GPS (the importance thereof)

[Maha]

What is your personal view as a motorcyclist?
Absolutely essential/relatively essential/non-essential?

Now I understand that some may be directionally challenged 50-70 kms from home, but what level of importance has the GPS become to the way you ride?

It’s also apparent that some motorcyclist ride more familiar roads more often than not, so the question probably does apply so much to those riders.
The question is more for those who will frequent unfamiliar roads/destinations, for a change.

My own view on GPS while riding, is non-essential.
If the topic descends to using a GPS unit as safety measure? My own view on that, is no.

We have one in the car and it’s a bit of fun, my parents think I we are magic when we say we will be there at 15:44 and we are.

[Banditbandit]

Completely unnecessary - we coped extremely well for many years without the bloody things ..

[george formby]

Good in strange city's but a PITA when trying to find new roads to ride. Paper & planning for the win around here.

[merv]

Good as a real speedo given how inaccurate motorbike speedos are and no use going too slow so don't take the speedo as the correct figure.

[Drew]

Completely unnecessary - we coped extremely well for many years without the bloody things ..

Does that take away from their usefulness now that they are available?

In New Zealand we're never far from a gas station or another motorist though, so we can do without if we want. Different story in bigger countries.

[Tazz]

Brilliant for plotting an 'offroad' route, particularly unformed legal roads where you can run into trouble if you wander off public land accidentally or in an unfamiliar city and not wanting to fuck around.

First time leaving Auckland airport at 11pm in the rain in a car I had just picked up there that as it turns out had no demisters and shit wipers, I had no clue where to go (thought I could just follow a sign that said Hamilton, Wellington or South, of which there were none) and having a GPS saved a heap of time once I caved and turned it on. It also told me how much time I had up my sleeve to stop and look at some stuff on the way down. If I wasn't lazy I could have worked that out before I left, but I am lazy, so the borrowed GPS was awesome.
I've driven and ridden up there a bunch of times since and haven't needed one (other than phone GPS for addresses) but for that first time it was awesome.

Also driving overseas where the road signs are shit compared to ours they make life a bit easier. Still off more often than not but when you arrive somewhere late and just want to hit a pillow or bottle they save time and arguments.

People coped without electricity for 1000's of years Banditbandit. Get your candles out man

[merv]

First time leaving Auckland airport at 11pm in the rain in a car I had just picked up there that as it turns out had no demisters and shit wipers

What was that a Morris Minor or something older?

[Hobbyhorse]

I was at Nikau Caves a couple of months ago and the owner was commenting on the number of cars and bikes that get into a bit of a panic when they realise there is no cell phone coverage out there and their smart phones have become a little less smart with no mapping capability.

[Tazz]

What was that a Morris Minor or something older?

A vehicle modified by someone who forgot to put the vents back in when they had the dash off. Wasn't bad with the window down once you knew you'd actaully needed to put the window down.

[Maha]

I was at Nikau Caves a couple of months ago and the owner was commenting on the number of cars and bikes that get into a bit of a panic when they realise there is no cell phone coverage out there and their smart phones have become a little less smart with no mapping capability.

In that instance, you just turn around and back track.

We have just got back from looking after a Motel in Te Awamutu Rhys, A car club member asked me how to get to Taumaranui from there? it's not that difficult, just follow the road you're on and it'll take you to Te Kuiti, then over the hill to the eight mile.. ''yeah yeah I know the way from there''

[Swoop]

Unnecessary.
Learn to read a paper map. It doesn't go flat, need recharging or batteries or take up space in a pocket.

Top Tip: The sun rises in the East & sets in the West. You can find north by using your hour hand of your wristwatch...

[bogan]

Fookin mint mate.

Important, nah, but neither are maps, or knowledge of where you are going, etc etc.

But fucking handy, hells yeh. Went to upper hutt the other weekend for a mate's 30th. Realised they hid the road names fucking well (I wrote down what turnoffs to take beforehand) about when I was at the bottom of upper hutt thinking this shit ain't right. Made a few guess, stopped and turned on my phone data/gps. Re-acquired routing information in 2mins on roadside and got to destination no problems.

Why sort of technological neanderthal would shun such a marvelous invention? Probably the same sort that doesn't belive in always riding with an ICE phone; which makes sense cos they are the same fucking thing nowadays

[Oakie]

Not necessary for me. I'm a planner and I'll know where I'm going and how to get there before I leave.
I guess useful for those who leave home not really knowing where they are going or touring on secondary roads.

[Zedder]

Unnecessary.
Learn to read a paper map. It doesn't go flat, need recharging or batteries or take up space in a pocket.

Top Tip: The sun rises in the East & sets in the West. You can find north by using your hour hand of your wristwatch...

Tell the rest of the story though...

[Gremlin]

It depends.

If you're commuting from here to there the whole time. Nope. If you're in random places only once or twice, kinda handy, especially if you learn a few extra back routes.

Average country rider riding the same routes every weekend... Nope. Handy when you're in strange places and can go directly to where you want to be... I remember a mate was lost in Chch for 2 hours trying to get to our accommodation (I know, I had no idea you could be lost for so long in such a small place... but apparently you can). Maybe some need it a whole lot more than others?

For me? Almost essential and very much a part of my riding. I've got a Zumo 550 somewhere around, done 100,000km on it and just need to replace the screen thingy and it's still good to go. Current GPS is a Zumo 660, done over 40,000km on it. It's a hub for helmet and mobile, when I sync it up. It holds all my music when riding. Last weekend, I went on a 300km round trip to the Waikato purely to ride roads I'd never ridden, in order to feed the data back to the mappers, reporting on roads needing re-aligning, changed from seal to gravel or v.v, and removal or addition of any extra roads.

Obviously, that's not really essential, but it's an enjoyable way to ride for me, as you have no idea what you're going to find... must find time to do it more often... plus anyone using the maps gets more accurate maps.