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[Twolanerider]

This came up in another thread 4-6 weeks ago.  A couple of the brethren had asked "did you do it yet?" so finally messed with it today.

If you've got a GPS for which Garmin uses a standard AMP mount (that's the 4 hole mount pattern) for its bracket this is a no-brainer simple little retrofit.  Unlike most retrofit chores you don't have to actually make anything.  Just have to be brave enough to drill three big holes in your windshield.  Whole task took an hour start to finish and that included putting tools away.  So don't let this one worry anyone.

I already like it much better than any handlebar mount option.  The GPS unit ended up at about the same distance to me as is the speedometer.  Plus is that it's up at just about line of sight.  Another plus is that if you've got bluetooth anything (helmet, earphones, etc) you've now got tunes on a Road King without having to add any ugly bar mounted speakers or other nonsense. 

Parts list at the end.  For fellow Road King riders (or any bike with a large enough windshield), here you go.

This part faces the world.  It's on the front of the windshield and has three threaded holes.  It's mount holes go through the windshield (drilling 3/8 holes) with the GPS mount bracket on the inside.  Sandwiched between are gaskets on each side.

[Twolanerider]

Reverse side of the same part.  Gaskets come cut to fit and holes already threaded.  All you really have to do for this is measure a bit, drill three holes and bolt it all together.

[Twolanerider]

Tape everything up.  Use the inner bracket for your template (it has through holes so you can stick a marker through it).  Fine the up-and-down placement you like best relative to windshield bags, your height, etc.  Line it up side to side for center.  Be sure and keep it level and drill three holes.

[Twolanerider]

If you are very talented your three holes will be absolutely perfect and you won't need to take a Dremel with a small sanding wheel and ever so slightly enlarge a couple of the holes so it all slides together without having to force anything.  I was definitely that talented (yeah, right).

[Twolanerider]

Here you'll see the Garmin supplied bracket that is specific to whatever model GPS unit you have.  It attaches to an AMP mount bracket that is intermediate between the Garmin part and the inner windshield bracket.  That inner windshield bracket sandwiches the AMP intermediate bracket.  In between the two "stands" is a metal threaded reinforcement that the whole system tightens up on the sides from to keep the installed GPS from rocking up and down.  It's all but foolproof when assembled.

[Twolanerider]

Assembly from above.  Different perspective view just to see it all together better.

[Twolanerider]

With the GPS unit on the mount it looks like this from the saddle.  As close as the speedometer and easy to see and reach.  It's going to work quite well in use.

[Twolanerider]

Once again different perspective just to see what's there.

[Twolanerider]

From the front of the bike.

[Twolanerider]

...and what'll be staring at you when the GPS unit is dismounted and the weather cap is on.

[Twolanerider]

Parts list.  This a mix of Softail Convertible and Deluxe GPS windshield mount parts.  Neither worked as well on their own as this combination did as an assembly.  This is the easiest simplest retro parts list.

Qty 1      76000194   Outer W/S Mount Decorative Plate

Qty 2      76000195   Windshield Mount Gaskets

Qty 1      76000196   Inner W/S Mount Plate

Qty 3      2467      Screws through W/S

Qty 3      7718      Lockwashers for 2467

Qty 1      76000198   Inner AMP mount bracket (this is the piece your Zumo specific bracket will bolt to

Qty 1      76000199   Threaded pin to support center of AMP mount

Qty 2      2994      Thumbscrews to tighten 76000199 and tighten GPS unit

Qty 4      3164M   Screws to attach Zumo specific mount to AMP mount plate

Qty 4      6150W   Washers, not sure if I ended up using these or not.  I think not but
                                         instead used 4 small washers that came with the Zumo specific mount plate.
   
#19 shown in 2012 convertible exploded view not supplied by Harley.  Don’t sweat it.  They come with the Zumo specific version of the Garmin mount bracket.

Beyond this parts list you’ll need the Garmin mount bracket specific to your Zumo model, the weather cap for that bracket and a two wire mini Deutsch (DTM) or some other weathertight two wire plug to power the Zumo unit.

[Twolanerider]

Only thing not shown here is what to do with the bah (big assed harness) that come attached to the Garmin bracket.  If you're like me you don't need nor want all the attachments that are there.  Don't sweat it.  It's not a big deal to open the thing up, strip out what you don't need and leave just the two wires for power and ground.  I didn't do it on this one today but have on a couple others previously.  It's not a big deal other.

When you do that you might either leave the two wire connection you create dangling just above the nacelle for easy disconnect with the detachable windshield or leave it just a little longer.  Then your plug would be hidden inside the nacelle.  A little neater that way you'd just have to fish the plug up out of the hole beside the riser before taking the windshield off.

[Twolanerider]

There you go.  Took almost as long to make this thread as it did to do the deed to the bike.  I already like this a lot better than handlebar ball mount.

[J.D.]

Wow that's clever.  Very nice.

[Chains]

Looks great Don. I have never been a fan of handlebar mounted GPS systems.  About 4 years ago I mounted mine to my windshield with a stick on ball mount. Using 3M primer before attaching so far they have stuck like they were a part of the windshield itself.  I run the wire between the inner fairing and the back of the windshield by cutting a 1/8 radius notch in the fairing to fit the power wire. I get the power and ground off the cigarette lighter inside the fairing.  To keep the shake to a minimum I attached a piece of weatherstripping to the bottom of the mount so it lightly touches the hog tunes tweeter dash. I really like the looks of yours, may go that route next time. Good job.