What to do with your GPS when parked in public?

[marku8a]

So I am ready to take along a GPS unit on the bike. I like the Techmount but worry about having the GPS permanently mounted. It looks like a big "Take me" temptation for thieves.

Any thoughts about a quick disconnect to stash the GPS in one of the bags while away or do you just not worry about it?

Mark

[maxtog]

So I am ready to take along a GPS unit on the bike. I like the Techmount but worry about having the GPS permanently mounted. It looks like a big "Take me" temptation for thieves.

Any thoughts about a quick disconnect to stash the GPS in one of the bags while away or do you just not worry about it?

Mine is older so I don't care about it as much as I used to, now.  When the bike is at home and in the Cycle Shell, I just leave it mounted and on the bike.  When I am out, if I am in what feels like a "safe" area, I will leave it on the bike, sometimes I will throw something over it.  When I am in what doesn't feel as safe an area, I pop it off and put it in the auto-locking glovebox.  It just fits.

I seem to be having some problem with the Zumo mount now, where when I remove and put the GPS back on, it often will not work (not make contact).  Despite cleaning the contacts, etc.  It is EXTREMELY frustrating, because when it loses power, it will not play music.  So I hate having to remove it when it is being reliable and risk it going wonkers again.

[Pokey]

Mine usually just stays on the bike, not like any of them are worth much to crooks these days.

[lather]

I use mine on three diff bikes so obviously I have a quick connect setup. Only leave it on the bike when I have a good view from my restaurant seat or my garage guarded by Killer. I use a ram ball type mount and a cigar lighter type receptacle.

[lather]

Mine usually just stays on the bike, not like any of them are worth much to crooks these days.

The half-tame savages that live in these parts would steal your dirty socks if they could get your boots off.

[Hayeshfc]

I have my Garmin 665 in a locking touratech mount attached to a ram ball I drilled out and bolted through.

I had to abandon the taser attachment after my wife attempted to get the GPS for a road trip in the minivan....

[lather]

I have my Garmin 665 in a locking touratech mount attached to a ram ball I drilled out and bolted through.

I had to abandon the taser attachment after my wife attempted to get the GPS for a road trip in the minivan....

Ram does sell a locking ball mount. My concern with any locking mount is that the thieves may destroy the GPS trying to get it or just out of spite when/if they realize they can't.

[ZG]

Mine pops right out of the cradle and goes into my locking Corbin smuggler along with my radar detector, what am I missing...
 

 

 

 

 

[Texas Concours14]

I put my Zumo 660 in the saddlebags or trunk when I leave the bike (only use GPS on trips).  Too expensive to risk some lowlife stealing it from the unlocked Garmin mount.

[martin_14]

I put my Zumo 660 in the saddlebags or trunk when I leave the bike (only use GPS on trips).  Too expensive to risk some lowlife stealing it from the unlocked Garmin mount.

+1 same here.
It's not so valuable, but it's mine. I worked for it.

[jjsC6]

Mine pops right out of the cradle and goes into my locking Corbin smuggler along with my radar detector, what am I missing...

Exactly what I do, except that I don't put it in your Corbin Smuggler, I put it in my Sargent storage pod 

[ljcorby]

Same here. I pop the Zumo 660 and the radar detector off and put them in the locked bags when not with the bike.

[COGnosticat0r]

I have my Zumo 660 in a locking tourtech mount and a lockable knob on the arm.  I leave it on the bike while in restaurants or stores but at night I take the zumo out of the mount and take it inside with me.

[VirginiaJim]

Once I start using mine, I'll do what I normally do.....throw my coat over the whole dash/handlebar area and park where I can see the bike.  If I'm leaving it out of site, I'll lock it up in a case.

[So Cal Joe]

I have a Garmin 765 and leave it on the bike about 95% of the time. If I'm on  a trip and staying in a motel I snap it out of the cradle and put it in the tail bag or the saddle bag.

[CRocker]

So I am ready to take along a GPS unit on the bike. I like the Techmount but worry about having the GPS permanently mounted. It looks like a big "Take me" temptation for thieves.

Any thoughts about a quick disconnect to stash the GPS in one of the bags while away or do you just not worry about it?

Mark

Techmount makes a "Quick Change Adapter Plate"...see this link:

http://www.techmounts.com/products/index.php?page_function=detail&product_id=156

Out of sight is out of mind...

Good Luck!

[Zman]

+1 on what Jim said

[marku8a]

Good ideas to think about. Thanks to all. Thanks CRocker for the Techmount link.

Mark

[redbarber]

Ram does sell a locking ball mount. My concern with any locking mount is that the thieves may destroy the GPS trying to get it or just out of spite when/if they realize they can't.

Not a good idea to **** off the criminal types.  A friend of mine got her brand new Jetta stolen, but they had found and used the Valet key, which is only good for a short distance of driving.  When the car shut down on them, they torched it.

If you are going to leave a tempting tidbit out in plain sight, I think you should make it easy to remove, or you could find your whole bike trashed.  My zumo 450 has a quick release mount, and I lock the unit in the tail box if I'm going to be away from the bike for long.

[C1xRider]

Just give the trunk monkey the 9mm, and relax.  No problems!