ButtUgly Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I have purchased a Zumo 550 GPS and would love to get ideas / pics of where to mount it on my bike. Considerations include: 1- Access while riding 2- Vibration resistance 3- Garmin mount vs other options 4- Ease of installation and removal when I park the bike. Please send me pics ! Thanx Pat Link to comment
JustKrusen Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Cycle Gadgets clutch master cylinder mount. Keeps the Zumo up in line of sight without having to remove eyes from the road. Link to comment
hopz Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Hi butt.. might as well get yourself familiar with the zumo forums... this link is directly to the thread on mounting on R1200RT with my photos of it. http://www.zumoforums.com/index.php?topic=2798.0 Link to comment
Lawman Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I have the one made by jakfrost and like it very much. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...true#Post978015 Link to comment
Volfan615 Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Here is a post of my Touratech locking mount. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...true#Post866430 Link to comment
hopz Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 OK- due to overwhelming demand here is a photo of my mount- or should I say the RAM 272u mount using the arm/ball etc that comes with the Zumo From the side: From the Rider's Side: From Fall Torrey: Link to comment
Tapatio Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 My homemade mount. Zumo Mount Link to comment
marcopolo Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 As someone posted above, I too have the Cyclegadgets mount that covers the clutch resevoir cover. It works very well, for me, in that position -- easy to see, and very easy to use with your left hand. It also means it's well out of the way of a tank bag. Link to comment
Mike05 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I have the one made by jakfrost and like it very much. http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/sh...true#Post978015 +1 Same here; & I run most of the time with a BMW Tank Bag. Teriffic mount choice! Highly recommend it. Link to comment
BigAdv Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 There is also the good old BMW mount. works for me. Earl Link to comment
hopz Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 So what does this tell us? Mounting location and methods are a lot like choices in Oil... we all have our favorites... Link to comment
Ken H. Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Call me weird, but I don't get the advantage of mounting a GPS or much of anything for that matter, to the moving handlebars or triple tree. Seems like it would add bulk to the bars, make the gadgets more susceptible to damage (in particular damage to wires), and be harder to see and use them. What am I missing that is the advantage to this approach vs. in a fixed location approach? Link to comment
hopz Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Like I said... your actual mileage may vary. For me- the center line down where I can read it with the same glance as the RID works great. For touching it- that is easy and no stretch. Wires move all the time from the handlebars... and BMW seems to think it is an OK position since this is where they have been putting theirs since GPS came on bikes. Where you put yours is great too. I say again for all concerned...put it where you want it. Link to comment
jmer Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I went the cheap route and was able to mount mine using only what was included with the Zumo. I used the u-bolt and located it at the "elbow" part of the left handlebar. Ideally the legs of the u-bolt would be 1/4" longer so teh threads would engage in the Nyloc portion of the supplied Nyloc nuts. But I was albe to use the nuts from Garmin by using Loctite threadlockers on the metal thread portion of the nuts. The mount is very solid, the unit is easily accesable w/ left hand. It is not quite in your normal line of site as you would get when mounting up above the guages but I prefer it just off to the side. Overall, I'm happy with this system and have no plans to change. Its really cold and snowy here in Chicago and the bike is covered up so I haven't sent any pics. If anybody really needed a photo tho I could take one. Link to comment
JustKrusen Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Ken H wrote: Call me weird, but I don't get the advantage of mounting a GPS or much of anything for that matter, to the moving handlebars or triple tree. Seems like it would add bulk to the bars, make the gadgets more susceptible to damage (in particular damage to wires), and be harder to see and use them. What am I missing that is the advantage to this approach vs. in a fixed location approach? I've never noticed the added weight to the bars. The wires are routed safely just like the rest of the control cables. Never had a break in over 100,000 miles.(similar mount on my Wing) The GPS is actually mounted closer to my left hand than it would be if down in center. It is always in line of sight. I never have to look down. It is easier to see and read than the factory gauges in this position. It's just where I like it. Link to comment
ButtUgly Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 Gentlemen, Thank you all for the pics and information. It will certainly help me make the right mounting decision (for me!) Cheers, patrick Link to comment
kltk165 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Anyone here mounting the Zumo with the Touratech locking mount and the cyclegadgets XM antenna bracket? I'm trying to determin if they'll work together. Link to comment
kdoddrell Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Has anyone figured out a way to keep the GPS secure as it seems that anyone can simply undo the finger nut on the RAM arm. Maybe I have missed the secret... Link to comment
ArmyGuy Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Just my .02 but I figure the best way to keep your GPS from getting ripped off is take it off the bike when you park. It only takes a second to rip the GPS from the cradle with little to no effort. A thief won't care what your bike looks like after he/she's done getting what they want. Link to comment
T__ Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Has anyone figured out a way to keep the GPS secure as it seems that anyone can simply undo the finger nut on the RAM arm. Maybe I have missed the secret... Kevin, you can buy a locking wing nut (uses a key) to secure the ram arm.. Still not very secure as the entire cradle can be broken off with enough effort.. By far the best thing is to remove the cradle & arm in non secure areas.. I cut the wire going to my cradle about 10” from the cradle & installed a small micro-lock connector.. That allows very quick & easy removal of the entire cradle with Zumo still in the cradle & the whole thing can be stored away in a secure area.. It also allows the cradle to be used on multiple bikes with just a fused pre-wire with a micro-loc connector (works very good & seamless) to remove & install.. Twisty Link to comment
Pictou Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 The Touratech locking mount is probably the most secure you can get. They are pretty tough and not so easily broken. Of course it is still not the same as removing the GPS and putting it out of sight. Link to comment
kdoddrell Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks guys. I sort of figured that if they want to rip it off bad enough they will get it anyhow. Best just to get in the habit of taking it off. Link to comment
bimmers Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I have a great one from Belgium, Migsel.com and you can find it. I got it in less than a week when I was prepared to wait for a few. Check it out as it is super easy to install and it looks factory installed. h Link to comment
hopz Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Just in case you were not aware--- the zumo kit comes with a high quality zippered carrying case. Park, lift the latch, slip it into the case- takes about 5 seconds... small enough to put in a pocket. And, if you have a current model RT- the zumo unit will fit in the glove box and you can lock it. Link to comment
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