What you need then is a Garmin Oregon 600 they have been discontinued and are available new for $280 USD or in as new condition for $200. Zumo's are really expensive and in my opinion this is a better unit as it is not too large. I've been using an eTrex for years and I just got one of these really cheap on eBay and it is freaking so awesome that i'm putting up this post.

The eTrex was a bit of a pain but the software on the Oregon is superb and it's a touchscreen. Here's some shots. I've got it on a ram mount but you can also buy a plastic mount that the Oregon slides into and attaches to your handlebars with two plastic ties, that's only $3 from China, I'm thinking of getting rid of the ram mount and using that. I use it on the etrex on our other bike and it's fine. You'll just need to purchase some city navigator maps which are pretty cheap on eBay or even cheaper on TPB.

Maybe not quite as water proof as a Zumo I'm not sure but it's ipx7 rated at 1 metre of water for 30 minutes so a bit of a splash won't hurt it. Also daylight viewable screen, it's trans/reflective. You can also plan routes in the free garmin basecamp software and transfer it to the gps. I love this unit and it's tough too, not that i'll be bashing it with a hammer! https://youtu.be/C0Ab2lr4WVI

It will also recharge rechargeable batteries directly on the unit. I have put a usb outlet attached directly to the bike battery, it's fused and works well. I only charge it via the bike when necessary and leave it unplugged mostly so it's easy to take off the bike without needed to unplug it.

Agreed, I have been using a Garmin Montana 600 for years on multiple bikes with Ram Mounts.

cellphones running navmii work great also. granted waterproofness is not there though. heck im looking for a ram mount for my camera for my knee scooter project. love the nearly infinite ways of adjustibility of those things.
Aaron

Ya, I did want to specifically make a point about the Oregon 600 being the pinnacle of Garmin's handhelds for a bike so far, as the entire surface is flat unlike preview Oregons, the screen has a denser pixel ratio than the Montana, and it charges up on the bike, plus it even works with summer gloves on. But best of all for me is that you can load your own custom routes for bike journey's in and it has a plethora of great information that you can choose to have on display. And it's suddenly really cheap because they released the 700 which just is the same unit except for some Garmin geocaching connectivity stuff.

Quote from: user11235813 on September 06, 2017, 03:57:00 PM
Ya, I did want to specifically make a point about the Oregon 600 being the pinnacle of Garmin's handhelds for a bike so far, as the entire surface is flat unlike preview Oregons, the screen has a denser pixel ratio than the Montana, and it charges up on the bike, plus it even works with summer gloves on. But best of all for me is that you can load your own custom routes for bike journey's in and it has a plethora of great information that you can choose to have on display. And it's suddenly really cheap because they released the 700 which just is the same unit except for some Garmin geocaching connectivity stuff.

Pinnacle? When your talking Garmin Handhelds, the Pinnacle is the Montana, unless you like small screens and squinting at 60 Mph 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=garmin%20montana%20vs%20garmin%20oregon&qs=RQ&form=QBVR&sp=1&pq=garmin%20oregon%20vs%20garmin%20montana%20&sc=5-32&cvid=40CE505351DA4465B90F98F5AF11B535

Wish the screen was larger for looking at maps. I use Nuvi 2200, but screen is not bright enough.

@HPP8140,

I recently bought a nuvi LM60. I checked out some motorbike forums that mentioned nuvis, and also some online reviews that indicated they were fine for motorbikes.

I took it outside and realised instantly that it's useless. Fortunately I got it on special and was able to sell it to only lose $20. This is why it bugs me when people talk bullshit simply to justify their own decisions and make themselves feel good. As an example I bought a K&N filter for our Savage. Now whether you like K&N or you think they are overpriced is not the issue, the issue is that it simply does not fit it's way oversized. I put up a warning on the savage forum and some people say 'mine fits fine' but it does not because it cannot because it is too big. It's not a matter of opinion.

Similarly I ended up wasting my time on a Nuvi because of idiots who don't want to admit they made a mistake. Nuvis simply are not designed to be viewed in bright sunlight therefore they are useless on a motorbike and anyone who says otherwise is lying. At best they are struggling with it and try to convince themselves it's sort of kinda OKish on a cloudy day, or at night. yada yada yada.

The reason that Zumo or other hand held devices do work is the screen is completely different technology, it's called trans reflective and it does what it says on the box, it can transmit light to be backlit, but even with no backlight at all and with the sun shining on it brightly it is meant to work that way.

Zumo's are very expensive. The eTrex is good but the screen is small and the software is not as sophisticated and it has fiddly buttons. But it's a great second device and it does do the job.

So the only choice in Garmin's is either the Montana or the Oregon. Both have the right display, both are touchscreens. Now Suzuki Stevo likes his Montana, unfortunately he spoke a wee bit of bullshit when he tried to mock the Oregon screen because he claims you 'have to squint' at it's 'tiny' display. The reason that this is bullshit is that yes the Oregon has a smaller display but it has the same legibility, in fact it has a better quality display because it has finer pixels, you can work this out yourself by going to the Garmin site and dividing the pixel count into the display size from memory the Montana is 54 pixels to the cm and the Oregon is 64 pixels to the cm. So it's sharper by 20% and with such low pixel counts compared to smartphones that DOES make a noticeable difference.

If money is no object an one prefers a larger screen then the Montana is a larger screen but the point of this thread is that the Oregon 600 is available at a bargain price because it's been superseded by the Oregon 700 that has nothing extra to offer of any value. It basically just integrates with Garmin geocaching community.

So as this thread was about not paying a premium the Oregon 600 is available for a measly 200 bucks and it's awesome.

Now regarding the size, notwithstanding I've already pointed out the screen is sharper than the Montana, you can see from the screenshots posted in this thread already and elsewhere if you look on you tube that the bigger screen does not give you bigger features, it just shows more screen and the features are spread out a bit, so the bigger size is not easier to read. In fact if you look at the speed readout the Oregon has a bigger bolder typeface.

The Montana will do the job and either are much cheaper than a Zumo but I feel the Montana is too big to carry around when I get off the bike. I also do not like the proprietary connector that needs it's own cradle. But I especially do not like the fact it is not completely flat on the surface. The older Oregons also had a raised edge like the Montana but they have eliminated that and that will surely be how the Montana 700 series will be when they are released.

However if you think either the Montana or the Oregon are too small, then you'll have to stump up for the Zumo.

Another point about the software that makes the bigger Montana screen pointless is that the software has been designed to make the most of the screen. So you can have data fields on the map but a simply press of the arrow on the front, (which also works with gloves) will make the data fields vanish is you want to see more map. Most of the time I do not need to see the map on the whole screen. However if I'm riding on a twisty road, then I will press the arrow and have the full map so I get a good preview of what's coming up ahead. Which is why I don't use the device horizontally because that's pretty much a waste of time I don't need to see more map on the side, I need to see a taller map so I know what's coming up ahead.

I hope this is useful to someone.

P.S @Suzuki Stevo

Here is a comparison shot of your image with the image I posted. You've only posted a data screen and it's a blurry but I have put them side by side in the correct proportions. Even though your small data fields are blurry I think you will see that they are as near as dammit to the same size as the small data fields on the oregon. You can also see that the fields have been spread out but not made larger! And by the by, the large data field on the Oregon at least with regard to speed is in fact larger than the Montana. And as I've already said, it's a finer pixel count. The Montana is an excellent unit but to present that it is easier to read is simply not true, it's large size is to simply display more map area not a bigger map area.

Also see that "Right on Murphy" that's a guidance text that I only ever use for freeway merging in unfamiliar locations, I usually don't have it on because I use the "Distance to Next" field instead to warn me how far I need to go before the next turn. See that little arrow in the middle, that makes the data go away. Also simply touching that "right on murphy" takes you to the full upcoming turns. I presume the Montana has the same software.

Also see those two little plus and minus buttons? know as well as I do that they are for zooming in and zooming out so further showing that your 'squinting' comment is simply not true. By all means say you like the larger Montana screen but don't back it up by saying things that are not true.

@user11235813

Good detailed info. thanks.

By screen size, I can't tell whether it will be an issue to check out areas on the map zoom in/out....see area roads horizontally. Sometimes I like to checkout roads in the area, not just get directions, especially useful for detours.

Quote from: user11235813 on September 09, 2017, 04:32:50 AMP.S @Suzuki Stevo
Here is a comparison shot of your image with the image I posted. You've only posted a data screen and it's a blurry but I have put them side by side in the correct proportions.

You do understand Einstein, that is a blurry photo to begin with (notice the camera is focused on the bike but not the GPS unit) and not actually how the screen looks??

Top Right of GPS unit "Montana 600" read it in both images.



The data field is larger on the Montana, the Oregon is smaller and harder to read while riding, that is my point and my only point, smaller screens are harder to read and require you to keep your eyes off the road longer to acquire the info on the screen in a MC/Automotive application. I would never recommend a smaller Handheld for use in that application as long as larger ones are around. Yes right now the Oregon is a great value and loaded with all the features anyone needs....it's screen is just too damn small for anything other than holding in your hand or a bicycle IMHO.

@HPP8140,

I've put all the objective information up and to make a final decision the only way is to go to a shop and hold them in your hand and eyeball them. The Oregon can go into a horizontal position. All I'm saying is that you do not really get the full value of the huge size of the Montana, it's a bear. But it's not a bad device, it's just pointlessly huge. If it came down to a Montana, then you may as well spend a bit more and go for the Zumo.

@Stevo,

No point being a smart ass. I'm really simply answering your original assertion that you need to 'squint' to see the oregon screen. Which is just not true. I am well aware that the image is blurry which is why I said, it I was making a size comparison of the numbers, and as you can see there's not really anything in it. btw, your contour lines on the Montana have no numbers on them, which defeats the purpose of contour lines doesn't it?

Quote from: user11235813 on September 10, 2017, 12:12:21 AM
I'm really simply answering your original assertion that you need to 'squint' to see the oregon screen. Which is just not true

I'm 60, I need all the help I can get. I am seriously considering a Garmin Dēzl for my Indian. Sorry for being a smart azz, I was reading yer post on my phone, it wasn't until I read it on my comp did I understand what you where talking about (larger screen)<<<fer realz