Any ideas for a compass?
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Vandergrift,Pa
Any ideas for a compass?
I would like to know if any members have found a compass that can be mounted on a bike,not interested in a GPS,just a compass.I had a cheap plastic ball compass that I mounted to the dash on my Ultra but it couldnt handle the weather and it was never always accurate.I felt that the radio or some other electronics behind the fairing may have interfered with it.It is nice knowing you are heading in the right direction on some of the poorly marked roads in this big ole country.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
I also have a compass on my phone. To get something that works on a bike it would almost have to be one that was desined for use on a boat. That way it could handle not ever really being level while still being accurate. I would check a website for sailboats. I bet that they would have all manner of options.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 217
Likes: 39
From: Cleveland
I would urge you to reconsider a GPS. You can get even a cheap one, mount it to your fairing or bars. Always gives you your compass heading as well as a tracking map. You can pop it off whenever you're not using it. I have a fully loaded 5" Garmin with mounts and power on both my bike and car. I pop it out of the cradle and take it on whatever vehicle I'm using. You also then get quick directions to gas stations, food, hotels etc.
Or if you have an iPhone or Android, consider buying a mount for that and get the same functionality that way.
Or if you have an iPhone or Android, consider buying a mount for that and get the same functionality that way.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 186
Likes: 5
From: philadelphia
Go to any marine or boat store. There's tons of options for waterproof/weatherproof compasses.
After you mount your compass you should start looking into retrofitting an acetylene headlight, technology sucks.
Haha I jest, sort of.
After you mount your compass you should start looking into retrofitting an acetylene headlight, technology sucks.
Haha I jest, sort of.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Wow, that's pretty old school. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't know how you could ever have an accurate compass in the proximity of all of that steel on a motorcycle's handlebars, mirrors, neck, frame, and brackets and wiring inside the faring.
The suggestion that boat compasses are better may not hold much water on a bike. Remember most recreational boats are made of fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum is not magnetic so a compass has relatively little magnetic interference on a boat.
Go buy a cheap gps unit, mount it on your bars, and be done with it.
The suggestion that boat compasses are better may not hold much water on a bike. Remember most recreational boats are made of fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum is not magnetic so a compass has relatively little magnetic interference on a boat.
Go buy a cheap gps unit, mount it on your bars, and be done with it.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Wow, that's pretty old school. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't know how you could ever have an accurate compass in the proximity of all of that steel on a motorcycle's handlebars, mirrors, neck, frame, and brackets and wiring inside the faring.
The suggestion that boat compasses are better may not hold much water on a bike. Remember most recreational boats are made of fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum is not magnetic so a compass has relatively little magnetic interference on a boat.
Go buy a cheap gps unit, mount it on your bars, and be done with it.
The suggestion that boat compasses are better may not hold much water on a bike. Remember most recreational boats are made of fiberglass and aluminum. Aluminum is not magnetic so a compass has relatively little magnetic interference on a boat.
Go buy a cheap gps unit, mount it on your bars, and be done with it.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
You can search for these things just as well as we can! There are plenty of marine compass options on Amazon, including dash-mounted ones. You could replace one of the dash-mounted clocks in your fairing, for a neat installation.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 756
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
Harley used to sell electronic compass a few yrs back, they don't list it now I was looking for it for my bike. I had it on my 06 ultra and it seemed to do a good job. I replaced the air temp gauge with it and the sending unit for it mounted behind the right saddle bag I think it was the right one. The instructions said don't carry any metal objects in that saddle bag. Lookin an older parts catalog and find the part # and you could probably locate one. I'm sure there's dealers that still have one laying on the shelve somewhere.