Versatile GPS

[harveyrawn]

I'm thinking about getting an inexpensive GPS unit with basic functions that I could use in a car and on my bike.

From comments I've read, it seems that several types seem to work OK on bikes and generally don't experience vibration-related problems. The popular brands seem to be Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom.

Anyone care to recommend a unit for me?

[dmk]

I'm too cheap to spend $500-600 on a GPS and have bought a TomTom OneXL (you can get one from Tiger Direct refurbished with a 6 month warranty for <$90. I bought a bicycle adapter for $15 on Ebay - Ive got 10K on this set up with no problems. I bought a visor from www.glarestomper.com - it works great and you reall need one if you aren't going to use a dedicated motorcycle gps which is bright. The TomTom One XL doesn't have all the fancy functions,but it gets th job done. I've taken it on a 3,500 mile, 2,500 mile and two 1,000 mile triips and couldn't be happier. The only thng you might want to do is carry a plastic baggy with a rubberband in case it rains hard.

[harveyrawn]

That's the kind of recommendation I'm looking for - thanks.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I just bought a Zumo and wished I woulda spent the money upfront instead of going for non-MC specific items the first time around

Base mode
MP3 Player
Audio Book player
along with Bluetooth connectivity to your phone and the ability to make phone calls and what not on the move
Also has headphone hook up to listen to directions while on the bike.

With XM antenna attached-
You get all of the above AND XM radio and traffic as well as basic weather.

[Flashdog]

I'm too cheap to spend $500-600 on a GPS and have bought a TomTom OneXL (you can get one from Tiger Direct refurbished with a 6 month warranty for <$90. I bought a bicycle adapter for $15 on Ebay - Ive got 10K on this set up with no problems. I bought a visor from http://www.glarestomper.com - it works great and you reall need one if you aren't going to use a dedicated motorcycle gps which is bright. The TomTom One XL doesn't have all the fancy functions,but it gets th job done. I've taken it on a 3,500 mile, 2,500 mile and two 1,000 mile triips and couldn't be happier. The only thng you might want to do is carry a plastic baggy with a rubberband in case it rains hard.

I've got a Tomtom one. I have it mounted on a RAM mount right between my handlebar mounts. If it rains I carry ziplock and a velcro wrap. I could not be happier with it! I've got over 6K miles with no problems including British Columbia in February. 16*F!!!

[harveyrawn]

Two votes for a TomTom. Cool.

[riceburner]

I've got an HTC Touch HD mobile phone, (PDA type phone using Windows Mobile) so I've downloaded GoogleMapsMobile for free, and made up a little bracket out of random stuff in the garage. (Dural plate, sorbathane rubber pad, velcro and 2 semi-circular bar clamps and 3 bolts. Also added a loop of bungee for security)

Works fine with a few "niggles"

1) not bright enough really - but can be worked around.
2) software can plan a "direct" route, which is fine and easy to follow, but that route can't be adjusted like routes on the internet version of google maps can - I'm hoping this will be in an update soon.
3) not waterproof - this can be dealt with by wrapping a bag round it (I use an Aquapac).

The thing I REALLY like about this is that I can get a usable road map on the screen, with my position overlaid on it - I MUCH prefer using a map, than listening to random commands, or obeying written down instructions - so this set up suits me fine. With adjustable routing it will be perfect.

This setup would work with any software downloaded to the phone. The only other issue is that if I run out of network coverage GoogleMaps stops updating my position (because it can't download the map graphics) - it's an irritation, but not a lot I can do about that.

[dmk]

Harvey:
One thing I forgot. There is a trip planning software for the TomTom that integrates google maps that allows you to put "way points" in place so that you are sure to take the roads you want versus the ones that the GPS will compute for you. When you really want to take back roads and hit the twisties, this is imperative. The name of the software is Tyre.... just google it - its freeware and works great. I'm sure the other gps unit mfg have similar, but wanted to mention it.

[harveyrawn]

Harvey:
One thing I forgot. There is a trip planning software for the TomTom that integrates google maps that allows you to put "way points" in place so that you are sure to take the roads you want versus the ones that the GPS will compute for you. When you really want to take back roads and hit the twisties, this is imperative. The name of the software is Tyre.... just google it - its freeware and works great. I'm sure the other gps unit mfg have similar, but wanted to mention it.

I will look into it. One feature I do want in a GPS is the ability to customize routes with multiple destinations and automatically calculate the most efficient route to each of them. I would use that when I sometimes do multiple location inspections for FEMA and I know that later Garmin units have that ability.

[riceburner]

2) software can plan a "direct" route, which is fine and easy to follow, but that route can't be adjusted like routes on the internet version of google maps can - I'm hoping this will be in an update soon.

UPDATE - you can now download routes from your google accounts "my Maps" list. (It's not perfect - it only downleads the "waypoints" you put in and not the full, twisty line that you see on regular googlemaps - but it's definitely an improvement.)

[leenlu]

Two votes for a TomTom. Cool.

That makes three of us.
Just mounted the TT on the handelbar. Yeah I'm cheap too

[joe bar]

After 2 Garnin Quests and a GPSMap 60csx, I'm now using a Garmin Nuvi 550, half the price of a Zumo and works really well. Motorcycle specific with multiple travel modes, post code etc etc. Recommended.

[TicTac50]

For the last 4 years I used my Cell phone as a GPS.
It did a good job for me and for $9.99 per month of use wasn't too bad.
The problem was that the screen, even on the largest phone, is not big enough and sometimes I will forget to cancel the subscription and Verizon will charge me another $9.99 If you cancel the subscription on time and then you need it again, they will charge you $9.99 plus a couple of bucks to download the software.
Those couple of bucks got me MAD and I decided to look for a low priced GPS
Recently I was checking the Amazon and found Garmin nuvi 850 for $189.00
About a year ago that item was priced really high but now days it goes for much less.
Garmin 850 Nuvi not waterproof GPS and it does not have "blue tooth" option but it does have 4.3" screen and speech recognition.
I hope to find a good mounting bracket so that I can test my new GPS on the bike.

[TNOutback]

I spent about $18 on a RAM mount to put my Nuvi 750 that I already owned on my RR. It's not waterproof, and I've only been caught in the rain with it one time. On that occasion I pulled a quart-sized Ziploc bag out of my tank bag and slipped it over the Nuvi! Worked like a charm.

I just can't justify the $$ for a dedicated motorcycle GPS. Multitasking tools are always a cheaper solution!

[jeepinbanditrider]

I spent about $18 on a RAM mount to put my Nuvi 750 that I already owned on my RR. It's not waterproof, and I've only been caught in the rain with it one time. On that occasion I pulled a quart-sized Ziploc bag out of my tank bag and slipped it over the Nuvi! Worked like a charm.

I just can't justify the $$ for a dedicated motorcycle GPS. Multitasking tools are always a cheaper solution!

The Zumo also comes with a Car window mount and it works just as good if not better than my old tom tom. It also has a Li-Ion battery so you can take it out of the mount to use it handheld. The only downside is that the unit has no built in speaker. The unit has to be mounted in a powered mount for sound. A speaker on the car mount and headphone on the motorcycle mount.

It will do bluetooth even when it's not on the mount.

[twindave]

Garmin nuvi 255W and a handle bar Ram Mount. All for under 200 dollars at Amazon.com.

Cheap, accurate and simple. Ziplock for the rain. nuff said