RAM-Mounting a 2610 on a 12GS - Pictures!

[alecmuffett]

Hi All!

I mounted my 1200gs SecDem screen and the RAM mount for my 2610 today; after chatting with Steve / RAM-man at his shop I hit upon the method illustrated at:

http://www.crypticide.com/users/alecm/albums/2005-ram-mount/

...which is a slight variation of something that I saw on the UKGS website.

I'll do a writeup later, but the quickies:

• having the screen removed made installation trivial, but you could do it pretty easily with it still in place
• i think the plastic part that pads-out the "U" - I forget the part number, but Steve will know it - spreads the compression around the oval of the instrument mount tubing; it's a solid mounting, and i feel comfy nothing is being damaged
• a temporary bit of gaffer tape stops the U-pad being so fiddly
• the foam padding is cut from a freebie mousemat, with the front image/advert soaked-off
• the RAM-mount nuts and bolts appear to be imperial (american) measure; alternative nuts didn't work
• using a 7/16th socket wrench to tighten the nuts seemed like a good idea, but wasn't because of the narrow gap between nut and casting; i scratched one casting, trying that.
• instead an 11mm spanner, used as shown, did a great job of tightening the nuts.
• after a couple of attempts, i positioned the GPS to fit my preferences - not on the handlebars, towards the centre, and i think obscuring the left half of the revcounter is ok because if i am at low revs i don't care much, and at high revs i can still see the needle.
• you could easily shift it further left if you wished.
• there is still a finger's worth of clearance behind the mounting, even with the screen in its lowest setting.
• added a red velcro strap to help run cables.
• the pictures illustrate my trying-out several positions for the mounting; the U-bolt's exactly the right length, and 1mm or so of thread protrudes from the nut when finally torqued thumb-spanner-tight.

 

[BurnieM]

I would not recommend the foam or any type of tape on the bar.

The bar base does not seem to get as good a grip and will slowly rotate with time.

 

[alecmuffett]

I would not recommend the foam or any type of tape on the bar. The bar base does not seem to get as good a grip and will slowly rotate with time.

I know what you mean, but I believe that can't happen with this setup; the black plastic cup that sits in the U-bolt contains a "V" nock which matches the one that is in the metal casting.

When the U-bolt firmly compresses the two V's onto either of the lobes of the oval bolt, the mounting cannot rotate - the geometry prevents it. To rotate the two V's around the axis of the bar would require you to slack-off the nuts on the U-bolt - and you're not going to do that, are you?

I've seen other people on the website who used a U-bolt without using the plastic cup thingy, and that means there are only 3 points of compression on the oval, which would permit rotation as you describe. That worried me, hence this design.

I've posted a rough diagram explaining my thinking, at:

http://www.crypticide.com/users/alecm/albums/2005-ram-mount/__uclamp-jump.html

...remembering that the U-bolt will keep the two V's in compression around the oval, to achieve rotation requires slackening them off.

Or so I was convinced by my experiments yesterday.

 

[Andy Davies]

I'm looking at the 2610 for my new 12GS. What have you done for a power supply? I've got an Autocom system, so I'd need a bit of extra hardware for that too!

Andy

 

[Mouse]

You could power the Autocom by tapping into the auxiliary power socket under the seat. And there's a GPS power socket under the tank for which BMW sell a lead - designed for the BMW Navigator II, but as that's the same as a 2610 it may well fit. Or if it doesn't, you could fit a different plug to the GPS end.

 

[Andy Davies]

You could power the Autocom by tapping into the auxiliary power socket under the seat. And there's a GPS power socket under the tank for which BMW sell a lead - designed for the BMW Navigator II, but as that's the same as a 2610 it may well fit. Or if it doesn't, you could fit a different plug to the GPS end.

Autocom lead was fitted by dealer FOC as well as an extra power socket. When I get round to this GPS stuff, I still want to use a switched supply rather than tapping 12v off the battery. I remember your solution, but wondered if there was provision already made (if you had the right kit).

Andy

 

[Alphason]

Can anyone tell me: Is the plastic 'cup' that fits between the u bolt and the handlebar/instrument bar included with the RAM arm or is it an option?

Many thanks.

Oooops! Just found it: Part number Rap 319 at GPSW

 

[alecmuffett]

regarding power supplies: i just purchased the motorbike power cable for the 2610 from GPSW, and a BMW power plug to fit the accessory socket; soldered a cable to the latter and hot-melted it for safety/waterproof, made a small junction box for the former to join it to the latter, and presto.

There is of course the built-in GPS socket on the bike - Had I thought more deeply I might have investigated getting a BMW Navigator cable to do the job, and save on soldering.
Depends how long one is.

 

[Alphason]

You probably did the right thing. BMW quoted me £65 for their cable!

 

[GSmonkey]

I did this setup for the SPIII - went back to the standard BMW bracket due to excessive vibration at idle - I just couldn't see the screen at low speed which was no use. Hope you have more luck.