i just got a navman pin 100 for my birthday and am a bit disappointed with it.  it actually meets almost all of the requirements i have.  i just don't like the software.  i think i am going to sell it or return it.  but i *do* want a gps and there are too many to choose from.  i'm hoping someone can recommend a good one.  

i need/want

- battery power or 12v
- mapping, routing and auto-rerouting if i go offcourse
- voice prompts (headphone jack)
- multiple destination routing
- easy to use interface
- small enough to mount to handlebars
- decent sized color screen
- reasonably inexpensive < $400-500
- expandable with standard flash memory cards

and lastly, but probably the most important

- good desktop software.  i want to plan my routes with multiple destinations on my desktop and then download the route to the GPS.  because let's be honest here, all the GPS tell me where i am.  the only thing that really differentiates them is the software.

does anyone have any experience with the garmin gpsmap 60c or the magellan roadmate 300?

or alternatively, the navman i have is in fact a pocketPC.  is there 3rd party software that will work on it?  the software connects to the GPS via an internal comm port.

I got 60c. unit itself is nice but garmin software sux It doesn't have voice prompts though, just beeps about a min before the turn and then double beeps right before the turn. One time the highway was not on the map, so I am not sure how up to date maps are, exit names are totally screwed up sometimes, so I go by the time if exit name is not right, but there's 10 sec till exit I know that one is mine Unit works off two AA bats, I don't go for long hiking trips so not sure how long it'll last though on one set. takes a few min usually to locate initially, takes longer if cloudy. works in my car, just got a holder for it that fixes to a handlebar so now I don't have to get lost on my GS. Another bad thing is that you cannot expand the memory with cards, but I don't travel far, so internal memory is enough for me.

So all in all except for clumsy and sometimes outdated Garmin software I love the unit

I have a Megallan 700 that I use in my car.  It is absolutely a wonderful unit.  This winter I plan to hook up the extra cradle permanently to my 05 gs.  I will need to bring in the power from the battery and JB weld the cradle at the cockpit under the fairings.  This way the glare from the sun will not hit the gps screen directly and will keep worst of the weather away from it.  The Magellan 700 retails at around $1000,  but once you have used it there is no going back.

i think the only difference between the 300 and the 700 is that the 700 has the hard drive with all the maps.  is there desktop software with the roadmate?  is it any good?  does it do multiple destination routing?  neither of them run on batteries though, right?

just noticed that magellan is $1000, my 60c was like $300 + ~$100 for the maps

the roadmate 300 is available for $400 + a free 256mb SD card preloaded with maps.  refurbs are out there for about $320.

anyone used the tomtom navigator 5 software for pocket pc?  how about copilot live 5?

How about the Garmin eTrex Legend C?  It sounds like it would fit the bill.  Auto-routing, downloadable routes, batteries, cheap, RAM mounts available..

I think I'd probably go for the Garmin Quest though.  It is a bit more pricey, but the display is bigger, it's still pretty portable, waterproof, and I prefer the rechargeable batteries.  It also have RAM mounts available.  Unfortunately, neither of these options have expandable memory slots.  But 115MB in the Quest should be enough I'd guess.

Anyone have any experience with the TomTom Rider? Thoughts? Anything else out there with durability designed for a bike?

i didn't think the tomtom rider was available yet.  anyway, i'm hanging on to the navman i got for now.  i picked up a copy of the tomtom navigator 5 software but haven't had a chance to play with it yet.  i'll post an update when i get a chance to try it out.  i do like the navman *hardware*.  it fits the bill pretty well for me, and the software it comes with works, but isn't what i'm lookinig for.  hopefully tomtom will take care of that .

I have been shopping for one too and I decided to get the Vista C...  It has most of the features of the 60cs.  I ordered it last week, I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Quote from: Stephen072774..I decided to get the Vista C..

Great!  Any chance you could post a review after you've had a chance to play with it for a while?  I'm looking at both the Vista and Legend C models, so I'd be very interested in hearing your review!  

Just a note.. when you're ready for your next bike, they make a RAM mount that fits the model really well  

I will post a review.  Cebelas has me slated for delivery next tuesday, Its gonna suck waiting a whole week :lol:   I ordered the mapsource city select with it, so I am interested in the learning curve on this software.

I almost bought the Legend C, but I hike quite a bit and I figured the compass and altimiter would come in handy on the trail, more-so than on a bike or in the car.

I have been looking at the ram mounts but I can't seem to find them for they new "C" models... the C's are a little bit wider than the old Legend and Vista, I heard they would be out soon... I will go back and look for the new one.  I have already heard that the motorcycle clip from garmin was junk, and to avoid it.

I got a palm zire72 with tomtom (free upgrade to version 5).. bluetooth gps.. so far so good in a car.. it meets most of your requirements except no desktop planning and not sure about multiple destination routing... you can save multiple destinations and 2 more clicks and off to go to new destination.

I haven't used it in my bike yet.. but already installed extra cigarette power outlet and plan to put everything inside map pocket of tankbag and plug in my earphone.

It works pretty good in car.. fast auto-reroute, lock to satellie pretty fast when you are standstill... it takes forever to lock if you are travelling hwy speed.. no experience with other gps.. can't really compare.. would be nice to have desktop gui but palm is easy to use.

at the time of this posting, the price was $289

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ACHVVE/102-0167376-3931354?v=glance&n=172282&%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

OK I have had my Vista C for about 2-3 weeks now so I can give you guys some of my impressions...  This is a cool toy.  It is much more user friendly than I anticipated.  Every page can be customized to show what info is important to the user.  

It works very well indoors... as long as your in a wood frame house.  It doesn't like my cinder block and metal office building, but it picks up fine in my house.  The color screen is very easy to read, even in sunlight.  The base maps are ok, but you really need the detailed road maps for anything less than interstates and major highways.  I was a little dissapointed that I could only get about half of my state (of the detailed maps) into the unit because of the 20mb memory limit.  I really hoped I could get several states in at once.  Because of the memory differance and the controls, i almost wish i would have got the 60cs, but I still can't really justify that extra expense.

It does seem like the unit was designed by a left hander, because the "click stick" has to be controlled by your left thumb... but thats ok, I got used to it quick enough.  

The compass and barometric alt. are very handy, and I'm glad I got the vista c model over the legend c.  As long as your moving, the compass doesn't matter.  but once you stop, the unit continues to give accurate bearings because of the compass.  This is esp. handy when you are using the map page in track up mode, with draws the map in the direction you are facing, instead of alway north up.  The barometer has been really cool to watch as storms and rain are approaching, because of the change in pressure.  So those 2 features are worth the extra 50 to me.

I have hardly been able to put this neat little gadget down since i've had it... now I've gotta get the topo maps to go in it for hiking.

alright, since this thread is alive again, i'll give my input.

i stuck with the navman pin 100, and i'm glad i did.  i tried a few different software packages.  smartst v2, iguidance, tomtom navigator 5 and destinator.  this is one of the nice things about the pocketpc gps vs. the dedicated units.  you can change the software.  i might try copilot live 6 also.

anyway, so far tomtom is BY FAR the easiest and fastest.  routing is fast.  interface is intuitive and easy to use.  doesn't have the prettiest display of the bunch, but it's good and readable.  voice guidance is good, but no text-to-speech.  only tells you to turn right, not what street to turn right on.

tomtom supports "itinerary" planning where you can select multple points and it will route you from point a to point b to point c.  it doesn't do quite what i want in terms of manually mapping out a route.  HOWEVER, i've found that you can create a text file with longitude, latitude, name and type of point and download the route that way.  i've been using streets and trips to plot my route and then pick points off it every so often and type them in.  it's cumbersome but it works.

deluo routis (which i haven't been able to find) and copilot live 6 both allegedly support desktop planning and then downloading the route to the GPS.

i also sprung for the RAM mount.  i bought the mirror base, regular arm and appropriate cradle.  i'll need to wire a cigarette lighter socket up to the gs, but once i get that done i'm set.  i got a second base to put on the handlebars of my roadbike.

between the navman hardware and the tomtom software, i'd say this is a pretty good setup.  not perfect, but getting there.

Thank you both for posting back with reviews.  Very helpful!

okay.........I have used the search function and read what everyone has recommended.....it's almost Christmas and I really want to get a GPS.  I saw a Cobra GPS 1000 at Sports Authority for $229 and they have a 10% off coupon.  It comes loaded with a base map plus comes with street level maps also.  It only has 4mb internal memory but  has an SD card slot and comes with a 32mb card.  Sounds like a good deal for the price.  It's has a bigger screen then the e-trex but still grey scale....but for the price...what can I say.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  

Wayne