eTrex - How is yours mounted?

[AlanW]

I am interested to see how you have mounted yours, so pictures would be good?

Thanks

 

[PpPete]

I have these RAM cradles, on all my bikes.

Extra holes drilled in base plate, a bit a shaping with a file on the back, padded out with sticky foam and cable tied to the stem.

There was a thread with step-by-step details here.

OH has a very short stem so uses her cradle on one of these. Not sure of the longevity of that quick-release system though (already broken one), so next time we'll try this.

 

[ACS]

+1 for the RAM cradle

 

[ColinJ]

If you have room on your bars, what is wrong with the official bar mount?

 

[AlanW]

I have these RAM cradles, on all my bikes.

Extra holes drilled in base plate, a bit a shaping with a file on the back, padded out with sticky foam and cable tied to the stem.


There was a thread with step-by-step details here.

OH has a very short stem so uses her cradle on one of these. Not sure of the longevity of that quick-release system though (already broken one), so next time we'll try this.

Yes, I recall that thread very well, and my own version is also in that very thread. I have also got one of those RAM EZ on/off QR brackets and I am not that impressed, plus when its mounted on the stem it does sit quite high.

Now I do like the RAM Rail Bracket with Swivel, but it will not fit oversize bars.

 

[AlanW]

If you have room on your bars, what is wrong with the official bar mount?

Is there some issue related to the later version with fitted memory cards?

Plus, if you want it to fit oversize bars, its a dear old bracket.

And in a ideal world, I would prefer it fitted to the stem rather than the bars.

 

[ColinJ]

Is there some issue related to the later version with fitted memory cards?

Plus, if you want it to fit oversize bars, its a dear old bracket.

And in a ideal world, I would prefer it fitted to the stem rather than the bars.

Okay ...

(Lateral thinking mode)

How about supergluing a couple of removable zip- (cable-) ties to the battery plate, put a piece of old inner tube between the bottom of the Etrex and the stem, and zip-tie it on?

 

[andrew_s]

If you have room on your bars, what is wrong with the official bar mount?

I use the official bar mount, but fitted on a Minoura Spacegrip rather than the handlebars.
The idea is that the Spacegrip gives a bit of shock absorbtion. Certainly I've never had the "turns itself off" problems that reportedly affect the eTrex. I get extra hand room on the handlebar too.

 

[ColinJ]

Certainly I've never had the "turns itself off" problems that reportedly affect the eTrex.

I didn't get it until I changed to a different type of NiMH battery. I couldn't figure out why the GPS started switching off on rough, fast descents. It turned out that the old batteries were a snug fit in the battery compartment but the new ones were ever so slightly smaller. I think they were bouncing about and momentarily disconnecting. I went back to the old batteries and never had the problem again.

 

[BikeLiker]

I use the upper half of the garmin H/B mount with a latitudinally curved profile filed into its base fore and aft. Two holes drilled through for zip ties lets me mount it on the stem.
Not my idea, BTW, courtesy of 'Greg' on the CTC forum.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Using the 'official' mount an example of which resides on all three bikes. Tight fit with the Karimor Bardale on the classic tourer but OK on the Brompton's accessory spigot or onthe MTB.

The 'turns itself off' issue is definitely battery contact related and is eased by packing card behind the contacts
.

 

[Rebel Ian]

I use the official bar mount, but fitted on a Minoura Spacegrip rather than the handlebars.

Yep, that's exactly what I've got on mine - official bracket and Spacegrip. My Spacegrip was very special though as I had a man deliver it and fit it for me for the price of a coffee! Thanks again, Norm .

 

[BikeLiker]

Photo of garbled explanation above.

 

[ColinJ]

I use the upper half of the garmin H/B mount with a latitudinally curved profile filed into its base fore and aft. Two holes drilled through for zip ties lets me mount it on the stem.
Not my idea, BTW, courtesy of 'Greg' on the CTC forum.

I like that idea, but I share the mount between 3 bikes and it would be a pain to keep cutting the ties when swapping it from one to another. Mind you, it is possible to buy reusable ones ...