| Author | Message | ||
     Slowride |
I have been monitoring and participating in a GPS thread on ADVrider and it always seems that the conversation boils down to mine vs. yours, kind of like the BMW vs KTM bs that goes on over there and any other bikes are really just trivial. With that said, I would like to get some feed back on two GPS units and possibly any others that you have had success with. I am looking at the Garmin 2610 or the Lowrance XOG. My primary use for the GPS will be on the bike 90% of the time. Functions I need: Route mapping via uploaded .gpx files from an independent site other than from the manufacturer. DC power (power socket or direct wire) Clear large screen that can be seen in direct sunlight. Please feel free to add you user experience with these units or enlighten me with other similarly cost effective units that can do the same thing. I am no GPS noob and I have a Magellan Maestro Series that I run in my car and on my bike, but it lacks the routing functions. | ||
| Gotj |
"Route mapping via uploaded .gpx files from an independent site other than from the manufacturer. DC power (power socket or direct wire) Clear large screen that can be seen in direct sunlight." I have been using a 2610 for a couple of years but am not a "power user". So all I can contribute is that the 2610 mount can either be direct wired and comes with a power socket lead for car use. I have used both on my Uly. Regarding the use in sunlight, it is fine but there are angles at which the glare off of the screen makes it unreadable. Then you have to shade it with your helmet or such to read it. | ||
| Froggy |
The Garmin Quest does better than my Garmin Zumo in sunlight. Unfortunately due to the nature of LCD screens, none will be excellent in direct sunlight. I don’t know anything about the Lowrance, as I have never tried any of their units. I am a Garmin fan boy and will defend them to death. Looking at the unit quickly on their website, it looks like a standard run of the mill unit. No mention of water resistance, which I feel is a must for any GPS unit mounted on a 2 wheeled vehicle. “Note: SD 2.0 memory cards will not work with the XOG Crossover GPS. “ That says to me it’s an old unit, odds are older internals. Newer GPS units track better with stronger chipsets and antennas. Another thing to note is that a lot of cheap GPS units tend to navigate you horribly, like making you get off a highway, go a block, make a u-turn, then get back on the highway. | ||
| Slowride |
Froggy, Do you have any experience with the Quest /Q2? Will it route via uploaded .gpx files? | ||
| Reepicheep |
It should. If nobody knows offhand, I'll try uploading one to mine. | ||
| Sanchez |
I'm not familiar with the 2610, but I love my Zumo. It supports GPX, it wires into the bike, and I've never had a problem seeing the screen in bright sunlight. It's also setup for left hand control, the touch screen buttons get bigger for glove use when mounted to the bike, and it's weatherproof. | ||
| Rotorhead |
I have used a Garmin 276C and have had great success with it. It came with the software that you not interested in but it was there and it works well. It will take GPX files. The cool thing about the mapsource software is it exports tracks and routes to google earth. That is how I survey those questionable roads before I decide to try and ride them. The reason I chose the 276C over the Zumo or any other GPS is that it was oriented for marine use and will work on the road with maps loaded. The big draw back is the data card is only a garmin product and you have to use only that card where other have SD type cards. The LCD is bright in sunlight because of the marine design. it has a night time black or "negative" view that work great at night. If the maps are loaded it does route on the GPS to user defined quickest, shortest or user defined. The user defined is cool so you stay off the hwy's and on the back roads or vise versus. overall happy with the unit. It has been mounted on th ULY for at least 40,000 miles and no ill effects from vibrations or user induced drops from the handle bars. Due the the 276C being about 2 years old you can pick them up for about the same as a Zumo but you don't get the bluetooth and SD memory and all the bells and whistles. You do get a really bright screen and weather tight machine. | ||
| Slowride |
276C... yeah, I have drooled over those. Cost effective for me means under $200. So I have been looking at the Garmin Quest &Q2, it looks like these units will fit the bill. So, whats the $100 difference between the Quest and Quest 2? | ||
| Froggy |
Slowride, I believe the Quest support GPX, I haven't tried it but I don't see why it wouldn’t. Do not bother with the Quest. If your heart is set on that old ass unit with poor tracking, small screen and lack of features, then get the Quest 2. The Quest 1 has only 128mb of memory, and as result only holds a few states of maps at a time. What I had to do going cross country was when I stop for gas near the edge of the map, would have to crack out my laptop and upload in different maps of the next area I was going too. If you picked carefully, you could get your whole route on 1 shot, like going from NY to Florida, I picked only the sections that were closest to my route of I-95. That way I was able to get the whole trip in 1 shot, but when I got to Florida I uploaded in the whole state so I can navigate better. The Quest 2 holds the whole country. Again, from personal experience, skip it. Zumo 550 is awesome but is missing some of the more hardcore features that other Garmin’s have. | ||
| Gotj |
The 2610 generates gpx files and it can use them. The 2610 is waterproof. I have a 2 gig SD memory card in mine so it will hold the whole US. It's usually an extra cost but I have seen some advertised with it installed. +1 on the routing features of the 2610 compared to the Zumo. The downside is that you have to learn how they affect "rerouting" among other things if the preferences aren't set the same on the software and unit. As my first GPS, I found the learning curve rather shallow, i.e., hard. If you go with the 2610, be sure the latest version of the software is included. | ||
| Froggy |
You mean latest maps included. The units software can be updated for free on garmin.com, but the maps cost mooneys  | ||
| Gotj |
I think I meant the PC software WITH the latest maps. When I bought the updated maps, it included the software, not just a map set. Can you buy just the maps? | ||
| Sanchez |
> +1 on the routing features of the 2610 compared to the Zumo. What routing does the 2610 do that the Zumo doesn't? I'd be really surprised if the software in them wasn't mostly identical. Garmin gives you free map updates for a year, but then you have to pay $70 for each year's update after that. | ||
| Gotj |
"What routing does the 2610 do that the Zumo doesn't? I'd be really surprised if the software in them wasn't mostly identical." On the 2610, you are offered three classes of roads and can choose your preference level (each scale has about eight divisions, I think) for each class. The Zumo has only two basic choices but I can't remember the terms. So you can choose 100% minor roads and zero percent medium and major roads; my favorite setting unless I need to make time. SURPRISE!  | ||
| Froggy |
I think you mean avoidances? On my Zumo and quest i can say avoid highways, or avoid toll roads, or avoid unpaved roads (my bike is too pretty!), or my favorite, avoid traffic | ||
| Gotj |
"I think you mean avoidances?" Nope. I think YOU meant "...ASSUME (emphasis added) you mean avoidances?" They are Preferences. I can't copy and paste the page from the Garmin manual but if you REALLY want to know rather than argue from ignorance, below is the link that will enable you to download the manual. Go to page 51. You WILL be SURPRISED! http://www8.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp?mark et=4&subcategory=44&product=010-00273-03 | ||
| Froggy |
Oh that! The Zumo doesn't have the whole slider custom setup like that, but you can still do the pick faster time / shorter distance / off road. | ||
| Slowride |
So I am down to either the Quest 2 or the 2610 and I am leaning towards the Quest 2. Will I have to use Garmin specific software to upload GPX files or can I use free gpx converter software? | ||
| Sanchez |
Wow, Gotj. No need to take such a harsh tone. Froggy wasn't attacking you. Slowride, I don't know about the 2610, but the Zumo just has a directory on it called "gpx" that shows up when you plug it into your computer's USB port. Just drag a file there, and the GPS notices and gives you the option to import it when you boot it up. I'd guess it's probably the same for the 2610. But then again I guessed the routing would be the same too. | ||
| Slowride |
Thanks Sanchez.... I would love to get the Zumo, but in preparation for my trip back out to TWO this year, I am picking up several items that just put the zumo out of reach. Kayko throttle lock Rear Luggage rack (now for a jerry can) and a ice chest Ortlieb waterproof bag Those three alone could buy me a zumo when they first came out. Anyway, I think I'll bite and pick up the Quest 2. Making the ebay buy in the morning. I believe the cheapest one was $184. See you guys on the fiddy's at TWO. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Anyway, I think I'll bite and pick up the Quest 2. Making the ebay buy in the morning. I believe the cheapest one was $184. One thing to add about the Quest 2 is that is it slow when it comes to rerouting you. I have the Zumo, Quest (Buell model), and picked up a refurbished Quest 2. The Quest 2 has the advantage of having all the maps preloaded, like the Zumo, but when it has to reroute you, it takes 2 to 3 times longer than the original Quest or Zumo. Otherwise it's a nice unit (the screen is a bit small, but if you can get past that, it's fine). Wayne edit: I just checked and Action GPS is out of stock of refurbished Quest 2 units, but they are a very nice outfit to deal with. (Message edited by wbrisett on September 21, 2008) | ||
| Nutsosane |
The Quest2 is beyond garbage. Great unit for a car and someone who can't route themselves. Don't plan on figuring anything out while on the move; the slowest "re-drawing" of any unit I've ever seen. Costco has a Zumo 450 for $350, with motorcycle mount kit. NUTS | ||
| Gotj |
Zumo 450 - $299: http://www.techondigital.com/product.asp?productid =zumo450_ | ||
| Slowride |
Interesting, I have a few things on auction right now with ebay and one of them just sold for way more than I thought it would. So, with the extra cash... I think I will get the Zumo 450. I really appreciate all the advice and real world experience information on the GPS models I asked about and those which I learned about. For those of you going to Buelltoberfest, we will see how good these Zumo's are. I will be leading 3 rides over 3 days and routing all of them with my custom tracks on what now appears to be the Zumo 450. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Quest works great for me. Never had mine take more then a minute to completely re-route, and its generally a lot faster then that. Lots of other good units out there though. And while the quest is cheap, if the map data is out of date and would cost you $80 to update, then a $100 Quest aint that cheap anymore. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Quest works great for me. Never had mine take more then a minute to completely re-route, and its generally a lot faster then that. The Quest is fine when it has to reroute. It's the Quest2 that takes forever and a day. The only thing I can think of is that because the Quest2 has all the maps installed, it slows down that process. As Froggy mentioned in an earlier post, the only real downside to the Quest is that you have to constantly upload the maps. This isn't a huge deal if you plan it right, but it does mean bringing a laptop with you on longer trips. It's much easier to plan your route, then upload that before the start of the trip and never have to worry about it again. Wayne | ||
| Froggy |
My Quest 1 takes a long time to route too. Especially if I am routing something over a hundred miles. Zumo is almost instant, with only taking a bit to route from NY to Suches, GA. Hell I will benchmark it later and try and see how long it takes each unit to do that. | ||
| Wbrisett |
Froggy, are you using the Quest solely for routing? I tend to use the mapping software on the computer. I find nice out of the way roads that go the same direction. Makes the ride much more enjoyable. My comments about routing/rerouting are related only to the times where I decide to go a different direction, or miss a turn (a recent trip the GPS had me making a U-turn right where there was a huge no U-turn sign. I opted to skip that U-turn). Wayne | ||
| Chopped58 |
I have a quest(the older one) also, do all the routing on the pc, then upload it. Memory is limited like Froggy said, thats pretty much my only complaint. IIRC (I think I tried it) it will route you across the country with just the basic information that is on it, but you just won't have the points of interest on it. The "waterproofness" has been good for me, and it's very portable. I would like to upgrade to a zumo, but it's just not in the cards right now, and the quest is ok for my purposes. | ||
| Tipsymcstagger |
I have a 2 gig SD memory card in mine so it will hold the whole US I think it's actually a CF card in the 2610. Tipsy |
