USB Power and GPS

[JLP]

Hey,

Well I've got almost 2000 miles on the 150 now, and it has just been great.

Today I added a little avionics. I'm a cyclist, and I had this nice little waterproof GPS. I added a little bicycle accessory mount to the bars and put a waterproof USP outlet in as well. I ran the power from the switched tail light wiring in the rear. The brown wire is positive and the green is ground. I could have picked the power off of the main connector going to the dash, but I felt it a little less risky to splice into the tail light past the last connector.

Anyway, now I have a place to charge my phone or run the GPS.

It kind of looks like the GPS blocks the dash, but really it just blocks a bit of the high beam indicator.

It must be time for a scooter adventure.

[kramnala58]

Good job. What is the cylinder looking object behind the Garmin unit? And what do you have covering in front of the handle bars? It looks like a bag of some sort. If it is, can we see a pic? Thx.

[dustin91]

JLP, do you use Garmin's Base Camp software to plan out a route? Seems to be about the only solution I've found out there that should work, but I don't want to spend $700 on a Zumo if a $200 nuvi does the same thing, even if it isn't meant to be used outside a car. I don't want a GPS to show me the way home - my phone can do that - but I want one that will give me directions on a route I plan out ahead of time. Thanks!

[JLP]

The cylinder is a little mount used on bikes to add accessories.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/min ... m-ec009105

I use bikeroutetoaster to make courses. It is a pretty tricky web program, but it works.

I'll add some better pictures. My gloves are sitting in front of the speedometer. The black cloth in front of the bars is a Tucano Urbano apron. I live in Seattle, and I leave it on for warmth and to keep dry.

[kramnala58]

The black cloth in front of the bars is a Tucano Urbano apron. I live in Seattle, and I leave it on for warmth and to keep dry.

Ya, it was that apron I was wondering about. Thanks. Not that I would need one in Thailand, but I will look forward to seeing the picture.

[prcpcx150]

Hey,

Well I've got almost 2000 miles on the 150 now, and it has just been great.

Today I added a little avionics. I'm a cyclist, and I had this nice little waterproof GPS. I added a little bicycle accessory mount to the bars and put a waterproof USP outlet in as well. I ran the power from the switched tail light wiring in the rear. The brown wire is positive and the green is ground. I could have picked the power off of the main connector going to the dash, but I felt it a little less risky to splice into the tail light past the last connector.

Anyway, now I have a place to charge my phone or run the GPS.

It kind of looks like the GPS blocks the dash, but really it just blocks a bit of the high beam indicator.

It must be time for a scooter adventure.

Why not phone's GPS

[dustin91]

I haven't found a phone app that let's you plot a route first for adventure riding. Otherwise if I only need a destination, my phone is fine.

[kramnala58]

I downloaded the Garmin app to my iPhone and it works great. I haven't explored all of its options though

[dustin91]

Garmin has a desktop app called BaseCamp, which lets you plot a route and send it to most of their GPS units. That's what I want, but I don't think the app has that functionality. With the unknown app costing like $50, but the known GPS running $150, I rather just get the GPS. Butt if you find out you *can* plot routes ahead of time, please PM me! I'd rather pocket the difference. [WINKING FACE]

[cessna151]

My garmin nuvi 855 has the feature to plan routes. Works pretty good for me. It's on page 13 of the manual: http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac//nuvi ... Manual.pdf

[haildamage]

i think you will find that people who claim their phone is all they need have never owned a bike specific Garmin.

if you just need basic navigation a phone will work as long as you are within range of cell phone service, or you buy an app that stores all maps in the phone.

a bike model Garmin will route you down back roads, etc that a car Garmin unit will refuse to route down in my experience. however, my experience is with the roads in japan, so it is possible that they work differently in the US, although i doubt it.

[JLP]

Hey, I like the bike GPS because I already owned it, and it gives me some capability I don't have with the phone. First, even without the USB power, it will run for something like 16 hours on the battery. Second, I don't mind leaving it sitting in the rain. Third, I like the ability to plot routes and follow them as we do on long bike rides. Fourth, it doesn't need a cell connection for the maps (yes, you can do this with a phone too.) Lastly, I'm kind of a belt and suspenders guy, so it gives me redundancy with the phone mapping apps.

If I didn't already own it for cycling, I probably would think hard about buying it for this purpose, but it sure is nice.

Anyway, here I am all set up for my first road trip with the PCX. I'm doing about 700 miles round trip from outside Seattle to a friend's house southwest of Portland. I suspect many wet hours, but I honestly think I'm all set.

Should be fun. I'm rolling tomorrow.

[JLP]

Oh, and I just moved the hump back a little less than an inch with the highly technical "drill a couple other holes" mod. It is perfect for me. And free. Free is nice. SInce I live where it rains all the time, I sealed up all the holes with silicone while I was at it. Nice.

[dasshreddar]

good luck and stay dry.
what route will you be taking?

[you you]

Hey, I like the bike GPS because I already owned it, and it gives me some capability I don't have with the phone. First, even without the USB power, it will run for something like 16 hours on the battery. Second, I don't mind leaving it sitting in the rain. Third, I like the ability to plot routes and follow them as we do on long bike rides. Fourth, it doesn't need a cell connection for the maps (yes, you can do this with a phone too.) Lastly, I'm kind of a belt and suspenders guy, so it gives me redundancy with the phone mapping apps.

If I didn't already own it for cycling, I probably would think hard about buying it for this purpose, but it sure is nice.

Anyway, here I am all set up for my first road trip with the PCX. I'm doing about 700 miles round trip from outside Seattle to a friend's house southwest of Portland. I suspect many wet hours, but I honestly think I'm all set.

Should be fun. I'm rolling tomorrow.

Bit of cling film or a sandwich bag can waterproof things nicely

I keep a couple doggie poo bags (unused) in my bike jackets to pop my phone or wallet in if it wees down. Pockets are rarely that waterproof in a prolonged downpour