TomTom Rider V5 Hardwiring to BMW Can Bus Port (Aux Port / Sat Nav Port)

BMW F800GSA Sat Nav Port

BMW very kindly supply you with a Can Bus Supported Auxiliary Port on a range of their bikes that means you can easily wire your Sat Nav into the bike, meaning it will be powered from the battery of the motorcycle, however when you turn the bike off the Can Bus System then shuts down the power to the sat nav a short time later resulting no power going to the sat nav cradle and no battery drain.

Well that is the theory anyway, however some users have experienced battery drain and blame this set up, claiming that the Can Bus System isn’t compatible with their Sat Nav. That may be and BMW won’t say officially if that may be the case, stating only that their ‘Sat Nav’ port is for use solely with their Navigator System, and why not if you want to be 100% sure that everything is going to work beautifully together then you need to hand over £700 for the privilege.

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2015 Adelaide Motorcycle Festival – Belfast

Adelaide Motorcycle Festival 2015

It has been a year or two (2013 actually) since I have went near this show, but I ventured back today for a look with huge hopes that it had improved since my last visit.

Thankfully it has.  I will address the 2 bad points firstly that I came away with today – firstly £12 entrance fee is just crazy.  That is only slightly cheaper that the NEC’s Motorcycle Live which was simply outstanding.  This show is more like a gathering of dealers, with a range of their bikes that they want to sell you.  Nothing new, nothing revealed, just a load of nice and shiny bikes all in one place to tempt you out of a few hundred quid for the next 36 – 48 months, therefore I think it is a bit cheeky to be expected to pay such a high entrance fee to essentially enter a huge multi-manufacturer’s show room.

Secondly, on your way in you will pass by the ‘Jumble.’  Make sure you go in because there is simply some stunning vintage bikes and cars in here and a few interesting vendors.  However Bad point 2 is also in here.  Some of the vendors are just selling junk, and they genuinely don’t seem bothered.

My eye was taken by two quaint little signs, neither of which held any real world value, I just thought they would look rather cool in my garage.  Heres’ how the conversation went….

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