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I use my phone as well. Never mounted...keep in in my pocket or tour pak and play the audio through my bluetooth Sena 20S. Works great and I don't have to worry about rain/ removal.
On real long trips, I will take a business card and write down the roads I will be turning onto and pinch it between my inner fairing and the wind screen so I don't run down my battery.
I've had a Garmin Nuvi 75T on my bike since 2010, aside from replacing the battery I haven't had any problems with it. It's in a RAM mount on my left bar, plays MP3's, is Bluetooth and is also an FM transmitter (i don't use that selection) and i can pair my phone to it, it's plugged into the back of my head unit. I don't even notice if it shakes either. Might move it but I'm used to it there.
Cep
Last edited by Cep10SG; Nov 19, 2016 at 05:16 AM.
Reason: Info
A Harley doesn't vibrate more than my Moto Guzzi. I like my Zumo 660 with the satellite radio.
I had trouble seeing my phone screen when riding in bright sunlight. Making adjustments to the phone GPS route while riding was too difficult because of the tiny buttons.
I usually buy my GPS units as discontinued models for less than 50% of retail. Part are generally still available for a couple of years. I even sold my Zumo 550 for $100 to offset my new GPS.
Thanks everybody. Its not a water issue, the Zumo is a motorcycle specific unit. Waterproof. I ran it for 85K on my Victory(s). But, it failed quickly on this bike and it shakes so badly at idle I cant imagine any electronic component would survive a handlebar mounting scheme for long. I ordered another Zumo. I'll put it on the Yamaha and put the old one ((Quest)on the Harley and I'm pretty sure It'll fail. The thing shakes ridiculously at idle and low rpms.
I'll carry maps and use the old Garmin Quest on the Harley until I off-load the bike. Reliable bike but I really dont care for it much.
I'm using a cheapie prepaid cell phone (moto E LTE, $40 at walmart with no contract) and use the wireless hotspot feature of my regular phone to get data service to it.
Built a mount for the Harley fairing GPS mount (came with my bike - GPS unit did not) out of a cheap case and a Garmin weather cover. Total investment was around $60.
Only been running it since July I think (4k miles or so) but so far so good...
I have had a Garmin for 5-6 years. It goes on my car, truck, bike and model A. On the bike it is mounted on a cheap eBay bicycle bar mount. Works great.
Returning to your first post, Harleys shake, they don't vibrate! If your bike shakes as you describe there may be something wrong, such as a failed or failing engine rubber mount, which is worth checking. I don't use Garmin products, but they are built to survive the exact same conditions that all the stock electronics on your bike are happy working with. So it should be fine!
The thing shakes ridiculously at idle and low rpms.
You happen to have apes? The taller the handlebars, the more their ends flap, especially at idle. Might also want to checkout motor mounts, particularly the front. Broken or an overly hard replacement one can make the bike shake quite severely.
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