Motorcycle GPS?

[Hitcher]

For those who came in late, Mrs H and I are off to the USA and Canada in a few weeks for a motorcycle excursion.

After poring over maps, etc, I have started to think that the purchase of a GPS could be a good idea.

What I think I need is something with:

• a decent-sized display
• functional and intuitive controls that can be operated by gloved fingers
• weather protection
• the ability to upload maps of the USA and Canada (and New Zealand too)
• Bluetooth connectivity so that Doris can talk to me
• A 12V adapter so that the unit can be powered by the bike.

Does such a thing exist?

If the answer is "yes", where could such a device be procured?

[jrandom]

I'd say you need a TomTom RIDER.

Ingram Micro are listed as the NZ distributors for TomTom, so give them a call and ask how best to purchase one (including the maps you require, etc).

[sAsLEX]

I'd say you need a TomTom RIDER.

And here is me thinking you would be promoting a Navman product........


Tom Tom are the most popular in the UK, with car GPS units referred to as Tom Toms in colloquial language

[jrandom]

And here is me thinking you would be promoting a Navman product........

Navman's moribund. I can't in good conscience advise anyone to purchase a Navman road GPS unit these days.

car GPS units referred to as Tom Toms in colloquial language

Ah, the true test of market dominance. Xerox and Hoover taught us to embrace it.

A few of my old friends from Navman are over in the Netherlands working for TomTom now. To the winner go the spoils...

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

The two I would suggest would be the Garmin Zumo and then maybe the Garmin Quest II. Zumo being the ultimate MC GPS

[Blackbird]

Garmin are the most popular GPS in the States. The guys have mentioned good brands which are automotive specific with big screens, some of them touch sensitive. The Garmin Zumo, Quest or Street Pilot are their current automotive range.

However, I went for the Garmin GPS Map 76Cx which is smaller for the specific reason that we can easily stick it in a pocket when legging it round an overseas city on foot. Fitness for purpose and all that. Screen is still fine on a car or bike, but not as good as the bigger ones of course.

Amusingly, a friend uses his for finding his rental car in mega-malls in the USA when he's over there. Just marks his car as a waypoint, buggers off inside the mall and bingo, no worries about finding it among 10000 cars on the way out!

[Nasty]

We did a bit of research on this one Hitch and the following is our experience:

We bought a tomtom. It would not find our address which was built around 30 years ago. We couldn't update the maps .. we took it back. Just couldn't be bothered.

So did more research. We have decided that if and when we repeat the experience it would be with the Garmin Zumo for motorbikes. You can use with gloves etc and they seem a bit better. But they cost a few bucks.

[alanzs]

As mentioned above, Garmin are the most popular GPS in the US, I know. I had a Garmin and they have maps for everywhere you'd ever want to go, and places you won't want to go too. You may want to consider getting a radar detector as well. I'm not sure if you can upload NZ maps on it, but the GPS I had, I sold prior to coming here. There are a few huge retail stores that would sell them: Best Buys, Fry's Electronics, to name just a few. Fry's electronics is the best electronics store I have ever seen, in the world. You may want to look at their website. Their prices are stunningly low.

http://shop4.frys.com/


You'll have a blast, no doubt, as the place is huge and the roads are loooong. There are even places with no speed limits, due to their vast emptiness.

If you need any ideas, suggestion, information, feel free to pm me. I'm originally from Lost Angeles and have travelled all over the States... I can also hook you up with people there if you need anything, for accessories, dinner, etc., depending on where you are going.
Cheers....

[Disco Dan]

Have not used others, but I have to recommend the Navman S series...

Big screen, pairs with your cell phone via bluetooth - has a built in speaker, so phone in pocket/bag and it can import your phones contacts and allows you to browse your phone book, and then make and receive calls. All with gloves still on as the on screen buttons are very big.

The tomtoms not only sound geay but screens are smaller.

I can then put a bluetooth headset on my ear, use the large screen of the navman to scroll through my phone book or just make use of the headsets built in voice dialing... all while i'm riding.

maps can be downloaded for free if you know where to look and uploaded via usb on your pc.

It comes with a usb cable for uploading and downloading routes and maps - there is software with it.

Also it comes with a 12v car charger.

Only downside I have found is the battery life - but if you fit a cig lighter socket under your seat like mine, you wont have any probs.

You can set it to either MPH or KPH and it displays your speed, eta and time etc all on screen without hindering the view of the map. I have found the speed display to be accurate to within a couple of kmph too which is handy if your only mounting point happens to cover your speedo.

Then if you buy the waterproof pda case from RAM its waterproof too.

[P38]

I've got a Garmin Zumo 550.

These are absolutely the best Motorcycle GPS units you can get.

I've teamed it up with a Nolan N-com N102 fitted with the Basic and Bluetooth kit.

Works flawlessly.

Best gaget I ever owned.

Ticks all the boxes you mention plus a ton more.

Check it out at http://www.zumoforums.com/

You can buy one from dicksmith powerhouse or order one from any of their stores.

or
This guy on Trademe.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-157926390.htm

$1280 is a good price too.

Order it with the North American Maps if you go this route, cheaper to buy the NZ maps at a laterdate.
His shop is in Napier sells mostly stuff for aeroplanes

[jrandom]

Ah, the usual chorus of everyone recommending the one they bought.

Has anyone in this thread actually used more than one brand of road navigation GPS?

[ArcherWC]

I have used the Garmin and Navman, and for bike use, definatly the Garmin Zumo is the way to go

[Hitcher]

Then if you buy the waterproof pda case from RAM its waterproof too.

How does one work the GPS's controls if it's in a box?

[P38]

Ah, the usual chorus of everyone recommending the one they bought.

Has anyone in this thread actually used more than one brand of road navigation GPS?

More to the point have you?

Maybe you'd like to share your thoughts.

or Maybe Not!

[limbimtimwim]

I quite like my TomTom One. It is easy to use and generally behaves in a sensible manner. It tells me the phone numbers for stuff (Like a camping ground 80km away) and how far it is to the next servo. On the Auckland motorway it helpfully puts the exit number you want in top left of the screen as well as regular directions on the screen. The built in battery lasts maybe.. An hour and a half if is left on..? I've set mine to speak in an Irish female voice, which is quite sexy in my opinion.

I'll turn whatever way you want honey in 300 metres. Pity I can't hear you in my helmet dear.

I found such a device is best combined with a regular paper map. I take a look at the paper map in the morning and think about where I'd like to go. I then loaded the same destination into the tomtom. So later in the day I could just pull it out any old time, switch it on, twiddle my thumbs for a minute while it got a lock to see if I was still on the rightish road after I got distracted with a crappy detour. Much quicker than finding the right page in a book.

And I can say I am slightly un-biased, since mummykins won said device and gave it to me.