Motorcycle GPS?

[sinned]

$1645! Gahh! Thud.

Price is relative. If you were already prepared to spend $800 on something that doesn't work well the incremental cost for a Zumo is just another *$800. That is how I justify buying the best.

[xgnr]

Make sure you invest in a big Mutha SD Card (it can use the High capacity cards) so you can take all your MP3's with you.

Max 1000 songs at the moment tho' this is sure to change in later firmware updates. Maybe your maps are on the SD card tho' so if so you can just copy music onto the Zumo itself.

(Hint... when you get it make sure you go to the Garmin site and get latest update)

A really useful user forum is at www.zumoforums.com

Enjoy... most accurate speedo you can get lol

[alanzs]

Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles California.

If I do decide to procure, I'm not going to take pot luck as to what duty free stores may or not have in stock. I'd prefer to have some certainty in that regard, rather than relying on chocolate-coated macadamias to navigate North America with.

Are you buying a bike there? Or shipping one over?
FYI, liability insurance is required by law. Also, don't forget medical insurance. My son broke his arm a couple years ago snowboarding at Squaw Valley, Nevada and it cost $60, 000 USD. He had surgery and was in hospital overnight.
If you don't have the money to pay, you will not get treated, unless you are unconscious. The first thing they ask you is for your insurance information or your credit card, which they will call to verify prior to treating you. Sad, but very, very true. NO JOKE. They have a little crisis with health insurance in the US these days...
If you get a chance, go on a Sunday to the Rock Store in the Santa Monica mountains. There are generally a couple hundred bikes there. A great place to hang out. The mountains there are known as the Santa Monica Alps, as there are hundreds of miles of twisty, awesome roads. A radar detector is also a helpful item. A speeding ticket can easily cost you $300.
The weather should be fantastic for riding this time of year.
Where are you planning on riding to?

[Hitcher]

I'll start another thread about this, but here's a taster...

13-14 July, Los Angeles California
15-July, Morro Bay California
16-17 July, San Francisco California
18-July, Eureka California
19-July, Bend Oregon
20-July, Astoria Oregon
21-22 July, Victoria British Columbia
23-July, Vancouver British Columbia
24-July, Whistler British Columbia
25-July, Kamloops British Columbia
26-July, Jasper Alberta
27-28 July, Banff Alberta
29-July, Whitefish Montana
30-July, Dillon Montana
31-July, Jackson Wyoming
1-August, Red Lodge Montana
2-August, Gillette Wyoming
3-6 August, Sturgis South Dakota
7-August, Fort Collins Colorado
8-August, Idaho Springs Colorado
9-10 August, Buena Vista Colorado
11-August, Moab Utah
12-August, Durango Colorado
13-August, Torrey Utah
14-August, Kanab Utah
15-August, Grand Canyon Arizona
16-August, Jerome Arizona
17-August, Laughlin Nevada
18-20 August, Las Vegas Nevada
21-August, Bishop California
22-August, Fresno California
23-August, Morro Bay California
24-25 August, Los Angeles California

[Snakeman]

I have a couple of mates that use Tom Toms made for motorcycling and they keep finding all the dirt roads, including forestry trails, even when there are good sealed roads to travel on.
Another couple of mates have the Garmin that was made for motorcycles and they are great.... a few more dollars and definitely much better, but why waste the chance to get yourself lost and have a better adventure ?
:spudbn:

[Quasievil]

Sheesh Hitcher me ole mate, IM GOB SMACKED by the crapola advise some of my fellow members have given you on this subject !

Here is the scoop mate listen up

the best G.P.S system is the Quasievil, its a greatest brand you will find anywhere for a major excursion in Canada and the USA look at the list of benefits

• Understands KIWI (the only system in the world that speaks it fluently)
• It can negotiate with hostile forces (army trained)
• it can re fuel you bike for you
• It can give your wife a soothing back rub after a hard day on the bike, And it can look up the yellow pages for a worthy back rubber for you
• Comes with its own motorcycle
• It can hunt burgers and buy beer (at your cost)
• Can fix Motorcycle and replace tyres
• can read a map in all conditions
• Can erect tents
• It can cook (qualified chef)
• it can clean (Wife showed me once)

So dont go buying a electronic piece of crap that will let you down in the first rain shower, stick to something Biological and get a QUASIEVIL

Thats what ya need mate, shall I pack my suitcase now ???

[alanzs]

WOW!!!! Great itenerary. Anticipate and prepare for 40+ degrees heat when getting into Utah, Arizona and Nevada. You have planned well, in that most of the places you are going are only a few hours from each other.

Also, in Montana there is no official speed limit in many places; it's very vast and wide open.

If you are a member of the AA here, you can go to the AAA in the US and they will give you free maps, guide books, help you with registering your bike (if you are buying one or shipping one, as going to the Department of Motor Vehicles - the dreaded DMV, can literally take 7-8 hours to get your bike registered) and cheaper insurance.

You are going to be seeing some of the most beautiful places on earth! Have fun and keep us posted.

[alanzs]

Quasi, I'll take one!

[Hitcher]

Quasi, I'll take one!

May I suggest a test ride before you buy.

[alanzs]

May I suggest a test ride before you buy.

I didn't want to seem pushy so I didn't ask at first, but now that you mention it, YES, I'd like to test ride one first. Can I return it if I don't like it after a while?

[XP@]

Quasi is right, Electronic GPS are a load of toad fish.

I bought a Garmin GPS5 water proof and all that. Worked wonderfully during the weeks running up to the Southern Cross. I spent hours planning my route, uploading waypoints and stuff.

Well, not even 10 mins in to the ride it turns its self off. Percussion therapy makes it work again. A few mins later and off again. I stop. A friendly Southern X rider pulls over i say it ok, toy problems, he rides on. 10 mins later GPS still dead I set off. Here comes the good bit (for me) ... I pass the guy 5 mins later he was stopped collecting a speeding ticket ...

This was a case of silver lining for me, but it came at a cost, the gps only started working when I got back home.

When they are working they are great for telling you where you have been but not really that good for telling you where you are going...

My fave was heading up north on the piecock road as I arrived at the look out I was told to "Turn right on to SH1 Now!" when I did not opt for the 200m vertical drop it got all shitty at me!

There again asking the nice GPS to get me back from Taupo, and avoid the major roads took 2 days and I found some amazing gravel!

The final nail in the coffin for the GPS would be the splurge of verbal you get from Lee R when he sees it on your bike...

[skelstar]

the best G.P.S system is the Quasievil

I'm sure its a good system, but you'd have to put up with it starting each direction by going "ummmm" ...

[vifferman]

Mr Hitcher - take a set of earplugs for "Fresno, California". I dunno what you're planning to do there, but we overnighted there in December 2006. It seems to be nothing other than a giant railway shunting yard, with trains coming through every half hour or so. Dunno how many crossings there are, but as I lay awake in the early hours, I counted one engine honking at 28 rail crossings.
The highlight for us was seeing two skwirrrrlz playing in a garden and running up and down a tree as we sat at traffic lights. Otherwise, it was a big mistake staying there.

[Badcat]

Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles California.

.

there's a frys on sepulveda - about 5 mins from the airport - about $8 in a cab.
i go there whenever i'm waiting for a connecting flight out of LAX.
http://shop3.frys.com/isp/manhattanbeach.html

yeah - just buy one retail in the USA.
they will have EVERYTHING, and often have better deals than they advertise.

ken

[Badcat]

oh - and stay away from:

KRISPY KREMES.

you HAVE been warned.


k