Hello there everyone,
I am doing a bit of research, while waiting for my Vectrix dealer to call me upon arrival of their next shipment (woo hooo!).
Wanted to know if anyone has the newer Garmen GPS made for motorcycle riders (that can be used with gloves on) mounted on their Vectrix? Any comment would be helpful, would love to get an idea of your experience with the unit, sound quality is a huge concern and wanted to know if the sound from the unit itself is suffice or should I get speakers for my helmet or use bluethooth helmet, I don't even know where to start so I welcome all comments and suggestions relating to the subject of GPS mounted on Vectrix. And if you did use a mount, please tell me how and what kind of a mount did you use.
something to consider: I am in the Los Angeles area so I plan to commute locally with the Vectrix, mostly all surface street. Freeway will rare and if so, just 1 or 2 exits.
Thank you for your help.
Velcro dots worked well to attach all sorts of stuff to the dash and can be removed without damage. I always keep a lanyard on just in case.
Reflection of sunlight and sky is the big problem if you need to see the display.
And if you are tall you will not be able to hear the GPS when you go faster than about 50km/h.
Cable ties around the mirror sockets hold the camera tripod onto the Vectux much better than wire or glad-wrap did.
Check that the power consumption does not exceed capacity of the 12V outlet, it is very weak, nowhere near what a typical car 12V outlet can produce.
Mr. Mik
This information may be used entirely at your own risk.
There is always a way if there is no other way!
I'm in the LA area, too. I've been using the Vectrix to commute from the Lake Hollywood area to Santa Monica and back about two or three times a week. I keep it all to surface streets and Mulholland and the canyons. It's been great. Much more fun than sitting in a car trapped on a stopped freeway.
Don't have any input on the GPS, but I do have a BlueAnt interphone in my helmet that works great - though I'll only take incoming calls and then only if they're important. One thing about riding in this town full of really stupid and aggressive drivers is that any moment of distraction could be costly. So be careful!
Thanks Mik and Lavectrix. Sounds like you're having a blast with your scooter Lavectrix. I will be commuting from Eagle Rock to Hollywood and Museum Row area so I too will be sticking with surface streets as well. Thanks for the info about your set up. Where did you buy it? and do you have any suggestions as to where to purchase your riding gears locally or online? Any suggestions would be great! I too wanted to have the option to answer important incoming calls only i.e. my wifey :) is your helmet sound set up via bluetooth or wired? I wanted to set up a Garmin Zuno GPS cause it's safer for me to listen to driving directions than trying to read the google maps print out...yikes! That would be completely hazardous. Thanks again for taking the time to post your comments and please keep it coming. Thanks again and I am so glad that there is a forum for us Vectrix or in my case future Vectrix owner...Yeah!
Dump the Pump!
Got mine (the Vectrix) from British Motor Cars up in San Francisco. But they're no longer a dealer. Now it's Marin BMW handling Vectrix sales. I have no idea what happened. Where/who are you getting yours from? You mentioned "hearing back from the dealer" in your initial post...
As for the helmet/phone setup - it's bluetooth and pairs with my iPhone very well. The speaker and mic fit inside the helmet, and a small control pod mounts to the outside bottom edge of the helmet. The phone sits in my pocket, and I can answer hands free just by saying something loud when the phone rings. I bought it online at myblueant.com. It's called the Interphone.
As for a riding jacket, I bought a TourMaster from a Honda dealership in North Hollywood. It's a great jacket with internal body armor, reflective material, etc.
Hope that helps!
Thanks Lavectrix. Found the interphone you're talking about. Thank so much for the info. I just finalized my purchase today from Scuderia West in San Francisco. Suppose to be deliver next week...yippie! Can't wait. Maybe I'll bump into you in the city or in Santa Monica. My Chiropractor and my wife works out there. What color is your Vectrix? I am getting the metallic silver. Thanks again.
Will check out the honda jacket online.
Steve
Dump the Pump!
Hiya electric,
I've got the Garmin Zumo 550, which is the model for motorcycle use. It's a good unit, does most everything you'd expect a GPS to do for navigation, including some nice search capability. The unit itself has no speakers, and the motorcycle cradle has no speakers either. The car cradle does have a speaker and a microphone, but sound quality isn't great from it. However, both cradles have a headphone port. I usually use Shure earbuds while riding, they do double duty by blocking wind/engine/road noise and providing good sound. (I'm not on a Vectrix, but a Honda Silverwing scooter) In the car, I've got the sound connected to my car stereo, so the sound is quite fine.
The Zumo does have bluetooth audio, and it'll play music and connect to your phone in addition to providing voice prompts for navigation guidance. However, the music is not stereo (A2DP not supported yet). There are a small number of bluetooth solutions for motorcycle helmets, but most of them don't handle stereo music that well anyways.
My electric vehicle: CuMoCo C130 scooter.
Hey electric_boogie,
I am in Pasadena and frequently in Eagle Rock (actually hopped across the hill with my little E-MAX scooter before the batteries went too "soft" ...
Sure would love to see at least ONE other sustainable rider in my neck of the woods!
Feel kinda lonesome, huddled in front of some traffic light, with some hip hop blasting gangstaboyz behind me, waiting to get to their next recording session ;-)
The Vectrix is much more imposing - and faster away from the light than most cars.
Congrats, man!
Thanks Groove. Hope to see you on the streets.
Sounds like the Garmin Zumo is a bit limited being not having any speakers on the unit itself. Since my main concern is having bluetooth access, might just get a regular Garmin car unit with bluetooth instead. Weather proof not important since I don't plan to ride during wet conditions. I do have the BlueAnt bluetooth interphone. Does anyone knows that the Garmin GPS bluetooth will connect with the BlueAnt motorcycle helmet bluetooth interphone unit?
My ideal situation is to have my iPhone connect to the Garmin (Nuvi 680) then have the Garmin connect to my helmet bluetooth set. Does anyone know this is possible? I use Garmin as an example but all GPS unit suggestion are welcome if it allows you to connect an iPhone and then send the signal for both cellphone and GPS directions via bluetooth to a helmet bluetooth receiver like BlueAnt interphone.
Thanks.
Dump the Pump!
For a typical motorcycle application, speakers on the Zumo would be pretty useless, but a slow-speed electric drive vehicle is a different game.
I don't know about your area, but around here (Atlanta), there is always a risk of getting caught in an unexpected afternoon thundershower. You can probably get by with just a plastic baggie over the unit for those occasions, but it's not quite as safe. The Zumo will also have a higher level of shock/vibration tolerance than the standard Nuvi, and the Zumo motorcycle cradle has some better capacity to lock the unit to prevent casual theft.
The standard Garmin bluetooth setup is exactly what you are asking for, so the Garmin touchscreen can be used to control the phone, and the audio from both phone and gps is managed by the gps before getting sent to your helmet. I haven't tested it with iPhone or Interphone, but both devices are going to be pretty standard and should work fine.
I've used the Zumo for navigation quite a few times without any audio, the on-screen prompts are more than adequate for me to find my turns. With the Zumo mounted above the handlebars, it's very easy to see while watching the road.
My electric vehicle: CuMoCo C130 scooter.
Thanks MikeB.
Dump the Pump!
Sooooooooooooooooooo, I've finally got my very own brand spanking new Vectrix yesterday delivered from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The bummer is....there is no room for me to hook up a GPS unit at all. If you have found a way to mount your GPS unit on your Vectrix, please help me and tell me how did you do it, what did you use and where did you put it. Thanks again.
Dump the Pump!
I use the RAM mount - a 'B' size ball which clamps around the left mirror base (over the rubber shroud). I use the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx, and RAM also do a crade with connector that fits to the ball. Works well!
- Raymond
The unit is fixed to the left hand mirror base using a RAM u-bolt with shim, and it's so sturdy there is no vibration to make the display fuzzy! I'm not sure how to display multiple photos in a single message, so if you want to see more, just ask!
- Raymond
Thanks so much Buzby (Raymond) for the great photos and for sharing your gear set up with us devote Vectrix owner. Even though I've only had my Vectrix for about a month but I am still having so much fun every time I ride.
Cheers!
Dump the Pump!
Ah - I just found out how to add multiple images!
This particular Garmin unit uses RAMs own (NOT Garmin's) bespoke holder which can literally bolt on to any of the RAM system accessories. When leaving the bike, the GPS can be popped out leaving the cradle attached.
- Raymond
I've just ordered some RAM mounts from GPSW for my TomTom GO 730. I had only used the sat nav once on the bike by using the windscreen sucker holder to the left circular screen which wasn't ideal as it could have fallen off at anytime! Luckily it was quite sturdy, but it meant the left screen was totally blocked out. I will post some pictures when it arrives.
I have had excellent luck mounting the standard suction cup of my cheap TomTom 3rd edition to the inside of the windshield. It hold on realy strong and is a cheap solution as these units can be obtained for about $100 at the moment.
I concur with the reliability of the Tom Tom suction mount on the windscreen, though I do also attach it with a lanyard just in case.
I have found though that used in a car on a cold day, it sticks fine until the warm air comes out of the screen demister. The remaining cold dense air in the suction cup expands, breaks suction and the unit falls onto the dashboard.
When stuck on again with the now warmer air it stays on with no problem. On a motorcycle there shouldn’t be this problem, due of course to the absence of a screen demister.
I use the Tom Tom One XL which is quite a heavy device. I do however like Buzby’s RAM option and will look into this.
Simon
Well, here are the pics on my TomTom mounted on the Vectrix. The mounts are made by http://www.ram-mount-uk.com and was purchased from http://www.gpsw.co.uk
The email enquiry received from RAM Mount UK said... "I do know the Vectrix and have done for AA and Police options, so use the u-bolt and shim included in the mount kit and attach onto LHS mirror arm stem."
Part used:
RAM-B-149ZA mount
RAM-HOL-TO6 cradle for GO 720 & 920
I think the build quality of it is excellent and once fixed up provides a very strong and stable mount to use the TomTom with. It simply unscrews and within seconds you can easily remove the TomTom from the cradle helped by the inclusion of EZ Rollers either side of the cradle.
That RAM mount really is very nice. It is quite similar to the Inon underwater flashgun arm arrangement, so I know the principal very well from my u/w camera rig. Much cheaper though!!!
I think a GPS is a real necessity on a Vectrix. After all, you can't mess around if you get lost by trying to see where this or that road leads to.
Simon
I still haven't got my RAM mount. Aparently they have run out and are waiting for the moulding guy to mould some more!
3 weeks to wait.
Simon
I'm sure it will be worth it. I see the bike-friendly Garmin Zumo actually is supplied with a RAM-manufactured mounting unit. OK it's not cheap, but at least their not skimping!
- Raymond
Well my RAM mount arrived for my Garmin Nuvi, very nice it is too. I was looking at the Touratech ones, but at £300 I thought that was just too much. The RAM mounts really deserve a close look.
Simon
Do be careful with your Nuvi - it isn't waterproof (or even resistant) and you may be risking it even in a small shower.
Incidentally, anyone who is thinking of buying the motorbike-specific Garmin Zumo should wait - a new version the Zumo 660 is taking over from the 550 and has lane=assist as well as a pile of other features. Thiz means that the 500 will zoon be heavily discounted in tinme for the arrival of the 660, which is due at the end of next month (March 2009) in both the USA and EU.
- Raymond
I mounted a Garmin Zumo 450 on my Vectrix using their car mount and two bungee cords. You can see photos at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VectrixRiders/photos/album/1434115059/pic/list.
The Garmin Zumo 450 had good reviews so I bought one on Amazon.com at a great price. It came with a motorcycle cradle and a fused power cord, plus a handlebar mounting kit. The power cord has bare wires that you connect to the bike's electrical system. After playing with the handlebar mounting kit, which puts the GPS out near the mirrors and brakes, I knew I wanted it in the center of the bike. Garmin sells a car cradle with a suction-cup mount and a built-in speaker but it requires a different power cord, which of course was not included. After buying the power cord, which has a 12-volt plug, I had everything to mount and run the GPS from the 12 power port in the glove box.
I tried the suction cup on windscreen but it bounced around a lot and I just didn't trust it. The center of the handlebars seemed like the perfect place, but I didn't want to drill in my new bike. I found a pair of strong bungee cords and was able to securely fasten the car cradle to the center of the handlebars. The cords are black which matches the bars, so it looks fine. I filed a notch in the glove box door for the power cord so it wouldn't warp the door, and ran the cord under the handlebars with enough slack to turn them.
On bumpy roads, the GPS bounces somewhat but overall this setup works great. The car cradle speaker is loud enough to hear at speed. The GPS unlatches from the cradle for safekeeping.
DanDiego
Afraid only members can view the Yahoo forum, so the pictures are blocked. Care to put them up here?
As I noted earlier, the Zumo 550 is being discontinued (replaced by the 660) so anyone planning a purchase should bear this in mind.
- Raymond