Harley/Garmin GPS
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Saddle Brook, NJ
Harley/Garmin GPS
I installed the Harley-Garmin Quest GPS on my Ultra just under a year ago. Now, I'm having a problem keeping the saddle connected to the fairing plate. It seems the lock/release mechanism has given up the ghost. I've only used the GPS 4-or 5 times in the past year so wearing out seems a little premature. Has anyone else come up with problems with their Harley GPS? Or is there any other handlebar brackets available that will accomodate the Harley/Garmin GPS?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 4
From: MONTGOMERY,AL.
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
lots of people are having this problem including me. we had 20 hog members go to billings and 5 people on the run had the garmin and 5 people had problems. mine only worked 10% of the time constantly searching for satelites it rarely found. one guy had his fly off completely and lost it. garmin is suppose to have a fix. please take this info if you know how and forward to garmin. maybe it will help. i am not very computer savy.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: Titusville, FL
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
I've got close to 11,000 miles with the Quest 2 and no problems (where's the wood). I have the standard Harley Bracket (custom painted to match) and the standard Harley Cradle (custom painted to match).
The standard Harley carrying case accomodates the Quest 2 and the Cradle as a unit so I never take the Quest 2 off the cradle. I detach the cradle and Quest 2 as a unit evertime I stop, put it in the case and remount when I'm ready to ride.
I routinely put HD electrical connector grease on the electrical connectors to prevent corrosion and ensure good contact.
As you probably know the Quest to comes with North America pre loaded. As mentioned by Renegade, I too have had some issues with satelite reception. But that's only happened when riding in deep forest where the trees prevent clear view of several satelities.
The only downside to my unit is it generally takes a while to Calculate the navigation and or react to detours/quick turns.
I can read mine at speed and would think a handlebar mount would vibrate too much.
I wish that I could upload Microsoft's Streets and Trips. I use that for my generaly trip planning. The Quest is a pain to Route Plan. Sometimes if you are not careful it will route you a the center of a town and then say "Make a U-Turn"
No Problem Here (so far)
The standard Harley carrying case accomodates the Quest 2 and the Cradle as a unit so I never take the Quest 2 off the cradle. I detach the cradle and Quest 2 as a unit evertime I stop, put it in the case and remount when I'm ready to ride.
I routinely put HD electrical connector grease on the electrical connectors to prevent corrosion and ensure good contact.
As you probably know the Quest to comes with North America pre loaded. As mentioned by Renegade, I too have had some issues with satelite reception. But that's only happened when riding in deep forest where the trees prevent clear view of several satelities.
The only downside to my unit is it generally takes a while to Calculate the navigation and or react to detours/quick turns.
I can read mine at speed and would think a handlebar mount would vibrate too much.
I wish that I could upload Microsoft's Streets and Trips. I use that for my generaly trip planning. The Quest is a pain to Route Plan. Sometimes if you are not careful it will route you a the center of a town and then say "Make a U-Turn"
No Problem Here (so far)
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
I've had mine about a year and have travelled about 15,000 miles with it. In that time I've had to replace both the cradle and hot shoe because the cheesy little plastic parts broke on them. That's about $180.00 for those. I hit a sharp bump at a bridge joint on I-10, and had it fall off the bike completely and skid down the freeway at 70 mph. I was lucky to get it back undamaged. During the trip to Billings, it constantly lost power connection between the cradle and hot shoe (both new parts), requiring me to change some settings so it wouldn't keep turning itself off. It always got me where I was going, but it sometimes took me on some bizarre routes to get there.
As Shewolf said in MT, "Heck, I can do that!"
As Shewolf said in MT, "Heck, I can do that!"
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,500
Likes: 332
From: Blue Grass (KY)
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
I have had (and still have two)several GPS units. Currently using the Garmin 2720 on my 06 UC, love it. Thought about the Quest, but the screen size seamed too small, also the Quest II is slower recalculating routes. I mounted mine on the right handlebar with the motorcycle mount and the Ram ball setup, works OK, vibrates at idle but when underway I can read it fine ( and I wear reading glasses). Been thinking about mounting a ram ball on the center of the dash just inside the windshield, then mount the ram arm and GPS there, this would keep the GPS in my line of sight and I wouldn't have to look away from the road too much. Anyone else have there's mounted like this???? The only issue I can think of mounting one this way would be the integrity of the upper inner fairing, keeping it from cracking. Maybe a piece of metal inside the fairing and the ram ball on the outside, kind of a sandwich effect.... I also use the motorcycle hard wire setup, I like this, routed it through the existing wire hole below the right handlebar and under the tank console, under the seat to the wires for my battery tender. Works great and is hot all the time, no searching for reception when gassing up is finished.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,500
Likes: 332
From: Blue Grass (KY)
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
Same set up, two ball ram mount. I use the lower for the GPS, keeps it out of the mirror and closer to me. works great and they make it all in chrome......
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 699
Likes: 52
From: Clarington, Ontario
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
Rhinoevans, did the bolts that came with the Ram-Mount fit or did you have to use HD bolts?
I am interested in the same setup for my Quest.
Thanks
Dale
I am interested in the same setup for my Quest.
Thanks
Dale
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
My suggestion on the mount not holding or just general dis-satisfaction, throw it down on the pavement doing about 50mph. Pick up the pieces , take it back to the dealer and get your money back. Garmin has been replacing them or refunding the cash. The Garmin reps at Billings clearly stated that the system is in "their opinion" junk. They are coming out with a newer system for Harley that won't have the current problems. One of our group had the current system one week before Billings and never did get it to work. Now, he's not a dummy. He has a Garmin unit in his cage. The Garmin reps were very candid about the shortcomings of the units.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 12
From: Commerce, Mich.
RE: Harley/Garmin GPS
I have used my quest for about 6 months. Never had a problem with reception or with calulations, BUT did have the unit pop off at 70 mph due to the little cheap plastic connector on the shoe. I was fortunate enough to catch it in mid-air, and the dealer gladly replaced it for me, and so far about 6 other people...Garmin knows of the problem. I only hope that the fix is a freebe to those that bought the current stock.