What GPS do you use and why?

[Dirt_Dad]

Yep, $7 per month. A smart phone app would not work for me. I spend a lot of time riding in WV. Very limited (read nonexistent) cell coverage throughout most of the state. When it does exist it's often 1st generation and painfully slow.

 

[bigbob]

Zumo 665 with weather activated. Very worthwhile. I once rode from VA to NY during the passing of a weather front and managed to stay dry the entire time. With the weather displayed I could see how to stay just on the backside of the rain for 300 miles. I'm not afraid to ride in the rain, but if moving 10 miles to the west can keep me out of it...why not stay perfectly dry (except for the wet roads).

Also love that I can see where the thunderstorms are when I hear the thunder moving in during that last stop. So easy to avoid blundering into the storm. I do hate riding in lightening. Done it too many times, and been lucky. I don't like trusting in luck. Also nice to know how big the cell is that you're currently stuck in.

I tried using the smart phone, but that left me on the side of the road waiting for the radar to paint on the screen. It could take 10 minutes or more just to get a currently picture. Smart phone was a terrible option most of the time.

The 665 also allowed me to find new roads while playing, "see how close you can get to the weather and not get wet" game. I've ended up in places I never knew about.

The 665 is not cheap, but it has made more of an impact on my riding than any other GPS upgrade I've ever done.

Same for me, dodging tornados. One difference, for my Ténéré the 665 was free. Came on my Stratoliner! Since I can only ride one at a time, it goes with me.

 

[RIDEMYST]

I have the Garmin Zumo 660 but just ordered the Garmin 590LM.
The 660 is a very good unit but I have been disappointed in the screen brightness. In full sunlight it becomes nearly impossible to see. I also miss the weather radar feature I had on previous models......just my preference.
Regardless what you choose, if you travel and want to navigate back roads select a unit where you can select (pre-program/plan) your own route.
Otherwise you may end up with a GPS that will efficiently navigate you down Interstates and major highways to get you from Point A to Point B.
Just my 2-cents. -JEP-

 

[Magilla]

+1 ::008::

+2 ::008::

 

[10éréRider]

I'm probably the odd one here using a Magellan Triton. I use it because it's compact and I carry it on my mountain bike as well. I like saving my tracks and making waypoints. I also geocache and it's very accurate for that.

It doesn't "autoroute" but I will use google maps to create a route from one destination to another. But since it always takes the most efficient way and not the most fun, I will drag the route to the roads I want to take. Then using a program that saves that line as a gpx file from my computer, I then load it onto my Magellan and follow the line where I want to go. I can always explore wherever I want then head back to the track line and continue where I had planned. It works very well for me.

My Tenere is in storage so I can't get a picture but here it is on my mountain bike. I use the same cradle on the MC handle bar.


10éréRider

 

[Vuduchld]

There's an interesting posting and article over at www.webbikeworld.com in reference to using a tablet PC (Nexus 7 etc) as a GPS. It looks quite promising.

 

[wessie]

What, nobody still using a Garmin 2610? The one I bought in around 2005 is still going strong with recent map updates from http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/ - Mapsource runs on Windows 8.1 and is a better bit of software than Basecamp

The 2610 still has a lot of users this side of the Atlantic.

 

[richarddacat]

Ive used a Zumo 550 for years. Bought it used and paid to have the maps updated and nothing else.

I had a used 2610 before that and really liked it features and it was easier to do a search on that one over the Zumo.

I'm about ready to upgrade but haven't studied what's new these days.

Had a Nuvi 200 for the car but it didn't last very long.

 

[EricV]

Garmin dezl 760LMT in a Ram mount. Not waterproof, but not bad with some stratigic duct tape and when necessary, a baggie and rubber bands over it for downpours. I really like the 7" screen for my aging eyes. It's a truck unit, but has auto, truck or RV modes. I use it in auto mode and it's been great for all over the US and Canada, including the Yukon. One big bonus for me when I bought it is the audio out plug, which most Garmin units don't have. That allowed me to just plug into my J&M CB unit and get audio into the helmet w/o hassle.

I don't use the traffic or weather, but both can be had with an inexpensive app thru your phone instead of using the car cord with it's traffic receiver. I use a SW Motech mount and hardwire to the PC-9 aux fuse block for power.

 

[bnschroder]

I started out with a cheap car Nuvi but they are hard to read in sunlight, so I put my very old Garmin Quest back on. It's old but it has the most important features: It is waterproof and you can upload routes that you create on your computer. And it's so ratty that nobody will steal it

 

[TheHelios]

I use my Phone (Google Nexus 5 + Google maps) with my Sena Headset and have had 0 issues. Turn by turn is great and screen is easy to read when angled properly to me when it's in its Ram X-Mount. I've got a TomTom Rider 2 but don't have the power cable for the cradle.

 

[OldRider]

I've got a 2610 I got back in 05 and a 2720. I have got where I use the 2720 all the time because the screen is easier to see. FYI, if anyone wants an old 2610, I see them on ebay from time to time in mint condition.

 

[Blueridge]

I want to try using my Galaxy s5 phone for GPS instead of buying another motorcycle specific GPS. I have been trying my Tom-tom car GPS in an Aquabox and that's not working well for me. Too big, too much glare and a pain having to open and close the box to turn it on and off. Has anyone been using their Galaxy or iPhone that can point me toward a solid mount/holder? I have a Madstat windshield bracket and want to mount it on the crossbar.

 

[RIDEMYST]

I saw this unit demo'd at Bike Week. It seems to do what the more expensive units do at about half the price. -JEP-
http://www.tomtom.com/en_us/drive/motorcycle/products/index.html

 

[squarebore]

I want to try using my Galaxy s5 phone for GPS instead of buying another motorcycle specific GPS. I have been trying my Tom-tom car GPS in an Aquabox and that's not working well for me. Too big, too much glare and a pain having to open and close the box to turn it on and off. Has anyone been using their Galaxy or iPhone that can point me toward a solid mount/holder? I have a Madstat windshield bracket and want to mount it on the crossbar.

I have the lifeproof cover and lifeproof bar mount for my iPhone. Very solid waterproof setup. Quick release and lockable. I then use a variety of apps such as tomtom, Apple maps, metroview etc. even have a topo map program with maps installed.

 

[Bushyar15]

Sorry to have deleted my post and redo, but I found the info...

I remember awhile back that Tom Tom was putting out a new version of their "Rider" as there were multiple complaints with the previous models...

Here's info on the newer Rider;
http://www.visordown.com/product-features/new-tomtom-rider-motorcycle-gps/26144.html

 

[Purificator81]

Iphone 4 (50 usd) + navigon offline gps (80 usd or free if you want) + ram mount ( 25 usd)....used it during my 10000km tour in europe and had no single issue with it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blueridge]

Have read about a new Tomtom Rider being introduced in April. Chances are that it will be in the same price range as the Garmin 660 since it's a new version of the Rider. The bad thing about Tomtom is that Tyre won't work with Apple according to what I've read. That makes the mapping stuff moot for me.
As far as the Lifeproof case and mount, I don't see one specifically made by Lifeproof for the Galaxy s5 . . . only the iPhone. Amazon sells someone else's brand to fit the Galaxy but I would like to have some people tell me that they have used these products on their bikes off pavement without issues.
Don't want to try to save money using my phone as a GPS only to have to replace the lost or broken phone.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Madhatter]

always use paper maps, no batteries, cant break it.... thought about buying a gps, lots of money, looks cool mounted on bike... ive always been a map guy, reading a map though for some is a challenge.... so i see why people buy them, and you put in your destination and you go, very fast and simple.... lots of great features, where to buy gas etc. but when nature calls and you forgot the TP, try using your gps....

 

[Bushyar15]

Does that include off-road type trails and the like as opposed to pavement and highway/city type riding?

I was paper map kind of guy too till I started riding off-road in the Rockies and got lost as I didn't see a fork in a road. I went a few miles and and thought I should have seen the turn by now… I turned around and headed back the way I came. Riding back I came upon a merging trail that I didn't see going up the road and didn't know which way to go.

I pulled out the map and tried to figure out where I was… looking at the map I thought I knew where I was. So I proceeded. I went up this fire road that started to climb, which then narrowed to double track and then to a steep rocky single track. It didn't seem right based on the elevation lines on the map. But I didn't want to stop on this rocky incline as I thought if I drop it here its going to be a PITA get upright and get going again. I figured I'd get to the top and might be able to see around.. Well it dead-ended.

Have to admit a little panic set in as obviously I wasn't where I thought I was. All those dumb shows about people getting lost in the mountains an dying from exposure or getting injured went though my mind. Somehow I was able to get my bike turn-around without dropping it. I went back down till it became a double track again where I could stop and look at my map again. Thankfully I was able to identify which trail I was on…

Yeah there are probably things I should have done different… But for peace of mind, I went out and got my Garmin Montana… I use it primarily to verify where I think I am on a trail. I still use paper maps for planning. The Montana also has the added benefit of "electronic bread crumbs". If I'm lost, I can just reverse my current track and it will paint a line the way I came… I now feel more comfortable going off the beaten path...

always use paper maps, no batteries, cant break it.... thought about buying a gps, lots of money, looks cool mounted on bike... ive always been a map guy, reading a map though for some is a challenge.... so i see why people buy them, and you put in your destination and you go, very fast and simple.... lots of great features, where to buy gas etc. but when nature calls and you forgot the TP, try using your gps....