| Author | Message | ||
     Thefleshrocket |
I have an old Magellan Roadmate 2200T. It is a good gps but it's growing long in tooth. The main problem is the outdated maps. There is a map update from 09 but Magellan wants $80 for it, which is how much this gps sells for as a refurb, so I am a little hesitant to spend the money on something not worth much. Also, this gps doesn't support waypoints (just point A to point B) and I am not sure if the $80 update (which supposedly also updates the OS and GUI) adds waypoint support. There are plenty of new gpses that have waypoints but none I have found claim an 8 hour battery life like the 2200t does, and none of them are water resistant, at least not in the sub $200 price range. (sure, there are $800 motorcycle specific units but I don't have sucker or spendaholic written on my forehead.) So, what gpses do you guys use and wha do you like about them? Do they support waypoints? Are they water resistant? And what's battery life like? | ||
| Jules |
Tomtom Go 940 Live, It has Bluetooth Hifi output and a media player built in so it connects to my bluetooth receiver and speakers in my helmet. It's on a RAM mount in a waterproof case (bought off ebay for $25). Battery life is ~3 hours (less if using the media player) but it's plugged into a cigarette socket on the bike anyway so there's no problem there. I can listen to music and directions when riding along and the 4.3" display is bigger than most of the "made for motorcycles" ones that cost a rediculous amount of money more just to be weatherproof when a $25 case fixes that anyway. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
i use my new G2 with google nav through my headset it plays the nav voice over the music i am listening to at the time. so far it hasn't gotten me lost... | ||
| Kidder |
I have a Garmin 2610 refurb. It was under $200. It is motorcycle specific and is weatherproof. I like it a lot. I won't pay for a map upgrade (just got my last freebie last year) because it'll be half the cost of the GPS. The only thing I don't like is that it will not run on batteries so it's not portable. | ||
| Froggy |
I have a Garmin Zumo 550 as my main GPS. I do like it, but I hate how its missing lots of little features of the older Garmins, and now the even newer ones have even more removed from them. It will store 500 waypoints, allow you to import custom routes, and do tons of little things your current unit won't. It is water resistant as they come, I ride with mine year round in all weather including hail. It claims to have a 4 hour battery life, but its rare that I use it for more than 20 minutes off the powered bike cradle. Oh, and you are not a sucker for spending $800 on a GPS, you are a sucker for thinking a $80 is just as good, or even worth owning.  | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Froggy, many cheap refurbbed gpses were $500+ when new. Gps technology doesnt change--only the features vary. Is yesterday's top dog that far behind the high dollar units of today? Waypoints and battery life are my biggest concerns. I want to be able to go on a 3-4 hour ride without having to rig up a power connection on my bikes. And of course waypoints so I can plan a trip through deserted backroads that the gps would likely never recommend to me. | ||
| Froggy |
Thats like saying motorcycles don't change, only features vary. The tech in a modern high end GPS is lightyears ahead of the units from 5 years ago. It is a shame the modern software from every manufacturer has moved from enthusiast to user friendly, reducing overall functionality. If you don't want to ever worry about batteries, spend 20 minutes and install a power outlet. 15 of those minutes are removing putting the flyscreen back on. Batteries wear out, last thing you need is your GPS shutting off on you in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, battery life is all over the board, my old Quest will go about 48 hours running on battery alone, while my Cobra will be lucky to last an hour. I own ten (10) GPS units, specs will vary, but most Garmin units have a good battery life. | ||
| Two_seasons |
I don't have anything but a compass. Last summer took my 12 year old boy with me on the r to Philly and back. Got lost many times and it was fun to not have a map or a plan and just go. All in all, less than 100 miles on the interstates roundtrip. I absolutely like to be adventurous. My son likes it too. My wife, well, she tolerates me. | ||
| Court |
>>>I hate how its missing lots of little features of the older Garmins, and now the even newer ones have even more removed from them. I made the mistake of buying that "software for life" package from Garmin and updating my Zumo 550. The new software seems a bit confused. My Zumo 550 gets used for navigation and entertainment. . . I'm addicted to the satellite radio. The Garmin is bulletproof. I need a new battery (which I don't use 5 minutes a year but they are readily available and easily replaceable. | ||
| Jules |
TomTom have made the same mistake - their newer models all focus on "ease of use" and strip out a lot of the features that I actually need.. The Bluetooth A2DP is essential on the bike, the Media player is cool too - the new ones all seem to have that missing. The Live features are pretty good - not so much use on a bike (where you can ignore traffic tailbacks) but good in the car. Buybits have the waterproof holder and RAM mount for £50 (UK) at the moment if anyone is looking. | ||
| Nuts4mc |
Like Jules, TomTom 930 - it is very feature rich - newer models are for the new user or someone who just wants one for the car - and already has the high end stereo... I use TYRE a software program to plan routes - it uses Google maps and can down load the route to the device - it's free - works with both TomTom and Garmin see here: http://www.janboersma.nl/gett/index.php written by a motorcyclist in Holland Tyre also lets you print routes for those of you who don't have a GPS most rally type guys use their Iphones (if you can afford one!) Working on a simple but effective RAM mount for the 1125r - any interest? - also a wire harness that would plug into the heated grip jack - easy on/off for those track days! | ||
| Zac4mac |
No GPS here. Loretta has a small ball-compass RTV'd into the recess for the left bar bolt. If I need a map, I pull out my iPhone. I usually snap a pic and e-mail it to the wife at the same time. Z  | ||
| Daniii |
I have a Garmin 550 and an XMreciever. I mounted it to the mirror stalk (there are pics elsewhere). I use a small amplifier to boost the volume for my helmet speakers. It works great! | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
I have the Garmin nuvi 205W from a few years ago that's been working great. Bare-bones GPS unit and only really use it when I want to remember routes or find my way home after getting lost for a few hours and just riding. Mounted using a RAM ball clamped on the handlebar, their stalk, and their holder for the GPS unit. I'm working on taking a OtterBox Defender belt clip for the Droid X and retrofitting a RAM ball to the back of it and mount that as well! ... GPS, music, and texting on the go! (Just kidding!) | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Last night I figured out that my Roadmate 2200T CAN do waypoints, so I spent a good couple hours programming in all 50 waypoints for my southern Illinois and Missouri backroads ride. Then I attempted to test it today and realized that it doesn't do all the waypoints, it just routes me to the first waypoint. Then I need to select the second waypoint and tell it to route to that. Not helpful when on a motorcycle and I want to go the whole route without stopping to screw with the GPS. I have an old iPhone 3G that I am in the process of repairing. I think I'll just fix that and use its GPS service. Then I can use my bluetooth headphones and listen to music while getting directions. (Message edited by thefleshrocket on March 02, 2011) | ||
| Petebueller |
I bought a Tevion from Aldi a couple of years ago for $150 when most bike GPSs were double that. The headpiece was FM and had a lot of static, it also lets more wind noise in so I don't use it. It navigates well most of the time but can't be relied on. It is useful. Better than the old days when I'd carry map books and navigate to a series of points. At each point I'd memorise a piece of the remaining route. I don't have much bar space on the Firebolt and the 1125R, and I didn't want it in front of the controls or anywhere too distracting. I had a small sleeve machined and mounted the wheel from the bar clamp that came with it to the brake pinch bolt. It is out of the way but easy to see when I look over.      | ||
| No_rice |
i gots me one of them gps thingy's... its in my head...  and it rises in the morning and sets at night... then its sister rises at night and sets in the morning... | ||
| Mountainstorm |
I enjoy getting lost. | ||
| D_adams |
Dave, you might as well plan a route up this way and then you can see/hear one of these pipes in person. Pm me if you want directions. | ||
| Froggy |
Same here, that is the best part of having a GPS. I ride wherever I want all day usually in one general direction, then when it starts to get dark, I press the "Go Home" button, and it does the rest. It will even try and route me around storms and traffic. | ||
| Jaimec |
As long as I stay within the United States (and I can't see me taking my 1125R anywhere else; long-distance, two-up touring isn't its schtick), my Motorola Droid, coupled with my new Nolan NCOM bluetooth unit, is all I need. Bought an extra "power pack" since there's no faster way to drain a cellphone battery than to use Bluetooth and GPS simultaneously. | ||
| Bahnzii |
I have a Zumo 550 on my other bike, its nice, but my latest acquisition is Sena bluetooth for my helmet and then I can use my Moto Droid X. Stream a little Pandora if I feel like it and then use Google Maps turn by turn if I need it. I can even leave the Droid X in my pocket so I won't be distracted trying to look at a display. I do need to rig up a power source though...gps driving directions can drain the battery pretty good. | ||
| Jaimec |
Erik, this was recommended to me and it works great: http://tinyurl.com/4jqmqyz It's not clear from the ad, but it works with ANY device that gets external power from a mini-USB connector. Instead of using it as a recharger, you just plug it in and use it as an external power source. Both the phone and the power pack fit inside my jacket pocket without issue. (Message edited by jaimec on March 04, 2011) |
