GPS on the bike questions

[joshr08]

what gps do you have and how do you like it.  i am looking at some different gps units in hopes of finding a good one that i can use on the bike but also you in the car when we take that.  any input would be great.  thanks guys

[97gs500e]

Garmin Zumo FTW. 

[scottpA_GS]

Garmin Nuvi someting.... You cant go wrong w/ a Garmin 

[joshr08]

ok cool thanks guys

[ke7syv]

I second the Nuvi. If you can afford dishing out big bucks get the Garmin series designed for bikes, otherwise the Nuvi is great. Haven't found a good way to mount it though. I have been using it while it's in the map part of my tank bag. Any ideas on mounting from you Nuvi owners would help...

[ohgood]

plusses:

tomtom (i know, i know) 125. it has a suction cup mount that will hold on your tank (100+ mph tested) for several hours, if not days/etc.

WORKS WITH GLOVES.

for the price ($99 at some retailers) it's not terrible if you toss it off the bike/stolen/whatever.

there is a large speaker (2 1/4" or so) on the back side that can be heard at speed.

there are multi media functions (tomtomplayer) so you can watch a movie or listen (no head phone jack or bluetooth) to mp3's while riding. SAFE

it runs linux, so expect more things to be hacked into it.

negatives:

no bluetooth, wifi, and it isn't waterproof. nor is it motorcycle specific.

you cannot navigate OFFROAD with it. sure, it will show the direction you're traveling, and LAT/LONG, but that's it. no bread crumbs, no tracking, etc.

absolutely no good for geo caching.

did i mention it's not waterproof ?



*****

the tomtom 130s or 130, whatever includes the canadian maps. it costs $159 at bestbuy last i checked. i have no need for canadian maps, so i got two of the 125 models.

works nicely in the cars and on the bike.

[joshr08]

great now i have more reading to do i was almost set on the garmin nuvi but now i have to do more research on the tomtom one 125 because that was the one i was going to get first off before posting on here....lol.....i like that you can hear the tomtom at speed with the big speaker

[ohgood]

great now i have more reading to do i was almost set on the garmin nuvi but now i have to do more research on the tomtom one 125 because that was the one i was going to get first off before posting on here....lol.....i like that you can hear the tomtom at speed with the big speaker

the nuvi is superior, no doubt. just wanted to add to the information

[joshr08]

is the nuvi better then the tomtom? cuz i can get the nuvi for 129 bucks

[Paulcet]

I haven't gotten a mount for my nuvi yet, but I hope to have it by the summer: http://www.gpscity.com/item-ram-mount-garmin-nuvi-2xx-motorcycle-brake-mount/ramb174ga24.htm

[ohgood]

is the nuvi better then the tomtom? cuz i can get the nuvi for 129 bucks

couldn't say- but bestbuy has a 2 week return policy on most things.

[jserio]

sounds like another "distraction" to me.........         

[xncnc]

I use the 2720/2730 series from garmin, waterproof with big buttons.

[joshr08]

another?  because im already messing with the radio talking the the person sitting next to me?  doing my makeup while reading the morning newspaper? how is knowing where im going a destraction?

[ohgood]

sounds like another "distraction" to me.........         

at first i thought it would be, too. in the car, ya, because you can drive with your knees (we've all done it) and try to program a route/ destination.

but on the bike, it's a good helper. i can listen for the direction coming up, and know in YARDS how far until my next turn, which lane to be in, and can see where i am while sitting at a stoplight. it seems like an excellent way to keep up with a destination while riding, and seems to also help keep focus on the road/traffic since you don't have to worry about WTF was the name of that next street ? etc

ffr - i wouldn't try reading the screen while riding, it's just too much a distraction, you know, moving map, pretty color,s etc.

not to mention, you can give someone the exact location of a downed rider (used it for this twice now) and paramedics/police know where to dispatch to exactly. could save a life with the 'help' function that locates the closest EMS service, along with their phone number( s ).