Multistrada 1200 Motorcycle GPS Mounting Project (4)

Multistrada 1200 Motorcycle GPS Mounting Project (4)

 
For more Multistrada 1200 GPS mounting options/guides check out the menu on the left! 😉
See also: Ducati Multistrada 1200 GPS SatNav Mount Installation
 

Multistrada 1200 above dash GPS mount installation…
plus Screen (windscreen) mounting modification (move forward and more upright)
 

Updated Mar 2013 see below

Photo of Tim’s Multistrada 1200 on one of his favourite riding roads – I wonder if that sign was put up by the local authority to warn other road users after they found out that the road was Tim’s favourite biking road?! lol
 

Finally got the Zumo660 installed – happy happy happy
By Ducati.ms / ducatisti.co.uk member ‘TimOz’ (aka Tim!:-)

NB: Larger photos here

I have been fiddling with getting my GPS set up right and finally I am happy.

I tried mounting it to a RAM ball mount on the handlebar clamp but it is too low for me and it don’t like looking down to see the GPS. Your vision is away from the action for too long. I decided it is better to be above the dash and after a few failed attempts, I am now happy.

Pic 1 – I bolted a RAM diamond ball upside down under the windscreen support cross strut using stainless security bolts (hex with a centre pin). I bolted another RAM ball that is used with a handlebar clamp but did not use the U part of the clamp and just bolted it on to the bottom holes in the back plate of the Zumo 660 Touratech mount. The reason for this mount is that it is a little higher than the diamond mount and it put the GPS just a little higher and out of the view of the standard dash.

The RAM parts I used are shown here: http://www.ram-mount.com.au

You can find the Touratech GPS mount (Handlebar Mounting ZUMO 660 Lockable) on their website here: http://www.touratech.com They have black and silver versions, obviously I bought from their Australian site!

I tried this and all was well until I did a long ride with an Airhawk air seat fitted to the bike. I am 6ft2 and with the airseat on, the GPS occluded ½ of the dash and I could not see the speedo or the fuel guage. As it was a 7 hour ride it drove me nuts.

Pic 2- The mount allowed more forward movement but the screen (which is standard) limited the movement. The solution was to space the screen a little further forward and a little more vertical. If you haven’t taken the standard screen off, it is held on with 3 black dome hex cap bolts that go through rubber grommets. These grommets fit on plastic pillars that have a central thread the black bolts screw into.

Pic 3 – Parts used.
Top row, left to right. 1 X stainless socket head bolt, 2 x longer I socket head bolt. Both with appropriate stainless washers.
Bottom row, left to right. standard screen grommet (there are 3 of these), I got 5 x thick rubber grommets (note the hole in these grommets is larger than the bolt diameter) and 5 X small rubber grommets from an auto store. The small ones are fitted inside the larger ones to keep the replacement bolts centred in the grommets and this is shown in the last item in the bottom row.

Pic 4 – The standard grommets are removed from the screen and replaced with the thicker grommets.

Pic 5 & 6 – The standard grommets are then fitted to the mounting posts.

Pic 7 – The shorter bolt and washer is used for the bottom mount.

Pic 8 – The longer bolts and washers are used for the top mount. Note an extra grommet is fitted to these 2 top bolts. So in summary the bottom mount us spaced out by the thickness of 1 grommet (~10mm) and the top mounts are spaced out by 2 grommets (~20mm). This puts the screen further forward by a small amount and it is a little more vertical and this gives more than enough scope to push the GPS up out of the way of the dash. You cannot really visually notice any change to the screen.

Pic 9 – Bike with air seat fitted.

Pic 10 – View seated with airseat. The GPS does not obscure the road or the dash and you can glance down easily and keep road vision.

I like the Touratech mount. It is basically a locked clamping frame that you bolt around the standard Garmin bike mount. It seems very secure and has good vibration damping. The only thing I did was add a bit of clear heat shrink over the thread part of the bolt that is used to block the release mechanism of the standard Garmin mount.

Two further comments:

1. While I like the RAM mounts, It would be great to have a telescoping arm. I have used the “short arm” here: http://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM/ram-b-201/ but it would be nice to have some fine adjustment to get this set up just right.

2. I have the RAM locking knob d\seen here: http://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM/ram-knob3lu/ but it is just too large to fit. My set up is pretty secure in that the GPS is locked into the Touratech mount, but the whole thing can be removed by taking the RAM arm off and you could cut the wires and be gone in under a minute. RAM, make a smaller locking arm! I am on the look out for a secure locking nut but RAM is US based and use cubits to measure things instead of doing the right thing and going metric.

Update Mar 2013 (in response to questions from a reader)

I do have a Navihalter GPS mounting system and a Tourtech locking mount.
I will try to answer your questions sequentially. My comments specifically relate to the MTS1200 2010 to 2012. The Navihalter mount for a 2013 bike is different due to the changed screen and screen frame but everything I say should apply.

1. I tried using RAM mounts both on the handlebars (way too lo to see properly) and then I mounted it up on the screen frame. This was better BUT it wobbled quite a bit when hitting bumps. Note that I have a 2010 and one of the first 1200s in Australia and the Navihalters were not available.
See a full write up above.

2. If you want to persist with RAM mounts, RAM have a locking knob that costs about $24 and I tried it. It fits and works but is big and ugly:

RAM Locking Knob 1.0″ Ball Arms (RAM-KNOB3LU)

3. I saw the Navihalter when it first came out and ordered on and got a Touratech locking mount. I abandoned the RAM mounting system as the Navihalter is waaaaaay better. I did find that the locking mechanism of the Touratech mount when used with the Navihalter hit the screen. You can still use it by tilting it forard to unlock but I think this will eventually wear out the pivot. I fixed this by spacing the screen further out with carbon tubes. I did this to cut the wind buffetting but it did 2 jobs and allowed the Touratech lock to open properly. Note that I did this before the Aztec spacers became commercially available. You can just buy these if you are not able to make your own.

See here: MTS1200 How to space out windscreen with carbon fibre tube

4. This spaced screen and GPS holder/lock system is still in place today and it works well for me. I also fitted a Laminar lip screen extension but I am fairly tall. My advice on the screen is to fiddle a bit to find what works fir you and your helmet combination. The Americans seem to just keep buying and trying different screens but the Aztec spacers seem popular. I believe that putting the screen more upright will help most people but you have to see for yourself.

Info about Aztec Screen Spacers here.

5. There are also side screen wings that work for some people. Huge thread about them on the Ducati.ms forum here:
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/216-2010-current-2nd-generation-watercooled/151460-hiss-flaps-now-available-eagle-screens-australia.html
and see also:
How to make Wind Deflector ‘Wings’ for a Ducati Multistrada 1200
An article following on from my previous article “OZ Wings – Multistrada Wind Deflectors, Concept to Reality” and describes how to make Wind Deflectors (WD’s).
‘Oz Wings’ – formerly known as ‘Hiss Flaps’ and later ‘CP Wings’

I don’t have them as I don’t really need them but I would like to try them.

I hope that helps. Feel free to ask any more questions if you have any.
 

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