GPS Recommendations?

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Gary

Member
I am looking at a waterproof GPS, with USA maps, topo info, print or voice for my bike. Right now it appears the Garmin Nuvi 500 is the best choice at about $312 (theNerds.com). They also offer a 550 model that comes with the topo info for about $40 less.

Anybody have a better (less expensive) alternative with the same features, or know a lower priced source?
 
My recommendation concerning motorcycles and GPS is DON'T. The last thing a rider needs is a major distraction.
BAD BAD idea!
 
[quote author=CarlS link=topic=3120.msg20879#msg20879 date=1230760982]
No I don't and if anyone does, I am interested also. The motorcycle specific Garmin is way out of my budget for a gadget.
[/quote]

Carl you suprise me, I thought an old war horse like you would make a sketch map on a piece of rice paper , memorise it then sew it in too the lining of your coat in case of capture :smile:
 
[quote author=Geoff587 link=topic=3120.msg20920#msg20920 date=1230818113]
[quote author=CarlS link=topic=3120.msg20879#msg20879 date=1230760982]
No I don't and if anyone does, I am interested also. The motorcycle specific Garmin is way out of my budget for a gadget.
[/quote]

Carl you suprise me, I thought an old war horse like you would make a sketch map on a piece of rice paper , memorise it then sew it in too the lining of your coat in case of capture :smile:
[/quote]

:y24: :y24: :y24: :y24:

Actually, the GPS would be for Mae Lyne; she can get lost in a parking lot! I do have a handheld Garmin that I use for kayaking and hiking. I have never even taken it with me on the bike. I did get Mae Lyne a Garmin for her truck as a birthday present. She loves it - and she needs it!!!
 
I had been thinking about getting a GPS also, but Gary makes a good point....it could easily become a distraction, and that is the last thing I need. At my age breathing can be a distraction.... :ya2:
 
Bob, I agree with you and Gary; I don't need anything to distract me. That said, a PGR member who rides a BMW uses a GPS on trips; he normally does not have it on his bike. Because of the cost of Zumo, he bought a Garmin Nuvi and uses it in his cage onthe bike when needed. He found a third party vendor that has a handle bar mount that will hold the Nuvi. When it rains, simply slips a Zip Lok bag over it. He has been using it for nearly two years with no problems.
 
In my car the Zumo talks to me (female voice) and gives directions so I don't have to look at it.
The only time I seriously used it was in Toronto in 2007 to find my sister's new address - and it worked!
On the bike I mostly use it as a speedometer. That's how I found out that the T100 speedo is only 2 kph optimistic while my H**** 900F is reading 8 kph too fast.
It's easy to read even in the sunlight, but when traffic conditions demand it, believe me, I pay attention and turn the GPS off :ya2:
It's just a gadget and to tell the truth I'm old fashioned and still like a paper map :ya2:
That said, most of the time I know where I'm going anyway and don't need any help getting there.
 
The Garmin Nuvi 500 came in last Thursday, so I got to try it out over the weekend in my SUV (we have had subfreezing highs here for several days in a row - and that's not riding weather for me). The unit comes with a quality windshield suction mount and a 12 volt auto power cord. I also bought a one of those weighted "slide-proof" mounts for the dash, as I am not crazy about suction winshield mounts. and an extra auto cord (didn't know one was included), which may get "hard-wired" onto the bike later.

Also purchased a RAM handlebar mount specifically for the Nuvi 500 (all aluminum and SS for only $41.32). The mount works great on the MC. I am going to try the unit without a DC power cord on the bike, as everything I have read says the battery has about 8 hours of useful life per charge and I NEVER ride 8 hours in one day (maybe someday if I do something criminal or its some global calamity, but otherwise NEVER).

The unit has speech directions, but its such a small unit the female voice sounds a little machine-like (the one in our Caddy sounds like a live Playboy Bunny). It couldn't find my home address, but did find my office, my church, and the local Sonic Drive In. The display is color and you can get an overhead or diagonal (they call it 3D) view. The instructions provided were a pitiful 4 pages and I am still trying to find out how to get it to do certain things.
The map display also shows your current GPS speed and the time to your destination (I thought it was current time for a couple of days and wondered why it was fast).

I know its supposed to be a handheld for walking, bicycling, boating or driving (it has seperate USGS contour maps and seperate US lakes and waterway maps also), but I would have like a screen about twice as large.

I'll give everyone another update in a month or so.
 
I have a tomtom one but not mounted on the bike. Carl Im with ya good wife there mate....I have trouble finding my grill in my yard let alone get from point a to b without direction.

Ride Safe
 
The RAM mount came from GPSCITY.COM. Their selection is HUGE and they have a search by bike and GPS model that selects mounts that will fit. As I recall, it turned up about 20 choices for the NUVI 500 to be mounted on my 2003 Triumph Bonneville T100. Price was $33.95 and shipping was $7.37 and as I recall it arrived two days after ordering.

The part number I ordered was RAM-B-149-GA32U
 

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