First ride out with a new Dakota gps and bike mount, the Dakota came flying off the mount twice within the first few minutes of semi-rough stuff. Not happy, considering returning the whole lot for a refund. Anyone else had a similar issue, or alternatively find the mount works ok? Could just be a problem with my mount and/or gps back I guess. Cheers.
Had my Etrex come off the handlebar mount twice, both times a different part had worked loose. Both cost me 67quid for the unit to be repaired / replaced by Garmin.
Me too, had an etrex come off recently and get run over. The Etrex mounts are quite well made to. I've seen reviews complaining about the Dakota / Oregon ones. I know make sure I wrap the lanyard around the bars as well.
it seems to be a weakness across the range, i have edge mounts on 4 bikes and they have all broken
Ta for the heads up. Just bought two mounts but not yet used them.
I've done thousands of miles with an Oregon on the bars - no problems at all.
Have to say, my Dakota is solid on the mount, its quite difficult to get off when I want to, definetly doesn't feel like it'll fall off..
Mine seems to be fine, I do always wrap the lanyard round just in case tho.
Will have to get a lanyard on mine when I get it back from repair / replacement again.
Well, this has been interesting reading.
For years I have had a basic E-trex and never had a problem. However, it has now detached itself from two different bike mounts.
I am guilty of turning bikes upside down so potentially mount has worn slightly. Don't feel happy with it on the bars at all now, which kind of defeats the object! I guess it could possibly be the actual back of the gps.
garmin geko has been fine for me for over 5 years now
Thanks for the feedback all, looks like the reliability of these things is variable to say the least. Tbh I haven't been super impressed with the Dakota anyway, & have decided to return it under distance selling malarky & wait for the next gen of "rugged" gps.
My anchient etrex seems to be flawless, presumeably as they got smaller they got more flimsy?
Ironically, I never had a problem with my Edge mount, and over quite a few years of Legend use, it only bailed a couple of times.
I've done a lot of bouncy rocky Dartmoor rides and my edge 305 on the new mount works well (the original mount was broken when I bought it off ebAy, and the new one I bought is noticeably beefier)
Are you mounting it on the bar or the stem? Mines on the stem, which probably adds a bit of ridgidity to the mount.
This the mount that cable ties onto the handlebars? My datoka has never fallen off, in fact its a bit of a struggle to unclip the thing at the end of every ride.
I did initially use the lanyard to tie it to the handlebars as well just in case but this has long since been removed.
I did a couple of years with an Edge & it never came off once, switched to a Forerunner 310xt which I leave on my wrist, saves taking it off for cafe stops etc & I run with it lots too.
I use the below mount from RAM for my eTrex. Very solid and has never come off. I also attatch the lanyard to the stem so even if it did come out of the mount it wouldn't go flying off [under a car wheel?!]
Maybe they do one for the Dakota?
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I mount mine on the toptube rather than the stem, seems more protected, and is less distracting.
same with my dakota too...its come off a few times up the peaks over rocky stuff even though its clipped in.....well lucky last time as it fell off i assumed it was a rock just hitting up, my mate behind me saw it fly off into a gulley of water, luckily wasnt deep and semi waterproof....so cautious using it around rocky stuff now, that it distracts me when going downhill 🙁