tomtom in tankbag/map holder???

[AndyXXV]

I'm off to Switzerland in June on the XX and rather than invest in a tomtom Rider or similar, I'm wondering if I could carry my tomtom Go500 (which obviously isn't waterproof) in the see-through map holder on a tank bag.
2 questions really, has anybody tried it? and can anybody recommend a waterproof map holder?

 

[struv]

what a good idea im going to france in a couple of months and was trying to think of a way i could use my tom tom one europe which also isnt waterproof the only other thing i could think of was bolting the sucker mount under the screen (ie drill through the screen) which should keep it out of the weather (im streetfightering it when i get back so wont need the screen again) but your idea sounds easier

 

[AndyXXV]

struv, there are some 100% waterproof bags of different sizes on ebay designed for the military. I've ordered one that will fit inside my map holder or sit on it's own. Andy

 

[awg]

I did that with my Garmin Quest when I first got it. It works ok but I couldn't power the Quest (easily) from the bike or connect it into my Autocomm so I soon decided a proper mount was the way to go.


awg

 

[AndyXXV]

The power supply may prove to be difficult especially as the plug on the 'Rider' battery cable won't fit my G0500. Wonder if a cable is available, or can be adapted to attach directly between the battery terminals and tomtom unit?

 

[Smix]

a friend of mine uses his that way - I'll ask him how he powers it. He only has the car TomTOm (not sure of the model) not the Rider one

 

[ascar]

tom tom in the bag

I have used my TT one in my tank bag for ages and it works fine .Just plug in the car socket to a cigg plug and away you go. I have it linked into an autocom unit as well and it is brill.I was going to mount it on the head stock but when i saw a picture of a sat nav with a condom on it I thought naw

 

[Gerrard]

We are looking into this problem as well, a lead from the Tom Tom to the Autocom sounds good if you can get one, failing that I was just going to stick the TT under the clear plastic on the tank bag hoping that it would then be waterproof enough. Our thinking was that you only really need the TT when you actualy get to you destination to find hotel/motel etc.
Problem is if it's raining your visual sight of the TT is going to be bad anyway as the water will still be on the top of the tank bag, and at my great age I am more of a fair weather rider if possible!
A Tom Tom Rider looks OK but do you want to go to the expense of having 2 Tom Toms?
The other thought we had was as we have an Autocom, Trudi could hold the Tom Tom on her lap as we approach the town we want to stop at and can tell me which way to go through the Autocom, although again of course the rain problem is tricky.
We have a mate further down Spain near Gibraltar who we are visiting on Sunday, I will have a chat with him, and take a few photos 'cos I think he has made a small mount for his... will ask about the rain problem too


Zippo

 

[richard]

Might be better in the tank bag, as the screen shattrerd on mine when i mounted it to the bike was a while ago though.



R
:yo:

 

[AndyXXV]

A belated update on the Swiss trip ..... I rigged up the TT with a power supply from the battery and tried it in the tank bag which was only moderately successful, not that easy to see the screen through the clear plastic and it was at the wrong angle for easy viewing. However, the weather was fantastic for the whole trip and so I fastened the TT to the tank using the suction mount and it didn't move, it was locked solid. As a precaution I fastened a 'safety cord' to the unit just in case but it was fine.
Whilst this arrangement worked well enough, a Rider or similar is probably the best option!

 

[ascar]

the cable that i use to connect the TT too the autocom is a standard 3.5mm jack to jack lead and it works fine. I did have the same problem of seeing the screen in the tank bag but and easy cure was to stuff a scarf in with it to prop it up at the correct angle.

you could just turn the screen off and use the voice directions, then you can have the TT any where

 

[Gerrard]

A belated update on the Swiss trip ..... I rigged up the TT with a power supply from the battery and tried it in the tank bag which was only moderately successful, not that easy to see the screen through the clear plastic and it was at the wrong angle for easy viewing. However, the weather was fantastic for the whole trip and so I fastened the TT to the tank using the suction mount and it didn't move, it was locked solid. As a precaution I fastened a 'safety cord' to the unit just in case but it was fine.
Whilst this arrangement worked well enough, a Rider or similar is probably the best option!

Glad you had a good trip Andy.. :-:


Zippo

 

[Gerrard]

the cable that i use to connect the TT too the autocom is a standard 3.5mm jack to jack lead and it works fine. I did have the same problem of seeing the screen in the tank bag but and easy cure was to stuff a scarf in with it to prop it up at the correct angle.

you could just turn the screen off and use the voice directions, then you can have the TT any where

Good tip Ascar... :yo:

Zippo

 

[Bluey]

Got a plug socket on the bike much easier than cables going onto the battery
will be putting my Navman into a tank bag

 

[Mr Graham]

Hi i had a car TT and used it in the tank bag with no power cable only used it when i needed it was ok for me then some little git had it away from my car. So went out and got TT rider (great piece of kit)and got the car kit so got the best of both worlds.

 

[AndyXXV]

Here's a pic (I hope) next to Lake Geneva

 

[valhalla]

what a good idea im going to france in a couple of months and was trying to think of a way i could use my tom tom one europe which also isnt waterproof the only other thing i could think of was bolting the sucker mount under the screen (ie drill through the screen) which should keep it out of the weather (im streetfightering it when i get back so wont need the screen again) but your idea sounds easier

I am the same, I have a ONE XL Europe and had this in my tank bag for a while but foung I had to prop the top of it up so the viewing angle was better otherwise you find yourself leaning forward to peer onto it thus taking your eyes of the road for longer.....I have now mounted it through the headstock with some M6 stud, a nyloc nut with locktite...and onto an internal thread RAM mount....Looks totally O.K and easy to remove but doesn't get over the waterproof problem....so it goes back in the tank bag

 

[silverfox.xx]

It it not possible to connect an external GPS aerial to the tomtom, you can with a garmin, so I thought I'd suggest it.

If you can, you can mount the unit anywhere/top box... lead to autocom and have voice conrtolled instructions.

Sorry if thats no help.

 

[morphgarth]

I took the bird to Magny Cours last Oct with the TT1 in the top map pocket of my tank bag. I used the in-car charger plugged into a cigarette lighter socket that I wired in under the seat. Worked fine and also meant I could charge up my mobile phone when I was camping!!

Downside as others have said is the angle, you have to look down. As the weather was bright I found glare was an issue and had to shade the screen with my left hand to see it.

To avoid lookind down all the time I just looked at the miles to next direction change, did a quick addition to the trip on the clocks and referred to that. Lets you know when you have to check next in the absence of voice command.

Not as slick as a Tom tom rider but cheaper and better than stopping to read maps and asking French people for directions!!

 

[Rob Morris]

Been running my Tom Tom PDA on the bird for last 3 years. use my optimate lead as powersource (short extension with male plug and cigi socket. I pass the cable under the seat, up the back of the tank and into my bagster. Likwise I have another cable which runs from my PDA back under the seat to my autocom unit.

These two leads allow me to have sat nav and MP3's playing at the same time. Likwise the autocom also gives bike to bike radio (illegal UHF radio's to make sure we havea good range approx 5 miles :yo: )

Only problem I have is the need to disconect the two cables every 200 miles when I need to lift the tank bag to fill up with fuel.