sure that you can read the screen outside in the sunshine, Many car sat navs are almost impossible to use outside.
I would add also say be aware that if you put the unit in a waterproof cover that in sunshine it may well overheat. I speak from experience. Leave it in the open air, and if it rains then as DarR has said put a sandwich bag over it if it rains.
I only buy the high-res units with a glass screen. The visibility of these in the sun is as good or better than the Multistrada's display. The Navihalter or the Iconic provides a much cleaner install of the primary unit ( be it a GPS, Phone or a Lap-Timer) above the Multistrada's display. The Quadlock, among other solutions that mount to the handlebars, would be ok for a secondary unit . For example, if ever I need another gadget mounted either on the handlebars or the Trellis frame, I use this: https://www.rammount.com/part/RAP-B-400U
Great cheers all. Think I'm going to go with the navihalter or iconic unit with mount for the satnav. Looking forward to getting that sorted soon.
A temporary solution to waterproofing is to use cling film, and you can still use the touch screen as well.
Well I’m only suggesting a solution for those that feel a car sat nav is the best for them. Personally I have a motorcycle sat nav. Just trying to help.
You are completely missing the point when comparing a car sat nav with a motorcycle sat nav by just comparing their waterproof qualities. A car sat nav is designed to be used for people who travel between point A to point B whereupon a motorcycle sat nav is for people who like to plan the route not the destination. I use a Garmin Zumo 595 in conjunction with Garmin Map Souce on my PC. I plan my tours it the comfort of my lounge on my laptop. I select all the coffee, fuel, food stops along with the places that I wish to visit. I can also plan several days rides and store them on my Zumo, I have had 14 days (2700 miles) of routes stored at any one time. I also can chose the roads that are good biking roads rather than what the sat nav tells me is the quickest or shortest. None of this you can do with a car sat nav, so although Zumos are expensive they are worth every penny!
Cheers desperado and I completely get your points. I'm really only fitting the car satnav mainly for this years Isle of Man TT trip. I've used my phone in the past for longer rides and that worked great blue toothed to the helmet. Most memorably on my John o Groats to Lands end ride. I tend to follow my nose when out and about so don't usually need satnav but I have a few more trips planned this year so I'm thinking a proper mounted unit will work better. If I do take to it and given I'll be getting either the navihalter or iconic mount arm I may well take the plunge and get a dedicated bike one but it would have to be something that gives more than just a few extras to get me to part with my money. Tight in some areas means I can spend more in others so to speak ;-)
