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C 400 GT/X: Added Small Shelf (Centered Behind Windscreen), Then Added RAM Ball To Shelf

wspollack

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Oct 15, 2016
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BACKGROUND:

I've long had one or more RAM balls on all my bikes for the past two decades or so, attached to handlebars and other areas.

On the C 400 GT, I took a very easy path right after I bought it, and added a "RAM 11mm Bolt Head Adapter Ball Base," part # RAM-B-252U (one of which I had lying around in my collection of RAM goodies):


I sandwiched that between the left bar-end weight and grip . In this case, that's a Wunderlich replacement bar-end, because I have their throttle lock on the other side, but this mounting setup will work the same with the stock bar-end:

pic10 2.webp

I've been using that mostly to hold an E-ZPass toll tag for rare highway runs, but more often for bridge tolls, crossing the Hudson River (shown here with a RAM 3" extension, connecting the B-252U to a vintage Techmount gripper):

pic20 2.webp

Just on general principles, however, I thought I'd also add another mounting option, in case I ever wanted to use a phone holder, or maybe move my GoPro camera around, etc. Having another mount, but this time more centered, seemed like a good idea.

So shortly after getting the bike, I ordered the "Easygo Motorcycle GPS Smart Phone Navigation Mount Bracket Adapter Mounting Holder support for BMW C400GT 2019-2021" on Amazon:


That consisted of two right-angle brackets and two choices of mounting-rod diameters to be affixed between them:

pic25 2.webp

I wasn't sure how I was going to use either rod for mounting anything, but there are plenty of products for adding balls to rods (such as mirror-stem mounts and photography clamps, for instance).

Unfortunately, those brackets didn't work with my Wunderlich "Marathon" windscreen. As I recall, there was an interference issue with the optional air vent. (Fortunately, Amazon cheerfully credited my account, and this was one of those cases in which Amazon also said, "just keep it, no need to actually return the product.")

FOREGROUND:

Surfing around (and I forget what prompted that, and it might even have been some post on the forum here) a couple of months ago, I came across the product "FOR BMW C400GT C 400 GT C400 GT Windshield Mount Navigation Bracket GPS Smartphone Holder Motorcycle" on AliExpress:


This was in late November, and it took only eight days to get here (upstate NY) after I ordered it.

This product is attached to the bike using the same two windscreen screws as the other product I rejected. In this case, however, the product-to-bike interface is a single metal piece with a couple of twists in it.

And it turns out that, with that one piece, there is no interference with the windscreen vent (or anything else).

This is a pretty nicely made device, and includes a mounting rod on a separate piece of thick metal. There are slots in the first piece, such that the second piece can be slightly adjusted fore and aft:

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My preference, however, was to ditch that second rod-holding piece, simply drill a 1/4" hole in the piece that mounts to the bike, and add a RAM ball:

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That's a "RAM 1" Diameter Tough Ball 1/4"-20 X .375" LONG," part # RAP-B-379U-252037:


The thread on that ball is, as stated, 1/4"-20 x 3/8" (0.375"), and I have a collection of 1/4"-20 bolts and nylon-insert locknuts, for general use on bike farkles and also because that's the thread size and pitch commonly used in photographic products such as tripod mounts. The thick metal is a perfect match with a locknut on the 3/8" length of the screw on the RAP-B-379U-252037 (and if you haven't figured this out, the "B" in RAM products refers to their 1"/25mm ball size, the most commonly used):

pic50 2.webp

And here's how it looks on the bike, when not in use:

pic65 2.webp

Last, here are a couple of pics of one version of a complete setup, which includes:

- The new shelf, with added RAM ball;

- A RAM 3" extension (partially visible);

- Peak Design's "Ball Mount Adapter, Non-Charging," https://www.peakdesign.com/products/ball-mount-adapter?Power=Non-Charging&Mount=Locking&Size=1in (not visible);

- And a Peak Design phone-specific case.

pic73 2.webp

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Bottom line: I'm pleased with the AliExpress shelf "FOR BMW C400GT C 400 GT C400 GT Windshield Mount Navigation Bracket GPS Smartphone Holder Motorcycle" -- https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804088859809.html -- and recommend it.

PS:

Speaking of shelves, I have several boxes of connecting gear in my garage. One contains assorted GoPro doodads, and another has various clamps for 15mm rods (a common size for attaching photography devices to tripod supports, etc.).

And a third contains assorted RAM and RAM-compatible connectors that I've accumulated over the years. To help establish that I know a fair amount about such products -- I'm a real RAM fanboy, I guess -- I just emptied that box:

pic80 2.webp

You can see extensions of various lengths (minus a couple of the 3" ones which, as you've seen, I currently use), assorted ball mounts, a couple of ancient phone holders, a "claw," and a keyed lock replacement for an extension-tightening knob. When @Delray stopped by up north here this past summer, for a brief visit on his way home to Florida, it came up in conversation that he was in need of a RAM extension for a GPS, or his phone, or something. I let him take his pick, and he decided on a 2" extension (and you can see that I still have another one); as I say, I prefer the 3" with its included spring, but there's no accounting for taste.
 
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Bill, respect - appreciate your diligence in thought and write up. A credit to you and your team mindedness. Cheers.
Hey, thanks very much for the kind words.

But in all fairness: I'm retired, and don't ride in the winter even on nice days (salt, etc., on the roads), so I have to do something to keep busy.
 
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