[jimjam66]

On the bike I listen to my iPod through an Autocom system, so I can answer my phone and talk to the Significant Other when she rides with me. BUT ...

... it's a freakin' pain to have to stop, select neutral, take off a glove, zip open the tankbag and switch off the iPod keylock before I can pause music. Surely there's an easier way?

Any suggestions?

 

[BeemerDude]

Haven't done it myself, however, many of our members have. There is a product called Ice Link see this url: http://densionusa.com/merchant/merc...=DU&Product_Code=I20_BMW&Category_Code=IA_BMW

Also check out the old archives for further info. regarding members who have used the product mentioned.

 

[jimjam66]

Thanks. Haven't looked too closely, but I think that's something which links into the stereo on the LT? Is it likely to work on a non-stereo-equipped ride such as the S?

 

[K1DUDE]

Did you get a remote with your ipod? I clip my remote to the edge of a map on my tank bag and can contol volume, skip a song, pause or turn the ipod on and off. All without taking off my gloves or stopping.
Also, you can pick up a wireless remote with larger controls and mount it any where you like.

 

[larrykay]

I have the engineered audi remote remote which plugs into the ipod and I have it attached to my handlebar with velcro and it works beautifully

 

[htheater]

Thanks. Haven't looked too closely, but I think that's something which links into the stereo on the LT? Is it likely to work on a non-stereo-equipped ride such as the S?

You are correct....the IceLink interfaces to factory stereos....not for you!

Check out this review. I purchased the Griffin AirClick for about $25 plus shipping from TigerDirect.com. There are cheaper prices listed on Amazon, but, add in their shipping and they end up near the same. I have purchased many other items from TigerDirect and have always received promptly and w/o incident.

BTW....the cradle will velcro to the left mirror of an RS and allow full control w/o removing your hand from the handlebar. The buttons are large enough (the reason I did not get the BLACK version of the RemoteRemote 2) to use with gloves!

Randy

 

[mconrad]

The iPOD remote is the easiest way. Like others who've posted, I run the remote from the iPOD which is inside my tankbag. I glued velco to the back of the remote so it sticks on my tank bag. The remote is much smaller than the air click. As a bonus, you plug your earplug into the end of the remote control which gives you plenty of room to run the wire wherever you want it. Nothing could be easier.

 

[htheater]

Which remote are you talking about? Can you provide a link?

OK....I did a little research since "iPod Remote" is used as a description for every remote out there! Apple offers two themselves. One is an IR remote and is used with the docking station and one is a hardwired remote. I assume you are talking about the hardwired remote.

A few comments:

IF you use a tankbag and keep your iPod and/or Autocom in it, then I can see how the hardwired is probably the best solution. This assumes a few things. First, that the buttons are large enought to easily use with gloves on (sometimes smaller is NOT better with electronics). Second, that you don't mind taking your hands off of the handlebar and looking down at your tank bag to see the controls on that small remote.

The AirClick remote is not large, but is larger than the keyfob sized RemoteRemote 2 and the hardwired iPod Remote. It comes with a mount and includes Velcro straps that very quikcly and easily attach to the RS mirror stalk, allowing you to keep your hands on the handlebar and not having to glance down as much as looking at a tank bag. Also, the buttons are large enough and spaced out far enough, it is very easy to hit the outer buttons (Play/Pause at the top and Volume UP/DWN at the bottom) without taking your eyes off of the road at all.

For me, since I only use the iPod and it is slipped into my jacket pocket with the cord running inside the jacket and then out the bottom and then up to the pocket, a wireless remote was a MUST.....I don't like the idea of any wires running from me to the bike.

When a decent wireless unit comes out, I will then get an Autocomm type device and add-in other things like the radar detector, GPS and Intercom.

Randy

 

[jimjam66]

Thanks for all this, guys. Like Randy I found the remote that comes with the iPod too small to use wth gloved hands and too awkward to position nicely so that I don't have to take my eyes off the road. Oh, and I also pulled it apart one day getting off the bike!! It went back together okay, but the slide to lock the keys was lost ... Doh!!

Randy, the AirClick looks great. Have you found it to be waterproof? If there's one thing the UK is known for, it's rain ...

 

[htheater]

Jim,

Good question. I have always taken the unit off when it rains (takes about 5 seconds). While being mounted to the mirror stalk is convienent, the unit it out in the open (Pic 2).

The back is solid and also protected by the mount so I wouldn't be concerned about rain "forced" into it by speed. Since you inquired, I took mine apart and have attached pictures. Looking at the construction, I would say it is fairly water resistant, but definitely NOT waterproof. The button overlay is one large piece, so water seeping in around each button is not possible, however, there is a standoff in the middle (for the pca hold-down screw) where water could get in and the overlay doesn't cover the bottom 1/3 (as mounted on the stalk) so water can get by these two locations (Pic 3). Also the "Hold" switch is on top of the unit...this would be my number one concern in a pouring rain (probably OK in a mist or fog).

I would think it would be rather easy to mount it up by instruments, taking away the advantage of not having to take you hand off of the handlebars, but adding protection. You could also easily fashion a thin rain cover.

I threw in some other pictures just for grins!

Good luck!

Randy

 

[jimjam66]

Jeeezzz Randy, that's good service! Thanks for all that - I went onto Griffin's site and found the freight charge to the UK is more than the gadget costs! Still pretty reasonable, though, so I've ordered one.

Griffin don't sell any of their wireless stuff in the UK, because we have different RF laws governing bandwidths used, licensing and so on. I got an iTrip from them a year or two back to use the iPod in the car so I know their stuff is good.

I see you're a Beemer kinda guy - two boxes and a bike! I used to have a Beemer car but traded it a while ago for a Nissan 350Z. Saddest day of my motoring life when I had to trade the 350Z for a 'family' car ... now all I have to raise a smile is the KS. Actually, that's not so bad!

 

[redmac]

Airclick

I do the same thing. A buddy of mine potted the circuit with RTV and it seems to have made it pretty waterproof. I have not done that yet and pull it off my mirror stack and put it in the tank bag when riding.

 

[htheater]

I see you're a Beemer kinda guy - two boxes and a bike! I used to have a Beemer car but traded it a while ago for a Nissan 350Z. Saddest day of my motoring life when I had to trade the 350Z for a 'family' car ... now all I have to raise a smile is the KS. Actually, that's not so bad!

Yeah, the BMW salesman loves us! I purchased 5 cars from him in 18 months...
An '02 540i Sport (wife's), 2 - '02 325i (both sons), an '03 X5 4.6is and then an '03 - 325i to replace a totaled one! He is now the sales manager and takes really good care of me!

Randy

 

[jimjam66]

Man, that's a nice collection. No wonder the guy made sales manager - you should get valeting free for life!

Redmac, I like your tagline. My brother's a developer so I took the liberty of sending him a copy. It's right up there with: 'Heisenberg may have been here' - cerebral and funny.

Just a quick question:

potted the circuit with RTV

Not sure what that means? Some guidance for the non-technical if you get a moment?

 

[edgarr]

iPod control

I keep the iPod in the map pocket of the tank pocket. I can use the click wheel with gloved hand through the plastic of the mapwindow without much of an issue.

 

[jimjam66]

Just picked up the AirClick gizmo from the Post Office. It's a lot smaller than I thought, but I think with the button-spacing it'll be okay for winter-gloved fingers. Of course, the KS mirrors are monuted to the fairing rather than the bars, so I'll have to figure out where to attach it. Otherwise looks bloomin' marvellous! Thanks again for the tip.

 

[dohalloran]

Air click location solutions

I too run with the air-click. BMW summer gloves are about as thick as you want to go, in terms of hitting the buttons dead on.
I set up my music on the pod, "lock" the pod, then place the air-click on top. The entire unit sits in my right breast pocket. The Challenger C wire runs underneath my velcro flap on the jacket, out the neck and to my ears. I already have the heated vest wired up to the bike, so it's still only one thing to disconnect when I get off the bike. I pretty much always leave my helmet on when I'm refuelling, so there's no need to fuss with stray wires, other than the vest.

 

[P7M8]

I have been using the RemoteRemote2 for the past two or three years...no problems with light gloves.

 

[Mac]

Scosche

Anyone tried this Ipod remote? It looks to have decent sized and properly oriented for control by a gloved human.

http://www.scosche.com/scosche_ipod.aspx?CategoryID=127&ItemID=IPRFC

Matt McCabe
Germany

 

[bonafidebob]

Just got a scosche

Anyone tried this Ipod remote? It looks to have decent sized and properly oriented for control by a gloved human.

Your link is broken, but I just got the Scosche 150' RF Sport Remote for my K1200GT. It works great in the house. The remote is a good size, maybe 25x35mm and maybe 10mm thick. Comes with a couple of velcro straps, but I think I'll just mount it with some Dual Lock (industrial velcro) tape since the back is nice and flat. The dock connector to the iPod is tiny and has a pass-through plug so I can also power it from the bike. I found one on eBay for $25.