Garmin - need advise

[usranger74]

My Daughter gave me a Garmin NUIV 550 for Xmas.

I was not expecting it nor had I even been thinking about add one to my Nomad.

But, now I have one and I have two questions.

1. I am looking for advise on a mounting bracket.

2. I am also looking for advise on just what sort of "cigarette" lighter devise (electrical plug in) I need to install so I can use the Garmin.

I am looking fdw to seeing just how much my spedo is off http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[taranis]

RAM mounts will have any kind of bracket you're looking for to mount your GPS:
http://www.ram-mount.com/Products/MotorcycleMounts/tabid/128/Default.aspx

As for power, your best bet is a Marine grade 12v plug kit from a Marine store or even Wal-Mart. these have a lid on the top to keep moisture out as the wiring at the bottom is sealed.

There are motorcycle-specific 12 plugs out there if you're willing to pay for them. (Google is your friend!) At $12 for my 12v though, I couldn't justify the extra expense (function over form, what can I say.. heh).

Hope that helps.

[cactusjack]

I have the RAM mount for my Nuvi 550. As far as power goes, you could buy the cigarette lighter adapter and mount a 12v outlet on your bike or you could buy the Garmin hard wire adapter and power it from one of your accessory connections in the headlight bucket, which is how I did it.

[Netnorske]

Bill,
I have the Zumo 550 with a Ram Mount. It is hard wired to a keyed power source....so it comes on when I start the bike and goes off when the bike gets turned off. Either way (12v plug or hard-wired) will work...but I really like the convenience of the hard-wired set-up. Also, that leaves my 12v Powerlet plug free for my Gerbing heated gear! You will come to LUV that GPS.....especially with all the long haul trips you do!

[nomadtom69]

you can find the ram mounts on ebay fairly cheap and the hard wire kit is also on there I got the one for my old BMW the trick is make sure you put it on a key shut off on acct my brother in law left mine on for a week when we traded bikes (he has a 1600 thats why I now have a 1600 nomad) for bike week it will run the battery down if you just hook it to the battery . The gps will keep charging off the battery .

[ringadingh]

I find that Ebay is a good place to source out stuff like that. Most times their pricing is the best youll find.

[nomadtom69]

Found a ebay page you might be interested in

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=motorcycle&_kw=garmin&_kw=zumo&_kw=550

[nomadtom69]

My Boo Boo I saw 550 thought it was a Zumo here is the Nuvi ebay site
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=garmin+nuvi+550+motorcycle+mounts&_sacat=0&_odkw=motorcycle+garmin+nuvi+550&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

[ponch]

Here is a great source for power products for bikes: http://www.powerlet.com/

[rickyboy]

I just picked up my Zumo 220 from http://www.thegpsstore.com/ and it came with both the hard wire and the 12 V. plug in. I plan on doing the hard wire project, along with some other elec. once we get over this Christmas/New Years.

[schoeney]

Ram mount and 12v plug here. But hard wiring to keyed source is better as Kris stated. Also less chance you will leave it plugged in to have the battery drain.

[ballast]

http://www.expressmounts.com/
This where I have gotten all my Ram mounts. Cheaper than the Ram mounts site.

Don't forget about the Mount Guys.... a number of options for less!
http://www.mountguys.com/category_s/2288.htm

[hammer]

You could also try GPS City. I highly recommend the Ram monts and,like Chris I used a hard wire setup. It does not hurt to try Amazon.com too. They have great deals and often free shipping.

[usranger74]

Thank you for the input and advise. I am going to go with a hard wire for the Garmin and also add a power outlet.

Txs

[kpmhspirit]

My Daughter gave me a Garmin NUIV 550 for Xmas.

I was not expecting it nor had I even been thinking about add one to my Nomad.

But, now I have one and I have two questions.

1. I am looking for advise on a mounting bracket.

2. I am also looking for advise on just what sort of "cigarette" lighter devise (electrical plug in) I need to install so I can use the Garmin.

I am looking fdw to seeing just how much my spedo is off http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

I have the same unit and it's a great one other than the zumos for 3 times the price. It's also water proof which is why I got it plus you can design your own routes on the pc and load them into the unit. Attached (I hope!) is the list of items I got from gpscity.com to mount it. I did not use the cigarette lighter plug. I hard wired it into the headlight accessory plug. It means your unit is always on but I NEVER leave the thing on the bike anyway. Too easy to steal.

Pete

[usranger74]

Txs Pete - very helpful and nice looking Nomad.

[kpmhspirit]

Txs Pete - very helpful and nice looking Nomad.

Thanks, Ranger. I should mention that the only PITA with the mount is that the cable can't be connected to the unit until it's mounted in the cradle. Kind of difficult sometimes for old geezers like me with bad eyesight... ;).

Pete

[dandantmm]

www.cyclegadgets.com (http://www.cyclegadgets.com) has RAM mounts. They may not be the cheapest place to buy but they are based in Eureka Springs AR and are extremely nice and helpful. I stop by their place every time I'm in ES and they let you browse through the warehouse to buy things. They have a crap load of RAM stuff.

[radco]

IMO RAM mounts are the way to go. Use the short model so any shaking is small.The longer the mounting bar the more vibration it will show....I have my Old 3720 Hard wired HOT 24/7 so it doesn't have to reboot after each stop.The amp draw is very small so a basic cig. lighter is fine,, Also make sure the cig. lighter is fused for added protection

[usranger74]

IMO RAM mounts are the way to go. Use the short model so any shaking is small.The longer the mounting bar the more vibration it will show....I have my Old 3720 Hard wired HOT 24/7 so it doesn't have to reboot after each stop.The amp draw is very small so a basic cig. lighter is fine,, Also make sure the cig. lighter is fused for added protection

Txs for the suggestion about using the "short" model. I did not realize they made one until I saw your suggestion.

[radco]

IMO RAM mounts are the way to go. Use the short model so any shaking is small.The longer the mounting bar the more vibration it will show....I have my Old 3720 Hard wired HOT 24/7 so it doesn't have to reboot after each stop.The amp draw is very small so a basic cig. lighter is fine,, Also make sure the cig. lighter is fused for added protection

Txs for the suggestion about using the "short" model. I did not realize they made one until I saw your suggestion.
Your welcome, The stems come in severallenght's,from what I was told the longer they are the more vibration will show up on the screen

[ponch]

How about this:
http://www.eurotechmotorsports.com/forms/MyBike.cfm?do=detail&q_part=RAM-B-149Z-GUN1&q_StartRow=41

[wanderer]

IMO RAM mounts are the way to go. Use the short model so any shaking is small.The longer the mounting bar the more vibration it will show....I have my Old 3720 Hard wired HOT 24/7 so it doesn't have to reboot after each stop.The amp draw is very small so a basic cig. lighter is fine,, Also make sure the cig. lighter is fused for added protection

Txs for the suggestion about using the "short" model. I did not realize they made one until I saw your suggestion.

I used the 5" extension with my Garmin Zumo 450 for thousands of miles and didn't have a problem with vibration on my '07 Nomad.

[cactusjack]

Txs for the suggestion about using the "short" model. I did not realize they made one until I saw your suggestion.

I used the 5" extension with my Garmin Zumo 450 for thousands of miles and didn't have a problem with vibration on my '07 Nomad.

Not to hijack but you no longer have a Nomad, Gene?

[petenomad]

Gene showed up for our Talimena fall rally riding that Goldwing in his signature.

[Top Cat]

How about this:
http://www.eurotechmotorsports.com/forms/MyBike.cfm?do=detail&q_part=RAM-B-149Z-GUN1&q_StartRow=41

That's the weiredest lookin' video camera I have ever seen.

[ponch]

How about this:
http://www.eurotechmotorsports.com/forms/MyBike.cfm?do=detail&q_part=RAM-B-149Z-GUN1&q_StartRow=41

That's the weiredest lookin' video camera I have ever seen.

Don't look into the lens.

[dandolfn]

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3407/gps640.jpg

Here's my RAM mount (it's a Garmin 260W).

I placed the cigarette lighter on the back of the windshield.

[usranger74]

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3407/gps640.jpg

Here's my RAM mount (it's a Garmin 260W).

I placed the cigarette lighter on the back of the windshield.

Looks nice

What length is your RAM?

What sort of bracket did you use to mount the cig lighter?

[dandolfn]

Sorry about taking so long to answer.

I don't know what the exact length is. It attaches to a ball that is mounted to the handlebars.

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/....5/De fault.aspx (http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045066045049051056045071065050053085/Default.aspx)

The cigarette lighter was a kit that I bought at Walmart. I just screwed it in place with one of the screws for the windshield.

[cactusjack]

Here you go. Ram Mounts ha a motorcycle wizard, you enter the device you want to mount and the motorcycle info and it tells you what you need. Here is thekit for the Nuvi 550 on a 1600 Nomad.

http://www.ram-mount.com/SearchResults/tabid/38/searchBy/WizardResults/criteria/ignored/Default.aspx