Just thought I'd post a pic of the cockpit setup I've got on my new '06 VFR/A. It consists of a Garmin Zumo 550 w/ XM, Passport 8500 w/ Marc's Visual Alert up on top above the speedo, and you can just barely make out the switch for the heated grips I just installed. It's just forward of the top screw on the left fairing next to the tank.
The Zumo is mounted in a Touratech locking cradle (very trick) which is in turn mounted on a Ram 5.5" ball arm on the tank bolt ball mount. The Escort is mounted on a Ram handlebar mount. The visual alert is just velcro'd to the top of the instrument panel. The tie wrap around the Escort is to hold the visual alert jack into the unit, as it otherwise fits VERY loosely. This is all very similar to the setup I had on my '02 Blackbird, and functions very well. The only problem is not having come up with a theft-proof mount for the Escort unsure.gif The separate Garmin XM entenna rides in the clear map pocket of my tank bag, and all are powered through the Powerlet setup I installed in that. If anyone wants more pics, I'll be happy to send them along. Thanks again, everyone, for all the advice!
You know, the more I think about it, the more I would like to have a Zumo. At first I thought it would be total overkill with me, but more and more, I find myself going on longer and longer trips, and having to stop every hour or so to pull out the map and have a look Either that or I end up using the patented Higgin "Analog GPS", which is somewhat embarassing to have to explain to someone what it is. Not to mention trying to decifer my chicken scratch while sitting at a stoplight or stop sign....lol
But one of the things that worries me about a gps such as the zumo that costs like $500, is what do you guys do with them when you are off the bikes (such as being on a long trip, and stopping to get dinner and relax for an hour or 2)? I would be very afraid of them getting stolen. Or are they locked down well enough to make it difficult to steal? Seems to me that they would be easy to just pull right off. My thought was that whenever I take a trip of any distance, I always have my hard cases, and I figured I could lock it in there with my helmet, jacket, and gloves when I am leaving the bike. I know the hard cases aren't exactly "theftproof", but it would at least get it under lock and key and out of plain sight and would require someone to put at least a moderate amount of effort into stealing. That's my thought anyway? So what do you guys that have GPS units do with yours? Might be a nice Christmas gift to myself this year, since the g/f (and her pricey gifts) are long gone now.......
The tie wrap around the Escort is to hold the visual alert jack into the unit, as it otherwise fits VERY loosely.
I had the same issue when I purchased my Visual Alert, and ended up taking it to Marc Parnes's house in Huntington Beach, Ca for him to evaluate. It turns out that Escort changed some specs on the internals of the Passport, and that causes the problem with the VA connection.
Please see this thread from the FJR forum where the issue is discussed in detail, with comments from Parnes.
The best solution to the issue is to dremel a little bit off the plastic case, and then it will fit snugly as it is supposed to.
Please be careful, I do not want you to get a ticket because of this manufacturing issue, and I know personally that Marc Parnes does not want you to either. He is a great guy.
Just one suggestion. Use the mount for the XM antenna on your front master cylinder. I drilled two holes in the plate, trimmed the usual mounting ears off, and then mounted it using longer allen head pan screws. If you want a pic, I can deliver when I find my camera.
Higgin, Sep 9 2008, 03:24 PMYou know, the more I think about it, the more I would like to have a Zumo. At first I thought it would be total overkill with me, but more and more, I find myself going on longer and longer trips, and having to stop every hour or so to pull out the map and have a look Either that or I end up using the patented Higgin "Analog GPS", which is somewhat embarassing to have to explain to someone what it is. Not to mention trying to decifer my chicken scratch while sitting at a stoplight or stop sign....lol
That's funny, I do the same thing. I plot a route using google maps and write down a "strip chart" with route numbers, mileages and waypoints. Low tech, works great and it's less distracting than gps.
Higgin, Sep 9 2008, 07:24 PMBut one of the things that worries me about a gps such as the zumo that costs like $500, is what do you guys do with them when you are off the bikes (such as being on a long trip, and stopping to get dinner and relax for an hour or 2)? I would be very afraid of them getting stolen. Or are they locked down well enough to make it difficult to steal? Seems to me that they would be easy to just pull right off. My thought was that whenever I take a trip of any distance, I always have my hard cases, and I figured I could lock it in there with my helmet, jacket, and gloves when I am leaving the bike. I know the hard cases aren't exactly "theftproof", but it would at least get it under lock and key and out of plain sight and would require someone to put at least a moderate amount of effort into stealing. That's my thought anyway? So what do you guys that have GPS units do with yours?
The Touratech unit I'm using is spendy, but worthwhile for the peace of mind IMHO. Using it with a Ram locking friction knob for the stem mount really discourages the casual thief. Mine has worked very well so far.
[image: gallery_1153_4038_2661.jpg] Touratech Locking Zumo Mount
The tie wrap around the Escort is to hold the visual alert jack into the unit, as it otherwise fits VERY loosely.
I had the same issue when I purchased my Visual Alert, and ended up taking it to Marc Parnes's house in Huntington Beach, Ca for him to evaluate. It turns out that Escort changed some specs on the internals of the Passport, and that causes the problem with the VA connection.
Please see this thread from the FJR forum where the issue is discussed in detail, with comments from Parnes.
The best solution to the issue is to dremel a little bit off the plastic case, and then it will fit snugly as it is supposed to.
Please be careful, I do not want you to get a ticket because of this manufacturing issue, and I know personally that Marc Parnes does not want you to either. He is a great guy.
Hi Doug, Thanks for the concern. I've used the tie wrap mod for close to 3 years now, both on my Blackbird and in the cage, and it's been rock solid. After I started using the visual alert on the bike, I started using it in the cage as well, since I didn't have to keep the tunes low enough to hear an alert. I also believe that our brains react more quickly to visual cues than to audible cues, so reaction time goes up.
With that in mind, after a ride today I relocated the visual alert to a velcro mount on the inside top lip of my ZG Sport Touring screen. This gives me more of a "heads up" type of display and is more in my direct line of vision. The wire running to the Escort is a bit annoying, and if it were longer I could attach it with adhesive clips or something to the perimeter of the windscreen running down to the instrument panel, but, oh well... rolleyes.gif
Wow! Talk about task saturation, that cockpit is worse the the flight station on my KC-130J! Very well done to you it looks good. I think you should consider something like this if you can afford it. I don't have any direct contact with this product so I cannot endorse it, but from what I have read it's supposed to be pretty awesome. There are others but this is the only one I've found that you don't have to modify for detectors. -Chris.
Higgin, Sep 9 2008, 07:24 PMBut one of the things that worries me about a gps such as the zumo that costs like $500, is what do you guys do with them when you are off the bikes (such as being on a long trip, and stopping to get dinner and relax for an hour or 2)? I would be very afraid of them getting stolen. Or are they locked down well enough to make it difficult to steal? Seems to me that they would be easy to just pull right off. My thought was that whenever I take a trip of any distance, I always have my hard cases, and I figured I could lock it in there with my helmet, jacket, and gloves when I am leaving the bike. I know the hard cases aren't exactly "theftproof", but it would at least get it under lock and key and out of plain sight and would require someone to put at least a moderate amount of effort into stealing. That's my thought anyway? So what do you guys that have GPS units do with yours?
The Touratech unit I'm using is spendy, but worthwhile for the peace of mind IMHO. Using it with a Ram locking friction knob for the stem mount really discourages the casual thief. Mine has worked very well so far.
[image: gallery_1153_4038_2661.jpg] Touratech Locking Zumo Mount
Cheers, Tom
I have the same mount on my ST1300. I'd have preferred something a bit more secure (i.e., surrounding the unit with a stainless cage or bars or something), though the TT mount is the only locking one I know of for the Zumo.
Of course, the next question is, how do you prevent someone from un-screwing the RAM ball where it attaches to the bike? rolleyes.gif I ended up making a custom mount for that, secured by "security Torx" stainless M8 bolts, but that's not exactly "high-security", given the ease at which anyone can get the appropriate security Torx bits. Should slow down the casual klepto some, though.
[/quote] I have the same mount on my ST1300. I'd have preferred something a bit more secure (i.e., surrounding the unit with a stainless cage or bars or something), though the TT mount is the only locking one I know of for the Zumo.
Of course, the next question is, how do you prevent someone from un-screwing the RAM ball where it attaches to the bike? rolleyes.gif I ended up making a custom mount for that, secured by "security Torx" stainless M8 bolts, but that's not exactly "high-security", given the ease at which anyone can get the appropriate security Torx bits. Should slow down the casual klepto some, though.
Ciao, [/quote]
Ram makes a locking friction knob that replaces the one that comes on any double ended ball arm. When locked it simply free-wheels, preventing a would-be thief from removing the arm altogether...
Cheers, Tom
End of thread · 13 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 2 Jan 2009
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