gps trackers

[MotoKai]

I am using several of them, and find they work great BUT they do trickle-drain batteries. The basic model is fine, for my purposes, although I have upgraded one to a model that will SMS me if the bike is touched (like a motion alarm). It also has an 8-hour battery in it, in case a thief cuts the main terminals.
Although they provide me with a little sense of added protection, the route tracking feature is what I really like.
They are inexpensive.

Seems I have the same (or similar) tracker/service as yours. It even sends you SMS when there's a small earthquake - which Milton and I experienced when in Xinjiang. At least that's my theory on why it woke me at 2am. haha {I did look out the window and there wasn't anyone near the bike or cats running about}.

My only problem with the website is that there isn't a way download your tracks.
Anyone have a service or solution for this?

[Lao Jia Hou]

My only problem with the website is that there isn't a way download your tracks.
Anyone have a service or solution for this?

If you use the http://www.bcxgps.com/ website (and I would assume you are), you can download the track (and several other data files) in an Excel (.xls) spreadsheet format. I've never installed tracks into a GPS unit (e.g., a ZUMO), so I don't know what is involved, but it is probably in some other format. I'm not even sure I'd need something like that (I just use waypoints). Anyways, all the Lat/Long are in a text Excel file, so there must be a way to convert it into a Garmin-readable format.

If you just want a map, I use a screen shot & pic editor.

If you need instructions on how to download the files into an Excel spreadsheet, send me a PM. But if you use that website, it seems pretty simple.

I like this service because it permits me to easily track each & every bike's activity - it will even give me a report of any bike that exceeds the speed limit (where, when and by how much)!

[ChinaV]

Send me the Excel file or whatever file options they let you download it as and I can probably KML or GPX it and then post instructions on the conversion.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[ChinaV]

LJH sent me the excel file from http://www.bcxgps.com/ it's quite easy to convert the data to KMZ or GPX.

#1 Download the Excel file
#2 Open the Excel file
#3 Select all the data in the Longitude and Latitude cells
#4 Copy the data to the clipboard
#5 Open a text document (Text Edit on Mac or Notepad on Winblows)
#6 Paste the data into the text document
#7 Save it to your desktop
#8 Go to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/
#9 Click the Choose File button
#10 Select the file you saved on your desktop
#11 Choose an output format (Google Earth instead of Google Maps if you want a KMZ)
#12 Click the Go button
#13 Click on the KMZ file to download it to your computer.
#14 Open in Google Earth

Please understand that it appears there is little you can do about the paranoid Chinese offset. Get over it, you live in retarded country, drink more beer and make noise if it really bothers you.

Cheers!
ChinaV

[Lao Jia Hou]

Thanks a bunch ChinaV!

Now, next time you are in Beijing (or maybe at the CQ show next month), perhaps your kind heart will teach me how to put a track into a GPS unit ... and, perhaps more importantly, why I would want to do that.

[Quallsymoto]

How did you order the KLR from the US? Were you able to import it legally to China?

[euphonius]

How did you order the KLR from the US? Were you able to import it legally to China?

I don't know of anyone in MyChinaMoto with a KLR, at least not inside China anyway. Mine is in California. Du Rui at Tourfella knows some KLRistas in China but I'm guessing there's no more than a dozen in the whole country. Kawasaki is totally absent from China, save for the gray/black market. Totally unsupported. There is a Kawasaki thread in MCM, which documents a stillborn collaboration with Loncin.

Cheers
Euphonius

[ThePope]

I'm looking into this GPS tracker which is about 200 RMB more expensive than the one LJH has, but it claims to have a standby time of 60 days though.

Barry, did you try this out? Anyone try this out? This looks awesome!

[bikerdoc]

The expiry date of China Mobile sim cards is 6 months right, if you don't recharge them?!

The sim cards validity varies depending on the card, the Telecom issuer, and any applicable plan. I've one card that has about 6 months validity once balance of funds drop to 0 kuai, while another is 3 months. Both are China mobile sim-cards.

[bikerdoc]

Since I was PM'd by a fellow MCM member asking advice and info about locks etc thought I may as well throw some info here to share... even though this thread is primarily about GPS trackers. Of note it is worth reviewing the information to motorcyclists from a thief see bottom of this post for link.

Kryptonite locks. Deemed solid offer a variety of locks. Worth looking at the companies website too. Kryptonite locks for sale on Taobao.
The Kryptonite prices vary a little on Taobao, but expect to pay around 2000 for the chain lock and about 1000+ for the U lock.

Look for the NYC fughetaboutit chain/lock from Kryptonite

There are also Xena XUL310 U locks which incorporate an alarm 110dB. So plenty loud. The Xena locks are n Taobao but not specifically the XUL310.

Advice:
Use a combination of two locks, a U lock and a chain lock. The U lock through one wheel to the frame while the chain lock to the other end of the bike and through a solid object/ground anchor.

Also there are chain locks at my local B&Q, 289 kuai. Masterlock I think is the name, I use one on my Dragstar 1100 Classic, in combination with a disc lock.

Worth a read:
ask-a-motorcycle-thief