Garmin 2610 vs. 2720 (and 2730)

[benneyb]

Only issue is, it only has provisions for 2 mounting bolts to the top plate, not the expected 4. Otherwise, it works perfectly.

You can always modify your stem Stand mount by drilling two extra holes to secure your GPS unit better.

No, you misunderstand - the top plate for my Stem Stand is multiconfig compatible. It has 10 holes already!

It is the cradle I got as well that I'm wondering about. It's labled Ram Mount, so I'm assuming they designed it and feel its 2 bolt only capablity is enough mounting strength. I'm not so sure though...

Bruce

 

[Shimmy]

I have used both the 2610 and 27xx series. 2610 is much more customizeable in terms of display info, tabs can be transparent so map data is visible through them, cannot do this on 27xx series. The viewable area is much greater on 2610 as a result. The screen quality is better on 27xx series however this doesnt seem to matter much on the bike. CF cards are cheap so additional cost for 2GB which holds all of North America is not an issue. More importantly, 2610 comes with City Navigator CD so maps and routes can be custom loaded to the unit which is a royal pain to try and do on the unit if a long trip is being planned. Yes the 27xx has a few updates, 3D map view, unit does say street name however they are mostly gimmicks. Street names are often incorrectly pronounced and the voice is not as clear on 27xx for some reason. IMHO the 2610 is more feature driven, has less gimmicks and is a more cumstomizeable unit. Both do what they are intended to do however, just accomplish it differently. GPS is cool, no matter what flavour!

 

[skyway]

More importantly, 2610 comes with City Navigator CD so maps and routes can be custom loaded to the unit which is a royal pain to try and do on the unit if a long trip is being planned.

Some 2720/2730 units are being delivered with the City Navigator DVD. Mine did not, but a quick email to Garmin and I had it in my hand within a week. My theory in Garmin's decision to do this, is to intice customers who may not be gadget savy into a GPS that is more user freindly. By not supplying the DVD mapping software, this easily displays to a potential client that a PC/Laptop/upload/download/additional software interface is not required to get from point A to B, just a simple plug n play device.

Also not sure how multiple waypoints are manipulated in the 2610, (which was an important consideration for me)but in the 2730 while on the move, it is cake easy to add/remove/reshuffle/reroute.

 

[Bike Effects]

I have used both the 2610 and 27xx series. 2610 is much more customizeable in terms of display info, tabs can be transparent so map data is visible through them, cannot do this on 27xx series. The viewable area is much greater on 2610 as a result. The screen quality is better on 27xx series however this doesnt seem to matter much on the bike. CF cards are cheap so additional cost for 2GB which holds all of North America is not an issue. More importantly, 2610 comes with City Navigator CD so maps and routes can be custom loaded to the unit which is a royal pain to try and do on the unit if a long trip is being planned. Yes the 27xx has a few updates, 3D map view, unit does say street name however they are mostly gimmicks. Street names are often incorrectly pronounced and the voice is not as clear on 27xx for some reason. IMHO the 2610 is more feature driven, has less gimmicks and is a more cumstomizeable unit. Both do what they are intended to do however, just accomplish it differently. GPS is cool, no matter what flavour!

I have to respectfully disagree with your assement on this. I am a former 2610 owner who has been giving the 2730 a good workout this week.

The screen may not be as customizable (which I needed to do on the 2610), but I don' t feel the need to on the 2730. It seems to give all the pertinent information that I need.

One huge thing for me is the speed at which the 2730 can recalculate the route. It is much faster than the 2610 was. I do appreciate the street names being read, even if mis-pronounced sometimes. A real aid in heavy traffic in a strange city.

For me, this was a great upgrade, and the XM radio and the MP3 player are icing on the cake.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Yea and in a few months to a year your new garmin will be outdated just like our 2610's, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. Ican find any way point or street the new ones can so why drop another $850 when my 2610 still gets it done. now that said if you are buying then by all means go with the current technology

 

[04FJR4ME]

Yea and in a few months to a year your new garmin will be outdated just like our 2610's

The only thing is certain is change, and there are a lot of people that are hanging on to 8 tracks players because they still function fine, and for the rest of us that would like to enjoy our life a bit when we are still here on earth, we treat ourselves to the best that is available or to the best we can afford.

I would think a old Honda 750 probably can do pretty much the same as our FJR, not as fast and probably not as smooth, but you can beat it up and not worry about it. I would say it would be pretty safe to compare a 2610 to a Honda 750, it is still very useful but we like to buy the newer faster bikes because we deserve it. I know I do! :haha:

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Well we all aren't wealthy and cannot afford to chase technology each and every new product release. We all understand technology advances faster than we can afford to buy it. Business has a product to sell and have convinced America that we are a throw away consuming society. Just because it functions its still not good enough so buy, buy, buy. My computer isn't the newest or the best but it still accepts software and runs fine for what i use it for so why should I buy just because it not the newest and the greatest techno advanced piece of equipment offered? No offense James its just the way it is.

 

[Groo]

+1 fjrvtx

 

[txfjr05rider]

I'm going for the 2730.Now what mounting system to use?

GRoo~~I like ur gps mount.Is that the Techmount stem stand?Is it very theif secure at stops during the day?

 

[Groo]

Yes, it's the Techmount stemstand, with the short stem.

The only time it moves, is when I move it... like getting it out of the way to lift the tank. It's very steady when under way....

 

[txfjr05rider]

Thanks Groo for the response.Does anybody know the size of the mp3 storage on the 2730?

 

[Bike Effects]

Thanks Groo for the response.Does anybody know the size of the mp3 storage on the 2730?

Looks to be around 800MB.

 

[txfjr05rider]

Thanks Jeff,wish it had more memory.

 

[Bike Effects]

Thanks Jeff,wish it had more memory.

I wish I had more memory! Not as concerned for the 2730!

 

[Groo]

Anyone know if you need a special cable or anything in order to be able to properly amplify the voice commands coming out of a Garmin Streetpilot? I've got mine installed and wired up to my Mixit2, and I can hear the Valentine and XM radio clear as a bell... but the 2610 even cranked up to the max is barely a whisper.... very puzzling. The audio works as expected when using the cigarette adapter cable with built in microphone in my car....

Just as a follow-up, turns out the way I was bending the motorcycle audio output portion of the Garmin cable was causing it to cut out (my guess is that i exceeded some minimum bend radius, and was stressing the audio signal breakout wires). I played around with the configuration, and all is good, and I can get clear audio directions through my Mixit2 now...

 

[tulane76]

Hey Groo,

Your setup is VERY close to the one I want. Already have the 2610 and the Roady2. Escort Solo is the difference. Right now I have the Escort mounted where you have the Roady2. I know I'm going to need to get a power cord for the Solo detector. Do you, or any others, know if I can mate the three items I have with a StarCom1 Advance? Pillion included? Haven't gotten the StarCom yet...cuz I'm just not sure...Optional advice would be appreciated too! Don't want to make a false move.

Thanks alot!!

:huh:

 

[skyway]

Do you, or any others, know if I can mate the three items I have with a StarCom1 Advance?  Pillion included?  Haven't gotten the StarCom yet...cuz I'm just not sure...Optional advice would be appreciated too!  Don't want to make a false move.Thanks alot!!

:huh:

Yes the Starcom will do all this and much more, as will a system from Autocom. I have never used the Starcom, but I'm a very happy camper with my Pro-7 Sport.

It does seem that riders around here are happy with either system, so you should look at both closely before jumping in.

 

[tulane76]

Thanks, skyway!

That's the sort of info I am in need of.

 

[Mogan]

I want a 2730, but 800meg of MP3 storage space is a deal breaker. Need way more tunes for long trips. Time for a CF card for the player!!

 

[Mogan]

Actually the Garmin 7200 seems like the ideal unit, although a bit big. It has a slot of an SD card so you can have an unlimited selection of MP3s played through the GPS. Only problem seems to be that it's not in a water resistant enclosure like the 2700 series.

Any suggestions on how to enclose a 7200 to make it water resistant?