Bicycle universal mounting bracket

For father's day I got a Magellan eXplorist 200 GPS, and I wanted to be able to use it on my bike. But in checking out Magellan's website they wanted $39.99 for a mounting bracket plus $6.00 S&H. Well, I knew I could make one for less then that (actually ~$20.00). Oh, and the dog in the back-pack carrier is Duncan, he likes to go for rides, so once this 'mini-project" was done, we hit the road.

Step 1 Materials required

The two items needed for this project are:
1. (1) Garmin Forerunner 101 bike mount (Part No. 0101-10482-00) cost ~$18.00
2. (1) Scotch Dual Lock Reclosable Fasteners (pkg of 4 - 1" x 3" cost ~$2.49

Also some rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth.

Comments

[Florida61]

If it costs 20 bucks to make I'd rather spend and extra 8 bucks and just buy one off ebay http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&catref=C6&satitle=explorist+bike&sacat=73351%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=14068&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search

[KoolKat]

That's cool!

http://www.atomiczombie.com

[michaelalanjones]

I made a similar thing for a flashlight, for my mountain bike, and when I rode it the first time, the mount snapped - I was bummed. Point is, I could have saved my $30 LED flashlight if I had a tether line. For a road bike, the user should be fine, but who knows? If they hit a patch of bad road, it could pop the Velcro, and dash the GPS to the pavement. I am just trying to help. I think I would either attach the strap that comes with it, if there is one, or jam one inside the case with a knot in the end, and screw the case back on tight. Then wrap the strap around the handlebar, and pull the GPS through, then mount it. HTH.

[fireballxl5]

Yeap, this has happened, but thanks to the tether, that GPS didn't hit the ground, I'll probably add a step to have some kind of strap. Thanks.

[RaisedByRobots]

I can't believe it. I was just today looking on Amazon for a handlebar mount for my Garmin etrex gps. This article has inspired me to make my own instead out of a mount for an old bike lock I have. cool

[wjk]

Hackaday has an article with a link to a russian website (with english translations) that is exactly what you're looking for to answer the question about those mysterious contacts (RS-232)

http://gps.hackaday.com/entry/1234000167073451/

Happy soldering!

[0.775volts]

if the adhesive on your velcro gets weak, you can just epoxy the velcro on. i do this with most projects, because i've found the adhesive on most of that stuff sucks. also, this allows you to work with stronger velcro as well. also, velcro attaches well to most anything with a nap.

[MaximusZTS]

Another thing while riding in the hot sun the adhesive may become soft and let go of the mount all together.

[fireballxl5]

So far it hasn't, in fact I picked this particular type of fastener because it's used to keep the I-Pass units stuck to the inside of the windshield. They sit in the sun all day, day after day, and so far I've never found my I-Pass lying on the dash.

[ewilhelm]

I use a few rubber bands in addition to the bike mount for the GPS on my bike. The mount itself doesn't have much of a positive lock to the GPS, so it bounces around and once the mount actually broke. I'd bet your velcro attachment could benefit from some rubber bands for that occasional super deep pothole.

[fireballxl5]

Yeap, I try to avoid the potholes, but even plank bridges and railroad tracks can tend to jar it loose. I had the same issue with the steady cam mount (no 'velcro involed there),
http://www.instructables.com/id/EVEHMFL6EMEP287FXN/
but I used a small bungie strap to help secure the DV camera.

[maken]

there's an article on hackaday that shows how to use those connectors on the back:
http://gps.hackaday.com/entry/1234000167073451

maken

[fireballxl5]

I've been doing some research since getting the GPS and this site sells cables for alot of devices including Magellan GPS'.

http://pc-mobile.net/mex100.htm

And this site has instructions for making your own cables as well as oher info, downloads, etc:

http://rhamphorinkx.newmail.ru/