Garmin Quest

[shreddr]

I just picked up one of these on eBay for $40, should be easier to use than having to pull the map out when I get lost, there are a bunch of them for sale cheap.

[Bob Hancock]

Special K has a factory way to mount the Garmin BMW Navigator GPS. Is there an elegant way to mount on the boxer? How you gonna do it shreddr?

[shreddr]

I was thinking about some kind of mount off the center of the left fork cap. I also read that some guys just velcro it in place. The battery supposedly gets 20 hours of use, so I shouldn't need to hard wire it, just charge between uses.

[shreddr]

This came today, everything you see for $40, car charger with speaker, charging dock, software and guide, doesnt look very used either, I tried it out in my car, it works perfect.



This car charger bracket looks like something I can work with.


Remove a few pieces and rearrange the bracket and you have this.


Pull the vent plug from the left fork cap, replace it with a longer one (don't forget the o-ring) and you have this nifty setup.


Slap in the unit, and away we go, should be super cool, like I said I will charge it offline, if I don't get the claimed run time, I will hard wire it.

[shreddr]

one more

[cole1]

I have a powered quest mount for sale if you are interested. It has a ram ball on it now and can easily be mounted. The battery will last for close to 20 hours as long as the back light is not on. With the mount you can also run a wire if you wanted to hear the thing talk to you, I tried it once but did not like hearing it ***** at me if I missed a turn. If you want it you can have for $30 including shipping. here is a pic.

[shreddr]

thanks cole, but I should be good with what I have.

[squall_line]

shreddr-

Presumably you've waggled the handlebars to make sure that you're not hitting the windscreen with that thing, yes?

I was pretty surprised on my 11S how little functional clearance there was behind the windscreen to add farkles out near the handlebars.

[shreddr]

Originally Posted by squall_line

shreddr-

Presumably you've waggled the handlebars to make sure that you're not hitting the windscreen with that thing, yes?

I was pretty surprised on my 11S how little functional clearance there was behind the windscreen to add farkles out near the handlebars.

I checked it out, there is plenty of clearance, you would have thought my little rig was made to order! Good point though, thanks!

[shreddr]

One last FYI update, I have been playing around with this thing and it goes 3 hours on full backlit, so I shouldn't have to hard wire it, but if I do it should be pretty straightforward. When I registered it online, I got a free 2009 map upgrade to boot (it was preloaded with a 2004 version), not bad for $40!

[squall_line]

The only reason I hard-wire my Garmin on my 11S is because it shakes the batteries and they lose contact just enough to turn the thing off.

Then again, the way I have it wired isn't exactly the most reliable, either, but it gets the job done 95% of the time.

[wood-d]

I have a Quest for my 'S' and love it. It's small, yet easy to read and waterproof. The buttons can be a challenge with gloves on. I normally ride in non-navigation mode and download the 'breadcrumbs' to my PC so I can remember good riding roads. If I'm wandering and realize I need to get home and have no idea where I am, a route home is as few button presses away :-)

It doesn't hold the entire US maps, but I have not ridded outside the maps I put in the unit. $40 is a smokin' deal. I paid ~$300 for a refurb 2.5 years ago.

[shreddr]

I got to try this out on the bike today, I had to relocate it to the right fork cap, because the viewing angle was off, and all i got was glare on the left side. It was better on the right side, but I am going to try and find a better location.

Squall there is a setting that shuts it off if it loses hard power, just disable that and you wont have any problems.

[MykolG]

Originally Posted by shreddr

I just picked up one of these on eBay for $40, should be easier to use than having to pull the map out when I get lost, there are a bunch of them for sale cheap.

Either you were very lucky, or something. I looked on eBay and found lots of those and trhe cheapest was over $80. Where did you find it?

[shreddr]

I found a BIN for $40 and hit it, I was also the highest bidder on another when it was at $25. There's plenty, just find one low and bid.

[X-Triple]

I thought I saw a ram mount that would go where your BWM roundel is.

[Bob Hancock]

So when you remove that vent screw nothing happens? I could turn something round and countersink a hole in it and hold it that way. Since I have the radar detector on the left, maybe put a GPS on the right. Hmmm.

[shreddr]

I have no clue what that bolt is for. I guess to relieve pressure if you are working on the forks, so you don't have to take the cap off. That Garmin mount is VERY secure with just the one bolt. I put a rubber washer under it to keep from buggering the cap, and to help with any slip. No muss no fuss.

[Rixster]

Originally Posted by X-Triple

I thought I saw a ram mount that would go where your BWM roundel is.

You would suggest tampering with "The Roundel"?
Shame shame shame

[squall_line]

Originally Posted by shreddr

Squall there is a setting that shuts it off if it loses hard power, just disable that and you wont have any problems.

I was talking about hard-wiring it because, when using batteries EXCLUSIVELY, the unit shakes enough to shut off, as the batteries lose contact with each other.

Unless you're referring to my "95% reliable" comment, in which case, more or less correct.