How To Mount Nuvi 500 to RCU Tray???

[brprider679]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to mount a Nuvi 500/550 to a RCU accessory tray? I need some specific application advice if possible from someone who has successfully done this.

Thanks

[tf1200rt]

What model bike? If you are mounting on a R1200RT, I wouldn't use a RCU shelf. I had one and it tends to bounce around a lot on medium to rough roads. I would use a Migsel and RAM mounts.

[brprider679]

r1150rt. I looked at the Migsell but they don't offer anything that fits a Nuvi. Only the Zumo.

[Stig]

The Migsel mount simply attaches to the top of the dash above the gauges and provides a base to attach any RAM ball mount. To mount a Nuvi all you need is the RAM Nuvi cradle and a 1" connecting arm. You can use any length arm as long as it fits the ball mount, but I found that the longer arm length produces more vibration.

[Theo]

brprider -

I wouldn't purchase a shelf just for the Nuvi 500. I went through all this when mounting my Nuvi 550. My criteria were:

1. mounting as close to my line of sight as possible;
2. ease of removal;
3. rock-solid mounting.

Initially, none of the solutions I researched met my slant on the three criteria. However, this past summer, I attended the BMWRA rally in VT and saw the following Wunderlich Navigator mount (all stock photos):

Here it is mounted above the instrument cluster:

And the view from the front of the bike:

It mounts onto the existing hardware so no drilling is required. The faceplate can be adjusted to pivot up and down and is pre-drilled to accept just about any GPS cradle made. I purchased the Garmin Universal Mounting Cradle/Wiring kit which included the wiring and a very nice cradle that holds the Nuvi securely, but makes removal a snap:

The cradle also has a receptacle to protect and hold the power plug when not connected to the Nuvi. Obviously, I did not use the RAM ball mount.

IMHO, this Nuvi 5xx mounting system works very well and, should I wander into the Zumo 220 world (for the bluetooth audio), it will be a perfect fit for that unit as well. Of course, if you have other accessories that need mounting on the shelf, this may not work for you. In that case, I have heard terrific things about the BMR Co-Pilot system.