| Author | Message | ||
     Gbackus |
I have an 1125R, but figured this'd be the best place to ask this. The Buell Quest can ocasionally be had for $200-300 brand new, and I'm planning a cross country trip sometime this year. I was wondering if the quest was a suitable gps for this purpose? Does it come preloaded with enough information to get me from the west coast, to the east coast and back? What about POIs? I'd like to visit some monuments, state/national parks, etc. on my way through. | ||
| Froggy |
No. The Quest (1) only has 128mb of memory, which is enough for only a few states tops. Quest 2 is the same unit but will fit the whole country. Personally I would avoid both, as they are junk technology wise compared to other units that are newer and cost the same. If you spent more than $5 on a Quest, you overpaid. | ||
| Gbackus |
so what can I get in the same price range? Or do I have to step up to the $500 range? | ||
| Blk_uly |
if your gonna carry a lap top the quest will do in a pinch | ||
| Fung |
the quest 2 has been good to me. $130 referb a year ago. just needs a map upgrade | ||
| Reepicheep |
Quest 1 will work decent for cross country. The base map (built in) has every state route and bigger highway, so unless you are on small back roads you could do it with *no* memory used. I don't know if it will still do it, but back about 2 years ago I plotted a route from New York to LA and had garmin "auto select" detailed maps along the route. The whole thing would fit in the Quest 1. Might not now, as maps are getting more detailed and coming in bigger blocks these days. Like Blk said, if you bring along a laptop, which in this day and age I think would be a huge plus, it becomes a moot point. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Here's the advantages to the top quality GPS's made for bikes: Waterproof Headphone Plug Able to plan routes on a computer, and download to the unit. If you want those features, look at the Tom Tom rider, or Garmin Zumo, or older Garmin Streetpilot models. If you just want a GPS to get you from point A to point B, to keep you from getting lost, or to get you found after you've been lost, a much more simple unit will do. I highly recommend a Garmin Nuvi. Anything in the 200 series will be fine. Mounts are readily available from Ram-Mount. They aren't waterproof, so a few zip lock bags are needed. But the points of interest included are great, and they're easily expanded, plus they all come with full USA maps, and some come with Canada and/or Europe as well. Unless you're finding a Quest 1 or 2 for well under a hundred bucks, I'd pass and get the Nuvi. (Message edited by mikef5000 on January 28, 2010) | ||
| Reepicheep |
I bought my last quest 1 on ebay for $25, and that included the car adapter. Garmin (after some polite phone calls) graciously transferred ownership of the latest map set that had been locked to that unit. It was advertised as "won't lock". Took me 5 minutes (literally) to get it working again, and even if that failed (as it probably will eventually) the external antenna is $15 and gets a much better signal anyway. That one is in the wifes minivan now... sooner or later I'll get her a cheap Nuvi and take that Quest back for the motorcycle... it has more up to date maps then my other two quests (one stays in the car, the other gets rotated between the XB9SX and the dirt bike). | ||
| Ratbuell |
I love my Quest II. As noted above, it has enough memory for nationwide street-level mapping with no reloads, where the Buell Quest I requires regional reloads. I got it about 18 months ago for $130 refurb'd. Got the Buell mount for my Uly; bought a spare cradle and universal m/c wiring harness for my S2. Have another for my CR, waiting for a creative mounting idea to come along. Windshield mount lives in the truck. Not only has it worked for me all over the local area (Maryland), it got me (and my Uly) to and from Buelltoberfest and has gotten Kim and I to and from Homecoming the last 2 times, and Last Ride. It's not the quickest, or the sexiest...but it's a tank. The fact it won't die is the main reason I haven't stepped up to a Zumo. Does it look like an Atari compared to Kim's new Nuvi? Absolutely. But...it just...won't...die.  | ||
| Babired |
I used the Quest 1 for just general information riding across the country. The Quest 2 for addresses and more detailed information. They are waterproof and fit in the old Buell GPS mounting kit that I bought when I bought the Uly in 2008. K I forgot the Netbook is awesome to travel with too. I bought one of those last year and traveled with it a really good tool to have. (Message edited by Babired on January 29, 2010) | ||
| Ejc |
I'm one of those saps that paid too much for the Buell Quest when I bought the bike back in '05, or whenever it was first available. I use it mainly as a clock, so that I can use the trip mode on the instrument panel. Hey, it's cheaper than a Rolex! I use it to see where the next nearest town is too. If your expectations are as low as mine, you might be happy with it. | ||
| Ghostrider |
Guess I'm the last guy out there who just uses a map. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
This "map" of which you speak...how is it wired into your bike's power? Is it easy to use with gloves? Sounds expensive...did you get yours used on eBay? | ||
| Wheelybueller |
I have the Quest 2,I love it...It does have limitations though. basic state maps loaded,I route my trips on my laptop using the software and Google maps. I also have a road atlas I look at regularly. I DO NOT trust the GPS as gospel,I use it to guide me as I ride through the country side.Also I find it easy to use. A larger screen would be nice,but for what I use it for its all good. | ||
| Etennuly |
I too use the ole' reliable manual 'MAP'. After I became dependent on one of the electric too lazy to look ahead things, it died leaving me without a back up system. The literal equivalent to having your map blow out of your top bag and land in a river, sinking to the bottom, never to be seen again. So what if you don't have an exact address. Working out the final minute details of a trip are an excuse to actually use your brain and think a little bit. Heaven forbid that you might need to actually communicate with someone where you are planning to go, oh and that might leave you having to actually write out the instructions or directions.  The thing is for $4.95 almost anywhere, you can be back on the road with a 'MAP' who's only draw backs seem to be darkness, visual acuity(bi-focals needed), and in some cases you may actually have to stop to read it. Planning ahead is easy and environmentally cleaner than using electronic devices. Go into a restaurant and leave the map wedged into the seat gap, no problem, nobody wants to steal a map. Most thieves aren't going anywhere and pawning a map is fruitless. A little masking tape and a sharpie, and your route is easily read on your air box cover or tank bag. Way points, POI, exits, and alternate routes are easily studied in every room in the house and garage, or a rest area picnic table. No waiting to 'upload', just gotta learn to 'refold'. Fits in a side bag, or top bag, jacket pocket, or inside your shirt. Works great while tent camping, no need to recharge, can be waterproofed for about $1.50. No batteries, no cables, no re-chargers, ya drop it.....pick it back up, heck, it won't even slow you down in an airport security line.  GPS = hi-tech security blanket for those whom cannot read a map or plan ahead accurately. | ||
| Itileman |
+1 on low tech. Map, compass, hi-lighter & I'm gone. I've been looking at GPS' for a while, but just can't justify the purchase. Try swatting flies with a $650.00 Garmin. | ||
| Froggy |
Don't you need to mount one of those sun dial things to your bike in order to use that map thing? | ||
| Sleez |
you guys rock!!! i also have been shunning the gps thingy, plan, plan and plan some more!!! then do what feels right at the time, plan out the window, follow a line on the map, not a voice in the little gray box! | ||
| Loves_to_ride |
I'm a map guy too. Sometimes I like to not know where I am. I think ole Daniel Boone said something like...."i've never been lost, just bewildered for a while." Kind of fun actually. | ||
| Richardbiker |
As a charter bus driver in the pre-GPS days, maps were vital. "We're not lost, we're taking the scenic route."  | ||
| Tocino |
Well I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I'm not anti-GPS, but I find when I have one on A) I spend too much time messing with it and too little on looking around, and B) at least once it'll give you a boneheaded or plain wrong turn (not if you've preplanned the route of course). I would like to have one stored away just in case, but I don't like them distracting me. Last trip I went on I found Google Maps ability to alter the route a great "poor man's trip planning" resource: I set start and end points, with a few spots in between I knew I wanted to be at. Then I spent a few hours adjusting it, which also forced me to actually think about the route in pretty detail. *Then* I cut/pasted the turn by turn steps (removing the silly stuff like 'take L off of Rt 33 turning onto Rt 33') into a word processor and made a trip log, like you see the rally guys use. Important bit was putting the miles-to-next-turn in bold (that and having the whole thing in 18 point font so I could read easily). Printed that out, folded in half and stuck it under the clear window of my tank bag so I could just look down and see. Tried to have the half pages contain all the info needed between gas stops. Every time I'd stop I'd flip the page over to the next one. Not fool proof, especially once it got dark and I couldn't see it except when I passed a light: "OK, here comes one, 3, 2, 1 look down, uh lost my place, shoot, ooops dark again, look up! don't run off road!" but it did the trick for me. | ||
| Ghostrider |
Well, I think I'm one of those people who's gifted enough to have a GPS in my head. I use a map, and get to know where I'm going, know which road or route number I need to turn on and how far ahead that should be, and then I do it. I have a good idea in advance of where the gas stops are and that's my target. I've never had a problem. I know not everyone is like that. A buddy of mine gets lost in his own neighborhood and he's lived there for ten years. His wife bought him the GPS for his car so that he would stop getting lost and for the most part, it's worked. And I don't have a spare couple hundred bucks, either. | ||
| Etennuly |
I got into an argument a while back with one of my GPS loving buddies. He got upset with me when I turned on a really cool twisty road that only went a mile or so, then we had to turn back. He was pointing and shaking his head as I turned on this road while reading his GPS. We were out on a Saturday fun ride, no stress, get lost ride. He claimed I had made a wrong turn, I say there are no wrong turns on these kind of rides(unless you are late getting home). I do a lot of these kind of rides without looking at a map, just pick a direction and explore. I have found some neat roads, people, and places that otherwise would have never been seen following a "plan". It is altogether different if planning a trip though. Five hundred miles out nobody wants to make a mistake that could cost an extra twenty miles if you have places to be or if fuel is short. I intend to replace my dead GPS with one that I can use on the bike, in the car, and even mark my favorite fishing spots in my boat. But it will never replace my MAP. | ||
| Trevd |
I just picked up a used Streetpilot off of Ebay, and I'm looking forward to being out on a day-long ride, 60 minutes before I said I was going to be home, and not wondering "Where the hell am I, and how do I get home?" Now, I'll just press a button or two, and I'll be able to get home hopefully before my wife starts sharpening the knives for me... I'm also looking forward to not stopping to figure out where I'm going, then starting off again, then stopping 3 minutes later because I forgot the turn I'm looking for. Then repeating the same thing 30 minutes later. The way I see it, I'm hoping that my GPS will enable me to become more adventurous, reducing the downsides of being more adventurous. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Maps are okay, GPS is okay. Simple thing is you need both. GPS is great in an unfamiliar city, maps are great for planning your ride over a long distance. Quest2 can be had for about $130 and mounting system for another $40. Very reasonable and that includes the latest maps. Nice to know altitude and have a spare speedo which the Quest2 provides. Each to his own but after using GPS in my car, boat and bike for 4 years I don't think I would chose to go without now. |
