*URGENT* help with mounting a SPOT on an adventure bike

[Frank]

We bought a SPOT for my Father-in law for Fathers Day. He leaves Wednesday for the Arctic Circle, almost 9000 miles round trip. (Yeah, I'm jealous too)

We have a few important questions regarding mounting the spot. The manual says to keep it at least 12" from other GPS equipment. He is running a Garmin of course up front, and XM radio on the rear top box. He was considering mounting the SPOT on the top box with velcro.

After looking his bike over this evening, I suggested mounting on the top of his side bag. He will be placing gear on the top of the hard bags but runs ROK straps. I thought clipping it to the ROK strap would be perfect.

I guess our questions are:
-How well do these SPOT devices handle weather?
-How much of a line of sight to the sky do they need?
-Do they handle vibration ok? He is on a KTM 990 and plans to run lots of washboard roads between here and there...
-Anything we should avoid when mounting the SPOT?

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[jphrse]

I personally put mine in my jacket pocket and have had no issues with the signal. Not to mention if I am launched from the bike and hurt I can still reach it to activate it for help.

 

[Scott Brady]

I just toss it in my bar pack or the top of my tank bag - works great.

 

[WU7X]

Great timing for this conversation! I spoke with Jay of Sasquatch Suspensions down at the Hell's Canyon ride this weekend. He is planning on finding a way to mount his SPOT on his riding jacket sleeve. the idea is that if you get thrown away from the bike you can still reach and activate it. My concern is landing on it it and hurting oneself even more. I'm serious about this. the energy released from your body slamming into the ground during an "unintended dismount" is pretty high.

My SPOT is activated via my PN60W. The GPS is already mounted on the handlebar, so am thinking of mounting the SPOT on the Pelican case attached directly behind my seat.

 

[Gooseberry]

Keep it on your person. I had a friend that had a unexpected get off and was separated from the bike and could not get to the spot.

 

[Howard70]

If You Mount On Bike

Gooseberry:

This may be too late, but if you decide that you want to mount it on the bike (I don't mean to argue with others who prefer carrying it on their bodies), I found the RAM mount perfect when I carried mine on a Husqvarna 610. There's a photo attached.

They are a common RAM product so many online vendors carry them (Google shopping search). If I was doing this again, I wouldn't change a thing.

Howard L. Snell

 

[Frank]

My father in law has been riding with his for a week now. He is almost to Alaska.

Thanks for all of the replies. He wasn't interested in carrying it on his body. So far, its been through all of the elements just fine. Huge thumbs up for SPOT!


20110622-DSC_0561 by Frank Vest, on Flickr

 

[Dave Bennett]

I think it would be cool if the SPOT had a "dead man" leash that clips to the rider and when when detached during bike/rider separation it sends out an automatic distress signal.

 

[matt s]

Mine came with an arm band to wear around your bicep. On the person would be the best way to go IMO.

 

[sandalscout]

I think it would be cool if the SPOT had a "dead man" leash that clips to the rider and when when detached during bike/rider separation it sends out an automatic distress signal.

Yeah, something like that, maybe coupled with a timer to prevent accidental activiation from walking off, would be pretty sweet.

 

[Gooseberry]

probably no perfect way to attach a spot but to have it in the first place is way better then not. How about a G sensor like they have in the race trucks to single if the threshold is gone over( it would be a high one so to not trip on the trail)

 

[Frank]

update. the spot flew off the bike. I dont know how he had it mounted, but its gone.

the last fired cord. it fired are 63.69921 , -142.26038

It sitting between Chicken and Tetlin Junction on State Highway 5/Taylor Highway. Well, here is the link to the thing:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0q7jWYa6xgYHaxo5xMnvdG1cHUMDdACY6


If anyone wants to geocache in Alaska, it would be much appreciated

 

[matt s]

If I were up that way I would do in a heart beat. Sadly I am committed locally for the time being.