Cheap Satellite Navigation
 

I need to kit my bike out with a sat nav so have decided to use my car one and get it waterproof. I have had a good read on here and I have just purchased all the kit to get my bike up and running ready for this years Lakelands meet.

The kit looks ok and hopefully good enough for what I need rather than the mega money bike specific ones (which are obviously better overall but for how much I will use not worth the investment I think). Once the kit arrives I will add to this thread, installation pictures and a report of if it turns out to actually be worth while.

I purchased 3 items,

1 - Wiring loom �5.99 Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=170548745478

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...0x/adaptor.jpg

2 - GPS charger �4.99 Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=280631293895

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...0x/charger.jpg

3 - GPS Case & Holder �20.99 Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=330544694805

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...y660x/case.jpg

Should prove useful when trying to find my way back to my B&B and back to the camp site at the Lakeland meet.

Nice

Look forward to reading how you get on.

I used a regular tomtom for 3 years on big tours of europe on the Triumph with just a plastic bag as rain protection which worked but steamed up a bit. Im sure this thing you bought will be way better than that.

Al.

I just want something simple and easy to use and not to cost the earth. I dont need a satnav for 95% of my riding but do plan to use the bike alot more this year so inevitably that will mean going places I have no idea how to get to. Its always the last bit of the journey that catches me out, getting to the rough area is fine its that last bit I need it for.

Fingers crossed it does the job.

I did essentially the same as this but using a Givi bag. Works great, the only issue I had was that the clear screen cover was randomly pushing my sat nav screen making it open up all sorts of settings whilst riding along which blocked the map, which is quite annoying as you ride up to a roundabout/motorway junction!

I simply put a piece of perspex in between the sat nav screen and the clear screen cover = problem solved. Although it creates a bit of extra faff if I need to change anything on the sat nav.

Tony I was thinking the same route but using the T-Moible pluse mini android phone can you post links for e-bay

No problem, I will re-edit my first post with the links.

I am hoping the padding they give you holds it firm and does not press on the screen, if not thanks for the tip. I will of course update the thread with my findings upon receipt and testing.

I also use an old tom tom in a givi universal case. I found if i tighten the straps too much it presses the power button and turns it off. Leave the straps with a little slack and, "jobs a gud un"

Thats the reason for me using the android phone its a capacitive screen rather than resistive so you can accidentally press it, but in the down side you have to take it out to program it. Swings and roundabouts ....

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Tony
Make sure and post some step by step installation photo's


Sent from my Scroll Tablet using Tapatalk

Good show Tony, Spending the ���� on the Zumo is a good investment, but only if you are going to use it to it's potential, if you just want door-to-door then a cheap Halfords one in a Give-type bag is just as effective, and becoming more popular too.

Well all the 3 items turned up today, next was to fit it all.

The charger has a really small coil cable so its a good job the wiring with inline fuse was long. I had a good look at the wiring route and decided on going under the left side of the fuel tank, following the normal harness, up through the back of the speedo and fitted the power adaptor to the rear of the clocks. I fitted the holder to the right hand side of the bars as there was less room on the left side.

With the GPS case you get 4 different thickness foam to reduce vibration and to pack the sat nav out. I only needed to use 2 of them. The great thing is with my satnav and this case there is a ridge on the top face of the screen so it holds it off the screen, I could also operate and program a route with a gloved hand whilst on the bike. The only time I need to open the case is to either turn it on or off. I can of course just pull the power cord out of the adaptor and the sat nav turns itself off after 10 seconds, you can set it to do this so I have done as I like the feature.

Looking at real world use the only two issues I can see is security and positioning on the bike. A proper bike system can be locked onto the bike where as this is easily removed in 5 seconds so that is the answer. At a stop pull the power cord, loosen the ball connector on the rear and take it with you.

The second issue with it is its not right infront of your eyeline like on the Tenere with its top bar above the clocks but I guess you will get used to that in time. At the end of the day its better than faffing with maps especially if you make a wrong turn (for me anyway).

overall its certainly worth the investment and I am happy with it.

The kit contents plus my car satnav

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1205.jpg

Foam padding

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1208.jpg

All wired up ready

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1212.jpg

Main wiring harness

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1215.jpg

Power adaptor is situ

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1217.jpg

Satnav all powered up ready to roll

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...SAM_1221-1.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1223.jpg

Give type bag ?

Sent from my Scroll Tablet using Tapatalk

Givi

Just a quick update to note the positioning of the power adaptor has been moved now I have used the bike more, the orginal position was not sturdy enough in the centre using double sided tape so I used table ties and fixed it to the handlebar on the right hand side. Its loads better and works really well.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1232.jpg

looks good, and even if it did rain a bit your screen should protect the case from most of the water.

Max you are right, its rained quite alot yesterday and the power socket remained dry, certainly not wet enough to even worry about it. So in the case it will be safe and sound.

I am going on a solo Wales ride Sunday morning, I have never been to Horse shoe pass, so I will plot the cafe's postcode and follow the bike and enjoy the scenery.

Its a sort of trial run, go somewhere I have never been and totally rely on the system and see how I fair. Hopefully enjoy a great ride and shake down the system.

Me and my mates went out I used the sat nav to get us there and back I set it up to avoid motorways and use the shortest route not the fastest you'll be suprised some of the roads you can end up on :038:

Well instead of going out tomorrow I went out first thing today. It was wet to start with but soon dried up giving me the chance to use my satnav. As detailed before I went over to Wales and the Ponderosa cafe on the horse shoe pass, As I have never been there before I had to rely on the sat nav for directions.

It worked a treat, only when the strong direct sunlight went on the screen could I not see anything. The poistioning is about perfect on the bike and I soon got into the groove to ensure I made no wrong turns and I certainly did not miss using the voice function.

The only thing I will say is remember the ear plugs next time. 180 miles of fast roads had my ears ringing and thats with a totally standard exhaust setup.

I strongly recommend this as a cheap solution if you are not prepared to shell out on a bespoke bike setup.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1234.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1235.jpg