Which would you buy - Garmin Zumo or the GPSMAP 60CSX? [Archive]

Ruralman

6th March 2008, 08:51

Or if anyone knows - what about the New Navman S30 portable which is available in the new Flybuys catalogue for 2430 points (pity they didn't have a points plus cash deal as I'm about 600 points short at the moment!) - any good on a bike?

I want something that has the road maps and can plan best routes etc but also be good for this geocaching lark that some of our biking brethren/nutters get off on.

NZsarge

6th March 2008, 08:54

Simple question, complicated answer.........

Dont worry about the price difference - Which GPS would you choose between these two and why?

FYI
Priced a Zumo for $1125+GST from a NZ site. The GPSMAP60csx is going between $520 and $840 (what a rip!) on Tardme. Has anyone found any better prices?

Thanks

Excuse my ignorance but I know not of what you speak (GPSMAP60csx).
The Garmin zumo on the otherhand, I know someone who has the 550 to which I think you are refering and it's an awesome bit of kit but way overpriced, all just because it's motorcycle specific/compatible.... The guy I speak of got his through rewards points apparently which was a sweet deal but I would'nt buy one....not at that price anyway. I don't see any reason they should be that much dearer the a normal car GPS...
It's a good GPS though, don't get me wrong.

cooneyr

6th March 2008, 09:03

Zumo if I had the cash but if not I would not buy a 60csx. For a start do you really need the barometer and magnetic compass i.e. 60cx may be better.

Secondly the new H series etrex specifically the Legend HCx is effectively the same internals as the 60cx (the vista goes with the 60csx) with the differences being casing (obviously) and the legend HCx not having a external antenna socket, slightly (and I mean very slightly) smaller screen and the Garmin 4 pin waterproof plug.

The external antenna really doesnt seem to be necessary now. Transalper took his legend HCX for a walk in pac and slave and found that it had perfect reception the whole time except when he was in the underground car park. Pretty impressive compared with the days of old.

The smaller screen is really not an issue as the 60 series put a menu bar across the top of the screen whereas the etrex dont so the size of the map on the screen is almost exactly the same.

The 4 pin waterproof plug is probably the most compelling reason for having a 60 series but the legend with a claimed 25 hour battery life hardly needs external power. Some claim that the adv riding vibrations result in the unit turning of due to the batteries loosing contact temporarily but others find it OK.

Whatever you do - if you get one send me data www.advroutes.org.nz ... advroutes@gmail.com :D

Cheers R

jim.cox

6th March 2008, 09:03

The zumo is designed to be used with gloves on, is waterproof and has an mp3 player built in.

It would be my choice - IF i could afford it...

cooneyr

6th March 2008, 09:06

The zumo is designed to be used with gloves on, is waterproof and has an mp3 player built in.

It would be my choice - IF i could afford it...

Ya forgot the bluetooth (some models) so with the right helmet you can get the turn directions and music wirelessly :D

Cheers R

Qkchk

6th March 2008, 09:20

Ya forgot the bluetooth (some models) so with the right helmet you can get the turn directions and music wirelessly :D

Cheers R

Well its your fault I want one now..... :p HAHA got the adventure bug and want to map some tracks.

Ive got a Blueant Interphone (bluetooth to my helmet) so the Zumo probably be the way. Ive heard that you can download topo maps and still use it in the bush - correct?

Qkchk

6th March 2008, 09:24

Excuse my ignorance but I know not of what you speak (GPSMAP60csx).

This question was more directed to the Adventure/Trail riders out there. The GPSMAP 60 series is a portable GPS that you can attach to handlebars/waterproof etc - designed for use in the bush.

jim.cox

6th March 2008, 09:47

Ya forgot the bluetooth (some models) so with the right helmet you can get the turn directions and music wirelessly :D

Cheers R

That doesnt do it for me

I've tried speakers in my helmet - but they are never loud enough to hear over the wind and the bike

And besides I dont need no frigging machine telling me where to go

I've friends and a wife for that...

cooneyr

6th March 2008, 10:04

Well its your fault I want one now..... :p HAHA got the adventure bug and want to map some tracks.

Glad the site has inspired you :D I suspect it wont be till next summer that things really start to crank but I'll keep working on it in the mean time. Still learning HTML etc - very much a nOOb at web sites.

Ive got a Blueant Interphone (bluetooth to my helmet) so the Zumo probably be the way. Ive heard that you can download topo maps and still use it in the bush - correct?

I've just check out Garmin (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=135) and it would seem that given they have the ability to load maps I highly suspect that NZ topomaps (look up GTmaps, Freshmaps, maptoaster and nzgpsmaps for Garmin compatible topomaps) wont be an issues. Definatly ask if the unit comes with mapsource software (Garmins computer GPSr interface software) before buying though.

With mapsource it is not to hard to load both topomaps and the free NZ autorouting software.

Cheers R

WRT

6th March 2008, 10:44

Ive got a Blueant Interphone (bluetooth to my helmet) so the Zumo probably be the way.

Hey Qkchk - double check first if the Interphone will work with the GPS before using this as another reason to go with the Zumo. I'm pretty sure that it will work with the instructions (seem to recall reading in the manual that it will connect to GPS units) but I think that they wont work with streaming music. My understanding is that both the GPS and the Interphone would need to support A2DP in order for it to work, and I'm pretty sure that the Interphones don't.

Zukin

6th March 2008, 10:52

Well my 2 cents worth

Easy decision

If you want to stick to the road then go for the Zumo (for those than can afford it)

If you want to ride off the beaten track (gravel roads, farm tracks etc) - Go with the 60 series (either the 60CX or 60CSX) or the Legend HxC
These are the 2 you should be deciding whether to buy or not :laugh:

The Zumo will NOT navigate off road
As Cooneyr said, the Legend Hxc is another good one, but I decided against that because I can use mine for other things in the bush etc
So having tried 2 units at exactly the same time(the 60 and the Legend HxC), the 60 picked up the sats better than the Legend in thick scrub, and I like the display better and you can get more bits for it. :bleh:
It also has a much better handlebar mount with the 60, I have lost my old Legend twice now cause the handlebar mounts to the battery cover and it comes off easy on rough roads

I have both the Maptoaster topomaps and NZ open source maps on one SD card, they work together so no need to turn one set of maps off, unlike the Legend I have heard you have to turn off one set of maps to get the other one to work??
This is for auto routing (navigating on the road), maptoaster doesn't do this

Keep an eye on TM for $1 reserve I got my 60CSX for $500 :msn-wink:

Either way the 60 or the Legend HxC will be the best for you in my opinion

Cheers Scott

Qkchk

6th March 2008, 10:56

Hey Qkchk - double check first if the Interphone will work with the GPS before using this as another reason to go with the Zumo. I'm pretty sure that it will work with the instructions (seem to recall reading in the manual that it will connect to GPS units) but I think that they wont work with streaming music. My understanding is that both the GPS and the Interphone would need to support A2DP in order for it to work, and I'm pretty sure that the Interphones don't.

Not too fussed if it does run through the Interphone, I listen to music on my cellphone at the moment (even if its in mono - sure beats listening to drone and wind noise) but I found some good info on the Zumo from here (http://www.gpsinformation.org/zumo/zumo.html):

AUDIO:
NOTES:
The new upgrade will allow the user to select if they want the phone audio to go to a bluetooth headset and the XM or mp3 audio to go to the hardwired headset. Effectively this will send the mono phone signal to the mono headset and the stereo audio to the hardwired speaker or headset at the same time.

There are several sources to hear the spoken instructions and other audio:
Bike Mount, Hard-wired Audio:
By connecting a standard 1/8" audio plug to the side of the mount (above), one can use a normal head set. The the mount must be powered to hear the audio.

Car mount, Speaker:
This mount has a built-in microphone and a speaker in the back of the mount (above). This mount also must be powered to hear the speaker audio.

Bluetooth Audio:
With a Bluetooth handsfree cellphone headset, one can activate the Connect Headset feature in the Tools Menu. We tested the unit with a Morotola H3 headset (about $65), and the audio range was about 30 feet. After having selected the headset, reconnecting is about as simple as we've seen. First turn on the unit, then turn on the headset. The headset connects automatically. The zumo does not need to be in the mount or powered to hear audio directions through the headset.

Qkchk

6th March 2008, 11:02

The Zumo will NOT navigate off road

Thanks Scott

A had a hunt around on Google and came up with this:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282955

Supposedly they DO work offroad as long as you disable the streetmapping side of it. It has a SD slot and USB so as far as I can figure out you can download/purchase a togo card in which it will work.......

Zukin

6th March 2008, 11:08

Thanks Scott

A had a hunt around on Google and came up with this:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282955

Supposedly they DO work offroad as long as you disable the streetmapping side of it. It has a SD slot and USB so as far as I can figure out you can download/purchase a togo card in which it will work.......

Yes you are right, but that is what I meant above by having to disable one set of maps to use the others
Something I don't have to worry about on the 60 series

In NZ alot of the gravel roads for auto routing on NZ Maps arent on there, so I have to change to Topomaps, this would e really frustrating having to stop and turn one of them off

NighthawkNZ

6th March 2008, 11:13

i have a zumo 550 cost me just under $2000 when i bought it and it"s the one made for bikes if you want i can bring my one round for you to have a play with for a while.

I use the Garmin Quest (its water proof, mapping, and what they class as a semi for bikes) I got mine for about $200 @ DSE

But if you are want the full functions I would go for the ZUMO

Qkchk

6th March 2008, 11:14

Yes you are right, but that is what I meant above by having to disable one set of maps to use the others
Something I don't have to worry about on the 60 series

In NZ alot of the gravel roads for auto routing on NZ Maps arent on there, so I have to change to Topomaps, this would e really frustrating having to stop and turn one of them off

Fair enough call. Because of the riding we do (both dedicated road riding and soon to commence adventure riding) that wouldn't be a big price to pay for us. I would suspect you'd be using your unit just for adventure riding?

Zukin

6th March 2008, 11:21

Yeah pretty much
But I also use it in the car when I go to Auckland and Wellington too :lol:

It does all the normal find like the Zumo, fuel etc etc

cooneyr

6th March 2008, 19:35

....I have both the Maptoaster topomaps and NZ open source maps on one SD card, they work together so no need to turn one set of maps off, unlike the Legend I have heard you have to turn off one set of maps to get the other one to work??.....

From what I have seen (of the legend HCx but suspect to be true of others as well) the biggest problem with having the autorouting maps and topomaps on at once is that the autorouting road centrelines don't always line up with the topomap centrelines hence the maps can look messy. The easiest way to deal with it is to turn of the topos till off road and then turn the topos on and the auto routing off.

This being the problem I dont see why the 60csx is any better than a zumo or the Legend HCx as it is not a hardware problem but rather the 3rd party software that you are putting on the units?

Not trying to antagonise you Zukin, I'm just curious what angle your coming from (to clarify for myself and others)?

Cheers R

Transalper

6th March 2008, 20:25

using the new etrex Legend HCx...
Thus far I just leave both auto routing and topo displaying at the same time and can navigate using both auto routing roads and tracks without turning anything off.

Zukin

6th March 2008, 21:24

using the new etrex Legend HCx...
Thus far I just leave both auto routing and topo displaying at the same time and can navigate using both auto routing roads and tracks without turning anything off.

Ok so when you have a route in place (using NZ Open Maps) and then you come to the end of the road so to speak, and then navigate using waypoints (because auto routing wont work cause there isnt a road), on mine (60) it switches over automatically and then you follow the route using waypoints, then when you get back on the road it reverts back to auto routing

When I had the Legend it couldn't do this, it keep trying to send me back around the road :mellow:

Not a biggie but annoyed me

NordieBoy

7th March 2008, 07:53

Transalper

7th March 2008, 08:11

Ok so when you have a route in place (using NZ Open Maps) and then you come to the end of the road so to speak, and then navigate using waypoints (because auto routing wont work cause there isnt a road), on mine (60) it switches over automatically and then you follow the route using waypoints, then when you get back on the road it reverts back to auto routing

When I had the Legend it couldn't do this, it keep trying to send me back around the road :mellow:

Not a biggie but annoyed me

Ahhh, not totally sure bout an all in one route, but I can choose whether to follow roads or not when starting to follow a route, I have left it setup to ask me.
Sometime I'm sure I will set up a route like you've described and try it.
Did you use a Ledgend HCx or an earlier model?
I guess it's possible I will have to tell it to start navigating off road, but no need to hide maps. It is only a couple of clicks to show/hide map sets etc anyway so will not be an issue for me.
Last time I combined the on/off road trip I had it guide me to the start of a track and then followed another hand drawn route off road so it wasn't an all in one route.
Surely if the waypoint isn't on a road then the auto routing can't send you to it any other way than directly.

Zukin

7th March 2008, 12:32

Ahhh, not totally sure bout an all in one route, but I can choose whether to follow roads or not when starting to follow a route, I have left it setup to ask me.
Sometime I'm sure I will set up a route like you've described and try it.
Did you use a Ledgend HCx or an earlier model?
I guess it's possible I will have to tell it to start navigating off road, but no need to hide maps. It is only a couple of clicks to show/hide map sets etc anyway so will not be an issue for me.
Last time I combined the on/off road trip I had it guide me to the start of a track and then followed another hand drawn route off road so it wasn't an all in one route.
Surely if the waypoint isn't on a road then the auto routing can't send you to it any other way than directly.

It was a HCx Legend
After the success of my old legend I was keen to get another one (they are bullet proof)

What mine does is when it gets to the end of the road, it looks to the next turn, when there isnt one it looks for the nearest waypoint and reverts to off road automatically

But then again I hardly use in in the car anyway, and I dont really care where I go on the bike :blink: as long as I am riding

The deciding factor for me was the handlebar cradle

Cheers

Zukin

7th March 2008, 12:32

P.S When can we see some footage from DB1K08 :woohoo:

Transalper

7th March 2008, 12:57

P.S When can we see some footage from DB1K08 :woohoo:ahhhhh:wait:hhhhhh... next year... haven't got anywhere near enough free space on the hard drive to even thing about loading it up... still got some really cool reefton tour stuff to edit from November 2006 and that's just the tip of the iceburg so to speak.

Any one out there want to edit any adventure tapes?... turn 4 or 5 hours of tape each trip in to 30 or 40 minutes per trip?

back on the gps... a cradle sounds nice as a mount, haven't decided the best option for the legend yet, they have that handlebar clamp but it looks fairly fragile... when thinking about the crf handlebars that is. Just have a ductape mount on the DR handlebar pad so far, but surely that's only temporary.

Fatjim

7th March 2008, 13:01

I'd learn to read a fucking map, or if your a chick, get a bloke who doesn't get easily lost.

Zukin

7th March 2008, 13:13

I'd learn to read a fucking map, or if your a chick, get a bloke who doesn't get easily lost.

You need you!
If you only follow the road

The adventure starts for us when the road stops
We can ride for hours with no set path, but when we are hungry, we need to find the road :yes:

I really only started to carry mine when I came across a really bad accident in Rainbow Station a few years back, if it wasnt for the GPS and the exact coordinates, the young fella would not be here

NordieBoy

7th March 2008, 17:54

back on the gps... a cradle sounds nice as a mount, haven't decided the best option for the legend yet, they have that handlebar clamp but it looks fairly fragile... when thinking about the crf handlebars that is. Just have a ductape mount on the DR handlebar pad so far, but surely that's only temporary.

Never had a problem with the Legend (original) barmount and that includes racing MX and cross countries with it on the XR.

fleethaul

7th March 2008, 18:09

I use my Zumo both here and in Australia. Tracks4Australia is a free mapset for Garmin GPS. I like what Cooneyr is doing here and perhaps a Tracks4NZ might result.

The setting I use for off road is shown on attached pick.

duckonin

7th March 2008, 18:18

:2thumbsup Forget the GPS follow your headlight it goes before you, take that route..

Qkchk

7th March 2008, 20:57

1x Garmin Zumo heading my way courtesy of Trig Instruments in Wellington - and for a steal........$1100 to my doorstep. :gob:

Must be the best price on offer in NZ!

Disco Dan

7th March 2008, 21:20

Simple question, complicated answer.........

Which of one these GPS units would you choose and why?

FYI
Priced a Zumo for $1125+GST from a NZ site. The GPSMAP60csx is going between $520 and $840 (what a rip!) on Tardme. Has anyone found any better prices?

Thanks

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1377928&postcount=24

If you fancy taking it for a test run (gps not the bike) flick me a pm :2thumbsup

Zukin

8th March 2008, 06:28

1x Garmin Zumo heading my way courtesy of Trig Instruments in Wellington - and for a steal........$1100 to my doorstep. :gob:

Must be the best price on offer in NZ!

That is a great buy
Well done :2thumbsup :banana:

YellowDog

8th March 2008, 06:49

Hey, I've just won a Tom Tom ONE from Tower Insurance, so that makes it the best one in my books.

Looks really compact, touch screen, bluetooth, and doesn't need a power feed.

Best value around (FOC).............

Gizzit

8th March 2008, 08:50

1x Garmin Zumo heading my way courtesy of Trig Instruments in Wellington - and for a steal........$1100 to my doorstep. :gob:

Must be the best price on offer in NZ!

THAT ... is a good deal if it comes with the NZ map set preinstalled. I got one from the UK for about NZ$820 landed, and then spent $295 locally getting NZ map. I'm very happy with mine, and if I can load in a NZ topo map as well, it will be brilliant! We use it in the car as well.

However, as a much cheaper option, and something that would probably do most of what I want, if I was buying new again, I would be tempted to go with the one that NordieBoy just got off tradme. A Garmin Quest .. i think. It hasn't got bluetooth or some other bells n whistles, but is a very good GPS, and especially for off road use.

I'm sure you will be very happy with your Zumo 550. I think they are great. :niceone:

upshift

10th March 2008, 08:36

1x Garmin Zumo heading my way courtesy of Trig Instruments in Wellington - and for a steal........$1100 to my doorstep. :gob:

Must be the best price on offer in NZ!

I think it is too!

Can't quite figure it though as they are advertising it for $1150 + GST on their web site ???

Qkchk

10th March 2008, 12:11

I think it is too!

Can't quite figure it though as they are advertising it for $1150 + GST on their web site ???

Yeah thats $1150 plus GST so comes to over $1300 and then you still have to pay for freight.

Just to fill in some gaps........ Someone had ordered in the unit and then decided they didnt want it, so we got it at a reduced price (had to go) so its a one-off as far as I know. It came as a whole package, wall charger, bike charger, car mounting, bike mounting etc and it is Pre-Loaded with NZ Streetmaps. The best thing - Its NZ new, not a Parallel Product so we have Garmin Warranty and free map updates......

However the price of $1150+GST (& Freight) is still a bloody good price and I would recommend these guys - TRIG INSTRUMENTS (http://www.triginstruments.co.nz/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=925) gotta remember these are already Pre-loaded with NZ Streetmaps and are NOT Parallel!

GB biker

20th March 2008, 00:38

Simple question, complicated answer.........

Which of one these GPS units would you choose and why?

FYI
Priced a Zumo for $1125+GST from a NZ site. The GPSMAP60csx is going between $520 and $840 (what a rip!) on Tardme. Has anyone found any better prices?

Thanks

Garmi 550 is appox £350.oo in GB at the moment. I have bought one for my Aprilla EVT 1000 .

NordieBoy

20th March 2008, 08:21

My Quest is working out very well and I've even managed to mount it up semi-professionally.

Waiting for someone to ask what "semi-professionally" means :D

Transalper

20th March 2008, 08:38

ha ha ha, ok, gizz a picture of 'semi professional' Nordie.
I just bought a RAM mount for mine. The Legend is suffering shutdown by bad vibrations so I hope the RAM mount (http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/webapps/site/62807/64745/shopping/custom/shopping-ram.html?find_groupid=6602)will help... that and I just packed a little foam in the battery compartment. RAM mount system isn't very cheap (close to $140 for a complete setup including freight), but it is very versatile and I can see myself getting some extra RAM bits to mount other stuff with it as well as the gps in the future.

Now I have played a bit with the unit I am thinking the map60HCx might be a better buy just for its buttons.... if you can afford the difference when comparing the map60HCx to legend HCx

cooneyr

20th March 2008, 08:51

Now I have played a bit with the unit I am thinking the map60HCx might be a better buy just for its buttons.... if you can afford the difference when comparing the map60HCx to legend HCx

You'll never listen to me again aye TA :Pokey:

:D
R

NordieBoy

20th March 2008, 09:03

ha ha ha, ok, gizz a picture of 'semi professional' Nordie.
They're over on my thread...

The Legend is suffering shutdown by bad vibrations so I hope the RAM mount (http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/webapps/site/62807/64745/shopping/custom/shopping-ram.html?find_groupid=6602)will help... that and I just packed a little foam in the battery compartment.
Vasaline - smear it on the ends of the battery and along it's length. Damps the vibrations nicely.

Now I have played a bit with the unit I am thinking the map60HCx might be a better buy just for its buttons.... if you can afford the difference when comparing the map60HCx to legend HCx
I like the way the Quest mounts in landscape rather than the Legends portrait mode.
No obscuring of the speedo etc.

Transalper

20th March 2008, 12:13

You'll never listen to me again aye TA :Pokey:

:D
RIs all right, I'll survive. The Legend is really all I was prepaired to pay for at this moment anyway.:stupid:

They're over on my thread....I see.

Vasaline - smear it on the ends of the battery and along it's length. Damps the vibrations nicely..I did hear or see something to that effect somewhere, just not sure of the theory behind it.

I like the way the Quest mounts in landscape rather than the Legends portrait mode.
No obscuring of the speedo etc.The Legend can mount like that too... just means every thing looks sideways.:laugh:

NordieBoy

20th March 2008, 16:45

I did hear or see something to that effect somewhere, just not sure of the theory behind it.
Theory shmeory...
It's a non-conductive gell that damps the battery movement (esp. in colder weather) and also on the ends of the battery means no dust getting onto the contacts causing an increase in resistance due to microscopic arcing/carbo buildup.
The resistance can be worked out quite simply by R=V/PI where V=12v, I=20mA, P=37Hp.
Therefore the resistance fter a good ride should be around 22 ft/lbs or about hand tight with a 12" spanner.

The Legend can mount like that too... just means every thing looks sideways.:laugh:
"I didn't fall off, I was just leaning the bike over to check the GPS" :jerry:

zeRax

20th March 2008, 19:29

i too have been trying to decide,

ive just read this http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=176734

also read on a forum somewhere about bad boomarang and roaming on 60 series than hcx cause of mediatrec or something ? no idea

but i dont wanna spend much so im gonna be happy with the legend hcx i think :0

JATZ

20th March 2008, 19:44

O.K. picked up a 76cs of trademe, where's the best (cheapest) place to get maps. It's got a N.Z. map in it from Open GPS Maps Project.Is there a better one able to be downloaded.

NordieBoy

20th March 2008, 21:34

O.K. picked up a 76cs of trademe, where's the best (cheapest) place to get maps. It's got a N.Z. map in it from Open GPS Maps Project.Is there a better one able to be downloaded.

That's the maps most of us are using.
They're updated weekly or so.

talbertnz

27th March 2008, 10:05

In NZ alot of the gravel roads for auto routing on NZ Maps arent on there, so I have to change to Topomaps, this would e really frustrating having to stop and turn one of them off

wouldnt you want to stop evry once in a while with the dr seat anyway :bleh:

Transalper

27th March 2008, 14:41

Which maps....
Well, no free topos but Cooneyr and I each bought the GTMaps Topos (http://www.gtmaps.co.nz/) at about $150 to $160 (we paid the extra $10 through the local reseller) to go with the Open Source NZ Auto Routing Maps.
I think I've seen Zukin speak of the Map Toaster Topos (http://www.maptoaster.com/maptoaster-topo-nz/topographical.html), cost a bit more depending on your choice of their product.
The Map Toaster may be a nicer set but the GTMaps were cheaper and I have no major issues with them so far.

upshift

27th March 2008, 19:32

also read on a forum somewhere about bad boomarang and roaming on 60 series than hcx cause of mediatrec or something ? no idea

Hi zeRax

That just refers to the tracklog when you are at rest. i.e. if you stay in one spot the 60 series tracklog will wander all over the place. The Legend HCx is much much better in this respect and doesn't suffer from that problem. The only issue would be if you imported your track log to overlay on a map or google earth you would see a big fuzzy spot at the points you stopped for a while. Turn the GPS off at those tmes or edit it out. As far as navigation and accuracy goes etc it is entirely unrelated.

Value for money, just get the Legend HCx, and yes you will be very happy with it.

Well, no free topos but Cooneyr and I each bought the GTMaps Topos at about $150 to $160 (we paid the extra $10 through the local reseller) to go with the Open Source NZ Auto Routing Maps.

Likewise, I have been running both the free Open Source maps plus the GTMaps Topos for about a year now. The Topos I only really use for tramping though. The Open Source maps are very good and having travelled about 25,000km all over NZ in the past year using them I am very happy with them. The biggest problem is that they also include a lot (maybe all?) of the paper roads, most of which are not passable and I have been caught out badly sometimes, You need to use a bit of discretion and be a bit wary at times. On the other hand it has sometimes taken me to navigatible paper roads that I would of never known about otherwise.

Running the two maps together generally gives two much clutter on screen and slows the screen refresh rate considerably as you manually scroll around, in addition to getting most roads shown as two parallel lines off course. Best option is to just turn on the topo maps you need and only when you need them. The GTMaps Topos are actually a lot of maps making up the whole of NZ.

zeRax

28th March 2008, 20:34

got my Legend HCx Today :D

loaded the open maps on, pretty darn good, all ill need i think............., but then i dont have anything to compare it to,

edit,

just wanna get a cover and a good mount for it, ideas on a good mount?? i could just make one :\

MVnut

28th March 2008, 20:45

Neither, I would buy a Tomtom:rockon:

Transalper

28th March 2008, 20:47

I'd say a RAM mount (http://www.ramsolutions.co.nz/webapps/site/62807/64745/shopping/custom/shopping-ram.html?find_groupid=6602)(as mentioned in post 42) might be the best option but will cost you and they (the NZ agent) doesn't have the cradle for the Legend HCx in stock yet. Have to wait another month or so for that bit, or get it from overseas.
The RAM mount worked wonders on my CRF230 going in to Big River over Easter, will be testing it further tomorow up the waimak although not sure which bike I'll be using yet.
It insulates the GPS from a lot of the vibrations and hard knocks that it would normally get if mounted directly to the handlebard.