GPS Mount

[Yakaru]

With the amount of travel I do a GPS is absolutely indispensable and I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions on a solid GPS mounting solution for a 2012 250?
For reference I have a Nuvi 3790.

[Alex]

Check out some of the similar threads now listed at the bottom of the page. Can't go wrong with a RAM mount:

http://www.rammount.com/NewProducts/...2/Default.aspx

[Yakaru]

Thanks Alex, I was able to pull up RAM but have a strange issue -- it recommends I base it on the 'RAM-B-346U' when I say I have a Ninja 250R but when I go to the product page it doesn't list the 250 as a compatible bike for that mount o.O

[Alex]

You can use any type mount that works. The one you listed is for the top of particular brake reservoirs, and no, that one won't fit the 250. They are like erector sets, you just need a mount with a ball attached to the bike, choose the size arm you want, then a ball mount on the back of whatever particular gps mount you get.

My base mount is just a u-mount around the left clip-on. Here's the kit that comes with that u-mount base, an arm, and the gps mount all in one:

RAM-B-149Z-GA39U

[cuong-nutz]

Only if you have a Sport Touring windscreen: http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15442

You can mod to accommodate to any other windscreen.

[Momaru]

I wound up using a RAM-B-349 as my mounting base, which has a M10x1.25 mounting stud on it, to thread into the hole on either lever (usually covered with a black plastic cap).

[siryan]

I know im cheap but this works really well for me

http://www.amazon.com/ChargerCity-Mo...unt+motorcycle

I also have a sportster which likes to vibrate a lot and it has been solid for me have used it in highway speed and no issues.

[key3thermal]

This is what you need:

https://www.gpscity.ca/ram-mount-zin...m-b-231zu.html

https://www.gpscity.ca/ram-mount-med...am-b-201u.html

http://www.gpscity.ca/ram-mount-garm...hol-ga39u.html

https://www.gpscity.ca/ram-mount-dia...am-b-238u.html

[Alex]

Right; but they bundle those 4 into this kit and save the buyer a couple bucks:

RAM-B-149Z-GA39U

[10TILL3]

I just bought my wife a mount for her 250r. The biggest problem i was having was finding one that had a skinny mounting ring since there isn't much room on the handlebars. It took some serious searching, prolly cause of the frugalness, but nonetheless, get on ebay and look up a seller gpslot. i cant find where the two seperate pieces were combined into one but heres the link for both. http://www.ebay.com/itm/IG-B05-MOTOR...item3cc98ff795

the piece that attaches to it is http://www.ebay.com/itm/GN032-WPCS-2...item4d04715594

i just used those links as references to see what they look like. they have one where both pieces come together with another connector piece. just ask them and they should be pretty good about their communication. i bought the kit for 13.00 with free shipping believe it or not. the case fits our garmin nuvi with a 4.3" screen. it's also waterproof and has a slot for the cable hookup on the bottom. most importantly it'll perfectly fit on your bar without compromising your control locations

[Navigator]

Here's my homebrew version for a Nuvi 780.









Power is supplied via the USB connector. I followed the mod in the link below and it works. I also needed to install a cigarette lighter charger to convert 12v to 5v for the USB.
http://pinoutsguide.com/GPS/garmin_n...r_pinout.shtml

[Alex]

[ai4px]

I used a http://www.motomount.net/products/nuvi-ball-rod/ to mount my nuvi. I tapped a 1/4-20 hole in the handle bar clamp.

[Boom King]

For those who have mounted a setup using the side mirror bolt, how has it been holding up? I like the location but my concern is that given it's mounted onto plastic that over time the plastic flexes and gets damaged meaning a loose bolt as well.

I got this one, it works well for me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kawasaki-Nin...d9ea48&vxp=mtr

I bought the ram finger mount and attached that to it, holds my cell well and I run a cord from my tank bag to charge it.

RAM sucks to deal with though, one of the rubber covers for the finger mounts came off and I emailed them to see if they had any replacements, they wanted me to email them my credit card info so they could charge me $2 to ship them.

[Dano]

I use a RAM Mount and like it a lot, it has held well for over 3 years

[beta7]

Here is what I have

Garmin Nuvi RAM mount

Ball mount for the RAM Mount

the First two URL's are specific to my GPS I sugest you buy whichever work for you, the gps that I am running is very thin however its quite big in length and height (specs: 4.8"W x 2.9"H x .35"D (12.2 x 7.5 x .89 cm) ) I wouldint recomend one bigger as the one I have now blocks off 20% from the top of the signal and neutral lights.

NOTE*
- I have the stock windshield on mine and the fit is snug

- No modification to your bike is required, only the removal of one screw which you then put back.

- the 1.75" arm is the best distance that worked for me to center the GPS ram mount

- the ABS Plastic arms were purchased in plastic rather than aluminum to save on weight, vibration and most importantly the bikes plastics, over time plastic on plastic vibrations no matter how little will cause wear. So try to avoid having the knobs from the abs arms touch anything. You can cover the abs arm knobs with felt like I did to avoid any major damage from vibration if you end up being unable to keep them apart from touching something.

Vibration:

Plastic on Plastic contact with little vibration will over time cause wear, so I would suggest putting the arms in such a way as to prevent them touching the windscreen as that's where mine had this issue (the vibration damage was very minimal at best 1-2 MM of wear in a 1mm Radius from the top part of a twist knob.

With that said the unit once in place securely I had no visible signs of vibration.

Something I considered doing if the GPS unit would vibrate or jump on me was to put some Velcro on the top side of the dash and some on the bottom side of the ram mount so that it will stay in place even more than it is. Thankfully this wasn't something I had to do.




9MM ram angled ball

Choose a side you want the arm to reach from (I chose left as my 12v socket is on the right and I have cables running up from that side)

Remove one of the screws that are shown in the image below.



Place the angled ball and the screw back in place (should you feel the need to get a longer screw to make up for the difference feel free too. I didn't and have had no issues for over 4k KM)

Plastic short arm - - 1.75 " arm - - Plastic short arm

All you have left to do is connect the arms from the angled one you just screwed in and then arrange it to your liking.

The end result should look like this: (this is a test video I took this summer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHy8...6ArW18pk87SzUg

Hope this helps! if you need any closer up video or picture of my setup let me know.

[NevadaWolf]

Oh that's a nice set up. Wonder if i could get my phone to sit in a similar position.

[beta7]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Oh that's a nice set up. Wonder if i could get my phone to sit in a similar position.

if you have iphone 4/4s or 5/5s I myself use the Lifeproof series case and they have a mount that is similar to the whole ball system ram has. I can easily see their case and mount go on the same ball style, just keep in mind that the ball they hook their case into is smaller than the RAM so you would have to shave off the 1.75" one to get it to fit into their case, you also may wana get a longer one.

just a sugestion, I use their case and mount on the handle bar.

side note, their case is completely weather proof

[NevadaWolf]

Nope, not iphone. I currently have ram's aqua box on a ball mounted to he handlebar mirror mounting hole. But the wind pushes the box forward so i have to keep moving it back so it doesn't affect me operating the bike. Having it tucked under the windscreen might work better if my Koso doesn't take up to much space. I like the angled ball mount and will have to research that one.

[beta7]

ooo, which koso do you have? and if you do try that setup please take a picture and show me it, im thinking of getting an rx2n to get the tac center and because the old one just looks like crap haha

[NevadaWolf]

Here's the setup currently. The koso gives enough space that i was able to fit a delorme cradle to the side. When i get a new phone, i am hoping it will fit on the other side but now may try to fit it under the windshield.

[beta7]

nice, i think i know which upgrade i will do first this coming season.

was the koso a pain in the but to install or was it alright?

[NevadaWolf]

Super easy to install, pull out old one, put in new one, plug everything in. Hardest part was installing the temp sensors on the water and oil but even those weren't terribly hard.

If you get the unit direct from Koso they can preprogram in your mileage. I did sit for awhile using the "fan method" to get the reading to be exact since i went over what i had requested.

[Boom King]

Very informative post tamas. Good to see that the damage/wear of the plastic from vibration has been minimal.

[misfitsailor]

On my last 3 bikes I have used an aluminum/brass mount made by this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-Handle-B...item3ccdd12c48

They will not fall apart and will outlast the bike. They are not cheap, however, at $72.