Junkman3353 Posted July 8, 2008 Posted July 8, 2008 Maybe what I want doesn't exist. I have a K75 that I'm riding more and more due to fuel prices. I have XM in my pickup. What I want is a portable unit that I can take with me and switch between the bike, the truck, and a house dock. It also has to have big enough buttons to use while I'm riding. Any ideas?
Weyman Posted July 8, 2008 Posted July 8, 2008 My first XM Radio was a SkyFi2. I purchased a car kit to mount on the bike, and a home kit to use it in the house. Later on I retired the unit from bike duty when I purchased a Zumo and the XM antenna/receiver. The SkyFi2 stays in the house full time. According to what I read on the 'net at the time (for what that is worth), the FM modulator in the SkyFi2 has a stronger signal than the one in the Roady series. Supposedly the older units caused too much interference to other cars. I used a hardwired modulator on my bike so I don't know for sure, but the range in the house is great. I mostly use it with a boombox that sits beside the XM cradle, but it also transmits to another radio that sits about 25 feet away. You can buy these older receivers for almost nothing these days.
Junkman3353 Posted July 9, 2008 Author Posted July 9, 2008 Is there any water proofing issues, not that I'd ride in rain but it has happened.
JR356 Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 Is there any water proofing issues, not that I'd ride in rain but it has happened. Plastic ziplock bag secured over the unit with wife/GF/SO's elastic hairbands will take care of 99% of water issues. The hairbands are stronger and more durable than rubber bands! JR356
flars Posted July 9, 2008 Posted July 9, 2008 I used an original Roady on my RS for 2 years. Then it died (probably due to vibration). I replaced it with a Roady2 I got off fleabay. Still alive and kicking for the last 3 years. Mounted to the brake master cylinder on a RoadyHolder. Because the plastic bracket the Roady2 uses is crap, I stuck some velcro on the back of the roady and on the front of the roadyholder. This may also add a bit of vibration dampening. Powered by an XSOREEKey power adapter. (don't know if they are still available, tho). Because of the mounting mechanism on the RoadyXT, it isn't very good for the bike (the unit pops off the mounting cradle). I use a zip lock to protect the unit when it rains, but I only protect it in long lasting or heavy rain. Cyclegadgets has a bunch o stuff for XM.
Crackenback Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 I have a Pioneer INNO that I use everywhere (house, car, motorcycle, bicycle, camping, hiking. etc). In the car I just sit it atop the dash and run it through the AUX input on the stereo. On the bike I just put it in the map case on the top of my tank bag and run the output to a set of canal phones. No problems with reception, using the built in antenna, or power, as I just run it off the units rechargeable battery.
Mark K Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 +1 on the Roady2. These are almost disposable anymore, but mine has been mounted (RAM) to the bar mounts for three years. Again, zip-lock bag with a rubber band if it rains really hard. [edit] It moves between the bike and truck as needed. [edit]
markgoodrich Posted July 10, 2008 Posted July 10, 2008 Roady, then Roady 2, now Skyfi; the first two developed the same problem, vibration at the DC power input plug. All three are cheap on ebay. The Skyfi buttons are marginally larger. I made a mount using a part of a small sheet of Lexan (Lowe's) and some Dual Lock and Velcro. 18,000 miles and counting. Mine's power is hard wired to the bike, antenna is on the brake master cylinder cover, output goes to the Autocom through a small Amplirider amplifier. These XM radios don't really have volume controls, so the Amplirider is a big help. One thing to consider is that Delphi changed the size of the DC input plugs after the Skyfi2 model, making subsequent models incompatible with (my) hard wired power take-tupperware-off-hassle plug. On the bright side, that's the reason the Roadies and Skyfi2 are so cheap on ebay. These clickable thumbnails show the little mount I made. The Skyfi fits on it just fine.
TF1200RT Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 I have a Pioneer INNO that I use everywhere (house, car, motorcycle, bicycle, camping, hiking. etc). +1 on the Pioneer Inno. I have mine on a Ztechnik mount on the right grip mirror mount (R12RT) and I run it through a MixIt-2. I have no problems with reception on the internal antenna.
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