I'm looking for an elegant way to mount an iPhone on my 696, primarily for listening to music. Ultimately, I would like a waterproof mount, connected to battery for charging, with bluetooth to amplified helmet speakers (since I wear earplugs).
So far, I have not found any option or combination of options that I am happy with.
I was thinking about the iBike rider, which velcros to the handlebars, but it's not an elegant solution.
But I think this product holds promise, although it's targeted toward bicycles.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/dahon-iphone-bike-mount-is-waterproof-shockproof/ (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/dahon-iphone-bike-mount-is-waterproof-shockproof/)
A video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJg_VzOBVN0# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJg_VzOBVN0#)
This may be what I'm looking for... waterproof...easy to put it... run a power cable to battery using a harness, add a bluetooth helmet speaker and I'm set! This should be great for TomTom too. (Although I would suggest pulling over prior to using the touchscreen.)
As far as the bluetooth, I've read all the reviews at http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/) and I'm not convinced about any of them. (Plus, I'm reading about bluetooth interference on the forum...)
UPDATED: I've installed and created a blog entry detailing the results at http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix (http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix)
Based on a recommendation or two from these forums, I think I am leaning towards the J&M Bluetooth Headset.
http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=HS-BLU277EDR-FF&PF=30 (http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=HS-BLU277EDR-FF&PF=30)
Bluetooth + iPhone + Motorcycle = Fail. I've tried an abundance of configurations. All of them are inferior to wired connectivity.
the thing i've noticed is that the iphone with the touch screen and even the regular ipod are useless with gloves on, they don't work.
Quote from: sbrguy on November 25, 2009, 08:32:52 AM
the thing i've noticed is that the iphone with the touch screen and even the regular ipod are useless with gloves on, they don't work.
Quote from: sbrguy on November 25, 2009, 08:32:52 AM
the thing i've noticed is that the iphone with the touch screen and even the regular ipod are useless with gloves on, they don't work.
I'm.sorry but I'll have to disagree entirely with you on that! It all depends on weather conditions (relative humidity & temp) as well as the gloves you're wearing.... I wear smx technik gloves and I can access and control my iphone with my gloves on always, live in Miami.
As for the iPhone & speaker solution, id recommend the Element Fastrack Bluetooth helmet by Oneill, now for the holidays only $200 down from $280 on motorcycle-superstore! It's a great deal and it's amazing.... I have 2 of these and they are really the future, they work as advertised, great stereo audio quality, mic, windnoise cancelling system and the ability to pair to multiple Bluetooth devices and switch between them at the touch of a button! So I cam be listening to my music fromy iPhone and take a call, switch to my Bluetooth gps and get directions, receive or call my passengers helmet for a chat or another rider who has Bluetooth or the same helmet.... In addition to defining who h helmet is the driver and passenger so it gives the drivers call priority over anything else the passenger might be listening to. Battery lasts over 100hrs on stand by seriously I charge mine once a week and leave it on 24hrs a day every day..... And as far as usability I have to say it makes riding with a passenger 1000 more fun, also buy a Bluetooth unit with an audio jack in and you can send anything through to your helmet. I know some companies that sell those dongles, I'll look it up and post it. And here's the cherry on the cake, any Bluetooth system starts at $200 up so that right there is the cost of the helmet. Believe me you won't be dissapointed, I'm a gadget freak and have high standards for this type of things as well as being a professional music producer & engineer and I gotta say great performance, ease of use, connectivity and audio quality.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/5/1/0/576/DCLASS/Element-Street-Bike-Full-Face-Helmets-Mens-Riding-Gear.aspx?SiteID=Google_Element_fastrack&WT.mc_ID=10001&WT.srch=1&gclid=CMPwxLn_xJ4CFRaenAodK1FspA (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/38/5/1/0/576/DCLASS/Element-Street-Bike-Full-Face-Helmets-Mens-Riding-Gear.aspx?SiteID=Google_Element_fastrack&WT.mc_ID=10001&WT.srch=1&gclid=CMPwxLn_xJ4CFRaenAodK1FspA)
As for the mounts, I haven't found a solution yet nut keep coming back to the fact that if I have aN accident I WANT to have my iPhone on me, who knows where the moto will be and if it were mounted where the phone would end up at, so under this idea and with this gear I caN have it in my pocket the o ly thing is I can't select tracks or go through my address book.... For soemthong like that if I had the Zumo 660 gps then I could pair my iPhone to the gps and the gps to the hhelmet so I could go through my address book on the garmin gps unit still no control over thr music but hey just make a playlist.... ;)
Hope this helps, just my experience and $.002 since ive also been looking at diff possibilities as far as using the iPhone on my M696 goes.....
Here's the link to the Bluetooth dongle I mentioned above.... They have several product the one I was refering to is the Bluetooth adaptor (which you could plug into any two devcies in mono and hear at the same time or one in stereo.... Also if you have a regular iPod or a 1st gen iPhone (doesn't support AD2P) you can get the iPod Bluetooth adapter and make it work that way.
The comapny is Camos
http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myProducts.cfm?CategoryID=964%7CA%2FV%20Electronics (http://www.motowheels.com/italian/myProducts.cfm?CategoryID=964%7CA%2FV%20Electronics)
Well, I've yet to get my J&M Bluetooth helmet headset (but that Element Helmet looks nice), however, I have completed my installation. Take a look:
http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix (http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix)
Quote from: CGDaveMac on December 21, 2009, 07:11:16 PM
Well, I've yet to get my J&M Bluetooth helmet headset (but that Element Helmet looks nice), however, I have completed my installation. Take a look:
http://bit.ly/6BePLW (http://bit.ly/6BePLW)
WoooooWWWWWW [bow_down]
Nice, Looks fantastic!!!! Great job & Great Blog [thumbsup]
As an added bonus, depending on your exact configuration, it may be possible to record video of your ride. It doesn't quite work with the 696, though.
Hey CGDave Mac, is your blog down temporarily? I tried accessing the page to show it to a friend and it says its unavailable..... If it is down, do you think you could make a pdf of it an email it to me?
It is such a great post and I was just talking about it to a friend who was interested in doing something similar.
Thanks in advance
[thumbsup]
Quote from: preynoso on December 22, 2009, 05:32:39 PM
Hey CGDave Mac, is your blog down temporarily? I tried accessing the page to show it to a friend and it says its unavailable..... If it is down, do you think you could make a pdf of it an email it to me?
It is such a great post and I was just talking about it to a friend who was interested in doing something similar.
Thanks in advance
[thumbsup]
I had to change the file name, so if you used your history or clicked the link you quoted above, it's changed.
http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix (http://bit.ly/8rs8Ix)
Got it! Again, great blog and great article!! I saw on there you also program apps for iphones, pretty cool. Im a MacHead too 8), we should chat sometime. I have some cool ideas for an iphone app specifically for motorcycle riders.... [moto]
hey if you guys have found particular gloves or tricks to make the touch screen work through gloves, tell me!!!
i've tried to use my normal leather gloves and leather motorcycle gloves and its not happening at all, nothing changes on the screen.
thanks.
Hmmm... I have Scorpio EXO gloves that work fine.
Or... try this.
http://bit.ly/8AhFH8 (http://bit.ly/8AhFH8)
I had some requests to see a video... so I made one. It's linked at the bottom of my blog post.
...just installed this and I love it.
...and another vote for not being able to use it with glove on. Probably safer that way.
Edit: after riding a bit (and perhaps gloves got moist), I can use the iPhone while mounted. This is in line with what others have noticed (preynoso?).
Quote from: pompetta on March 13, 2010, 11:00:11 AM
...just installed this and I love it.
...and another vote for not being able to use it with glove on. Probably safer that way.
Edit: after riding a bit (and perhaps gloves got moist), I can use the iPhone while mounted. This is in line with what others have noticed (preynoso?).
[thumbsup]
Ill be getting mine soon!!!!
http://www.scosche.com/ (http://www.scosche.com/)
I have one for my ipod. Love it! Put the ipod in my pocket, the controls on the bars, and nothing to worry about. The controls are easy to work with gloves and then i dont have to worry about touching my ipod. I know they have adaptors for iphone too.
Quote from: ctrain on March 15, 2010, 10:59:09 AM
http://www.scosche.com/ (http://www.scosche.com/)
I have one for my ipod. Love it! Put the ipod in my pocket, the controls on the bars, and nothing to worry about. The controls are easy to work with gloves and then i dont have to worry about touching my ipod. I know they have adaptors for iphone too.
Exactly what product are you talking about?
Quote from: duccarlos on March 15, 2010, 02:07:09 PM
Exactly what product are you talking about?
http://www.scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/324/productID/1821 (http://www.scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/324/productID/1821)
I have an ipod classic (160GB) and a Nano 8GB (4 gen i think, its the one right before the nano with a camera on it) And the system works for both.
Quote from: ctrain on March 15, 2010, 03:20:45 PM
http://www.scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/324/productID/1821 (http://www.scosche.com/products/sfID1/210/sfID2/324/productID/1821)
I have an ipod classic (160GB) and a Nano 8GB (4 gen i think, its the one right before the nano with a camera on it) And the system works for both.
This is actually cool. Plus it's easy to transfer from the bike to the car. I might be investing on this puppy. I wonder if it's water proof.
Quote from: duccarlos on March 16, 2010, 05:29:10 AM
This is actually cool. Plus it's easy to transfer from the bike to the car. I might be investing on this puppy. I wonder if it's water proof.
Ive been through a rain storm with it and havent had any issues yet. However, while riding in the rain, not much gets onto i because the windscreen keeps most of the water off if you are moving. Id be hesitant leaving it in the rain if i wasnt riding though. I dont think it is actually water proof.
Very cool mod and personally very interesting, I'm working on something very similar as a pitch- GPS on iphone/android platform that is dedicated to motorcycle use. I hadn't seen this case, but I'm focusing more on making the software more at a glance and alternative input methods....I'm not a fan of any distractions on the bike, so using the current gps solutions kinda freaks me out.
I want to do something like this for my Droid. I just need to find a case that will work. The car dock has a ball on it. I might see if I can get the Ram mount handlebar adapter to fit into it and put a strap to stop it fram falling out of the dock just in case.