Tethering/Locking a GPS

[2WheelPilot]

Just got me a GPS, and while researching mounting options, I find that most mount systems come with the recommendation to tether the GPS unit.  But they don't say how or with what.  It also occurred to me that I don't see anyone offering methods of locking a GPS to the bike.  Well, Ram does have a locking knob for their socket arms, but that's still only as secure as the base mount, which can often be easily removed with a simple, common hand tool.  So, in the interest of killing two birds with one stone, has anyone come up with a system to lock a GPS to a bike?  Say, something like a laptop lock?  Or is there a simpler solution I've overlooked?

Thanks

Billy

[bluepoof]

Or is there a simpler solution I've overlooked?

I unplug the GPS and bring it into restaurants, etc with me.

Probably not helpful for you, huh.  

[Squareman357]

I unplug the GPS and bring it into restaurants, etc with me.

+1. All farkles go into the tank bag and come with.  Sorry.

[TBone]

www.gadgetguy.net makes housings for Garmin 26/27/28 series Streetpilots. But damn, they are expensive!

[zer0netgain]

+1. All farkles go into the tank bag and come with.  Sorry.

+1  GPS cradle is secure for holding the GPS, but when I go in, I disconnect and take it with me.

[squeezer]

I picked up the RAM locking knob you mentioned.  It eliminates the see-it-and-snatch it kind of thefts, so I don't worry about it all while popping into restaurants or gas stations.  Before I got that, it went into the tank bag and went with me.

[2WheelPilot]

Well, not exactly the info I was hoping to find, but pretty much what I expected.

Thanks for the replies.

[bomber]

I recently saw something about tethering a GPS -- linked from one board (perhaps here?) to another (a Kawi cruiser board, if memory serves) --

the idea wasn't so much as a theft deterant, for all the reasons mentioned here, but more as belt and suspenders in the case of the mount failure (rare, but not unheard of)

the poster got some thin, braided, plastic cable and ferules from the hardware store, popped a small hole (ID = Cable OD) on the mounting base on his Garmin 26XX, slipped the cable through the hole, and made a seccure loop with one of the ferules -- this is not pretty much permanently attached to the GPS -- the other end had a similar loop attached to something on the bike (within a coupleof inches of the mounted GPS) in such a way as to make it semi-secure in the case of a mount failure, but easily unlooped when it was time to take the unit off the bike -- this something would vary from bike to bike

that's all I remember, sir, sorry -- it struck me as a useful idea (dummy cords have saved a number of piece of gear for me over the years) but it wasn't so impressive that I rushed right out and did my own version

[MadMax96]

www.gadgetguy.net makes housings for Garmin 26/27/28 series Streetpilots. But damn, they are expensive!

Wow - haven't seen those before.  Much nicer looking than the Touratech ones....but dayum... it's more than twice the cost of the unit itself!  

[Cheddarhead]

Seems to me that at least one person on this board had a Zumo pop out of it's cradle while under way.

Have not yet installed my Zumo...but I figured I'd use either some industrial strength adhesive or some of the 3M Dual-loc velcro to secure a cable tether to the GPS unit...then loop it or use a caribiner-type clip to secure it to the bar.  This isn't a theft deterrent...but a safety tether in the off-chance that the mount failed or I failed to seat the GPS unit into the mount properly.

Yet another of the long list of off-season farkles for me...

Cheddar

[reppans]

Touratech makes locking GPS mounts... Expensive, of course.

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/navigation.lasso?SubCat=TT_Mount&-session=touratech:457765CF16128313A5hoN3D18D3F

[reppans]

Oh yeah... what I used to do for farkle security (GPS, MP3 and Radar) was to mount them in close proximity in the windscreen and just throw my tank bag rain cover, and tighten the draw string, over the whole lot, while keeping the bike within reasonable public visibility (or restaurant window).  Too lazy to take all the stuff off for lunch, gas station pee stops, etc.  

It just makes it a lot more time consuming and risky for the thieves to 1) determine if there is anything worth stealing, and 2) plan how to get it off/steal it.  

http://onfinite.com/libraries/398905/348.jpg

[2WheelPilot]

Touratech makes locking GPS mounts... Expensive, of course.

http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/navigation.lasso?SubCat=TT_Mount&-session=touratech:457765CF16128313A5hoN3D18D3F

That's an understatement.  Obscenely expensive would be more accurate.

[Global Rider]

Just got me a GPS, and while researching mounting options, I find that most mount systems come with the recommendation to tether the GPS unit.  But they don't say how or with what.

I first slip the lanyard over the mirror and stalk and then slip my Garmin unit into the RAM holder. Instant tether!

You can see the strap hanging to the left of the unit...


When parked, I bring the unit with me.

[Global Rider]

That's an understatement.  Obscenely expensive would be more accurate.

And certainly not very appealing to the eye.

[katego]

I use the TT locking mount for my zumo. Ugly yes. Though I have modified it to be slightly less bulky.

-k

[ducsbill]

I recently saw something about tethering a GPS -- linked from one board (perhaps here?) to another (a Kawi cruiser board, if memory serves) --

the idea wasn't so much as a theft deterant, for all the reasons mentioned here, but more as belt and suspenders in the case of the mount failure (rare, but not unheard of)

the poster got some thin, braided, plastic cable and ferules from the hardware store, popped a small hole (ID = Cable OD) on the mounting base on his Garmin 26XX, slipped the cable through the hole, and made a seccure loop with one of the ferules -- this is not pretty much permanently attached to the GPS -- the other end had a similar loop attached to something on the bike (within a coupleof inches of the mounted GPS) in such a way as to make it semi-secure in the case of a mount failure, but easily unlooped when it was time to take the unit off the bike -- this something would vary from bike to bike

that's all I remember, sir, sorry -- it struck me as a useful idea (dummy cords have saved a number of piece of gear for me over the years) but it wasn't so impressive that I rushed right out and did my own version

Locate some stainless steel leaders from your local fishing supply store or off the net.  Should work well as a backup in case of a mount failure.  Here is one place that has several examples:

http://www.rayscustomtackle.com/c=6bsb7kSqZCMTtB7QVigkMebEf/product/LFLSTAINLESS/Stainless_Steel_Leaders__Stranded_and_Solid_Options.html

Bill W.

[TuffguyF4i]

I use my gps in 3 cars and on 2 bikes.  A teather would just get in the way.

[Stixx]

This solution may be specific to Beemers only but the mount is substantial and locks with a set screw which has a funky head only the screw driver that comes with the system will undo. It makes the unit one with the handlebars and nestled in low center keeps the unit from standing out saying grab me as well as being very difficult to get off. All the hardware is special heads like all bmw parts so you gotta work to get one off for sure.

That said I just lay something over it when I go in to eat as I never eat where I can't see my bike when I'm traveling alone away from home anyway.,

I like the Garvin, and have the tomom as well both have excellent features but Garvin the BMW variety Zumo is very much designed for the biker. The fact that all the necessary hardware including prewired bike from factory spells a neat trouble free install and operation is great so far. I use a bluetooth headset in my helmet to listen to directions mp3 music I've uploaded to it and a built in FM radio as well , all in the headset. You can listen to your phone calls and the Zumo shows your phone info with one screen control of all aspects of dialing and accessing phone books. It makes for an intuitive and simple system than seems hard to beat. Perhaps the grand needed to put it all together is a bit much but perfection can be worth the price and in this case I would agree.

[Dan K]

I use a Street Pilot C550, which has no motorcycle specific cradle, just a ram adapter that is for shit and a cheaper mount that has a sold ball that pops in the back for mounting...

The Ram garmin adapter wore out and the unit started falling off while riding and I can safely say that the power cable acted as a secure tether 3 times before I gave up.

I ended up using some flexible metal strips from a fish tape that I bent while using, bent it into a cradle for my GPS and covered it with heat-shrink tubing.  Took 15 minutes, and the GPS will now never fall off.

I'll try to post some pics tonight or tomorrow, but I have to say it works great and now that I put the heat-shrink tubing around the metal, it won't scratch it any more (wish I had thought of that before I scratched up the GPS plastic while bending the metal....)

- Dan