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windshield mounted GPS

ch47dmechanic said:
Not to hijack, but I'd love to have a GPS for my bike. What do you recommend? Is there something small enough that could fit in my tank bag that I can use headphones to hear? Or something small enough to fit on my small windshield that I can rest assure isn't going to fall off? Even the GPS on my car windshield still comes loose every once and a while, but at least I can catch it there. :laughing
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Zummo 550 is awesome.
 
I've got what's probably ½ way between a Zumo 550 and the Street Pilot...Garmin 276c. Water proof, no touch screen, been out for some time so the cost should be down from the Zumo. Just have to shop for one. Waterproof down to 1 meter (for 30 minutes), has it's own battery, can be wired into the electrical system for power and recharging the battery.

There's a lot of GPS's out there. GadgetGuy usually some means of mounting them to the bars or master cylinder cover.

But, if you do go for the Zumo 550, despite the cost, you'll be all set.
 
ch47dmechanic said:
Not to hijack, but I'd love to have a GPS for my bike. What do you recommend?
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A 2008 Goldwing with on-board Nav system (comes with heated grips and heated seats too!) :rofl

ch47dmechanic said:
Or something small enough to fit on my small windshield that I can rest assure isn't going to fall off? Even the GPS on my car windshield still comes loose every once and a while, but at least I can catch it there.
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Okay, seriously. I do have a Navman F20 (pictured below), which is a nice device that you probably can't even find anymore. I got it for like $99 on Buy.com about 18 months ago and I used the hell out of it for about 6 months. I have found, no matter where I am, it does not always immediately aquire sattelites on start up and I often have to restart it 2 or 3 times and then it locks a signal fine.. a bit of a PITA. Anyhow, I have never wanted to pay the $$$ for a Garmin or other high-end (cutting edge) GPS. I don't mind having a slightloy outdated POI directory. I am using it to get from A to B, not to find places by type or whatever.

navmanf20-thumb.jpg


My Navman has a really nice suction mount, but I never trusted it. I found a good solid plastic clip that I could attach to my handlebars, then I got some fine nylon cord, really strong stuff. I put a spring steel clip on the cord and clipped it to a tether slot in the back of the Navman, then I tied the cord to the clip so it was just long enough to reach the handlebar at the closest point. This tether would prevent the GPS from taking a fatal dive if the suction mount failed. I also added a tether from the mount to the device, so I would not lose the mount.

I have seen some nice solid (rigid and shock-absorbing) mounts on line that are speciafically for motorcycles. I guess you could spend a small fortune on that stuff. Mine cost me nothing and while it may not be as cool as a RAM-mount or some other set up from CycoActive, it gets the job done! Some devices don't have a tether slot on the back or side, but often you can get adequate space to attach a tether in the gap where the mount attaches. You may need to modify (shave down) one portion of the mount pins to "share" the slot. YMMV.
 
I thought the legislature was changing that law to permit windshield mounts?

Also, there are dashboard "pads" for sale that provide a flat spot on which to adhere the suction cup - thereby not mounting to windshield while still placing it in a similar position.
 
Also, I just looked and it appears Navman is up to the "S-series" now. The "F-series" was probably obsolete when I bought it, but it gets the job done. I still use it on occasion, particualrly when travelling.

PorradaVFR said:
I thought the legislature was changing that law to permit windshield mounts?

Also, there are dashboard "pads" for sale that provide a flat spot on which to adhere the suction cup - thereby not mounting to windshield while still placing it in a similar position.
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Read the current code section:
26708(a)(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.

It does not matter if it is on the dash.. if it ibstructs your view, it is illegal.

Again, for some people, it may be no problem and that may well be the best place for them as it would not obstruct their clear view and would merely block the view of the hood and not anything beyond the hood. For others, the top 6" would be better as it is legal to block-out that area (per the code) and having it mounted within the top 6" would do no more harm than putting down your sun visor.

I don't know of any pending changes for windshield mounts. Even so, I don't see them making a law that would make it legal to obstruct your view. It may clarify/specify the areas where they could be mounted, but I just don't see them making this legal in CA:
 

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I mount mine on the lower left corner of the windshield, as far down and as far left as I can get it. From where I sit, it's only obstructing my view of the dash.
 
mikhail said:
I mount mine on the lower left corner of the windshield, as far down and as far left as I can get it. From where I sit, it's only obstructing my view of the dash.
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Exactly. You should put it in a convenient place where you can reference it, but it should not be in a place where it would block your view. For example, look at the picture below. This is from the Navman website. Now, I don't know what this driver's view is per se.. the placement shown may well only block the view of his dash/vent and hood, but why not move it down 2 more inches and put it right down on the dash?

Does everyone need to drive/ride like they have a HUD (head's up display) system?
 

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PorradaVFR said:
I thought the legislature was changing that law to permit windshield mounts?

Also, there are dashboard "pads" for sale that provide a flat spot on which to adhere the suction cup - thereby not mounting to windshield while still placing it in a similar position.
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they make grippy bean bags you can set on the dash to hold your gps, garmin makes it for most of their current models. a lot of people prefer them to the suction cups.
 
MTechR1 said:
I think they are making it legal

I read THIS today.
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Appears to me that they're making it more complicated than necessary. There's already an exemption (as I understand it) that allows you to view it. Otherwise, as long as it's not obstructing your view (and I'll bet they're not allowing the GPS to obstruct your view with this new law)...
27602. (a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle if a television
receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen, or any
other, similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or
video signal that produces entertainment or business applications,
is operating and is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward
of the back of the driver's seat, or is operating and visible to the
driver while driving the motor vehicle.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to the following equipment when
installed in a vehicle:
(1) A vehicle information display.
(2) A global positioning display.
(3) A mapping display.
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...unless there's a clear definition of "installed" somewhere else that doesn't allow for add-on (like suction cups or velcro).
 
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