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[Exile]

With many thanks to KC1961, who pointed out, on another post, that the horn goes 'hot' when the ignition gets turned on...



My GPS was otherwise wired diectly to the battery, which was unsatisfactory, and it could be turned on or off by a switch mounted on the battery box. It was a hasty fix last year and I never liked the set up.



I found the 'live' horn lead and rerouted the GPS wiring down the front of the frame. I clipped the horn lead, bared the wire and paired it with the GPS 'live' wire into a spade connector. I had to manufacture a connector for the earth side by using some thin steel plate, but thanks to a protruding bolt on the crank case where the horn is mounted, it was easily fitted and is held in place with an 8mm nut.



Pictures, speaking a thousand words...













It works a treat now, the GPS fires up on the ignition key and shuts down when the ignition is off.

I'm calling this a success.

[Trev]

Nice one, so blinkin' simple I'm annoyed I didn't think of it, will do the same for rigging my (first ever bike sat nav - agggghhhh!) to my Honda NC. Thanks for posting.

[Perorec]

Excellent!!!!

do you maybe have a picture with a gps on it? I would like to see how it's mounted.

[Exile]

@ Perorec:

Here you go.. the Tomtom Rider comes with a mounting bracket comprising a handlebar mount, a jointed fixture and finally, a 'post' or platform, for want of a better word, onto which the actual GPS unit gets clipped into place. The power lead gets plugged in to the platform bit and that transfers power to the unit. I've taken pictures of the lot from both front and back. The first 3 pics are with the GPS unit dismounted. Hope you can see how it's all put together...

[Perorec]

Thanks Exile for your effort.

I'm stil deciding between garmin/tomtom or just using my smartphone for navigation.

Peter

[Rattlebattle]

The Garmin mount on my C5 looks similar to the TomTom one. FWIW I wired mine directly to the battery. The Garmin has a quick connect/disconnect from its cradle, there being a small cover that fits in its place when the unit is removed.It covers the connectors. The wiring instructions for the Garmin (a proper m/cycle one with wired sound output as well as Bluetooth) specify a direct connection. For me this seems best as I don't want to have to have the ignition switched on when I faff around setting a destination or whatever. I use the same unit on my Triumph Sprint GT and simply bought another cradle and connection set to fit to a second bike, currently my C5. I can't say about the very latest TomTom, but having used both my preference is definitely for the Garmin. I used to use a car satnav but concluded in the end that a proper bike one is better because of the direct sound output through a DIN plug. Also in my experience car ones tend to have issues with loose fit in the cigar lighter sockets fitted to bikes. My current Garmin has had no problems at all.

BTW according to my satnav the speedo reads 3mph fast whatever the speed (up to 60mph so far as not yet fully run in.

[Exile]

@ Rattlebattle:

My Tomtom connects to both a headset in my headgear and a mobile phone if I want it to. The GPS unit has a battery inside, so any programming of routes can be done by merely switching the GPS on while it is either mounted in the cradle or dismounted. It can be updated via a USB connection to a computer.(Free map udates and map sharing/correction.)

OK, I received it as a gift from the long haired and lovely one, but it suits my needs and, until now, I have no complaints. I have no idea of prices where you are but anything the least bit technical here in Denmark is usually expensive by other standards. We're viciously taxed over here!

I'm sure both the Garmin and the Tomtom are equally good. After all, it's the same function using the same technology and it's all put together in Taiwan...


Ride safe.

[nigelphoto]

The problem with mounting the sat nav on the bike is that it takes up too much space on the handlebars and the screen is impossible to see in sunlight - not that we actually get any of that in this country! I also discovered that apart from Tom Tom 1 (first edition) its very hard to find a sat nav with an earpiece jack. I eventually found that Binatone do a model with a 2.5mm jack and with a police style earpiece at least I can hear the directions - although twice round a roundabout is not unknown! The 12v to 5v fused transformer is wired into the pilot light in the cassette with piggy back connectors (as suggested by RetroVenture on here) and comes on with the side lights. The sat nav sits in my jacket pocket; the only downside to all this is that if I forget to unplug it as I leave the saddle then I rip my left ear off.

[jefrs]

I gave up with the DIN socket inside the casquette and fitted a USB outlet to the handlebars instead. It's a bit big and clunky but does have a magnetic on/off switch. Satnav is an iPhone running Waze or Maps. Mount is the RAM ball on the RHS mirror mount, another RAM U-bolt on LHS for occasional GoPro. Power is take from inside the casquette off the 'signalling' circuit (horns etc) which is fused, the USB has an additional internal fuse. My problem is not so much where I'm going but finding out where I am. There is a Bluetooth earpiece for the iPhone, I dunno if it fits inside my lid, never tried it.

[papasmurf]

Doesn't all this technology on a Royal Enfield defeat the object of owning one.