How to change a car sat nav on the bike??

[StreetFlatTwin]

Right after looking at my options for bike sat navs (and laughing at the prices!!) I have decided to get a waterproof GPS bag (Hein Gerrick!!) for my car sat nav and use that instead!

The only thing I am worried about is powering it from the bike without blowing it up should (no sorry WHEN!) it rains.

Can I use the standard car cigarette charger if a buy a din/car adaptor and put it under the seat? What will it do if it gets wet? Short the sat nav fuse? Kill the bike??

Ideas and your thoughts....I don't do electrics!!!!

[slparry]

I got a bag from HG, and fitted a ram mount ball to it so that it's well mounted.

My Nokia N8 fits in it and provides sat nav, FM radio and MP3 player

Although the phone has BT the sat nav out put doesn't route over it, but that was solved by getting a BT dongle with a 3.5 mm jack. That now routes all the sound over it and means I can use it on my bikes that don't have the intercom system fitted



I picked up a battery pack thing off ebay that has the same cable as the phone so can provide 5 times the battery power to the phones original as I found when I first used it for the trip to minehead it worked perfectly but ran out of battery just as we were looking for the hotel.

Only thing I'd say is that in heavy rain it does get "misty" inside I guess cos it's warmer than the outside.

[StreetFlatTwin]

Jesus is that the hein Gerrick bag you have in the photo?? It's HUGE!!! The joys of looking online you don't realise the size it is!! I could get my iphone and my sat nav in there.....I might have to rethink the what sat nav bag to buy!!.....hmmmm actually thats not a bag idea!!

My sat nav doesn't have BT so no biggie it's just want to keep the sat nav on while I'm riding without worrying about it dying just as I need it!

I like your sat nav on the RT(?) looks so like its meant to be there!!

[Herb]

I bought an adaptor to convert the DIN connector below the seat into a cigarette lighter socket on a short fly lead which sits in the tool tray under the seat. Cost about a fiver I think.

I then use a standard mini USB charger which I route under the panels so it does out next to the bars. Works fine and bike not blown up yet.

For the sat nav, I use an old mio PDA with Tom Tom cable tied to the yoke. If it rains I put it in a freezer bag. It looks professional until the freezer bag comes out. Haha.

[Nookiebear]

I use my car sat nav with a normal cigarette lighter figment, and put my tomtom in an Aquabox. It's hard plastic with a clear rubberized screen, it's big enuff to fit the sat nav and my phone. I have had no problems with any leaks and it measures approx 15cm long, 10cm wide, 8cm deep.

[slparry]

Jesus is that the hein Gerrick bag you have in the photo?? It's HUGE!!! The joys of looking online you don't realise the size it is!! I could get my iphone and my sat nav in there.....I might have to rethink the what sat nav bag to buy!!.....hmmmm actually thats not a bag idea!!

My sat nav doesn't have BT so no biggie it's just want to keep the sat nav on while I'm riding without worrying about it dying just as I need it!

I like your sat nav on the RT(?) looks so like its meant to be there!!

It is a big bag, is there a 3.5mm jack on the sat nav you have? If so you can add a BT dongle like the one I use

[Blackal]

Only two points:

A lot of the car sat-navs only use a mini-USB socket for charging - which can be a bit prone to damage, I think - with an un-supported cable/plug.

I'd be tempted to make a fitted hi-density foam surround for it (cut-out a la camera case) and fit it in a weather-proof bag (like Steve has).

The downside to those bags - is they steam up like crazy with the slightest rain.

On most bikes - barring a downpour......... you'd get away with just mounting the sat-nav under the screen. On a bad day - wrap it in clingfilm.

Al

[ned1]

On most bikes - barring a downpour......... you'd get away with just mounting the sat-nav under the screen. On a bad day - wrap it in clingfilm.

Al

I agree with Mr Blackal
I have a car tom tom 720 which I use on my bike fixed to a ram mount on the head stock, rain and even a downpour didn't seem a problem with only drops getting on the screen and it's still working

Ned

[StreetFlatTwin]

My sat nav is soooo old it has no 3.5mm jack anywhere on it

I'm planning a trip to nurburgring in April so. Want sat nav and don't want the hassle of having to cover it up when it rains....I'd rather get a bag and the just keep riding

My sat nav uses a "special" garmin 18 pin connector... So I struggled to get a spare-I found one from the USA and I have ordered a 90 degree DIN connector from Nippy Normans, which I plan to route underneath the panels to the dash area!

Thus my concern about blowing the bike up!!!!

[slparry]

http://shop.lucmos.com/mappy-mini-340-m ... 4536-p.asp

this one's not too bad for a bike unit

[Boxered]

Ver ver cheap!
Anybody actually bought one?

Steve

[Blackal]

I've mentioned it before, and I'm not sure if it is still the caae, but I bought Garmin UK and Ireland mapping for my iphone (£38 ) a year or so ago.

Two things became apparent:

1) Because it was on my itunes- it automatically installs on my ipad too.
A good way of getting a large-screen Satnav for a motorhome or van, or for people to use from the passenger seat.

2) When I checked it in Brittany last summer - I discovered that it included all the mapping and route-capabilities for the whole of Europe!

So- a bit of a bargain, I thought

Al

[dave1100s]

Before I got the GS, I used the Givi S850 sat nav case on the 11s with good effect. Not too big and the velcro straps secured to the top yoke very well.

[GRAgusta]

I've mentioned it before, and I'm not sure if it is still the caae, but I bought Garmin UK and Ireland mapping for my iphone (£38 ) a year or so ago.

Two things became apparent:

1) Because it was on my itunes- it automatically installs on my ipad too.
A good way of getting a large-screen Satnav for a motorhome or van, or for people to use from the passenger seat.

2) When I checked it in Brittany last summer - I discovered that it included all the mapping and route-capabilities for the whole of Europe!

So- a bit of a bargain, I thought

Al

Al

Sounds like a good buy. but be careful with "the whole of Europe". My ZUMO has maps for the whole of Europe. But last summer we discovered that the whole of Europe did not include the Czech Republic.

[R-man]

I have one of these on my S - http://bit.ly/Y9WssE and its pretty good at keeping the weather out. Colin at Ridermount offers several mounting options and good advice 01473 823351 and I now have a mini video camera from him too.

My power supply is a temporary thing (OK its been there 2 yrs but still works) I cobbled together from stuff I had lying around, and sealed in a length of bicycle inner tube...