Thinking about getting a motorcycle GPS

[skippy344]

I was wondering if anybody has any experiences with motorcycles GPSes.

Which ones do you like, or don't like?

I am looking at the Garmin Zumo 550

The Tom Tom Rider 2nd edition,

And maybe the Magellan CrossoverGPS

Any opinions?

greg

[DiverRay]

Brian over in the UK has a Tom Tom 1st. edition. He has had to replace the mount once, as the holder doesn't hold up to vibration. The second edition seems to have fixed that problem, so it's probably a good choice. Brian had NO PROBLEM with any warranty, as the company just send him a complete new mount system free when his first one broke.
That is all I know of them...

[planedick]

Experience...

Mason has tried them on two occasions when I was with him. He was always lost. Darn thing kept wanting to get on the nearest interstate. They don't like routes just for the twisties, they always want to take a shortcut to the interstate.

[XMRGWX]

I've had a Garmin 2720 on my bike for 6 months now and it's been great. They are discontinued now but can still be had if you search online. I find the built in database for restaurants, camping and fuel just as important as the map. I bought a Garmin mount kit with power adaptor. This is bolted to a rubber dampened mount I made which attaches to the handlebar mount bolts.

-Mike

[DeanR]

From what I understand, Zumo 550 is the way to go. Geez, they're expensive though. I still like maps!

[Don Hughes]

The guys in the Venture group really like the Zumo 550.
Whatever you do do not get one with an internal hard drive.
The vibration eventually causes them to shut them selves off.
I have a Magellan 760 Roadmate that has an internal drive that works superbly in my car but after a time on the bike just locks up.
Flash drive is the only way to go and preferably water proof as well.
You get what you pay for with a motorcycle GPS and the expensive ones work better than the cheap ones.

[skippy344]

Thanks!

For all the responses! Yes, they are expensive! Yikes!

greg

[rockjok]

I can recommend the Garmin IQUE 3600. It's a palm based PDA with a built in GPS antenna etc. It's been around a while so it is pretty affordable and has a large net following. I paid ~$120 for the complete NAV bundle on ebay (factory refurbished with warranty). A "RAM" mount and 12v power adapter worked great on the XS. Here's a somewhat dated review:

http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/Palm/iQue3600.htm

I've used several bits of software that allow you to use scanned or downloaded maps for a moving map display tho' it also has the vector type line displays that most nav units use. Has a business database like the other units. Last summer I had a blowout and it was simple to get directions and phone numbers for tire shops sorted by distance from my stranded location.

I use it to listen to MP3s and audiobooks while I ride and for ebooks etc while camped. It has an SD port that I think will handle up to 4 GB cards. I think it's a lot more useful than a dedicated GPS unit.

Another unit I found handy is the "Amplirider" amplifier. Makes connecting the Garmin and Sirius receiver a breeze. The remote volume control makes for easy mounting and sounds great in the helmet earphones. The manufacturer was friendly and easy to work with, wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again.

http://www.electric-avenues.com/amplirider.html

Rob

[webbcraft2150]

So. Now that you have a rig that will get you more than 80 miles on a tank your gonna go far 'nuff on a tank you need GPS? With the new LUXO rig, you can't stop every hundred miles with the rest of to check our GPS (Good Paper System, aka, maps)? What happened to your commitment to those of us with a nicotene habit or 100 mile kidneys, let alone seats made of stone? Geez, how quickly we forget. Thats ok though (sniff, sniff) we will make do somehow.

[Dsxs11]

My new ride has the BMW Motorrad Navigator. I've yet to use it as I bought the beemer to late in the season.

[skippy344]

Not to worry...

Webby! I will still stop at the requsite 80 mile mark, I just won't have to fuel up! I can actually just enjoy the conversation and watch all the nicotine highs!

Man, technology has changed in the 18 years between the Packmule and Kermie. The seat is so comfortable! I have the potential of close to 300 miles per tank! OMFG!!

SWMBO and I did over 600 miles over Veteran's Day weekend, and I gotta say, my butt was not hurtin'.

The GPS will now give us the luxury to find cool spots to stop, and places to eat, which aren't on my maps. Besides, it is really hard to unfold a map at 85 MPH, even with the cruise control on! (Yes, it has cruise control, not a throttle lock.)

Call me old, but Kermie has opened a whole new dimension to something I already loved doing... motorcycle touring.

We are gonna plan on 1 trip a month, even if its just an over-niter and back home the next day.

See you soon,

greg

[Lamric]

I started off with a Garmin eTrex GPS, no maps just a pointer that tells you the direction you want to go in. Electric compass really. Super dependable always got me home.
+ very cheap, and records where you have been
- Very basic, monochrome screen, no maps

Next I ran an Compaq iPAQ PDA with a Garmin GPS for a year.
+ Ran Tomtom navigator 5, very clear maps
-ve Not waterproof, overheats if kept in a tank bag. Needs two power cables.

For the last year I've used the Tomtom Rider (version 1)
+ Waterproof, includes mounts and cables, bluetooth
- Mounts crack up, this is a known problem so I would not recommend.

My mate has the Tomtom Rider (version 2), this has solved the mount cracking problem so I would recommend it. But if money isn't a problem I'd go for the Zumo.

[STEPPENWOLF]

no opinion

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5000854

This looked like a good deal,how to mount etc. I don't know but price seemed reasonable.

[MaximPhil]

I had the good fortune to ride a buddies bike with a Garmin Zumo
mounted with the special motorcycle mount. it is great.The mount was easy to attach/ detach and incorporated the powersupply hardwired to the bike. WATERPROOF which most Auto models are not. Things to be aware of when buying a GPS. various levels of maps are included make sure the map package suits your intended use. Upgrades to maps are expensive ie $150
Above came with a 21st century motorcycle too Fun wow
Maxim Phil

[Huron52]

I have a Garmin 2610 (discontinued model)since the fall of 2003. I love it... It has a base map but detailed maps are loaded via a flash card. I run a 4 gb card and that's enough memory to have all of the US of A and Canada on it.
The mini hard drives are not good for motorcycles because of the vibrations. Preloaded maps get out of date in time.

Also the maps are upgraded. that is important because someone keeps building more roads.

To attach it to the bike I went to the "Ram Mounts"... There is a wide vary of mounts.

Mine is wired to the battery via a socket with the power not switchable. Meaning it can be powered all the time.Even when the bike is shut off. GPS's use very little power to run.

hope this helps