Would you use this GPS?

[Mustek]

Hi Folks, I have recently come across a TOM TOM Rider. This is a GPS which is specifically designed for motorbikes as they are waterproof and glove friendly but can also be used in your car (assuming you own one of these)

If they were available for between $310 and $350 would anyone else buy one?

[phill-k]

Looks like a good unit and cheaper than the other dedicated bike unit. Does it have NZ maps, and which version?

[Mustek]

Its called exactly that. Its a "Tom Tom" brand and its model is "rider". It comes with the latest New Zealand Maps.

Comes with Charger;
Bike Mounting Unit;
A Wired Headset;
A Bluetooth Headset. It apparently has poor sound quality but I also sell bluetooth intercoms which might be a bit better quality.
The charger works with 230v but might need an adaptor.

[Bikemad]

not for me cheers mustek..........thats half the fun of it.........findin your way there

[Mustek]

I guess that depends on if you low on gas. These are able to direct you to the closest gas station. Or hospital or school for that matter. :-)

[dogsnbikes]

Nor me,I would rather go exploring off the beaten track so to speak,I can read a map and not get lost:yes:not like others I have ridden with who have a GPS and still get lost :innocent:

[MarkH]

Hi Folks, I have recently come across a TOM TOM Rider. This is a GPS which is specifically designed for motorbikes as they are waterproof and glove friendly but can also be used in your car (assuming you own one of these)

If they were available for between $310 and $350 would anyone else buy one?

I'd consider it if I didn't already have a GPS unit. I don't use mine every day, but it is pretty handy when you are touring. I've used mine to find me the nearest Burger King and to see how many kms to my destination so I could work out whether I needed to refuel or not. I like how you can ride wherever you like, if you get lost the GPS will give you directions back to civilisation.

[sunhuntin]

the only time ive ever wished for a gps was when i got myself lost in chch at about 9pm, after being on the bike all day from invercargill and was in danger of falling asleep, but needed to get to my hotel.

other than that, ive never needed one and a map book suits me fine, along with some directions from friendly locals. :) i dont think i would use it often enough to justify the cost.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Hi Folks, I have recently come across a TOM TOM Rider. This is a GPS which is specifically designed for motorbikes as they are waterproof and glove friendly but can also be used in your car (assuming you own one of these)

If they were available for between $310 and $350 would anyone else buy one?


If i got me a job so i had income comin my way, Then yeh.. Sure i would :)

[MarkH]

I can read a map and not get los


other than that, ive never needed one and a map book suits me fine

I find map books hard to read while riding. But my GPS plugged into my helmet gives me the turn by turn voice directions which I can follow safely while riding. If I am not using the GPS I can use the same helmet speakers plugged into an MP3 player - I didn't add the headset to the helmet just for the GPS.

It is also hard to give a map book your destination and then have it provide a constantly updating display of how many kilometres are remaining. Sure I can find my way from wherever I am to wherever I want to be by using a map book - but there is more functionality to a GPS. My GPS also warns me when I am approaching a fixed speed camera site and it can warn me when I am exceeding the speed limit (with programmable tolerance like 10% over or 20% over).

I know my way around Auckland well enough that I don't bother attaching the GPS for local commuting. But when I head off to a motorcycle rally somewhere I have never been before the GPS is handy to have. It didn't hurt that I got my GPS for free either.

[Ocean1]

My nephiew's just off on a wee south island tour with a Tom Tom of some sort. It was there with his father last year also. Both rekon it's a good device.

They might not have the functions of the top end beasties but if the maps were good enough I'd pay 3hundredandmumble for one.

[Mustek]

Thanks folks, I appreciate your feedback.

For those who already own one: How much did it cost you and is it one designed for bikes or just a normal car one???

[Ocean1]

Thanks folks, I appreciate your feedback.

For those who already own one: How much did it cost you and is it one designed for bikes or just a normal car one???

Dunno which model his was, supposedly water & impact proof...

[zeocen]

I'd personally be interested - my geo-spacial awareness is shocking. I'm always getting lost :(

[cowboyz]

Nor me,I would rather go exploring off the beaten track so to speak,I can read a map and not get lost:yes:not like others I have ridden with who have a GPS and still get lost :innocent:

:Oi: I watch this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mustek]

:-) I gather that you are the person who got lost with a GPS huh COWBOYZ. :-)

[Slyer]

Would buy one further down the track but not now.

[sinned]

Using a gps to direct you to somewhere you haven't been before is the key reason for having a gps but not the only reason. I value the log record the gps gives me of the rides I do as of greatest value. On every decent ride the gps is turned on and dropped into the tailbag to provide that log. So if the gps isn't a garmin with the log feature it is hardly worth having. A report here. (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/115204-Garmin-GPSmap60CSx-%E2%80%93-Review-as-Motorcycle-GPS)

[rustic101]

I use my Tom Tom XL One in a Givi tank mounted case. Was very handy on a recent trip to Auckland as the roads had changed so much, however did not use it on the open road. My next version will be Blue Tooth so I can get it yelling in my ear when I'm not listening to loud music.. ;)

[Gremlin]

I have the garmin zumo, cost a little over $1000, and I wouldn't be without it. I wouldn't get a tom tom, simply because you can only use the NZ open GPS maps with Garmin

[Smifffy]

+1

Completely agree

[Gunnerl]

Yep sounds good to me. How's it compare to the Garmin?

[Devil]

For that price i am a little interested. Does it route off-road? Does it log?

[sinned]

I have the garmin zumo, cost a little over $1000, and I wouldn't be without it. I wouldn't get a tom tom, simply because you can only use the NZ open GPS maps with Garmin
They are good maps and updated.

[SMOKEU]

I have Google maps on my phone, so I just use that. Doesn't cost me anything either because I'm on Telecom XT 120mb/month plan. Shame about the network reliability though, but that's a different topic.

[sinned]

I have Google maps on my phone, so I just use that. Doesn't cost me anything either because I'm on Telecom XT 120mb/month plan. Shame about the network reliability though, but that's a different topic.
Got google maps on Vodafone so no XT problems. Maps on the phone provide all that is required in most cases and we all carry a phone?

[MarkH]

I have the garmin zumo, cost a little over $1000, and I wouldn't be without it. I wouldn't get a tom tom, simply because you can only use the NZ open GPS maps with Garmin

Garmin are good - but around $1K for the waterproof motorcycle model. Not everyone wants to spend that much and the Tomtom is by all accounts quite good to use.

[MarkH]

For those who already own one: How much did it cost you and is it one designed for bikes or just a normal car one???

Mine is designed for cars - if it rains I have to put it in a pocket or cover it using a plastic bag + twist tie. It does work well though and I can use the touch screen while wearing gloves. The headphone out socket is an essential feature for connecting it to the helmet, it also has bluetooth wireless which would be useful if I upgraded the helmet to bluetooth.

The cost to me was $0 - I won it in a poker tournament (4th place). Not as good as the $1.5K I won in another tournament, but a pretty useful prize none the less. I wasn't interested in the 2nd or 3rd place prizes so I pushed hard in an all or nothing move (trying to get 1st or to be knocked out in 4th trying) and was happy to get the GPS.

[Gremlin]

Maps on the phone provide all that is required in most cases and we all carry a phone?
Except my GPS is hardwired into the bike. It handles navigation, music, my mobile for calls and doesn't rely on a single battery. I am connected to the bike via a single cord though. I also end up in plenty of places with absolutely no mobile reception, often for over an hour.

I needed a system that would run for a possible maximum of 24 hours without a charge. Last weekend, it ran for 14 hours on Saturday, then backed that up with 13 hours on the sunday. Not necessary to charge a single item, waterproof and pretty much hassle free :D

[sinned]

Except my GPS is hardwired into the bike. It handles navigation, music, my mobile for calls and doesn't rely on a single battery. I am connected to the bike via a single cord though. I also end up in plenty of places with absolutely no mobile reception, often for over an hour.

I needed a system that would run for a possible maximum of 24 hours without a charge. Last weekend, it ran for 14 hours on Saturday, then backed that up with 13 hours on the sunday. Not necessary to charge a single item, waterproof and pretty much hassle free :D
Nothing like being able to enjoy the best.

[Teflon]

http://www.navig8r.com.au/pdf/L35.pdf

Brought one of those for around 100$. Downloaded tomtom software with the
latest NZ maps + 105 celebrity voices.. also i downloaded Igo8 software with latest NZ maps,, chucked them a couple of SD cards.. runs sweet

[slofox]

I'd be interested...toystoystoysoytstoys.....:devil2:

[Mustek]

+1

Completely agree

Agree with what???

[Mustek]

Yep sounds good to me. How's it compare to the Garmin?
No idea sorry but tom tom is the best selling brand in the world from what i've heard

[Mustek]

it also has bluetooth wireless which would be useful if I upgraded the helmet to bluetooth.

I also sell bluetooth headsets. :-)

[cindymay]

Tom Tom is very popular in Aus for cars but for a bike Garmin seems better. BTW I don't have one and don't mind getting lost sometimes. You meet the nicest people when lost.

[Mustek]

I take it Garmin car units are different to the bike ones then? I haven't heard much good stuff about the garmin car units.

[george formby]

I used one a few years back. Took me across Europe & back tickety boo. The ear pads fitted badly into my helmet so the sound was a burble over the wind noise. Better ear phones. You can also download a range of voices onto them, my personal fave is a sexy chicky voice who threatens to spank you when you turn the wrong way. Good piece of kit.
If memory serves me it also gave a choice of routes, quickest, shortest & twistiest. Be interesting to see if this is on the NZ maps. Happy days.

[Mustek]

Lol. I've heard you can download some pretty funny ones. :-)

[hmmmnz]

i like the tom tom for ease of use, it was a blessing when i toured norway, but i prefer the garmin, just because all the mapping software is freely available,
i now use my nokia 5230 which has a built in gps and maps are free for 70 countries including nz, and it cost less than $300, its not water proof but it can still be used through the clear plastic on my tank bag, and i can bluetooth music to my helmet as well as directions as i ride :D
good all in 1 peice of kit

[Mustek]

[QUOTE= i now use my nokia 5230 which has a built in gps and maps are free for 70 countries including nz[/QUOTE]

Are you sure thats your model number? Doesn't come up on the vodafone site

Does it cost anything to use the map on your phone??? Ie internet costs etc