jonesy
5th June 2008, 08:26 AM
Hi,
there's been a few people asking about RAM mounts recently and I thought I would share my setup and some thoughts.
Once you get over the fact that your nice new expensive toy is going to be strapped to a trailbike and lets face it, stacking your bike when offroad is a given...it's going to happen sooner or later..be it a big off or your bike just lays over for a rest on some tight technical single trail, you can forget about the gps and concentrate on riding.
The only way (in my opinion) is to use a RAM mount. My setup uses the standard handle bar U bolt with the ball attachment and this is permanently mounted to my handle bars. I then have the riser extension (i think there is a smaller one and also a longer one as well to allow more adjustment). This is then connected to the RAM mount Cradle for the 60 series.
If you havn't seen a ram mount in the flesh before these things are very well made. The ball joint has a rubber coating which helps it grip when tightened and also to reduce the vibration to the cradle. The extension riser has a screw handle for adjustment or removal. The Cradle has a ball extension as well as the handle bar mount and this combination allows for a lot of adjustment for getting your gps into the correct position.
Word of warning - keep your gps and the top part of your cradle clear of any cables (especially the front brake cable) as this can turn nasty real quick.
I also use my 60cx in the car using a RAM Mount suction cup (pic below) which also has the ball end. The Cradle and GPS can be moved from one to the other easily. It takes about 5 seconds to remove the gps/cradle and riser extension.
For those who want to power the GPS from the bike battery then you'll need the Garmin Bare Wire Cable (make sure you get the one with the fuse) and you can direct wire this to the battery. The connector plug will seal at the back of the gps so it's still water tight. Don't even think about trying to power the gps from the USB. The part number for the bare wire cable I think is an LE902 or LE45, one has the fuse and one does not, I can't remember. I just recently got a new bike and forgot to take the cable off my old one before I sold it, so I'm going to have to get a new one :oops
If you do manage to have a good stack with the RAM mount, it will flex and twist at the ball joint (no matter how tight you have it) which helps to absorb some of the impact. It's a good idea also to have a screen protector on the GPS as well.
Hope there is some usefull information in there.
Jonesy
http://www.lakecomm.com.au/images/LE45.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1128.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1129.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1130.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1132.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1133.jpg
there's been a few people asking about RAM mounts recently and I thought I would share my setup and some thoughts.
Once you get over the fact that your nice new expensive toy is going to be strapped to a trailbike and lets face it, stacking your bike when offroad is a given...it's going to happen sooner or later..be it a big off or your bike just lays over for a rest on some tight technical single trail, you can forget about the gps and concentrate on riding.
The only way (in my opinion) is to use a RAM mount. My setup uses the standard handle bar U bolt with the ball attachment and this is permanently mounted to my handle bars. I then have the riser extension (i think there is a smaller one and also a longer one as well to allow more adjustment). This is then connected to the RAM mount Cradle for the 60 series.
If you havn't seen a ram mount in the flesh before these things are very well made. The ball joint has a rubber coating which helps it grip when tightened and also to reduce the vibration to the cradle. The extension riser has a screw handle for adjustment or removal. The Cradle has a ball extension as well as the handle bar mount and this combination allows for a lot of adjustment for getting your gps into the correct position.
Word of warning - keep your gps and the top part of your cradle clear of any cables (especially the front brake cable) as this can turn nasty real quick.
I also use my 60cx in the car using a RAM Mount suction cup (pic below) which also has the ball end. The Cradle and GPS can be moved from one to the other easily. It takes about 5 seconds to remove the gps/cradle and riser extension.
For those who want to power the GPS from the bike battery then you'll need the Garmin Bare Wire Cable (make sure you get the one with the fuse) and you can direct wire this to the battery. The connector plug will seal at the back of the gps so it's still water tight. Don't even think about trying to power the gps from the USB. The part number for the bare wire cable I think is an LE902 or LE45, one has the fuse and one does not, I can't remember. I just recently got a new bike and forgot to take the cable off my old one before I sold it, so I'm going to have to get a new one :oops
If you do manage to have a good stack with the RAM mount, it will flex and twist at the ball joint (no matter how tight you have it) which helps to absorb some of the impact. It's a good idea also to have a screen protector on the GPS as well.
Hope there is some usefull information in there.
Jonesy
http://www.lakecomm.com.au/images/LE45.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1128.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1129.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1130.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1132.jpg
http://www.ssute.com/ebay/IMG_1133.jpg