[BaldyDave]

It looks like a great sat nav, but has anyone used Garmin's customer service?

I've recently lost Safety Camera alerts since a recent update (either to IOS8.1.1) or to the latest Garmin App version for my iPhone 5s (did both at same time) and have contacted Garmin via message from their website (as they suggested). They say they will get back to you within 3 working days - a week later and I'm still waiting! Seems by reviews from other iPhone users I am not alone and their customer service leaves much to be desired.

Happy enough to take your money, but it seems they are very shy when you hit a problem....

I would seriously consider the 590 but frankly this recent episode has put me off somewhat.

 

[BaldyDave]

That look like a really neat fit! Is it a struggle to get the ignition key into the key hole?

 

[BaldyDave]

Not a "struggle" at all. The BMW mount allows you to rotate the angle of the GPS: where I have it positioned for best viewing (I'm 6'2""), it allows easy access to the ignition. For shorter folks, just rotate it up, put the key in, and then adjust as desired - no tools are required - it's also great for adjustments during a ride as the angle of the sun changes.

Well I've taken the plunge and invested in a Zumo 590. In the process of mounting it to the bike and would appreciate your and anyone else's advice on how to route the Zumo wiring loom that came with the Garmin. I am confident of wiring to the OEM BMW sat nav power socket and have found this on the bike. The USB cable is a HUGE length, whereas the audio in, audio out and mic sockets aren't nearly as long. They look as if they will barely make it to the end of the tank even if I route it down the spine of the bike (tank would need to come off for that). I'm almost tempted to cut the audio cables off and make them safe and just keep the USB and power connections, the bluetooth connection should cater for music, phone and GPS audio surely? However would have to find out if there are any ramifications to hacking off the wires.

Does the tank need to be lifted? I hope not as I brimmed the tank before I laid it up over the winter! lol It'll weigh a ton! Now where did I put that jerry can?

 

[BaldyDave]

No need to remove or even loosen tank. I wired alongside the stock wiring, then under the tank on the left side and in toward the battery for the (+) and rearward toward the pillion area for the ground.

What about the length of the audio connections? They look as if they won't reach the seat.....

 

[BaldyDave]

No idea. I have a ZUMO 590...not using anything but power from the battery to the unit.

Hmmm I also have a Zumo 590.... Did your bike mount bracket come with a wiring loom with the audio connections too, mate? Have you just tied them up behind the frame?

 

[BaldyDave]

Bracket has no loom... No wiring at all. Power cable enters through rear of bracket and attaches with small screw. No idea what you're taking about on this one. Audio other than WiFi????

Have a look at this video. It's only 3 mins. It shows the loom that came with my 590.

http://youtu.be/nncwIMVXeqQ

 

[BaldyDave]

You know the more I think about this, the more I'm convinced that I'm going to design a custom loom for the Garmin cradle. I don't need the audio connections as they'll be handled by Bluetooth. The USB connection might be useful for charging a phone I guess, but primarily I've decided to make the Sat Nav cradle easily removable so think the USB cable will either be omitted or shortened drastically...

Either way I'm going to attempt to take apart the cradle and investigate!

If I really stuff things up I can get a new one for £35, which would smart a bit! Heck I'm going to try anyhow!

 

[BaldyDave]

Different than mine. The connector pins on mine are two points on a small square connector. Yours must be a newer addition. My 590 has a built in speaker and the mount is just basically a holder. Looks just like the one in the video but my cable is strictly a power cable...a red and black wire is all there is in my loom.

Does the back of your Zumo look like the attachment below?

 

[BaldyDave]

Dave, the back of my Zumo 590 is the same as the picture below. It came with the full harness as you have described.

I currently have the harness installed on my R1100RT and it wasn't a problem hiding the excess wiring. I left the USB port under the passenger seat incase I ever wanted to use it, and I bundled the audio stuff together with cloth tape and heat-shrink and cable tied that to the frame underneath the tank.

You could do the same on the nineT, and I would suggest for a neater finish, it would pay to lift the tank to hide the loom and keep it away from the hot stuff.

Yep exactly the same as mine. I am wondering if @kenshapiro2002 has a Zumo 390 as his description of the connections at the rear of the GPS and the internal speaker tie in exactly with a 390......

I have decided to modify the wiring harness to support just power at this point as I really see no need for anything else as bletooth will handle my connectivity needs. The V1 version will just concentrate on providing switched power to the GPS, the V2 will add USB support and easy disconnection of the wires for GPS removal. The 9T looks so much better without GPS I think, but for me it is a necessary evil as I do like listening to music and rely on GPS for my exploring (or more accurately to recsue me when I get lost!). Oh and for alerting me to speed traps.... For quick domestic trips the GPS is better left at home and I'd rather not have an ugly cradle left on the bike.

 

[BaldyDave]

I use the TomTom app on my iPhone, which is mounted to the handlebar using the LifeProof waterproof case and handlebar mount. Removal and installation is quick and easy, so "Gudrun" is less cluttered and nice and naked most of the time!

In conjunction with a Sena 20s (thanks Lost Rider!), you have wireless turn by turn navigation but I guess Garmin and other navs have the same bluetooth function also.

Yeah I have used the Garmin app for my iPhone, and its very good for what it is. However I like the dedicated Sat Nav and the fact that it's designed for bike operation using gloved hands, plus tyre pressure monitoring. Also it is waterproof without having to spend money coating it. The Zumo additionally doubles up for use in my car (which I sort of tried to convince myself that it was worth spending over £400 on a gadget).

 

[BaldyDave]

Bargain Sat Nav case!

Stop press. Slightly off-topic but I just received this Sat Nav case to store my Zumo 590 in. It's great quality and is amazingly cheap! Worth the 3 week wait for it to be delivered from China!

Official Garmin case price = £23 (inc delivery)

MOGOI case price = £2.79!!!! Including delivery!

I doubt if the Garmin case would be any better in quality and it holds my Sat Nav pretty securely. The zip seems sturdy and there's a handy mesh pocket inside to store cables etc in and a belt clip thingy too.....

I'm delighted!

You can get a smaller case for Sat Navs with 4 inch screens too......

 

[BaldyDave]

I wasn't aware of the glove on capability of the Garmin so that's a definite advantage over the iPhone!

It also has the Curvy Roads option to route you down some bike-friendly twisty roads!

You do have to pay a price premium for these vehicle-specific devices though, it's up to the individual to work out if a dedicated Sat Nav is for them or not.

 

[BaldyDave]

Oh and a Sat Nav is so out of place on RnineT. Not seen one yet that blends in or adds to the instrument cluster.

I can't argue with you on that point, sat nav is visually out of place on the 9T. However there is a positive side - I nowadays have found I've discovered so many interesting wee roads and places that I'd never have found otherwise.

Why you ask?

Well it's because I just point my bike down a few new country roads and just follow my nose and see where the bike takes me.... Never any fear of getting totally lost. When I've satsfied my wunderlust for that particular day, I just press the home button the sat nav and it gets me back to base without complaint.

Also my sense of direction can be really sh1t at times, and my map reading skills are moderate to say the least.....

 

[BaldyDave]

Did anyone tryout the Givi Smart Bar?
Givi S900A Smart Bar- Motorcycle GPS and Smartphone Mount Kit- New Ideas: Tech tube.

Expensive for a piece of pipe, but seems to provide plenty of room to mount gadgets.

Where's the cup holder???????

 

[BaldyDave]

I don't have the Tom Tom satnav (I have a Garmin) but I would doubt if there is any power consumption when the satnav is detatched from the motorcycle mounting bracket. I am assuming that there isn't any voltage step-down circuitry inside the mount and that the satnav is designed to work off battery voltage.

If you are at all worried, I would suggest that you wire the satnav to the dedicated GPS socket which is cable-tied to the frame just under the bottom lip of the fuel tank on the left hand side as you sit on the bike. This socket turns off power to the satnav approximately a minute after the ignition is turned off. Wiring it is a straightforward job.

 

[BaldyDave]

Yes, these devices usually work from 5V and so there is an electronic converter circuit, often a switched-mode device, working all the time.

Ahh I stand corrected. You are right, and I should have realised that as my Garmin Satnav can be charged from the USB socket, that the device runs on 5V.

D'oh!

Like you say though, the drain on the battery would be very small, but if the OP is concerned he should consider wiring the Tomtom to the satnav socket under the tank.

 

[BaldyDave]

I looked for this but am having trouble finding it... could you give some more specifics as to location and appearance? Thanks!

The satnav socket is cable-tied to the frame under the tank (left hand side as you sit on bike). Mine was on the first upright frame brace as you follow the frame going diagonally back from the headstock.....







You can buy the plug from BMW and solder it onto the satnav wiring loom like I did here:

http://www.ninetowners.com/forum/bm...w-ninet-general-discussion-forum/66002-baldydaves-winter-mods-4.html#post354321

This way you don't have to gut off the stock GPS plug.

Hope this helps.

 

[BaldyDave]

@Lost Rider also did something similar to me here (in fairness he did it first! lol).

Here is his take on the GPS install.

http://www.ninetowners.com/forum/electronics/49538-wiring-gadgets-ninet-thread.html#post114858

 

[BaldyDave]

Like @25PSi says, the ram mount is a replacement for one of the handlebar clamp screws. Here's a photo:

 

[BaldyDave]

Thanks for your reply!
Ah, now Im worried. But lack the skills to re-wire this and Im going on a trip at the end of this week.

How fast drainging are we talking about?
Battery is fully charged and checked with the service last week. Can I have it like this a couple of months and re-wire in fall? Or will it drain the battery in a couple of days?

Will it absolutley not drain the battery if I disconnect the mount?

I can't speak from direct experience of the TomTom dock, but I do have an additional auxiliary power socket which provides 12V "cigarette lighter" socket and a 5V, USB outlet wired permanently to my bike's battery.



I'm pretty sure the 5V outlet might be drawing a very slight current from the battery, but my bike has been left for a few days without being started with no ill-effects, indeed when I hooked up my Optimate battery charger to the battery after the few days, it went straight into the maintenance cycle meaning the battery was almost fully charged.

I guess it's u to you to decide what to do, but if I was in your position I wouldn't be unduly concerned if you undock your Tom-tom after use.