Custom iPod Holder (Beta Version)

[bmccrary]

Well,
Some of you have seen pictures of my bike now that it is set up in sport tour mode. I have added an intercom system to the bike which has an axuliary imput on it. For the trip I managed to zip tie an old case to the handlebars to hold the iPod while on the road. However this failed when on bumpy roads because the shock the bars would feel would cause the hard drive inside the iPod to skip. Which is really bad for it, lol.

I could purchase a newer Nano iPod since it is a flash drive style and it wouldnt skip on me, however that will cost more money that it is worth. That and I have alot more music than those will hold. Currently up to 15GB of music...

Since I have access to a machine shop here at school I figured I could fab up something. First I had to come up with a solid idea and model it so I could have something to go by.

I am going to make a clamp for the handlebars and have a flat plate fixed to it. From there I ordered some low density rubber/foam stuff from McMaster Carr. They foam will be about 2 inches thick and will be glued to the plate and then a case for my iPod will be glued to the foam.

My thinking is that the foam will allow the iPod to move a bit and not feel the impact that if felt before. I just finished up the Solid Model of the idea on Solid Works.

I couldnt get the screen shot stuff to work for me, so I just took some pictures of my monitor and croped them, lol.





I will need a small peice of sheet Al or steel. That and a peice of Al or Steel that is 2"x2"x2". I will be able to get that from the scrap bins and then the bolts I will have to purchase however I have all the bits and taps needed. I think I will spend roughly 40 bucks total in the project. Case, rubber and bolts.

Just thought I would share. I will be sure to post some pics as I get in the machine shop. I am hoping to have it done on Tuesday evening. I would like to use it this week as I go riding with my parents up to WV over the 4th. It all depends on how long it takes McMaster to get the rubber here.

-bryan

[koolfz6]

That looks great. Although i have the nano style, second gen.


Nice work. Hope it works out for ya.

[bikerider]

Originally Posted by koolfz6

That looks great. Although i have the nano style, second gen.


Nice work. Hope it works out for ya.

I bought this mount for my Nano. Works great. Well made, But kinda scratched my nano from sliding it in and out. But i love it anyways.

eBay Motors: Ipod 2nd Gen nano motorcycle harley bicycle mount mp3 (item 250231193656 end time Jul-27-08 22:35:04 PDT)

[bmccrary]

Yeah I wish I had a nano in a way. The flash drive style works much better for the vibrations and such.
I would be afraid that case wouldnt hot the iPod after times of sliding in and out.

-bryan

[OneTrack]

Although I haven't tried the system on my bike yet, I plan to put my Gen3 iPod Nano in my tank bag and connect it to my TomTom GO 720 (mounted in my RAM mount on the bars) using the available interface cable. The TomTom will display the iPod controller. I connect my earbuds to the TomTom and I'm off to the races. The TomTom displays my playlist and what's playing. The music cuts out when Susan's giving directions as well. Nice.

[Rocky529]

Looks good. The only part that concerns me is the gluing of the foam and the iPod case... take a piece of aluminum and mill out a pocket for the iPod maybe?

[bmccrary]

Originally Posted by OneTrack

Although I haven't tried the system on my bike yet, I plan to put my Gen3 iPod Nano in my tank bag and connect it to my TomTom GO 720 (mounted in my RAM mount on the bars) using the available interface cable. The TomTom will display the iPod controller. I connect my earbuds to the TomTom and I'm off to the races. The TomTom displays my playlist and what's playing. The music cuts out when Susan's giving directions as well. Nice.

Thats pretty trick!

What helment are you using? With my intercom system I had to get a helmet that has the pockets for speakers in the ears. Basicly just a piece of fabric in the ear hole area. That and the there isnt any of the padding behind the ear so that the speaker will fit.

Anyway, with the intercom system there are a set of small speakers and a patch cord to run to them up to the helmet. No more putting in the ear buds and trying to hold them in as I try to slide the helmet on.

If you helmet has the set up to hold some small speakers, you may want to look into buy a set of the old school head phones and breaking the cross bar off and inserting the speakers into the pockets. Run the wires to one side of your lid and then run an extention wire from your ipod under the tank and in between the seat. Have a disconnect point right there so you can plug the speakers in there.



Might make since if you see the picture there. Coming right out of the seat is the main connection. Then from there the patch cord runs up to another connection and a junction on the side of the helmet. Speakers and mic are inside the lid.

It might be worth a shot making something up if it makes life a little bit easier.

-bryan

[bmccrary]

Originally Posted by Rocky529

Looks good. The only part that concerns me is the gluing of the foam and the iPod case... take a piece of aluminum and mill out a pocket for the iPod maybe?

The ipod needs to be attached to the foam to prevent the iPod from the vibrations and impacts. I was going to use my KA glue. The stuff I use to hold the tires to my wheels on my RC cars. That stuff is amazing! The only way to get it off is to subject it to extreamly high heat through boiling or oven baking or you can soak the tire in Acetone. However the stuff isnt nice to certain foams. So I will test on a small area to see. But they do make the same stuff that is foam safe for the model airplanes.

-bryan