Cheap Bike GPS...

[Mex]

Thought some people might be interested in this...

I wanted to get a GPS for the bike but didnt want to spend $1000+ so thought i would have a go at water proofing a car GPS as basically that is the only difference between a motorbike GPS and car one. I did look at other options like the hand held but the screens where too small and they still werent very cheap.

So i ended up with a s30 navman for $250 which has a 5 hour battery life (on a good day). Firstly i masked off the speaker, switches and other bits i thought needed it and then gave it about a million coats of spray on silican rubber. Also used some normal silican to waterproof the outter part of the screen. I bent up a braket and placed in under the screen just below the rev counter (only obscures the 0-3500rpm) so it sits nicely on the dash.

I was a bit skeptical wether it would be water proof and stay on with high wind speed, but it does and has been through rain, 150km+ (private road of course), bumps and long trips with no dramas. The bracket means it slips out and into the pocket easily and can still be used in the car (sound is very quiet now of course).

The final step would be to wire it up as the internal battery isnt great and i generally only turn it on when i need it. In hine sight i should have siliconed all the edges first and then used the spray on silican as then i wouldnt have needed the million coats, but i am happy with the result. Also i wouldn't try installing one on a naked as the screen means it hardly gets wind/wet.

GPS = $250
silican = $30
Bracket = $9
Wiring = $20?

[Falcore]

well on this note, i use tom tom onexl atm (standard car gps) an all i do is suction cup it to the rev counter, doesnt come off even did a trip over east with it (invaluable with that trip) an didnt miss a beat.

so the only mod i had to do was wire in a ciggarete lighter plug (ended up just tapping into the headlight wiring). on a sportish bike you'll find it will stay dry in pretty much all weather (though doing what you mentioned would be wise lol)

an for all the haters STFU their is times when a gps is very very handy (poi when travelling for example)

[goof]

I might just add here that you can save $100 on the GPS if you go to no-name brands on eBay. I got a '304' from this guy and am very happy with it. A friend got a different model on my recommendation and he's happy with it. The units are actually just WinCE handheld PCs with iGO, TomTom, Route66 running from the SD card. Plays videos, mp3s, slideshows, etc too. (Much better than a dedicated SatNav unit if you're in to hacking IMHO.)

[Mex]

i did have a look at a couple of cheaper ones, but decided to go for a main stream brand. It does have one feature that is really handy in that it dims and brightens the screen automatically at dusk/dawn (not sure if others have that). Also when i went to Collie a last month it was pouring with rain, dark and about 3 degrees - gps was all programmed and i just turned it on as i headed into the town.... no wet maps, no wasted time in the cold... was well worth it...

also another option could be get a phone with built in gps and a bluetooth head set - leave phone in pocket/water proof bag - follow directions in ear piece...

[Johnno]

I have a tomtom 720 that I use in my work car, and I bought a ram mount from the states for it which has a lock on type suction cup and it sticks to my tank when I need one for the bike.
Very handy when needed but I dont need it often.

[Barfridge]

also another option could be get a phone with built in gps and a bluetooth head set - leave phone in pocket/water proof bag - follow directions in ear piece...

That's what I do with my Nokia 6110, it works really well. Lags sometimes if I'm doing lots of twists and turns through suburbia, but otherwise great. I play music as well, and it just mutes the music when giving directions.

[Desmo]

Mate, where did you get that silicone?
We used to use it in the states to waterproof the 4x4's electrical system.
I have a vehicle here that is in dire need of it too
/hijack

[Mex]

Mate, where did you get that silicone?

Ashdown Ingram 2/3 Mc Donald Street, Osborne Park PH: 9444 8644
(they are on the Innaloo side of the freeway - behind the Brake shop)

its was either $25 or $30 per can... may pay to call first as i dont think they have a huge stock.

[Sal]

Awesome stuff mate, I was only thinking about this yesterday!

[Desmo]

Um, Oops.

[Mex]

I play music as well, and it just mutes the music when giving directions

Music and Directions - i like....


Also in my seacrh i found this...

Ryda GPS Navigation - Garmin Rino 520 Handheld 2-Way Radio with GPS

The 530HCx navigator/2-way radio is compact and lightweight, with a 10.3-ounce housing that won't slow you down on the trail.
Like the rest of the Rino series, the Rino 530HCx offers a unique Position Reporting feature, which lets you send your exact location to other Rino users in your group so that everyone can see your position on the map page.

Sounds like it would be great for touring in a group - does turn by turn directions also..

[goof]

It does have one feature that is really handy in that it dims and brightens the screen automatically at dusk/dawn (not sure if others have that).

I think that's a software feature. On mine iGO does it, but TomTom doesn't.

also another option could be get a phone with built in gps and a bluetooth head set - leave phone in pocket/water proof bag - follow directions in ear piece...

I used to do that too. 1st time I did I forgot about it then the first directions it gave freaked me out (I don't usually use headphones when riding). The last thing I expected was to head someone else talking inside my lid.

[mark_r]

I think that's a software feature. On mine iGO does it, but TomTom doesn't.

Latest version (7.54) of the TomTom software on my TomTom Rider has the option for this - dims at just after 5pm and lightens at about 7am.

[Mex]

Um, Oops.

???

I used to do that too. 1st time I did I forgot about it then the first directions it gave freaked me out (I don't usually use headphones when riding). The last thing I expected was to head someone else talking inside my lid.

Ha ha... brilliant

[Nero Diablo]

UBD $26
Backpack $50

[Insane]

All depends on whether you need to know where your want to go or where you have recently been..


But either way the Arbitrary $300 for anything motorcycle seems to work here also..

Tom Tom = where am I going .
Trackstick = where have I been.