I just bought a Garmin Nuvi 1250. They said I'd need their motorcycle pack to connect and power it from my motorbike. An extra 2000thb, promotion price. Over 50% of the GPS alone.

First, connecting it. It comes with a stand that sticks to a car dashboard, the GPS is suctioned on to this. Seems pretty tight to me, I couldn't pull them apart, but do these usually hold up well on a motorbike doing 150kph? Or do they have to be attached differently?

And secondly, powering it. It comes with a lead to plug into the cigarette lighter in a car. The power pack for the bike is 1000thb, not too expensive, but is it possible to take off the adapter that plugs in the cig lighter, and attach the wires to the bike battery to power it this way, or do we have to buy the adapter to power it?

Thanks.

Edited August 7, 201114 yr by hehehoho

Here's a site on this topic

http://www.gpsdiscussion.com/general-gps-discussion/6-motorcycle-gps-mount.html

It would not make a difference if you use an adapter or just connect the wires,

as long as you connect the plus to power and minus to ground.

Donno how well you can watch a garmin on a bright day, but i gave up trying to see anything on my phone

It would not make a difference if you use an adapter or just connect the wires,

as long as you connect the plus to power and minus to ground.

Careful there. Garmin nuvis charge on 5 VDC, most motorcycle batteries are 12 VDC.

Good you pointed it out, i assumed the power pack already converted it into the proper voltage,

but that may not be a certain.

I think the best way to connect your Garmin is with a marine cigarette lighter adapter. I wouldn't alter the Garmin adapter in any way. The marine cigarette lighter adapter will be weather proof and they usually come with a fuse in the positive wire. Just connect it to your battery and you are ready to go.

Thanks, I'll check it out today, but I think the cig lighter adapter is 12V, so maybe can be attached to the 12V battery on a bike.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=407&q=garmin+nuvi+1250+power%3F&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16503602495793546759&sa=X&ei=pmA_TqDKOIX3rQfQ_4AX&ved=0CCoQ8wIwAg

I'm also looking for a cheap GPS mount for a motorbike, it seems it will be okay on the suction plate, so think all that's needed is way to secure the suction plate to the bike. Anyone got any recommendations in BKK?

Edited August 8, 201114 yr by hehehoho

I use a cigarette lighter extension under the saddle of my bike.

I wired a 2 piece connector block across the battery, the lighter adapter to that and plug the Garmin power lead into that.

I have a RAM mount which I bought from Gadgetrend here http://www.gadgetrend.com/

and it works fine on my Hoda Phantom, Yamaha Mio or Yamaha Virago.

Thanks, I ended up going out at lunchtime and bought a Honda Tank Bag, with the clear top pocket for map/gps. Not as cool as a RAM mount, but will do the job.

I'm going to the mechanics later to try and connect up the cig lighter adapter.

I know nothing of electronics, does your 2 piece connector block change the voltage, or is it okay connecting the cig adapter strait to the battery?

Thanks, I ended up going out at lunchtime and bought a Honda Tank Bag, with the clear top pocket for map/gps. Not as cool as a RAM mount, but will do the job.

I'm going to the mechanics later to try and connect up the cig lighter adapter.

I know nothing of electronics, does your 2 piece connector block change the voltage, or is it okay connecting the cig adapter strait to the battery?

No, it is just a simple connector block. It is insulated with a brass insert and a screw at each end. You can use it for many things including extending household wiring.

There are 10 in the block and I just cut off as many as I need to do a job then chuck the rest in my store until next time.

They are available at LotusTesco,Big C, most electrical and hardware shops and maybe even in 7/11.

I think the last one cost me about 25 baht.

Thanks, I ended up going out at lunchtime and bought a Honda Tank Bag, with the clear top pocket for map/gps. Not as cool as a RAM mount, but will do the job.

I'm going to the mechanics later to try and connect up the cig lighter adapter.

I know nothing of electronics, does your 2 piece connector block change the voltage, or is it okay connecting the cig adapter strait to the battery?

The Garmin vehicle power cable adapter changes 12 VDC into 5 VDC to charge nuvi GPS units. Do not modify (cut off the end) the adapter.

Thanks, went to my local Honda dealer, the guys have experience doing it and one is going to pick up the transistor/adapter needed tomorrow.

It's very difficult to see with the sunglare when in the Honda bag, but the suction cup actually suctions perfectly onto the inside of the windscreen, seems safe, doesn't vibrate much at all as it's stuck onto the very bottom of it, and no wind pull in there. Cool.

Thanks, I'll check it out today, but I think the cig lighter adapter is 12V, so maybe can be attached to the 12V battery on a bike.

http://www.google.co...ved=0CCoQ8wIwAg

I'm also looking for a cheap GPS mount for a motorbike, it seems it will be okay on the suction plate, so think all that's needed is way to secure the suction plate to the bike. Anyone got any recommendations in BKK?

did you buy the unit in thailand ? if yes where and how much, do you have a link

The GPS?

Yes, in GPS4You in 'Fortune City' next to Tesco on Ratchada/Rama9 junction.

3900thb

cheers will take a looksie next monday

It's on the second floor in Fortune, close enough to Tesco. If you walk out of Tesco on that level it will be on the right hand side by the stairs/escalators.

I've got the exact same GPS and was going to purchase a ram mount. If sticks to the windscreen on the CBR250 I will probably go the same route. Interested to see some photos of the adapter that is needed to get the lighter charger to work with the motorbike's electronics..

Don't stick it to the top end of the windscreen so it's closer to you, far too much vibrations travel up. It has to be at the bottom, just above the speedo, on either the right or left, the center is too rounded for the sucker to hold.

It sits there perfectly, in a great place as its right next to tach/odometer.

Edited August 8, 201114 yr by hehehoho