Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

I live right on the east side of the mountains where it basically turns into Kansas.

 

Car seat mod, definitely

 

Almost doubled the groms mileage today, I'm at a whopping 38 miles now. Also slapped on some "Verge Washers" that Kemimoto send over to me. Not sure how I feel about them, I didn't hate the silver accent of the stock body panel washers, but also I don't mind the more blacked out look. I need to investigate what it would take to use Monkey rearsets (which are stock black and don't have passenger pegs) on a Grom. I've heard they fit with little modification..

 

I spent a fair amount of time the other day watching all your updates on YouTube. Even looked up a high exhaust for you.

http://tyga-performance.com/product_info.php?products_id=5552

 

For those on a dirt bike (or anyone, really) what are your thoughts on off grid gps? I’m undecided on two options.

Option 1. Mount my phone to handlebars and use it for gps and have a Garmin messenger in my backpack that I can use for sending off grid texts to my wife.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/793265

Option 2. Get a nicer Garmin that does both gps and satellite communication and have that on my handlebars.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/699779


I just want to be able to track my routes so can re-ride stuff in the future that I find fun but also so I can find my way back to my truck. Either one should do the trick, I just worry about the ruggedness and battery life of having my phone on my handlebars.

 

I think you always want to have the garmin on your person. Like the InReach mini 2? Just in case your bike goes off a cliff and you dont..

 

That’s a good point. The Garmin messenger is so small and light that it would be pretty unobtrusive in my pack. Alternatively in a shit goes sideways situation, my phone would also be on my person and the new iPhone has emergency satellite communications. I think either one would be ok and I'm really just over thinking it.

 

That gps seems kinda expensive too. I just got a Garmin Zumo XT for 550, but it cant send texts. Also more aimed at on road + off.

 

I think most people are going to recommend against a phone on the handlebars, especially on a vibe-y single cylinder. That'll wreck the optical stabilization on your camera lens pretty quickly. Vibration damping mounts exist, but having wrecked two iphones (granted it was a few years back) I have trust issues. Could always buy an older burner phone and use downloaded maps or do some heavy googling and see if anyones thrashed the new iphone camera on one yet.

Messenger looks like a mini but without as large of a screen, looks pretty slick. I have an inreach mini and am just annoyed by having to use a monthly plan with it. I turned the plan off back in October-ish and will probably reactivate in the Spring/Summer. I kept my mini on my shoulder strap for easy access in SHTF moments. Luckily haven't had to use it yet. It was nice to send my wife quick "at the trail" or "stopped for lunch" or "heading home" messages when I was out riding with no service and so she didn't freak out when my bread crumb stopped.

 

Thanks for watching! Hopefully I didn't ramble on too much for you, known issue with my videos haha

Funny enough, I actually have their dual high mount system bookmarked from a few weeks ago:



They seem like a decent company and do a lot of HRC parts and in reality the price of their single can exhausts is super competitive and beats out the known name brands (V+H, yosh, etc)

 

@EatSleepTacos My $.02 and possible over kill.

It will take a beating and keep working. Direct sun light and still be able to see the screen, unlike a phone that will wash out in bright light or shut down from getting hot.

No coms tho. Personally I like them separate incase you get thrown from the bike, you would still have the inreach on your person. (Might be a me thing). Also a big size (plus for my old eyes). been looking at them for years and the price has come way down. Still have yet to go that route. If the actual Baja racers use ‘em…. They gotta be good.

https://www.lowrance.com/lowrance/type/fishfinders-chartplotters/trophy-5m-baja/

 

I’ll have to look at that too. There are even other bike specific gps’s that I’ve been eyeing but none have that Garmin inreach of course. I’m just unsure how much I’ll actually need gps which is why I’m so uncertain about what I want.

 

You could also look at getting a carplay screen. There was a series of posts maybe 10 pages ago about it. Tons of apps that'll let you load up gps maps, plan and load routes, or breadcrumb your routes, plus like you said your phone already does satellite SOS. Gaia, REVER, etc.

Edit: this kind of a deal.. rebranded by a bunch of different companies but Im guessing it's all one factory:

$100 IYING Wireless CarPlay Wireless Android Auto Touchscreen for Motorcycle, Waterproof 5" Touch Screen Device GPS Navigation via CarPlay/Android Auto for Motorbike, Dual Bluetooth

https://www.amazon.com/IYING-Touchscreen-Motorcycle-Waterproof-Navigation/dp/B0BQ71FFM3

 

Check eBay, mine was half that price for the same unit. They are all over from 150-300. It works good and you can stream audio to your headphones/helmet. Works good with gloves too.

 

I need to call Progressive tomorrow and sort out this insurance BS. I added the Tuareg to the insurance, price went up accordingly for having a second bike. I sold the 250 Rally today and went to remove it from the policy and the website says the price will increase even though I am insuring fewer bikes.

 

Ridgeline problems for sure!

Edit: how is adding one bike and removing another result in fewer bikes?

 

He had one, added a second, and had that rate. Then he sold one and wanted to drop to one bike and they are saying it'll cost more than the two bikes did