| Author | Message | ||
     Teddagreek |
My wife asked me what I wanted for a christmas. "A ducati 1098",I said joking but really I'm not on the inside.. Anyways she asked again me if there was anything I wanted for my bike and I said a room mate for my bike would be nice like a ducati 1098. So no new bike until I finish the house. Just in time for an 08 buell or something else  Anyways being the Techno Junkie I am I told her a GPS so here I am. whats a decent GPS for a bike.. This is what I would like and maybe some one can steer me in the right direction.  Small but easy to read screen Ability to use it elsewhere. Ability to have preprogrammed locations so I can navigate back to known area.. I'll go on rides with different people and end up on a sweet road but it never fails I won't know how to get back there.. Is there a GPS where I can basically record where I went that day and later on sort it out on a laptop. Mounts for an XB9SX, I also have crossroads 0degree bars on it.. Thanks Ted | ||
| Xbenign |
First a few questions: 1) If you don't mind me asking, what's your price range? 2) Are maps important to you? If so, color or B&W? Regardless, I would look at a handheld or motorcycle specific unit because they're waterproof. Car units generally are not, which makes getting caught in the rain with one a big problem. Sounds like a handheld would do what you want. Any of the units from Garmin, Magellan or Lowrance would probably be a good choice. They all have their owners manuals on line in PDF format so you can get a real feel for the unit before you buy. If you don't need maps, check out the Garmin eTrex, Geko 201 or Fortrex 101. They may be all you need and can be found for around $100 or less online. Try Amazon or TigerGPS. If you use it with Garmin's free online MotionBased service you won't even need to buy any software. As for the Magellan's, the only unit I like these days in their handheld lineup is the eXplorist 210. It's the only one that uses regular AA batteries. All the others use proprietary rechargeable batteries. I'm not that familiar with the Lowrance units but I've never heard anything bad. Hope this helps | ||
| Reepicheep |
The Quest 1 will do all that perfectly for around $300 or so. The Quest 2 has the detailed base maps pre-loaded for about $450 or $500, but has some other drawbacks (slower routing unless you disable some of the maps, and you have to contact Garmin to get the desktop software). The next price bump comes with expandable memory. That's nice, but the cases where the Quest 1 built in memory actually become a limitation are pretty extreme. I did a trip from Cincinnati Ohio to Deals Gap then Franklin NC, and had plenty of room in the built in memory to load all plausibly necessary detailed maps and did not bring a laptop. JB2, Ferris, and Gentlemen Jim took the long route, and came to Franklin from as far as Seattle. They would probably have needed to reload detailed maps (or simply depended on the built in base maps, which include state highways and interstates) two to three times over the whole trip. If you are doing that kind of riding, the Quest 1 is probably not your device. Nor is the Quest 2 (small screen size would be a pain for setting up routes). Actually, I find anything less then a laptop running 1024x768 with a decent keyboard and mouse insufficient or any kind of serious routing, so I would always settle on a Quest 1 with a laptop but that's just me. The Quest will do voice prompts in the car (with the included speaker / power adapter), but it does not speak voice names. It says "turn left in 2 minutes" then "turn left now". Not "Turn left on Spring Street in 2 minutes". The screen changes to show the street name clearly though. The big limitation of the quest is that it can't do a "diagonal view". It's a straight overhead view. The diagonal view packs a ton more information onto a given screen size in a much more usable fashion. The Zumo has lots of built in techno-candy (blue tooth cell phone integration, mp3 player, etc) and will do the diagonal view, but it's twice the price (and then some) of the Quest. It does voice prompts and actually reads the name of the street. The Rhino has built in FRS Radio and is a better more durable hand held unit. Some of the Magellan units were pretty cool, but you had to add $150 in software to get them to do everything the Quest would do out of the box. I would be concerned about their long term support as well, many Garmin GPSV devices are still happily serving their owners, while comperable Magellan units from that era are doorstops because of limited software updates available. Past performance is no proof of future growth though  . Its fun technology to play with. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Mount = RAM I have one and it is rock solid. | ||
| Toona |
I really like my Lowrance Iway 350. 3.5" diagonal color touchscreen. I has a hardrive in it, so I never need to change maps. There is an SD slot on the side that will use up to a 2MB card for music/pictures etc. There is a built in mp3 player that "pulls" the music from the SD card and FM modulates into any FM radio. Neat part is, when the Iway announces directions, it pauses the music, gives directions and then starts the tunes back up. It also gives the directions thru my fm radio headphones, when the modulation is turned on, otherwise, I would never hear it. The www.lowrance.com site says that it is waterproof, but I keep a ziplock baggie in the tail/saddlebag just in case. Price was $375 this past fall, minus a $50 mail in rebate = $325. I scored mine new on eBay. I tried to fabricate 2 different style mounts for the handlebars, one was too flimsy and shook the bejesus out of it until it would turn itself off, the second mount was too stiff and it would shut itself off also. Then I spent the $50 for the RAM mount, best $50 spent. RAM makes a holder specifically for the Lowrance units, the Iway 500 also. I've only had the chance to use it on a 40 mile ride, but it didn't turn off and was rock steady the entire time. It got cold here in PA, so I haven't had a chance to try it out in the bike since then. I traveled to CA this OCT. It worked on the plane (I had a window seat). The Iway has an address book feature, so you can enter the addresses/locations you want to visit. If you have multiple stop on 1 trip, The Iway will let you enter all the stops, using the address book, then it will arrange the short route or the route order you choose. It has a bunch of Points of Interest on the HD. I can be driving down the road, search for an ATM/restaurant (by type-fastfood/italian/steak etc.) gas stations, rest stops. You can detour to any of these stops and it will reroute you back to your original destination by the shortest way-so no backtracking-unless that is the shortest way. Battery life is very good, so far for me 6-8 hours before charging. It comes with a suction cup windshield mount and a 12v cig adapter and storage cover. | ||
| Timbo |
Xbenign wrote... As for the Magellan's, the only unit I like these days in their handheld lineup is the eXplorist 210. It's the only one that uses regular AA batteries. All the others use proprietary rechargeable batteries. I have the eXplorist XL and it uses regular AA batteries. Four AA's last about 10 to 11 hours of continuous use. It also has a decent size screen for easier viewing, and is waterproof. With a RAM mount, I use it on my Buell and on my dirtbike. When I use it in my truck, I just place it on the center console. Works for me. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Thanks for the detail on thee Iway Toona, I don't hear much about those and it good to hear a first hand report. If anyone has an eXplorist 210 make sure you download the new firmware for it: http://www.magellangps.com/support/softwareupdates /210_3253.asp It adds several new screens and some other features, its almost like getting a new GPS for free I'm told. Those is pretty easy to upgrade, just do the download and follow the instructions. It sounds like the new software would make the 210 almost as useful as the discontinued Meridians. If your thinking about buying a eXplorist 210 for about another $50 the 400 is a lot more GPS and more useful. It can use SD cards for nearly unlimited map storage capacity, much better than the 210's paltry 22mb of storage. Look at the Garmins "x" model handhelds before you buy a Magellan, they have much better hardware and software. Jack | ||
| Jackbequick |
Tedagreek, Your wants list sounds like a handheld in a good mount like a RAM would work for you. If the "use it elsewhere" includes on foot, in boats, and away from power the Garmin 60Cx/CSx or 76Cx/CSx deserve consideration, they'll do everything else you want. The Quest, Rider, Zumo and similar models are a good if "use it elsewhere" is primarily in other vehicles with a place to mount it and DC power. Those are not anything you'd want to use for a handheld. Jack | ||
| Xbenign |
Jackbequick wrote ... If the "use it elsewhere" includes on foot, in boats, and away from power the Garmin 60Cx/CSx or 76Cx/CSx deserve consideration, they'll do everything else you want. Good point. If you're into boating or fishing the 76 series floats. If you hike, hunt, ski, etc. the Garmin eTrex Legend Cx, Venture Cx and Vista Cx have an outstanding battery life of 32 hours. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I called Garmin today and spoke with a customer service guy for about ten minutes. I've narrowed down to a 60Cx or 60Sx Thanks for all the input... Ted | ||
| Jackbequick |
I think you'll like that, check the Amazon price on that, they are usually pretty good. There is a $50 rebate offer through the end of the year on the 60's. http://www.garmin.com/whatsNew/currentpromotions/ Jack | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
We have the 60Csx bundle pack at Gander for 530.00. there's a mail in rebate from Garmin for 50.00. I run the 396 and just bought a RAM Mount for it. I'd second RAM, great company. I Pro Staffed for them for 2 seasons (fishing tournaments) and have been using their products for 8 years now.  |
