A Few Questions on GPS Units

[jlhsaa]

Jon T, what I did was use at "Techmount" Stem Mount part 10998. Don't know if this link will work but you can follow the web address "https://www.techmounts.com/products/" then to secure the GPS I used a "Ram Mount" "https://www.ram-mount.com/" and attached the GPS holder directly to the Teckmount plate. The setup works great. Good luck

 

[TheRepairMan]

[SIZE=10pt]I just bought a Nuvi 760 from Wally World for $249 and it easily mounts on the bike and in the car with the included mount. [/SIZE]

I really like it the best and I have tried several brands and models.

Roger

 

[iboldguy]

I use a Garmin GPS 60cx on the feej. Waterproof, very versitile, small screen works for me, doesn't talk so you're forced to be aware when you are getting near a turn. I use a Garmin Nuvi 260W in the car and frankly the voice can make you crazy esp. if you decide to go off route.

BTW the mapsource vers 6.14.x sucks. If you have a 6.13.4 or higher 6.13 don't up grade.

 

[bandit]

As for rain, I'll pick up a clear vinyl/PVC bag with drawstrings and put it over the GPS if it shows signs of raining.

Bingo. There is no reason to buy a motorcycle specific GPS, they are way to expensive (2610 exception noted). My Nuvi has 16,000 miles on the bike with no problems. It was $200 a year and a half ago, now you can get one for $109 from radio shack: refurbed nuvi 350. That was the very first link I found, probably a little research will turn up a cheaper version. Mine had the same one year warranty as a new one, it speaks street names, and you can even get Australian Jill to talk to if you want.

Add in $20 bucks worth for mounting and you have a GPS on your bike for less than $150 shipped. Mine has 16,000 miles on it, plenty of severe weather, works nicely in the car, no problems.

I have frieinds that have been thru several GPS on moptorcycles becasue of lack of waterproofing. I used to live on the Oregon Coast and now I live in Mobile Alabama. Both places get quite a bit of rain. ( Actually mobile usually has the highest rainfall in the US) I cant see installing a GPS on a bike that isnt waterproof. You need to remove it every time it starts sprinkling. When could you possibly need a GPS more than in the rain.

 

[v65]

You need to remove it every time it starts sprinkling.

Err, no you don't. I put a plastic baggy on mine and fasten it with electrical tape. I have been through monsoons with it. See fuzzyriders post, he had a drawstring bag he uses. I needs to get me one of those. With the baggy on you can still see and operate it just fine.

 

[Rick_W]

As for the talking GPS directions - I hate it!

Even when I put it in the truck, I mute the volume.

 

[Rick_W]

Speaking of GPS, I am just wondering where everyone has their GPS mounted. I have a few ideas. But I am always open to suggestions.

I currently have my GPS mounted in a Garmin m/c mount on a 3" RAM arm and a clutch cover base.

However, I ordered a N/Line Dash yesterday in order to mount my GPS centered above the speedometer without obstructing the tach or info center.

 

[Pharoah]

Does anyone make a power cord that will work with the Garmin Quest that doesn't have the audio cable?... I won't be using it.

The audio that is...

 

[Rick_W]

Does anyone make a power cord that will work with the Garmin Quest that doesn't have the audio cable?... I won't be using it.
The audio that is...

Motorcycle mounting kit for Quest

It still has the jack for earplugs, though. This is the only power cable, for motorcycle or marine use, that I am aware of.

 

[Pharoah]

Yes sir, I have seen those... I may have to make do with that or just use the battery in the Quest.

 

[FuzzyRider]

As for the talking GPS directions - I hate it!
Even when I put it in the truck, I mute the volume.

Heh, I guess that's why Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors. I couldn't live without my GPS - affectionately named GLaDOS - talking to me. Oh, and text to speech (speak street names) is worth its virtual weight in gold to me.

 

[NSrider]

I am also looking for a reasonably priced GPS so I am currently balking on paying a premium for a Zumo. I have been looking at the streetpilot line and was wondering how much of a drawback is it that the streetpilots don't have an internal battery or that there is no provision for plugging in an external memory card?

 

[ShawnKing]

how much of a drawback is it that the streetpilots don't have an internal battery or that there is no provision for plugging in an external memory card?

It depends. I went for 3 years using a Garmin Streetpilot 2720 (no internal battery, no external memory) without any problems.

But now that I have a machine that has the above, I can (and have) done things like bought maps for Italy and loaded them on to the machine so I could drive over there, taken the Zumo 550 into a restaurant for trip planning/map swapping and have used it while walking in the city to find my way around.

 

[ShawnKing]

I couldn't live without my GPS.

I can't leave the house without my GPS....literally....I have *no* sense of direction and if I get off the few roads around here that are familiar, I probably wouldn't be able to find my way home...

 

[jjsC6]

Funny you should post this. I just posted the same question on the Goldwing forum the other day. Turns out that a lot of folks run non-motorcycle (and non-waterproof) Navs. I've done a comprehensive study and have decided to order a NUVI 760 tomorrow. It's discontinued but still available, so it's only $250 new and does everything I want.

 

[Niehart]

Zumo is the way to go, many good things and mounts that come with it. Prices have came way down, blue tooth to your helmet so that you don't have to watch the screen, easy to use with gloves, buttons on the non-throtle side, waterproof, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Lowcountry Joe]

I have a Tom Tom Rider...it's a piece of shit. Plus, once the one year warranty is out on any tomtom unit, the Tom Tom people tell you they can't help you. That's right, when any Tom Tom gps unit's original warranty expires, there is no solution for fixing a defective unit from Tom Tom. What kind of business plan is that? What kind of customer no-service is that? My TomTom rider would not turn on after about 13 months...yes that's right...one month out of warranty and it quit. TomTom rep said she was so sorry, but there was nothing TomTom could do. What a crock! I think there may be some vendor out there trying to repair defective tomtoms, but he is in Europe and screw that. Do yourself a favor and forget TomTom. I even changed the internal battery...no go. That's $500 up a wild hogs ass. My wife bought it for me for Christmas...or you can bet I would never have owned a tomtom product. Makes me mad every time I think about it.

I've owned a few versions of Garmin units, and they are all very good...not perfect...but very good. I don't like having to load certain grids into the units from the MapSource disk to get street detail. That's mostly a function of the older units that suffered from limited internal memory. Newer units with the SD cards dont have those limitations....finally.

Garmin customer service, as evidenced by some of the postings, is excellent. Currently on my fjr, I use the Garmin Nuvi 760. It has ALL the features I need and want (blue tooth to helmet instructions was a must have). So what if it ain't waterproof? My Escort 9500i detector ain't neither...so that's why I carry plastic zip lock bags for the 5% of the time I might get caught in the wet stuff. I rigged my own home brew mount for the 760. Industrial grade velcro, sold in a box at Home Depot, holds my radar and gps device and it AIN'T comin' off...trust me. Also makes for fast removal from the bike in the evenings. Yes, the Zumo 550 is certainly the shit when it comes to motorcycle gps units, but there are very viable much less expensive alternatives. Put the money you save in farkles or riding gear, you will realize a much better return on your investment.

 

[Niehart]

Waterproof in very important when ya live in the Pacfic Northwet

 

[FJrider1]

I have a Magellan roadmate 2200T. Bought it re-furbished off buy.com for $120 2 years ago. This unit has never failed me.

8 hour battery and waterproof, I have been in very heavy rain without a hiccup. Just returned from Orlando and this unit took me to every destination with no problem... Ever been to Orlando? Also has the traffic detour which REALLY worked great in Florida!

 

[Brodie]

If all you need is the occasional directions to get to a location the answer may be as close as your GPS enabled cell phone. I currently own a Sony Ericsson W760a phone with the AT&T Navigator application. It suits me quite well. The cost is $20 per month, and it's always with me.

Granted that's $240 a year on top of my cell phone bill, but I find it convenient enough to justify the cost. With that comes unlimited data for my cell phone bowowser.

I'm looking into a cable to tie my phone into my Starcom Digital. It's a do-able system. The phone will sit in my TechMount above my front brake reservoir.

Any trip planning involves my AAA maps. I'm old school - I like to see the big picture. Nothing like a paper map and a pencil for the job at hand.

Just a thought.

Brodie