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Colorado 300 "box" for handlebar?!? Colorado 300 "box" for handlebar?!?
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland




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  #1  
Old 5 May 2009
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Colorado 300 "box" for handlebar?!?
Hi to all,
i'm from Italy and i ride a Superténéré (1992).
In 2008 summer i went for about 3000 km in Morocco with a Garmin Colorado 300 with Topo Maroc.
I had to build by myself a "box" for that gps because i didn't find it on Touratech:





now they have in their catalogue but it's NOT for motorbike, only for bicycle...



and they said me that it's really NOT for bike...

do you know if someone build and sell it for motorbike?!?

Using my one is not so useful because of the screws.....every time i have to unscrew to take it away...
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  #2  
Old 5 May 2009
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RAM mounts
There are also RAM mounts available for Colorado series.

Last edited by Rebaseonu; 5 May 2009 at 22:38.
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  #3  
Old 6 May 2009
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after 10 minutes offroad on a MOTORbike....you'll surely loose the Colorado with that ram mounts...i need something strong...
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  #4  
Old 6 May 2009
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RAM mounts are very secure.

The worst that will happen is that the mount will tilt with very bumpy conditions and you might need to tilt it back on the ball mount, but it will not come off...
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  #5  
Old 6 May 2009
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i'm sure they're strong BUT looking the other one by Touratech in my pic (Garmin Etrex) it seem to be holded stronger...

it's very close to the bar, it doesn't move while you go in bad conditions......looking the RAMmounts it seems to be too much "free to move" and then "un-readable while going offroad"...even if it can't come off!
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Old 6 May 2009
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Lots of people like the RAM-mounts, I don’t.

When used in rough terrain it moves a lot and the GPS get unreadable but that’s not the worst part. The bolt that tightens the joint might loosen up and the GPS can get trapped between the tank and the handlebar.
It’s not a nice experience when you can’t turn to left when the left-turn is getting closer in high speed. I almost crashed a brand new HP2 that way.

The nuts and bolts are not metric…
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  #7  
Old 6 May 2009
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thank you alibaba, you validate my thoughts....

i'll do by my self with aluminium , try to draw on a cad
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Old 7 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
The nuts and bolts are not metric…
I have to say that, using my set-up, my GPS would have been flapping around like a puppy's tail long before reaching any stage of actually coming off the ball mount!! Was it just the loosened mounting bolt, or a component failure?
As for the fixings, I used a cross-head screw driver and an 11mm spanner to mount mine using the bits provided....:confused1:

Seemed pretty metric to me...
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  #9  
Old 7 May 2009
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I mount a Garmin Zumo (big heavy sat nav) using the Ram Mount that came with it. It has coped with some serious off-road without any trouble. Yes, it moved a bit when I crashed but I don't think that's a bad thing. It is fitted in such a way that it is pretty much protected by the bars and headlight cowl because I fully expect to crash / fall off a few times while out on the trails.

I think ram mounts are good kit.
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Old 7 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Warthog View Post
I have to say that, using my set-up, my GPS would have been flapping around like a puppy's tail long before reaching any stage of actually coming off the ball mount!! Was it just the loosened mounting bolt, or a component failure?
I borrowed a ram mount because I had a HP2 for test a few days and my mount-kit for the 276C didn’t fit the HP2.
The plastic (outside) nut that tightens the joints had to be tightened at least ten times during a day. The two nuts that attaches the mount to the handlebar had to be tightened twice the same day.
I would say I’m happy that only the GPS-antenna broke..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Warthog View Post
As for the fixings, I used a cross-head screw driver and an 11mm spanner to mount mine using the bits provided....:confused1:

Seemed pretty metric to me...
I tried to replace the two nuts with metric lock-nuts but it didn’t fit. I’m pretty sure the “plastic nut” is not metric either. If someone who has the ram-mount could test this it would be fine.
11mm doesn’t sound like a metric nut (normally 6mm nut = 10 mm spanner, 8 mm nut = 13mm spanner)

I’m not saying that RAM-mounts are crap but it didn’t work for me. A lot of people have used it and are satisfied; it also depends on how you use the unit.
There is probably a reason why they don’t use ram-mounts on rally-bikes.
Last edited by AliBaba; 7 May 2009 at 09:30.
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  #11  
Old 7 May 2009
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yesterday i modified my one so i have only to unscrew TWO screws to take it off







now i'm trying to draw it on a CAD like SolidEdge/Inventor then i'lll try to make it more seriously
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  #12  
Old 7 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
I borrowed a ram mount because I had a HP2 for test a few days and my mount-kit for the 276C didn’t fit the HP2.
The plastic (outside) nut that tightens the joints had to be tightened at least ten times during a day.
That actually may be true as 276 is one big and heavy unit. I have 60 and with it RAM mount works, although in very hot climate and with some vibration these rubber balls can deform and fracture. I think with heavier unit it will break much sooner. I also had the plastic part (holder) to break somewhat.
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  #13  
Old 7 May 2009
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colorado 300 is very very heavy.... i think about 250 gram
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  #14  
Old 7 May 2009
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Weights from Garmin web site (with batteries):

Colorado 300 - 207 g
60Cx - 213 g
276C - 385 g
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  #15  
Old 8 May 2009
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here the results of my first study of this morning...too few time



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