[Noth]

I think Ihave to get a new GPS.. I currently have a TomTom Rider 2.. but they stopped selling them in the US about 3 or 4 years ago (I always wondered why) , and last night, when updating, I got a message that said the server was no longer available.

I am not interested inusing my Mobile smart phone.. I would like a stand alone. I am all set up now for RAM mounts (MC Larry Reservoir covers & so on) so I need something for that.

I want a Bluetooth headset with it ... In looking at them, it looks like the Garmin Zumo 660, 665 or 350 has everything I want.. but none of them come with a Bluetooth headset likemy TomTom.. is that right? So I have tobuy that seperately. Also, I have never had to wire my ToTom intomy bike as the battery works for 6 or 7 hours. and typically I will plug it in when I stop, or hook it up to the plug on the bike & leave it in the glove box for an hour or so when I know where I am going and it's pretty much re-charged.. so I can't tell if the same system would work on my 650, or if it mandatory to set up wiring.. I am also curious about the cradle that comes with these.. Is it good, or do I have to buy something else?.. My TomTom works for now.. and I have a call into customer support, but I suspect that support has been pulled for my unit & I have to replace it.. so need some advice.. It would be nice if I could go to Best Buy or some place like that to look at units, but they don't carry the motorcycle models.. I think I will probably end up calling GPS city and ordering on line, but I hate to do that with questions.. so need some input from others who may have been there..
Thanks,

 

[InfernoST]

I've been looking for a GPS as well but find it hard to justify the cost of the Garmin.

 

[Noth]

My TomTom was and is available on Ebay.. It si waterproof (resistant?) shockproof and dustoroof.. but for some reason TomTom pulled the plug on it everywhere but the Netherlands..

Ikind of have come tothe conclusion that you get what you pay for.. for the costofa Zumo, Ican buy 3 normal Gps's.. but the bluetooth headset s good, butmandatory is the ability to download customized routes.. Being on a bike is about "getting there" & the process.. not just a way to get there.. soI don't want the straight lines..to a point..

 

[greenyaris]

I have a TomTom Rider and have just updated it no problem. Is there a difference between yours and mine apart from your being a 2?

 

[Noth]

I have a TomTom Rider and have just updated it no problem. Is there a difference between yours and mine apart from your being a 2?

No.. I ran onto problems when I tried to add "traffic".. and then the error mmessage popped up then.. just to see if it worked, I decided to add a free basic voice (their so called funny voices drive me nuts when I am waiting for a turn and the voice is going on and on and I miss the darn turn) and that would not add.. because I had an error code.. descending into peripheral Hell.. designed by committees of cyber punks that find everything easy and I can't figure out.. "Hello sir.. my name is Annie (said with an indian accent).. How may I help you.. OK.. Please delete all of your drivers and down load a new driver for your TomTom.. "Uhhh.. my printer no longer works..." ..... "I am sorry sir.. you should contact their help desk ... "uhhh.. My monitor has wierd colors and the image is small " .... "sorry sir.. you shoiuld call their help desk, Thank you for calling XXX.. is there anything more I can help you with (or screw up..) today".. I HATE it.. !!

 

[Scootereno]

Wipe the whole unit and reprogram it.
Hard reset!

 

[greenyaris]

Wipe the whole unit and reprogram it.
Hard reset!

I agree. You got there first! :cheers:

 

[Noth]

OK.. I will try that.. I just thought something newer & shinier might be better..

 

[convertfromVespa]

.... I am not interested inusing my Mobile smart phone.. I would like a stand alone. I am all set up now for RAM mounts (MC Larry Reservoir covers & so on) so I need something for that. ....,

I have a GPS (Garmin) that I use in the car and on the bike. It has traffic and bluetooth, but did not include a bluetooth receiver. I have it set up to be powered through the powercord connected to my poweroutlet.

However, last week, I decided to use my Android smartphone and separate bluetooth headset made by LG electronics instead (I also have a helmet with a Scala Rider setup that can receive bluetooth as well. I chose not to take it on this trip either). At first, I had my smartphone in my RAM aquabox, but found that I rarely had to refer to the images because the voice directions were very good. After about six hours of riding, my phone battery died. This is about 18 hours shorter than any previous measure I had of my phone's battery life. The searching for satellites probably ran the battery down more quickly. I then hooked my phone to a backup battery for charging/power and put it in a side case. Unfortunately, they became disconnected sometime in the next two hours of riding.

I am planning to continue the use of my phone in the future and will connect it from the bike's power outlet. This system worked as well as my GPS and will allow me to remove one more item from the list. ( I currently have 3 ram mounts holding GPS, Camera and cup holder.)

Whatever you choose, have fun.

 

[Noth]

.... I am not interested inusing my Mobile smart phone.. I would like a stand alone. I am all set up now for RAM mounts (MC Larry Reservoir covers & so on) so I need something for that. ....,

I have a GPS (Garmin) that I use in the car and on the bike. It has traffic and bluetooth, but did not include a bluetooth receiver. I have it set up to be powered through the powercord connected to my poweroutlet.

However, last week, I decided to use my Android smartphone and separate bluetooth headset made by LG electronics instead (I also have a helmet with a Scala Rider setup that can receive bluetooth as well. I chose not to take it on this trip either). At first, I had my smartphone in my RAM aquabox, but found that I rarely had to refer to the images because the voice directions were very good. After about six hours of riding, my phone battery died. This is about 18 hours shorter than any previous measure I had of my phone's battery life. The searching for satellites probably ran the battery down more quickly. I then hooked my phone to a backup battery for charging/power and put it in a side case. Unfortunately, they became disconnected sometime in the next two hours of riding.

I am planning to continue the use of my phone in the future and will connect it from the bike's power outlet. This system worked as well as my GPS and will allow me to remove one more item from the list. ( I currently have 3 ram mounts holding GPS, Camera and cup holder.)

Whatever you choose, have fun.

Thanks.. I have no interest in using my phone because of the battery issue.. I know I can plug it in, but would rather have a dedicated GPS unit..

 

[Gbjbany]

Not sure how much help this is, but here goes :shock:

I have a garmin 1490 lmt, not waterproof but good enough for nor cal.

I ride with it connected using the supplied power adapter, because it incorporates the traffic receiver. Never fourth it's be an issue, excpet the size of the adapter , but I fixed that by buying a small 1 to 2 adapter off ebay and that allows me to use itis the glove box.

I have never used the voice or Bluetooth, in my car or bike because they drive me crazy, but to each his own, and so Cant give any advice there.

One thing I use my gps for is not the turns, although I use it for that too, it's for seeing what's coming down the road, is there a sharp hairpin coming for example, so to me the voice part would not help, I assume anyway.

Now it's not all good news, as it's not a motorcycle version, the screen brightness can be too low and the reflection from my hi viz jacket can make it almost impossible to see.

The only other insight I can give you is on battery length, it's poor , hence the power adapter, and finally I couldn't use a phone with because in my area probably 50% of my "exploring" is out of phone range, I know you run them "offline" but it worries me.

Anyway hope that helps all in all I would give it a 8 out of 10, but it was 1/3rd the cost of a zumo

 

[chindog1]

Not sure how much help this is, but here goes :shock:

I have a garmin 1490 lmt, not waterproof but good enough for nor cal.

I ride with it connected using the supplied power adapter, because it incorporates the traffic receiver. Never fourth it's be an issue, excpet the size of the adapter , but I fixed that by buying a small 1 to 2 adapter off ebay and that allows me to use itis the glove box.

I have never used the voice or Bluetooth, in my car or bike because they drive me crazy, but to each his own, and so Cant give any advice there.

One thing I use my gps for is not the turns, although I use it for that too, it's for seeing what's coming down the road, is there a sharp hairpin coming for example, so to me the voice part would not help, I assume anyway.

Now it's not all good news, as it's not a motorcycle version, the screen brightness can be too low and the reflection from my hi viz jacket can make it almost impossible to see.

The only other insight I can give you is on battery length, it's poor , hence the power adapter, and finally I couldn't use a phone with because in my area probably 50% of my "exploring" is out of phone range, I know you run them "offline" but it worries me.

Anyway hope that helps all in all I would give it a 8 out of 10, but it was 1/3rd the cost of a zumo

I use that same Garmin model on my scooter. I don't listen to the audio, either, so that isn't a factor for me. The RAM mount holder for this model is fantastic, and there is no way it's going to fall off. (I lost a GPS unit by using a cheap mount, when it failed upon hitting a large bump).

As far as the brightness issue, my solution was easy and cheap. I went to the local craft store and bought a sheet of black craft foam for less than $1. I made a shroud from that to shield it from the sun. Sort of like a bill on a ball cap.

Here's what it looks like:

From the front

The side:

The back:

In the photos, the shroud looks grey, but it is actually jet black. It makes a great sunshade.

 

[Chérie]

For 5-6 year now me use 5 inch Nuvi 1450 (look same as 1490) on top of 3.5 inch Ram arm and Ram reservoir mount, when rain simply put clear baggie over and see screen very well with baggie over GPS, me purchase 2 refurbish Nuvi1450 under $100 ea., purchase 2 year extend warranty if break out of extend warranty period me throw away.

Screen more difficult to see in very bright sun but manageable.

 

[Noth]

Great info! I love the shroud idea. My Tomtom, even though it's a motorcycle unit, is sometimes so bad, that I can't tell whether it's on or off sometimes.

 

[Scotty1981]

I use a nuvi as well but don't like to because I worry about rain, I can't get the baggies to work because once I get up to speed it just wants to blow off of the GPS.

 

[model28a]

I can't get the baggies to work because once I get up to speed it just wants to blow off of the GPS.

How about with a couple rubber bands? Or have you already tried that?

 

[Daboo]

OK.. I will try that.. I just thought something newer & shinier might be better..

I wouldn't bet on that. I bought a Navigon 2100 Max in 2008. I still love it. I decided to get a second GPS, since my daughters were using that one so much. I bought a Garmin that was pretty well equipped with features I wanted like multi-destination routing. In putting the two units side by side in the car as we are driving alomg, the 5 year old Navigon is clearly superior.

I will never buy another Garmin.

Chris

 

[NormanB]

If you are a serious GPS user, by that I mean A to B via X, Y and Z rather than the standard consumer use of A to B then the Garmin Zumo is the way to go. It is seriously capabable and I have programmed 7 day tours of exceedingly detailed and very complex routes no bother. It will also host your bluetooth cell phone and give you enough tunes not to hear the same one twice in 7 days of riding. Fully waterproof and robust it comes supplied with both bike and car mounts.

I have mine hard wired through an Autocom system.

However, it is expensive, but anyone who can buy a Neotech will hardly even flinch at the cost. :lol:

 

[oldsomeman]

I use a cheap sat nav i bought on ebay does for car..and i mount it on the bike ina waterproof bag(which is a real pain in the butt to use despite supposedly being designed for std sat navs)
I can be heard with the bike going although its not download able,i does automatically reroute if ignore her instructions.

I bought a cheap chinese sat nav.wonderful thing use and very very quick......but you couldnt even hear it on full volume in the car.....so one the bike you needed to be plugged into it to her instructions.Then if you ignore its instructions it throws a wobbler and you have to tap the face to make it recalculate where its going....not easy ay 60 MPH!

 

[Noth]

If you are a serious GPS user, by that I mean A to B via X, Y and Z rather than the standard consumer use of A to B then the Garmin Zumo is the way to go. It is seriously capabable and I have programmed 7 day tours of exceedingly detailed and very complex routes no bother. It will also host your bluetooth cell phone and give you enough tunes not to hear the same one twice in 7 days of riding. Fully waterproof and robust it comes supplied with both bike and car mounts.

I have mine hard wired through an Autocom system.

However, it is expensive, but anyone who can buy a Neotech will hardly even flinch at the cost. :lol:

Ouch ! I took my 1st ride of the year with it yesterday.. Me like the Neotech..