Mounting a PDA on an Africa Twin?

[KEIFER]

Just got myself a Mio 168, which is a PocketPC with built-in GPS. Very nice and is just 112.0 x 69.6 x 24.15mm in size.

The problem I have is how to mount it on my Africa Twin and still enable it to be used for navigation. Have seen that Touratech do a product that includes a mounting bracket and protective case but at £81 it's a bit on the steep side!!

Has anybody else attempted this? Was looking forward to the days of not getting lost and being able to listen to MP3's

KG

[SteveLee]

I use a RAM mount for my iPAQ (from GPS Wharehouse I think). This cost about £20 and works well although it does not protect the PDA in bad weather. I bought an Otter box for about £40 which keeps it nice and dry and can be attached with the RAM mount mounting bits.

Steve

[iswoolley]

If the Touratech case provides weather protection as well as a mount, I'd say it was worth the extra cash. RAM mounts provide a bit of vibration damping, but weren't designed with it in mind. The latest Touratech stuff uses pretty high quality aerospace anti-vibration dampers, and is probably about the best mass produced gear you can get.

Iain

[Disclaimer: I don't work for Touratech, but I do have a GPS mount, which I am impressed with, and I don't earn a commission from telling you this!]

[africatijn]

I read somewhere to just NOT use a PDA on a bike. The PDA's are not designed to deal with the vibrations of a bike (especially those you don't feel...).
Unless they have been thoroughly tested for this, which I doubt.

Garmin for instance do test their equipment up to letting them fall on concrete from 1 meter high. And no, I don't work for Garmin

Cheers,
Tijn

[DaveS]

I have a RAM mount and I've had problems with the CF GPS card I have. I think this is down to vibration and it causes the PDA to freeze which it doesn't do when in the car.
So I think what Iain says it right. Go for a Touratech damped fitting.

[miggy]

Regardless of wether you can or can't mount a PDA on a bike (and I know that loads of people have done so) I also use a RAM mount (also from GPS Warehouse) and it's very good.

I use it to mount a GPS unit. You can check if they do a mount for your particular PDA.


(How the hell do you post a picture on this site)?

[fat bloke]

Have seen that Touratech do a product that includes a mounting bracket and protective case but at £81 it's a bit on the steep side!!

from wot i have seen everything touratech does is a bit on the steep side!

[africatijn]

(How the hell do you post a picture on this site)?

Go to to the Pictures part, upload the picture you want, and use the link it gives when you are ready.

Works for me...

Cheers,
Tijn

[KEIFER]

Ak .. now your all making me scared of getting the PDA mounted in case it goes and dies on me.

Have been looking at the Otterbox stuff, specifically the Armor 3600 which is what I think Touratech sell (although they don't mention any manufacturer on there website). From reading the comments I guess that spending the extra cash to get a product that is going to do the job is worth it in the long run.

But a bit wary of spending that cash for the PDA to only crash or freeze on me. Then again really want to have SAT Nav and MP3 playback from the comfort of my helmet!

K

[SteveLee]

I've probably done about 5k miles with the iPAQ in the RAM mount so far and it's worked fine. The only problem I have had is with the CF GPS receiver coming loose sometimes. I now use a bit of duct tape to hold it in place.

Steve