Using GPS on a bike/riding through Bangkok

[buksida]

Whilst planning this ride through Bangkok, I asked to borrow my mates GPS as I'd be literally lost without one. First thing he said was how are you going to power it? Now I'd always assumed they had batteries and could be recharged, apparently they need to be plugged into a cigarette lighter at all times to function. Doh.

Pulling apart a brand new bike and splicing into the wiring loom is not really an option! Neither is spending 10k on an all-singing GPS.

So that leaves me heading into the big smoke without a GPS, and not allowed to ride on the expressways ... any one any ideas before I cancel the trip and end up getting soaked riding to Phuket instead?

[Ginjaninja]

Buksida,
it's easy enough to power up the G.P.S. You can hard-wire directly to the battery and it should come with an in-line fuse. Took my literally 15 mins. Without powering off the bike battery the G.P.S. will drain pretty quickly and you would be lucky to get to Hua Hin with it (from B.S.).
I find my phone far better as a G.P.S. however obviously not practical on the CBR. I haven't had much luck using my G.P.S. as you well know however if you find the location you want manually on the G.P.S. and click on that (e.g. the bridge at Phra Pradaeng) and aim for that it works ok.
I'm with Pete... head for Pattaya and make a weekend of it.
GN.

[dtaai-maai]

I'd rather get wet going to Phuket than go anywhere near Bkk.
I thought I had somewhere a very good one-piece rain suit (folded up in a bum bag type belt) from the UK, but after 10 years of it not being used and several moves, I have no idea where it is.
It was very effective in cold wet English winter weather - and it was from my slim days, so would fit you well!
If Mrs D-M can find it, I'll let you know.

[buksida]

The phone with Google Maps does seem to be a better GPS than the dedicated GPS devices I have seen. The problem is that it too eats battery and it needs to be permanently online to work, I'll have to stop every ten minutes to re-check it and make sure I haven't missed the turning.

I hate riding in the rain (a 100% certainty if I go to Phuket) especially 5 hours of it, plus I'll need a night there and possibly one in Ranong on the way back where I'll get pissed on again. (Thanks for the offer though DM).
BKK I can break with HH so the plan was to ride up and back from HH in the same day.

Its just a matter of confidence and navigation I guess - not knowing where I can/can't take the bike, can/can't turn right etc is the frustration - add that to the fact I dont have a number plate yet. I have a potential route planned out that involves taking the 3091 off Route 35 at Samut Sakhon (or Route 9 off 35), turn right onto Petchkasem Rd (Route 4), turning left onto Santiwong Rd, over Rama 7 bridge, into Rachadaphisek Rd, turn left onto Lad Phrao Rd, then left again onto the road that runs below the Chalong Expressway, BigWing is about 3km down this road (13.805950, 100.616781).

What could possibly go wrong!?!?!?!

[Dannie Boy]

BIB?

[Hilux]

Whilst planning this ride through Bangkok, I asked to borrow my mates GPS as I'd be literally lost without one. First thing he said was how are you going to power it? Now I'd always assumed they had batteries and could be recharged, apparently they need to be plugged into a cigarette lighter at all times to function. Doh.

Pulling apart a brand new bike and splicing into the wiring loom is not really an option! Neither is spending 10k on an all-singing GPS.

So that leaves me heading into the big smoke without a GPS, and not allowed to ride on the expressways ... any one any ideas before I cancel the trip and end up getting soaked riding to Phuket instead?

Hi Buksida
If you go through the route using Google streetview, you get a chance to note down what signs to follow, and you will have an idea of what the route looks like and where to take care.
Still, If you have the option of borrowing a GPS, it would be very easy to wire it to the battery as GN suggests. It is very easy as well to remove the wire again after use if you don't need it anymore. But even if you go with the GPS, I will suggest you go through the route on Google streetview since the GPS is not always easy to interpret - especially inside BKK.

Hilux

[sandemb]

Shame the ferry stopped running, HH - Patts. Any news if it will eventually start again?

[buksida]

That is a damn fine idea Hilux, will certainly do so. Dont much like the look of the heavy cloud cover today though!

The Pattaya ferry topic can be found here sandemb: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5520

[Nereus]

Just be aware that the section of Petchkasem Rd (Route 4), that you refer to is one big construction zone with the extension of the BTS. I was over there just 2 weeks ago and looking at Google street view will not show it as it actually is. The road is reduced to 2 lanes for the most part, and is blocked up for most of the day.

You can get from the east end of Petchkasem Rd on to the section that leads to Taksin Bridge, which will bring you to Sathorn Rd, Rama 4 and then Rachadaphisek Rd. Again, it is unlikely that street view will show how it is now, as several parts are diversions.

[buksida]

Cheers for that, might be better to take Ratchapruk Rd off route 9 then and avoid Petchkasem all together.

[J.J.B.]

Choice number one would be wiring-in a 12V accessory socket that could live under the seat or elsewhere and could come straight off the battery, which is most likely also under the seat. You could always remove it afterwards or keep it as an upgrade to the bike and use it to power other devices during your period of ownership (portable kettle for your Bovril, for example).

If that's not something you want to entertain then I'd look at the Sat Nav itself. Chances are it is designed to be plugged into a computer via a USB port and will likely charge from that 5V supply too. I know this is the case with most Garmin units but you'd need to check with a nonamo brand. Then, you can use an external battery booster (3rd floor of MV) to run a USB cable to the unit and it should provide power for your journey there and back. Perhaps even a USB solar charger in a tank bag could do the trick?

Unfortunately I didn't bring my Garmin Zumo with me on this trip, otherwise you would have been most welcome to use it as it's designed for bikes and has a very good battery range. I did bring my 6600mAh USB pack with me though, it's about the size of a pack of smokes and if you want to use it, feel free, it claims to charge an iPhone three times over so should be sufficient for your needs.

That said, when I used the Zumo at Christmas to navigate BKK it was a nightmare because the built-up areas and raised expressways made it difficult to lock onto a GPS signal when I was at ground level.

[Big Boy]

That said, when I used the Zumo at Christmas to navigate BKK it was a nightmare because the built-up areas and raised expressways made it difficult to lock onto a GPS signal when I was at ground level.

I've had that problem in Bangkok (once) while driving my car. I'd taken a wrong turn, and ended up below the expressway, or whatever it's called. No problem I thought, the satnav will get me back on route. Looked at the screen, and saw the horrible greyed out map that means no GPS signal. In the end, I drove up the first ramp I could find, signal was restored, and the GPS plotted a new route immediately.

[buksida]

Planning my route I've noticed a lot of these:

It seems that bikes are not even allowed on those little overpasses.

[Nereus]

How did you get the bike when you bought it? You did mention that the agents were very helpful, so have you asked them which way they would go?

[buksida]

They delivered it for 5800 baht.

They're super helpful when you're in there chatting away in Thai - not so when it comes to replying to emails.