new owner 1200gs need tips

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hi just became a proud owner of BMW 1200 GS, after saying good bye to my Caponord need tons of tips to start with need to where to fit my zumo with U clam or other ideas and starcom1, hella micro de lamps picture would be good too ..................................... thanks guys
 
hi just became a proud owner of BMW 1200 GS, after saying good bye to my Caponord need tons of tips to start with need to where to fit my zumo with U clam or other ideas and starcom1, hella micro de lamps picture would be good too ..................................... thanks guys

Welcome to the site enjoy your new bike loads of threads on what to buy and how to fit

you could start by looking at Nippy Normans site

http://www.nippynormans.com/ContactUs.asp
 
any tips on where to mount the zumo? and starcom1 - plus its wiring
 
The Zumo? Where you can see it, would be good and / or where you can connect an audio lead. It comes with a mounting kit.

The Starcom? In a tankbag or under the seat are popular choices. It will need power at some point, as will the Zumo, unless you wish to rely on the gps device's internal battery.

Instructions on both come in the box and / or search on UKGSer and / or on the wwweb and / or use imagination.

The lamps? On a bracket, facing forward preferably. They will require power, too. Search, or look at other similar bikes. Use imagination.
 
thnks wapping, I actually had both the zumo and the starcom1 fully wired and mounted to my Caponord just wanted get ideas where people have fixed it to their gs// any pictures: also I have two button fob is there any instructions for this?
 
I've seen some people put the little touratech bar and mount the zumo in the middle of the handlebar.

I woid avoid this, as you'll have trouble getting your key in! I have a 60csx and mounted it with a ram mount on the screen bar.
 
I've seen some people put the little touratech bar and mount the zumo in the middle of the handlebar.

I woid avoid this, as you'll have trouble getting your key in! I have a 60csx and mounted it with a ram mount on the screen bar.

i presume you used a u bolt provided how is it like controling whilst in motion (not that you should need to) zumo has the phone feature
by the way thanks waping I have downloaded the fob manual ( and seen a doctor) squared my self wy
 
i presume you used a u bolt provided how is it like controling whilst in motion (not that you should need to) zumo has the phone feature
by the way thanks waping I have downloaded the fob manual ( and seen a doctor) squared my self wy

The Zumo has a touch screen.

If you mount it where you can see it, it should be within an arm's length. So it will be easy to operate, preferably with your left hand. Here's a picture of one mounted. The bod has put it to the right (offside) I am not sure why. Either way, it's a personal choice.

file_20071118T144051772.JPG


Will you need / want to control it when going along, in motion? Yes, quite possibly. Why?

file_20071228T113918218.JPG


You may want to zoom or reduce the screen size.

You may want to change the map's orientation.

You may want to find out time of arrival / distance to arrival / time to next turn and the turn after that. In short, there are a number of reasons.
 
Personally I think the best place to mount a GPS is on the cross bar above the handlebars by the screen. There's a pic of as R1200GS with GPS on this bar here, and visible if you click "360 spin" link.

Mounting the GPS to the left of the bar doesnt obscure the instruments, and is more in the direct line of site with the road (less eye movement). I'm not a fan of handlebar mounted GPS as IMHO it gets in the way.

As for wiring it in, there are 2 ways that I am aware of.

1. There's a BMW power connector near the horn, and you need a special lead to use this (or you could chop the connector off). Nippy Norman sells a lead to allow you to use this connector. This connector is wired to the CANBUS electrical system of the bike and is only live when the ignition is on, and possibly for a few minutes afterwards. I think the CANBUS can supply max ~5A, but then a GPS is going to consume mA so this limitation is not relevant.

2. My preferred way - direct to the battery via a fused connection. Running a lead from the battery under the seat to the screen is easy. You don't need to take the tank off (although it does make for a neater job). Pull off the small black plastic panel on the LHS beneath the seat, squat down and look inside the bike towards the front, but undereath the fuel tank. You can see part of the front telelever suspension running towards the back of the bike, and some cables / pipework funning front to back, and daylight at the front of the bike. You can run a cable along here, and zip tie to whatever is convenient. Just be careful of the wire rubbing on anything. Once at the front, just guide the wire up to where you want it and zip tie etc. At the battery end, probably best to use a Centech Fuse panel (Nippy Norman), and locate underneath the tool tray under the seat.

Took me 20mins to wire in my GPS on my new GSA last week; wiring is the same with a GS; but then its my 3rd GS.

Other Info
I have a Wunderlich handlebar bag (Nippy Norman), and also have a cable from the battery/Centech fuse panel terminated here with a regular cigarrette lighter socket on it (Maplin). Whilst the bag isn't claimed to be waterproof, it is, and use it to charge phone / ipod whilst riding.

I'm in W4, you are welcome to come have a look.
 
I agree with WindyChuffer that it's better having the Zumo mounted higher up, rather than down on the handlebar clamps. Why? As he said, it's less of a drop for your eyes. It's often better, I find at least, to spend more time looking at the road ahead than down at screen. The Zumo in the second picture above is mounted lower down.

Powering a GPS device (Zumo, say) from the headstock spur is dead easy and reliable. Others prefer direct to go direct the battery (via a fuse, don't forget). Each to their own. :beerjug:

If you search the word Autocom on UKGSer (I think there are more Autocoms that Starcoms around, so it may turn up more hits, but try both words) you will find lots of good threads on mounting the com's device and a Zumo, too. The methods vary but both an Autocom and and a Starcom are basically similar devices, with similar needs (ie power in and signals in-out-in).

The golden rule is make it simple. Some people seem to go to incredible lengths to make it complicated, either just to save 50p or because they can. More often than not, these are the ones that go wrong.
 
using the U bolt i mounted the zumo on the lower screen support bar and put the autocom in the tool tray and its hard wired to the back of the accessory socket.
 
thanks guys just wired zumo (mounted to screen frame) to the front accs and starcom (velcro mounted to tool case) to the rear accs working great now need to fit the Hella Fog lamps any wiring diagrams ?, cool inexpensive switches ?
 


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