Recommend GPS units?

[renojoe]

Hey All:

I'm thinking about buying a GPS unit. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm currently looking at the Garmin Quest and the StreetPilot. The StreetPilot suction cup mounts, so I figured I could just stick it to my speedo when using it and use the GPS display for speed and distance.

Thanks!

[domekrome]

I have the Garmin StreetPilot 2610, and love it. I don't know how likely it is to remain in place on your speedo though. Make sure that you pick up enough memory for your travelling needs, if you go that route. I have a 1GB CF card that lets me store all of Canada, and just under half of the continental USA. As for use as a speedo, this will only be effective where you have signal from the satellites, i.e. driving in cities with a lot of skyscrapers can be a problem. I am currently using a Touratech mount on a RAM arm to mount the unit on my bars.

[hotzuk]

Hey Reno,

I have the Garmin 276C and love it. I have it mounted via a RAM mount to the handlebars. This is a lot more stable than suction cups. My suggestion to you is to try doing a search on http://www.bmwsporttoruing.com as well as http://www.advrider.com.

These sites are have some pretty good threads on GPS units. Hope this helps!

[DSKYZD]

To cover the full range of possibilites...

I use a Magellan handheld GPSr (Meridian) and a RAM Rail mount. This makes for a non-permanent install. Mount and power cable are installed and removed in seconds because I don't use my GPSr on every ride, just trips. The small rail mount and ball stay discreetely clamped to the handlebar.

A couple of the Magellan handheld units will do basic street routing with a software purchase (you buy software anyway for detailed maps). Not as elegent and feature rich as the high end Garmin units, but Magellan has their Roadmate series for that too. Garmin is certainly more popular, so sharing route files is easier if that's a big deal to you.

I suggest something that uses SD memory cards as you can load any amount of data using multiple cards and switch them out as necessary. The newer hard drive based units are probably more rugged than you think, but they're not a proven solution for bike use. As mentioned, ADVRider and the other sites will likely have reports of other's experience.

Just thought I'd plug Magellan as an option. I love mine for the money spent. Like everything else it's all about trade-offs and $$$.

DSKYZD

[R4R&R]

I have a Quest and love it. Good deal for the money bur ideally I like the 276c. Drawbacks: The screen is a little small and the update speed while routing is a little slower than the 276/26xx series. I would strongly advise getting the correct RAM mounts for it - the vibrations will make that suction cup mount come off within a minute. I think total cost was less than $100 for all mounting parts.

[touchton]

I have the 276C with the RAM mount as well and it's great. Works well both on the bike and in the car. I live in the Nashville area, so if you want to see it sometime, let me know.

Also, I also have a Garmin GPS V Deluxe with RAM mount that I'm willing to sell if you're interested in something cheap.

Thad

[TonyT607]

I got mine about a month ago for $299 from Costco.com.

DO NOT use the suction mounts. A good choice is the RAM system with Garmin's motorcycle mounting kit. This will not only supply steady power, but also keep the audio feature enabled if you want it.

The Quest I only has 115 MB of memory (non upgradeable) but this hasn't been a problem for me. If you plan to travel/ride outside of your normal zone, you just load the maps you'll need. The PC-based software is easy to use and I love the function where you can create routes on the laptop and download to the Quest.

Good luck,

[huffergasen]

Don't overlook the Hwy500 made by Lowrance Electronics and reviewed within the last 4-5 months in Motorcycle Consumer News.

[bmwdave52]

Another vote for the Garmin StreetPilot 2610. I've had mine since Nov '03 and love it.
I use it on my bike and in my cars.

[Boxer]

None of you have anything close to what I use. It uses no electricity and requires almost no learning curve. It is a bit bulky for the bike, but I just strap it on to the seat behind me or hang it over my shoulder for convenience.

This is a pic of me using it:

[JerryTreeXprt]

It's funny that you posted that pic, Boxer. I was looking for a navigation system to help my dad out. He's in his 80's and not very technically savvy (his VCR, which he still thinks is very modern technology, has been blinking 12:00 for years), so I decided to go with something a bit more his speed. When I saw this thing, I knew it'd be the perfect gift for a WWII and Korean Conflict Navy veteran. No need for plugs, USB cables or any of the modern trappings. It won't take you to an exact address, but given enough time, he should be able to get close enough to find his way back to his destination (as long as there's not too much cloud cover).


My wife got me a Garmin 2610 for Christmas. I'd been looking at 'em for a while now. I was ready to drop $499 for a refurbed unit with full factory warranty until I found it for the same price brandy spankin' new at Costco. I thought that it was a pretty good deal considerin' that they were selling for $750-$950 only a year ago. Their site doesn't show the 2610 anymore, but they do have others at reasonable prices, including the newer whooptie-doo 2720 model.

I've not had much chance to use GPS units before and I just got to try it out on a trip from Jersey to Niagara Falls. I didn't do any routing, just let Garmin pick the fastest route and listened to the voice prompts of the saucy British-accented strumpet (you can pick either American English or British English) as she told me exactly where to turn and what was coming up...all with plenty of time to react. Finding places to stay or eat or get gas is all at your fingertips. We were even able to find a Walgreen's to get some cold medication for one of the folks on the trip with us. The picture auto-sizes depending on how far you are from your next turn. In the evening it automatically changes from yellow screen to black with brighter streets at night. If you're on route to a destination and you stray off course, the cute little Brit announces that you are off route and recalculates the route from where you currently are. Definitely makes you lazy as to knowing where you are, but it allows that level of relaxation. I can't wait to get all of the mounts for the bike and give it a run on two wheels. Highly recommended unit...especially for the price! I mentioned in a different thread that I was ready to throw down for a refurbed unit with warranty for the same price...and I thought that was a good deal. I'm still figuring out a lot of little tricks and such, but I got a chance to read the book and play with it live for a while when my wife was driving.

[acejones]

I've been using a Garmin 2620 that I move back and forth between two BMW's and a car. It works great.
You really need to use the RAM mounts though.

[Est51]

Have a look at the Acer 35N. It's actually a PDA [Word, Excel, etc] but also comes with "Destinator" GPS software and is ideal on the bike. The unit goes in your pocket [so you can't walk off and leave it at a fuel/grub stop] and a remote antenna can be stuck on your shoulder, with directions being piped into your helmet via earphone. In the UK the whole package can be had for approx £260.

Cheers, Steve

[Lion_Lady]

Have the 276C. Use it on the bike (Touratech mount) and in the car. LOVE IT.

I prefer buttons that I can feel through my gloves, on the bike, to the touch screen.

The battery was the other deal breaker feature (but now you can get a battery pack for the 2610).

Willing to live with the proprietary memory chips... can get more than enough 'mappage' on the 128m card for a two day trek. Keep meaning to get the 256m chip but haven't needed it really.

P

[bikermeow]

Check out this link ....

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/gps/default.asp

has both GPSs and mounts

Cheers

Meow

[CycleRob]

I've had my Magellan RoadMate 300 since 2 days before the last Beakster Bash. I use it in Ann's car, my truck and on the Beemer's fueltank brackets. My bike has 2 longer fuelcap screws holding 2 thick homemade stainless steel "L" brackets that attach to the RoadMate's backside adapter with two 5mm nuts onto bolts I've added to make the mounting secure, minimalist and still be easily switchable to the 2 other 4 wheeler's. The supplied windshield suction gooseneck is used only in the 4 wheelers. Go here for the RoadMate 300 sales pitch: http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/ ... RODID=1038.

There are good and bad things about this unit:

**Good**
-- Unit is lightweight.
-- No battery to worry about, charge, or replace. AC adapter was included for indoor programming.
-- Color touch screen magically scrolls the map with your sliding finger touch and a tap on a POI (Point Of Interest) icon pops to a full address, business hours and phone number description window of that Restuarant/Bank/Fuelstop/etc.
-- The woman's voice is soothing and kinda nice.
-- The internet price was under $400
-- The AutoReRouting will repeatedly save you no matter how many mistakes you make.
-- Big color display has many theme choices and is easy to see.
-- Backside speaker is almost too loud on Max volume in a car.
-- It's waterproof enough for a M/C.
-- It takes SD memory chips for memory expansion. A huge plus, as my old Cruzer Jumpdrive and new Casio camera share them. The $29 on sale 512MB chip will hold the whole East Coast if you have the USB connected hour plus map "compilation time".
-- Supports the user cfg's of 3 users.
-- It can functionally simulate your new planned route at 2x vehicle speed while you lay on the couch.
-- The little red arrow pointing to exactly where your route destination is, even if it's 733 miles away, is fun to watch when the road curves. It also frustratingly reveals when your Interstate highway is wasting time "going sideways" rather than the most efficient "crow flies" route.
-- Color coded icon changes to tell you the signal strength. I usually lock onto 6 or 7 satelites.
-- Unit's operating system is firmware that's upgradeable free by 180Kbyte downloads from the Magellan website http://www.magellangps.com/en/support/software.asp. I've made 3 updates, via the supplied USB cord, so far.
-- You always have access to the perfect clock time.
-- The computer software allows more modifications, like voice choice or deleting destinations, than just the base unit can do.

**Bad**
-- No battery to power the unit during reboot causing engine startups or in a vehicle without a cigarette lighter 12V plug.
-- To get your elevation in feet, you have to dig thru 4 plus menus into Diagnostics and divide the Meters by 3.28.
-- Color touch screen performs unwanted tasks if you accidentially touch it.
-- When the AutoReRouting says "When possible . . . make a legal U turn", You've REALLY screwed-up!
-- Dimming the display for night use takes a minute. It has no auto dimming feature.
-- SD chips can be only among 4 trusted mfgr's (Toshiba, SanDisk, Kingston and Lexar SD cards up to 1GB) and the chip's integrity must be "pre-authorization code registered and approved" On-Line. It was easy, but waiting for the approval minutes later was un-nerving.
-- It's not as "full featured" when compared to other (more expensive) battery powered units.
-- The 3 users do not share any resources, like the previous destinations in the address book. The "Night50R" user I created to eliminate time consuming volume and brightness re-settings had NO previous destinations or address book entries -and- NO provision to add or share them.
-- Backside speaker is not loud enough on Max volume at anything over 20MPH on the bike. Earphone in a helmet has "issues" with comfort.
-- My latest firmware download from the Magellan website, Version 1.81, has faster boot-up and satelite lock, but is buggy and makes occasional "out of the way" routing mistakes.
-- The plug-in antenna needed a homemade restraining bracket after it fell off in the very first 0.2 mile on my bike. If you loose it, it's at least $26. I found mine after noticing it's falling off fly-by movement.
-- Finding the perfect clocktime requires 4 plus menu choices (where the elevation is) and subtraction for your time zone from the World 24hr GMT.

I saved this for last so you'll form a final opinion and remember how I feel about it:

You'll wonder how you ever managed without a GPS before. Purchasing an expensive GPS for your bike is more than justified because of it's all vehicle use (even boats!). Get a good one like the 276C.
Moving from Pennsylvania to Georgia, this smarter than anybody talking box has been absolutely priceless in showing us the best time saving route and also quickly getting us UN-lost.

[Doug]

I've owned a lot of GPS units through my work, and I like the Garmin products best - very well made and never "buggy."

I wouldnt recommend any kind of suction cup, I second the RAM mounts. They are very strong.

My favorite GPS units that I've owned so far are the Garmin 2620 (thats the one with the harddrive in it) and the Garmin Nuvi. If you can afford the Nuvi, its the one I'd go for. I'm not sure if RAM or garmin make a handlebar mount for it yet - its still pretty new.

[geogridshorthair]

I have been using the Garmin 76C for many months.

I love, color display, easily read in the sun, 24 hours on a set of AA batteries.

It is the marine version and Garmin says it will float for 30 mins. 128 meg of ram will hold enough maps for a very long trip. I used it throughout the ALPS trip and it worked great. The entire US freeway and major roads are built into the unit. Detailed streets and other features need to be downloaded. The download is fast through the USB port. (unlike the GPS V).

At home I use the RAM mounts, very easy and affordable. In Europe I just velco'd the unit to the tank, no problems during the eight day trip and two days in pouring rain.

I previously used a Garmin GPS V which also worked well with the RAM mounts but only worked reliable when hard wired for power.

The thought of hard wiring the power for the 76C has never been an option.

I wear HELD gloves and have been able to use the buttons on the 76C without too much trouble.

Email me if you want to see pictures of the mounting.

http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap76c/


stevemiller (at) laderasystems (dot) net

[username]

here's a vote for the garmin 2610. i've got it on a ram mount.

screen is easy to read, touchscreen is handy, i can hold the entire US and canada on it with a 2GB card ($100) and the way it mounts it integrates well with the rest of my instrument cluster, and doesnt stick out too far or screw up (what i think is) the beauty of the R's instruments. it blocks my odometer, but i don't really care - i can see the warning lights, and everything else.

it snaps off easily and can be protected from theft.

also, it's on sale for $500 at amazon. this is a unit that when it came out cost $1200. i felt like i was getting a deal when i bought mine for $580.

[wncbmw]

I really want a GPS. But I need new shocks and a Sargent seat first. I can still use the map!

But definately headed toward a Garmin unit that can move between vehicles. Maybe for my birthday in June?