GPS, Maps and Electronics Deals

[TomInPA]

With the Garmin 660 you will have a device that can withstand the weather, vibration, sunlight and heat. It will come with a mount and all electrics needed to mount to your bike. Your phone will sync with the GPS and you can then control the phone (answer/send calls) from the screen, and the GPS instrucitons and phone features will be delivered to your wired or bluetooth helmet speakers in a prioritized way. The navigation will be visible in daylight and if you do routes, rather than just point to point, you'll be a happy camper. The zumo 660 has a MP3 player so you can store music on a SD card along with maps, POIs, red light cameras etc and command it from the screen. You don't need a cellular signal for the GPS to provide steady constant service, and if you don't need your phone to store a large national map database, you'll have more room for things you like on your phone.

The Phone can mostly stay in a safe dry place. The question of whether smartphones have replaced the need for a GPS is asked pretty often. You can re-read those threads and judge for yourself, but I think a GPS is still an important and useful tool on a motorcycle, and works together with the Smartphone on a long tour, or just around town.

 

[Uncle Hud]

Thanks, TominCA.

I understand that vibration, sun, wet, and general exposure may blow out the phone. Already checked that an upgrade to iPhone 5S will cost me $50 if I manage to kill the 4. Also already checked that the phone prioritizes usage: phone #1; GPS #2; Ella Fitzgerald #3. And, also realize that the phone case does not have a power connection, so I may be charging at every lunch stop. (Recharging hassles will be the quickest way to separate me from $400 for the GPS.)

Will try the cheapskate way for a little while because ...

(1) The iPhone super-baggie is already on its way,

(2) Will be using this primarily for the Big Money Rally, so I have to stop at each waypoint for a photo anyway,

(3) Simple-as-pie installation, and

(4) It places only only one device in front of the dashboard, and minimalism has its appeal.

Absolutely ready to hear you say, "I told you so," after the first downpour drowns the phone and leaves me in the middle of Kentucky staring at my paper road map.

 

[TomInPA]

My problem with the phone was the sun. It overheated, and I found myself in South Dakota putting the phone in an ice cream freezer at a gas stop to try to revive it. That and the fact it really wasn't a useful display turned the tables for me. To be perfectly honest, the maps used by the phones I think are better, and allow you to look at a satellite image as long as you have an internet connection. Which is the other point...about half of the country is too remote for a cell phone to have data access, and I pay for mine.

As you know the upgrade is a one-time in two years deal. If you do upgrade, get a SquareTrade warranty on the new one. It will only cost $75 for each damaged phone exchange, and less for a dead phone exchange.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Tom,

Thanks for all the info.

I just plunked down $$ for the 660 to mount on the 13.

Just doing my part to help the economy...hoping part of that washes your way.

In any event, next time we meet, I will buy you a beverage of your choice...for your helpful information above, and for the awesome guided tour in the Gold Mining Hills in the Sierras three and a half years ago.

Heck, for all of that, I'll even throw in a chicken dinner!

 

[TomInPA]

Winner! Winner!

You can't lose Mark. Through last year we were buying the Zumo 550 used for $350 and you still had to buy map updates and possibly repair the screen.

 

[pcarnut]

Exceptional deal on a Garmin 660 New (not refurb) at $399. Just in case you're filling out that Christmas wish list...

Great deal, thanks.

A friend has a 6 month old Zumo 665 he will sell me for $350, half what he paid. I mounted it on the FJR to try it out and has a couple of issues and wonder if these will also be issues for the 660? First problem was the 665 took a long time to find the satellites (like 6-7 minutes), then it re-routed me needlessly on a simple cross town trek, and last, I couldn't find a convenient way to plan a multiple stop route. Yes, I know I can use a computer app to plan my route then load it to the GPS, but what about when you're on a multi-day trip and want to plan your route each morning? My car Nuvi allows me to simple pull up the map and touch the points along my route that I want to stop, quick and relatively painless. Thanks!

 

[TomInPA]

The Zumo 665 is still selling for nearly $700 on Amazon, so...great deal! I would recommend connecting the Zumo 665 to Garmin Express and make sure you have the latest firmware. The device should be pretty fast to pick up satellites but I have seen them be slow occasionally. The 665 has a XM antenna that the 660 does not have. Otherwise, they are the same. I also think the Zumo runs faster if you keep the maps on a SD memory card rather than in the device memory.

The Zumo allows you to do the same routing techniques from the maps, or by using the find and find-near functions. The difference is a Nuvi generally allows for the starting, point, a destination and one via. The Zumo supports more complex routing and importing of routes from other riders. For example, the EOM rally posted these routes. Good luck putting those in a Nuvi.

On a longer trip, I will set a destination in the Zumo and also set the navigation mode and avoidances to stay off interstates. I can review the route on-screen and add in waypoints or search points of interest along the way. It is easier to do this planning on a laptop, but it can be done on the device. I have also set up entire cross country trips in BaseCamp and saved the route to the Zumo. It works, and you can always skip a waypoint or via. It can also be useful to search points of interest on a smartphone and put the waypoints into the GPS. The Zumo can be set to optimize the waypoints, and it will create the best route using the waypoints and destination using your navigation preferences.

 

[Guaire]

Uncle Hud - I use my iPhone as GPS. It has a Lifeproof case. I use Ram mount's 4 prong mount. I can use wired ear buds or a Motorola Bluetooth to keep the audio on. To make custom fitted ear plugs check out sugru.com

I'm using "Navigon" for the GPS software on the iPhone. They're on the 'app store'. So far so good. I also got 'Cockpit'. From the left side storage box 12v I have a USB jack. I run the usb out to the phone. I have lots of POWER!

I have a Garmin n u v i. Sometime ago I went to check for a map update. I opted for lifetime back then. I carry a baggie in case I need to waterproof it. Mostly I'm keeping the Garmin for my car these days.

Here's the ram mount: https://www.ebay.com/itm/RAM-Mounts-RAM-HOL-UN7BU-RAM-Universal-X-Grip-Cell-Phone-GPS-Holder-with-1-Ball-/310843466828?pt=GPS_Holders_Mounts&hash=item485fb6e44c

Cheers,

Bill

 

[BkerChuck]

Thanks for posting this! Placed my order last night after work. Just got our Christmas bonus checks and really did want a Zumo. Now I can move the aquabox and Nuvi to the wife's bike.

 

[pcarnut]

The Zumo 665 is still selling for nearly $700 on Amazon, so...great deal! I would recommend connecting the Zumo 665 to Garmin Express and make sure you have the latest firmware. The device should be pretty fast to pick up satellites but I have seen them be slow occasionally. The 665 has a XM antenna that the 660 does not have. Otherwise, they are the same. I also think the Zumo runs faster if you keep the maps on a SD memory card rather than in the device memory.
The Zumo allows you to do the same routing techniques from the maps, or by using the find and find-near functions. The difference is a Nuvi generally allows for the starting, point, a destination and one via. The Zumo supports more complex routing and importing of routes from other riders. For example, the EOM rally posted these routes. Good luck putting those in a Nuvi.

On a longer trip, I will set a destination in the Zumo and also set the navigation mode and avoidances to stay off interstates. I can review the route on-screen and add in waypoints or search points of interest along the way. It is easier to do this planning on a laptop, but it can be done on the device. I have also set up entire cross country trips in BaseCamp and saved the route to the Zumo. It works, and you can always skip a waypoint or via. It can also be useful to search points of interest on a smartphone and put the waypoints into the GPS. The Zumo can be set to optimize the waypoints, and it will create the best route using the waypoints and destination using your navigation preferences.

Great feedback, thanks!

 

[Uncle Hud]

Thanks, Guaire. I was going to tap a USB-tipped wire into the charger circuit outside the glove box, since I keep prescription glasses/sunglasses and tiny LED flashlight in there and can't spare the room for a cigarette lighter plug-in.

The RAM mount comes with all the necessary bits except the ball, and I've got the MV Motorrad riser plate waiting for tomorrow's install which has a ball included.

 

[Guaire]

https://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag252/WilliamGuaire/RamMount84_zps3ab91e8b.jpg

https://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag252/WilliamGuaire/PoweredBox83_zps08eb0948.jpg

I hope the photos show up.

Uncle Hud = Here's the USB plug in the lockbox and the Ram mount for the iPhone. Of course once you have that 1" Ram mount ball and the extender you can mount lots of things there.

 

[RossKean]

Thanks, Guaire. I was going to tap a USB-tipped wire into the charger circuit outside the glove box, since I keep prescription glasses/sunglasses and tiny LED flashlight in there and can't spare the room for a cigarette lighter plug-in.
The RAM mount comes with all the necessary bits except the ball, and I've got the MV Motorrad riser plate waiting for tomorrow's install which has a ball included.

You can get a lighter to USB adapter that only protrudes a quarter inch or so outside the socket. Doesn't really take up any space in the glovebox (other than the space for the plug and wire from the GPS).

 

[Uncle Hud]

Thanks for the photos Guaire. I'll be on the lookout for a tiny cigarette-to-USB adapter. I have a couple for the car, but they're as big as my fist.

Ironically, I saw a tiny one at Jo-Ann Fabrics last week when I got some reflective tape to attach to the black-as-midnight riding pants. I'm working up my nerve to go back in there; it was thronged with women, each on their own kamikaze Christmas shopping mission. Dangerous place, man!