GPS Mounting Options

[RicoChet]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to mount my Garmin Nuvi on the bar on the windshield. How do you guys mount your GPS's on that bar? What kind of mounting unit does it take?

What other Mounting options are there for the Tenere other then on the handlebar directly?

 

[JRE]

IMO, forget the bar. It's too shaky making the GPS unreadable much of the time. Several people have bolstered the support for the windscreen assembly so there's that if you really want it mounted there - there's a thread about it here somewhere.
I use a RAM mount bolt that replaces one of the bolts on the bar clamp. I would link you to the right one but I don't remember which one it is offhand - again, there have been discussions about it so you can find it on here somewhere (I'm a lot of help, eh?). it's similar to this - http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-B-237U make sure you get the one that fits the threads for the bike.
RAM also makes a "claw" mount that gives you a little more flexibility in placement
http://www.rammount.com/products/tough-claw

 

[RCinNC]

I had a Nuvi 2455 mounted to my unsupported accessory bar for at least 10,000 miles and never found that it vibrated too much to be usable. The mount I use is the standard RAM cradle and double socket short armature for the GPS, combined with a homemade accessory rail mount made from hardware store aluminum and a threaded ball from McMaster Carr. Once I added a homemade mount for my Droid Turbo to the accessory rail, I added those aluminum support brackets that were made by a member on this forum (Propsoto). The thread for those brackets is here: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=19196.0

With those brackets added, the accessory bar is solid as a rock, and easily carries the load of both my GPS and phone without any vibration.

The photo showing the construction of the homemade ball mount is actually a photo of a ball mount I made for my handlebars. The concept is the same for the accessory bar, except I used only a single small U-bolt instead of two larger ones. The ball mounts are easy to make using basic hand tools (hacksaw, power drill, and files/sandpaper).

I like my GPS mounted to the rail. I don't have to move my whole head and take my eyes off the road to look at it while I'm riding, I just have to move my eyes down a bit so it's in my field of vision.

If you don't want to make your own ball mount, RAM makes a single ball mount that should work. I needed to make three of them, so it was cheaper for me to make them (I have lots of scrap aluminum, and the threaded balls were only a buck). Here is the ball mount from RAM: https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-U-Bolt-1-Inch-Inches-Diameter/dp/B002AQV51A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479918816&sr=8-1&keywords=RAM+handlebar+ball+mount

 

[RCinNC]

Just for reference, this is a photo of a cell phone mount that I made for the S10, that uses the double U-bolt ball mount shown in the photo in my previous post. It's OK for a phone; it makes it easy to change songs while you're riding (you don't need to look in order to swipe the screen). I didn't like that position for a GPS though. I had to extend the mount as high as it would go to get it near my field of vision, and then it tended to block the instrument cluster.

 

[Al-n2it]

Made this from a small plate of aluminum and these clamps from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Billet-Specialties-65510-Line-Clamp/dp/B002RUYRUU

Had to file a little bit off the two mating surfaces so it would clamp tight enough but after that it's good, hasn't moved at all.

i got the clamp info from a post somewhere on here, not my find.

 

[SilverBullet]

I had a Nuvi 2455 mounted to my unsupported accessory bar for at least 10,000 miles and never found that it vibrated too much to be usable...

Same here. Nuvi 2555 RAM mounted to my Madstad bar. No vibration issues for 60,000 miles even while riding dirt and gravel roads.

Note these Nuvi's are small and lightweight. Someone using a large and heavier Zumo might have entirely different results.

_

 

[RCinNC]

No doubt.

 

[Kurgan]

Made my own, which I prefer over other solutions offered. Far less expensive, rubber damped, no issues with vibration, etc.

 

[pnelson]

I prefer having the GPS closer to the grips so it can easily be reached while riding. This is easy to do with a RAM mount designed for NUVIs . I have a Nuvi on the left side and a Garmin 78 on the right side. Amazon link >> http://amzn.to/2fsT918

 

[rider33]

I prefer having the GPS closer to the grips so it can easily be reached while riding. This is easy to do with a RAM mount designed for NUVIs . I have a Nuvi on the left side and a Garmin 78 on the right side. Amazon link >> http://amzn.to/2fsT918

I have the TomTom on the left side for the same reason. I'm about to switch over to Google Maps on the iPhone tho, it's the software I use in the car and it just seems easier to use. Interphone makes a bombproof case complete with waterproof charging plug area which, for the iPhone 6s version anyway, is not that big:

'not quite sure where I'm going to mount that on yet tho I'll try to remember to post a pic once I do.

 

[hobdayd]

I 3D printed a bracket to attach my Samsung S5.

The S5 clips into a $2 holder off ebay that is for clipping a phone to the air vents. It bolts to my 3D printed bracket. It is very secure and neat.

I run CoPilot on the S5 which I find very good. The S5 is supposed to be splash proof - but I don't care - I am due a new phone anyway.

The reason I use my phone with CoPilot is because my Garmin would not talk to my new Sena S20 coms. Be careful if you buy a Sena S20 - it only talks to a few satnav's.

I also like not having 2 devices - a phone and a GPS.

When it gets really wet I put my phone in my pocket and still get voice directions which are very good.

 

[JRE]

I prefer having the GPS closer to the grips so it can easily be reached while riding. This is easy to do with a RAM mount designed for NUVIs . I have a Nuvi on the left side and a Garmin 78 on the right side. Amazon link >> http://amzn.to/2fsT918

Honestly their "claw" mount I linked above works better in most cases simply because you can adjust/move it without tools. I sometimes adjust the position of mine when I use a certain large tank bag that tends to get in the way but it's not the optimal position for me so I move it back when not using it.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Made my own, which I prefer over other solutions offered. Far less expensive, rubber damped, no issues with vibration, etc.

I like how you thought outside the box to mount yours. Most people won't think to simply modify what they have.

 

[Juan]

Made my own, which I prefer over other solutions offered. Far less expensive, rubber damped, no issues with vibration, etc.

Good mounting option. Does the bolt attach only to plastic, or is there metal under the plastic cover?

 

[Arkyrider]

I have my Garmin mounted with the Ram Tough Claw. Very little, if any, vibration and it has never came loose.

 

[Kurgan]

Good mounting option. Does the bolt attach only to plastic, or is there metal under the plastic cover?

Stock, it's just the reinforced plastic headlight frame, where that push-pin fastener is located. I attached an extruded threaded steel nut and backing plate so it's a rock solid assembly.

 

[Dogdaze]

Stock, it's just the reinforced plastic headlight frame, where that push-pin fastener is located. I attached an extruded threaded steel nut and backing plate so it's a rock solid assembly.

I did look at that as an option before, but read on here that part breaks easily so did not want to stress it, and my old S10 developed a hairline crack in it, when the little deflector flapped at high speed........ just be aware.

 

[JRE]

Stock, it's just the reinforced plastic headlight frame, where that push-pin fastener is located. I attached an extruded threaded steel nut and backing plate so it's a rock solid assembly.

Howdy neighbor!
I think on the gen 2's, that location would intersect with the bar but great idea!

 

[MIKE R]

I used a SW Motech bracket.

As I wanted to use my Givi Air Flow screen on my 2nd Gen S10 I removed the original screen bracketry although it should work with that in place. I do not know if the bar would obscure the sat nav

I've attached a picture but since that was taken I have bent the bracket back slightly so that the sat nav does not obscure the indicator lights on top of the consol.

Mike

 

[rider33]

mounted, Interphone case with iPhone 6s running Senic software. I haven't had a chance to use it much (too cold) but it looks like it is going to work quite well: