BMW Tank Bag and GPS Mount???

[kudzu]

Is a GPS, mounted in the BMW mount, totally obscured by the standard tank bag? After searching and reading oodles of posts on GPS's and tank bags, it is clear that that is not an ideal arrangement but I can't tell if it is impossible or just inconvenient. I have already committed to the BMW GPS mount and have to have some kind of tank bag or tail pack. I would prefer the stock item, but realize I may have to compromise.

[deilenberger]

Ernie - basically.. pretty much. That's why I ended up designing my own GPS mount. If you have a bag where the front end is less than 4" tall - it will work. More than that and it's a problem. The factory BMW bag for the R1200R blocks it entirely (someone was obviously not coordinating the accessories..) The 11L RKA Shiloh bag is almost OK since it's small and you can move it back on the tank. Problem is - it's so small that a standard US map - two folds won't fit in the map pocket.

http://www.eilenberger.net/R1200R_Roads ... Rindex.htm

If you look at this photo from my R1200R webpage - of the GPS and a tankbag - that's a BMW R1150RS bag. I made that one work by using small bungees to hold the front edge down. Eventually the front edge was really scrunched down:



What I ended up making is similar to a GS mount on the GS Adventure:



This works well - the GPS is above the instruments, easy to glance at quickly.. dunno of any company making a mount like this, but it's not hard to fabricate if you have the BMW Tall-shield mount. That's the RKA 11L Shiloh bag. I now also have a Shiloh 19L bag - which I use most of the time.

[kudzu]

Don, thank you for all the helpful info. You might well have solved my problem.

Ernie - basically.. pretty much... ...The 11L RKA Shiloh bag is almost OK since it's small and you can move it back on the tank. Problem is - it's so small that a standard US map - two folds won't fit in the map pocket.

The map situation with the RKA tank bag may be a tolerable compromise. Or, if I decide I can live without a tank bag (something I haven't done in a good while), RKA's little rear seat bag would probably be adequate for my needs when the side cases are not on the bike.

[celticus]

I finally mounted my Christmas present a Garmin GPSMAP 276 on my bike today. We will see.......Maybe I will learn to love or even like it.
Mark

[deilenberger]

Mark - you might consider moving it to the left side of the bars.. reason being - your left hand is much more likely to be free to push buttons than your right hand (throttle - brake..) Removing the right hand from the throttle at speed will usually result in rather rapid decelleration..