alternative to windshield mount

[eldorado]

I bought a couple of those vent mounts from mountguys and put them in both cars, they work and I can easily remove the TT from them, I use mine in two vehicles and on the motorcycle so being able to switch is a must, eventually I will buy another power cord so I can just leave the one on the motorcycle at all times........

 

[singlestack]

I bought a couple of those vent mounts from mountguys and put them in both cars, they work and I can easily remove the TT from them, I use mine in two vehicles and on the motorcycle so being able to switch is a must, eventually I will buy another power cord so I can just leave the one on the motorcycle at all times........

Hey, what mount do you use for your XL on your motorcycle?

 

[1XL-on-XR650L]

Hopefully a moderator will embed these images so you don't have to follow the link (I hate doing that!)
My approach;
I started with a RAM mount that was advertised to fit on the handlebars. It worked, but glare, vibration, and vulnerability were issues I just could not live with, at least for the kind of riding I do. So, using the part of the RAM mount that attaches to the ONE XL, two pieces of aluminum sheet metal, and three pieces of surgical tubing, I made my own mount.
First I did a test to see if the surgical tubing would stick to the aluminum using Dow Corning 732 RTV silicone sealant, and how much “spring dampening” I could get for reducing the sharp hits (curb hopping and wheelies are tough on nav systems!).

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=vib4.jpg

I wound up holding this in a vise and tearing it apart (to see when it would fail), and it took close to 200 pounds of force (in the tensile axis) before it came apart!
Next, I arranged three pieces of the surgical tubing so that I got a little stiffer spring rate in the “elevation” axis (straight hits from road bumps) and less spring rate in the x/y axis (engine vibration). It worked out that the azimuth axis was stiff enough in this configuration to keep the nav system from “wobbling around” to the point of being unreadable.


http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=Vibrationisolation1.jpghttp://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=Vibrationisolation1.jpg

So, this is what the finished aluminum sandwich looked like on the bike


http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=TTnotmounted.jpg
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=siedviewnomount.jpg

And the mounted unit in action
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/Tomtom/?action=view&current=02-15-08_0705.jpg
http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/RandyTrent/10000miles/?action=view&current=P1010021.jpg
Because the TT is now mounted down behind the number plate, the glare is tolerable in all but the worst lighting conditions. The TT is very well protected from crashes, and it keeps my “dirt bike” looking more like a dirt bike! By the way,,, the TT goes in the back pack when I’m off road (dust and water would kill it quick!), but as long as I have my street tires mounted (I have a complete set of extra wheels with knobbies and dirt gearing mounted for off road adventures), the TT lives quite happily right where you see it now!

 

[eldorado]

Hey, what mount do you use for your XL on your motorcycle?

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/RAM/ This is where I buy all my mounts, I used the 1" bar and ball mount, the 3" Ram Mount and the mount for the TomTom, if you have any questions they are good with phone and e-mail.

 

[singlestack]

thanks eldorado. i had a RAM mount for a Garmin, and the plastic broke after a few uses.

 

[Team Dougherty]

I found this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3405808&sku=B118-1002

 

[Smokiewolf]

I found this

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3405808&sku=B118-1002

I just bought one of those at www.electronicadirect.com for 18.51 TOTAL. WAY cheaper than at Best Buy. I have yet to try it out though.

 

[feejo]

I usually park in protected parking but while in Crime Capital USA (MEM), I try to be as stealthy as practical. Jeeps are not too secure, after all, so I'll leave the suction mount in for now.

It does interfere with my "Jeep" window shade so sometime during vacation this month I'll cobble up a hard mount that won't interfere.

Just gotta move the static clings up a little and it should be okay for now. Need to pull the slack out of the usb cable, too.

the stick in front of it.

 

[tightwad]

I mounted my TT1 to my motorcycle. I took the ball and windshield part off the mount, leaving just the bracket part. I then took a strip of ?? lexan, and heat-molded it to mount where my tank bolts down, then curve up to sit above my Ignition. This way there is no bar interference, and it doesn?t block my other gauges either. I believe the strip was about 12? long in my application.

Here are a couple pictures:

 

[eldorado]

I mounted my TT1 to my motorcycle. I took the ball and windshield part off the mount, leaving just the bracket part. I then took a strip of ?” lexan, and heat-molded it to mount where my tank bolts down, then curve up to sit above my Ignition. This way there is no bar interference, and it doesn’t block my other gauges either. I believe the strip was about 12” long in my application.

Here are a couple pictures:

That was a good idea, I still am using the ram mount and have been moving it around to find some place where it stays visible and not bothered by the sun, been using the nite screen and jacking up the brightness to 90% and will probably go to 100%, this has worked better during day time hours, may swing it down just above the tank so that way my body will shield out most of the sunlight when it's directly behind or just left or right of me and see how that works, but can say the nite screen is still the best for me.

 

[DoctorBill]

There is a yellow putty like material used in offices that is sticky but easily removable.
Sold in bubble packs for $2 everywhere in school and office supply shelves even in grocery stores.

A Tacking Putty used in schools and offices to tack papers and pictures to walls, etc.
Cheap, throw away stuff. Very useful !

http://www.elmers.com/products/product/product_page.asp?pCode=E98620
http://www.shindigz.com/catalog.cfm?pgp=5F100C
http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/party/decor/scene-setters/sticky-tack.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu_Tack

It is soft, sticky (adhesive) yet lets go if pulled slowly.

When it becomes less adhesive, you simply pull it apart several times and knead it.

That should hold one's TomTom on any dashboard (unless you ArmorAll 'ed it!) and then
let it go when you are done.

You can remove the Sticky Putty and put it in a can or plastic bag to hide it.

I use it to hold an old wrist watch to my Dashboard so I have a clock in my car....

"Heavens to Mergatroid!"

You could use SILLY PUTTY, even...."

DoctorBill