RAM mount mod
 

I would like to share a �hack� that I used to mount my SatNav to my XT660Z T�n�r�, which I think worked out rather well.

You will need:

• 1 good quality golf ball
• hacksaw
• sharp knife
• drill press (or a steady hand) and drill bits up to 12mm
• sharpie (optional)

Start with a decent quality golf ball. It doesn't have to be new, but we need the core that only the better branded balls seem to have. The cheaper, �driving range� balls are solid all the way through.

Use a hacksaw to saw a groove along the circumference of the ball. Not too deep � only about 3-5mm, as we are only removing the cover at this point.
Once you've removed the cover you should see what looks like a ball of rubber bands. Use a knife to remove the rubber band wrapping. This will leave you the core; a solid rubber ball almost exactly the same size as a 1� RAM ball mount.

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._165313013.jpg

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._165447623.jpg

Next, drill a 12mm hole through the ball. I started by drilling a pilot hole with my smallest drill bit, then worked up through the sizes until I got to 12mm.

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._174816286.jpg

Cut a slot with the hacksaw in one side of the ball, parallel to the hole of course, so you can slip the ball over the rail above the instruments.

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._175133338.jpg

You can paint the ball to match your bike at this point if you wish. I used a sharpie to colour mine.

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._180353672.jpg

Finally, fit the ball to the rail, then the RAM extension arm over the ball and install your GPS. Job done!

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._180637743.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/o..._181436626.jpg


(apologies for the poor quality photos)

Nice one
 

Cracking solution, may well have a go at that. Cheers

Thanks for that, it looks realy good.

Genius! Great job fella. Love to see mods that are made in the garage!

:kneel:

That's brilliant!

If you are lazy and have more money than sense, you can buy one of these:
http://buybits.com/ultimate-addons-m...sku-14944.html

Good poorpatech mod! :)
I went for the lazy way

:023: Great idea!

10/10 for inventiveness.

Excellent.

Man in a shed thinking - I like it.

Very neat idea, nice bit of problem solving.

This also lead to a new google banner for RAM, which is great change from Coffee, Pedders suspension & Air B&B which made a nice change. Cheers mate.:042:

Gday
Just got a 2010 Ten with a Garmin zumo 550, have you tried this off road, do you get much vibrations on the unit mlunted this way?
Looks a great idea
Cheers
Crunch

Great idea !!! I've been wondering how to get a ram mount ball onto the satnav bar; I'll try that idea tomorrow!!!
Another great idea from the forum

Devils Advocate...
 

Dont get me wrong, I think this was a fantastic idea and brilliantly executed but I'm worried.

With all the instances of the headlight/satnav bracket failing I am very hesitant at mounting anything on there especially if the bike sees rough or corrugated terrain whatsoever. My only worry with this mod is the leverage the ramount imposes on the bracket will amplify the vibrations and I expect will make the bracket fail.

That is unless the bike is basically for commuting and wont see any offroad but then I doubt you would buy a Ten for that, we all love getting them dirty.

As I said, not knocking the idea or execution as I think it was excellent, just unfortunately I dont think these nav mounts are upto ANY additions let alone the leverage the Ramount imposes.

Matt.

What brand golf ball did you use? I've cut 4 open and they're solid under the outer skin.

Could you tell me which golf ball you used please. Just cut up 2 which were wrong

Have a look at this. Might not be of any help, but it's very interesting!

I too liked this idea and also couldn't find the right golf ball, so I bought a ram mount for a go pro (�1.60 or there about inc postage from Hong Kong on eBay)
And cut the ball off that instead and drilled and cut it the same way, bike is being kept at a friends whilst I have some building work done, so can't get any pics sorry, I will let you know how I get on with it when I get a chance to test it out

Thanks. Much easier than finding the right golf ball

Damn golf balls don't have rubber strings in anymore, all solid ball inside cover

Will find one, must have mod done

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...olf%20ball.jpg

Don't bother. Use the ram ball on eBay.

just popped round to my mates and got a pic of said mount, you have to be carefull drilling it as its a plastic ball covered in rubber, with not much room for error. I cut the base off first and used the flat surface to drill through also i put mine in a cup of boiling water to help soften it to get it on the bike, not tried a ride with it yet, but have had the sat nav mounted, and all seems ok

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...620_150224.jpg

I live in South Africa, rand vs $ hurts the pocket :YellowWow_KKPB92:

Don't worry. The seller for a ram ball is in China. Cost me less than �2. That's R44 and hopefully still afordable

Made a bracket and moved my GPS, will test it over the next two days
Trip coming up

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5603/3...31da138d_b.jpg

Looks good, Seahorse also made a good strong bracket for the GPS. Steve

Not happy with homemade bracket, too much vibration, so I re did it
Much better

https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/418/31...5b06e64b_b.jpg

Looks good. The test will be the gravely farm roads with constant vibrations.

Just had a go at this and fell at the first hurdle. After cutting through several golf balls could find no rubber core, but a search on amazon has revealed these;
[IMG]https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ySsjqBaZL._SL1447_.jpg

( https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

so gonna give them a go!