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GPS or VZ Navigator?
Ordered the F3 totally stock ( because of accessory prices) but am considering the GPS. I use my Smartphone Navigator app now for those needs. Can anyone offer their opinion on why I should go for BRP GPS or is the Smartphone just as good? I get turn by turn through my Bluetooth now. Just curious what I'm missing to substantiate dropping most likely another 1,000 + on it.
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If I were you; I wouldn't change what's been working so well...
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Active Member
I see no reason to spend a grand and clutter the handlebars when Bluetooth turn by turn is working ! Besides think of how many farkles $1000 will buy
Current: "Scarlett", 2017 Can Am F3-T, SE6, Intense Red Pearl.
BRP heated grips, DIY brake light strip and turn signal strips, Chrome/LED brake light tag frame, SpyderPops bumpskid, Baja Ron swaybar and billet links, Lamonster Third Peg, BRP Adjustable Passenger Backrest, SpyderPops Missing Belt Guard, ShowChrome oversize brake pedal, TricLED foglights.
Previous: "Synthia", 2014 Can Am Spyder RT, SM6, Pearl White.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by GunDoctor
Ordered the F3 totally stock ( because of accessory prices) but am considering the GPS. I use my Smartphone Navigator app now for those needs. Can anyone offer their opinion on why I should go for BRP GPS or is the Smartphone just as good? I get turn by turn through my Bluetooth now. Just curious what I'm missing to substantiate dropping most likely another 1,000 + on it.
Do Not Get the 660--Get the 665 if you get a GPS. You get XM, Traffic and reroute, Real time Weather as you ride i.e.. rain showers and thunderstorms, plus many other features the 660 doe not have. Last I checked you could get them online for $500-600. They are phasing in the new Garmin 590. To be standard on the new RT Limited shortly.
That having been said if you have a iPhone 6 plus or large Samsung you could get at least a readable screen while riding, XM radio and Weather without the Garmin 665.
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
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Very Active Member
The only problem I have with the smartphone navigation is when you get into rural areas and lose signal. I am trying out the Tom Tom Rider and so far I like it. $400 and it has a winding route feature. Not enough use to say it is more accurate than the Garmin 660, but the 660 has made far to many mistakes to warrant the cost.
2016 F3 Limited
2019 Ryker Rally
2014 Suzuki V Strom 650
2020 CSC TT 250
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I am going with the smartphone on my F3.. I have found the navigation app on my smartphone to be vastly superior to the garmin gps that I have on my RTL. with Verizon I very seldom have any problem maintaining a signal even in remote areas
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Very Active Member
I had the 660 & then the 665 on my spyder and bluetoothed into my helmet. Since, I have been using the iPhone on the new wheels and find the clarity & sound much louder and clearer in my helmet whether it be xm, nav directions or music loaded onto iPhone. Not sure why, but like it.
The iPhone 6 plus is probably in my future as to not clutter the cockpit with devices. Whatever works best for ya!
Rewaco RF-1 GT
Inline 4 cylinder Ford Zetec with multi-port fuel inject, 140 HP
0-60mph: 5.8 seconds
5 speed sync manual with reverse, mechanical dry clutch.
Front suspension: Trapezoidal fork with center spring
Rear suspension: Independent with Bilstein gas shock absorbers
Brake System: Grimeca calipers, linked ventilated discs, with booster
10.57 gallons
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Looks like I'm in the minority but I prefer a dedicated GPS unit, and I have been a Garmin fan since the very early days. I'm just not willing to put my navigational needs in the hands of wireless carriers...the coverage in some areas is too spotty for my liking.
MEP
2019 F3 Limited
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Active Member
Originally Posted by Highwayman2013
The only problem I have with the smartphone navigation is when you get into rural areas and lose signal. I am trying out the Tom Tom Rider and so far I like it. $400 and it has a winding route feature. Not enough use to say it is more accurate than the Garmin 660, but the 660 has made far to many mistakes to warrant the cost.
Navigon or TomTom apps will give you the same functionality as a Garmin or TomTom unit and you won't need a data connection once you have the maps downloaded.
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Some observations
Here are a few comments from a new Spyder RT-S Ryder. I have used both a Samsung Galaxy IIIS and a Garmin Nuvi XXX mounted in the center of the handlebars and both work well for audio directions with a Bluetooth headset. The screen on the smartphone washes out completely in direct sunshine and the Nuvi nearly so. From that perspective I would recommend one of the Garmin motorcycle units which are a lot brighter. I personally like the user interface and navigation features of Google Maps better than Garmin products. Google Maps has one huge problem that has already been mentioned. If you try to create a new route while out of 3G/4G range, you simply won't be able to do it because the maps and route information are downloaded when you create a route. A current route is available without cell service but once you change it you can't get it back or create another route without 3G/4G. In this situation, I use a paid app that runs on Google devices and turns your smartphone or tablet into a stand alone GPS. Its called Copilot. With this app, you download maps of the entire USA, Canada and some other countries (assuming you have the spare memory). It works a lot like a Garmin GPS but the user interface is not as good as the Google one, in my opinion.
Edit: Just reading the original title, there was a mention of VZ Navigator. That is a Verizon add-on product. In my opinion, it is inferior to what you can get free using Google maps. I would definitely not spend extra for access to that product.
Last edited by Art Mann; 11-23-2014 at 04:23 PM.
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Thanks for everyone's help. Big issue for me is powering up a GPS unit to the F3. I don't get along with electrical.
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Just downloaded Copilot, thanks. Will try that for now.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by GunDoctor
Just downloaded Copilot, thanks. Will try that for now.
Take a look at Sygic Navigation app, http://www.sygic.com/en. When I bought mine last year I looked at Copilot and decided that Sygic was a whole lot more capable, especially in terms of customization. It uses TomTom maps and offers a full functioning trial period. I run it on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. Here's my install: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...BRP-GPS-Part-1
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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Downloaded that one also. Thanks
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by GunDoctor
Ordered the F3 totally stock ( because of accessory prices) but am considering the GPS. I use my Smartphone Navigator app now for those needs. Can anyone offer their opinion on why I should go for BRP GPS or is the Smartphone just as good? I get turn by turn through my Bluetooth now. Just curious what I'm missing to substantiate dropping most likely another 1,000 + on it.
My two cents says stay with your smart phone!!
BIG F
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660 vs 665
Originally Posted by jaherbst
Do Not Get the 660--Get the 665 if you get a GPS. You get XM, Traffic and reroute, Real time Weather as you ride i.e.. rain showers and thunderstorms, plus many other features the 660 doe not have. Last I checked you could get them online for $500-600. They are phasing in the new Garmin 590. To be standard on the new RT Limited shortly.
That having been said if you have a iPhone 6 plus or large Samsung you could get at least a readable screen while riding, XM radio and Weather without the Garmin 665.
Jack
i have the 660 "built in" on my RTL. Are they interchangeable? Can I replace the 660 with the 665 directly?
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Gumbeau
i have the 660 "built in" on my RTL. Are they interchangeable? Can I replace the 660 with the 665 directly?
Short answer no, But if you change the GPS harness Yes. Another way that I did it was to change the cradle face (part with the pins). Works great.
Seven small screws on the back and unplug the two small boards. Plug in the boards and replace the seven small screws. New 665 harness on amazon for $50. You will need the new cradle only.
You will then get XM, WX, traffic and rerouting along with full time WX depicted on your GPS screen. You will need the XM 40 antennae which comes with the 665 and a subscription with XM/Sirius
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
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Very Active Member
I have the 660. for me it is hard to see even with a hood on it20141124_134814.jpg
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by jaherbst
You will then get XM, WX, traffic and rerouting along with full time WX depicted on your GPS screen. You will need the XM 40 antennae which comes with the 665 and a subscription with XM/Sirius
Jack
Jack how much does xm cost and is it a separate subscription for the weather and traffic?
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I've been using an iPhone 5 for SatNav with Maps originally, then Co
pilot and now TomTom. All work, but Maps is limited by 3G/4G coverage whereas dedicated apps hold the full maps. Co-Pilot was great, but a few times too many it crashed, so I now use TomTom and it's now on an iPhone 6.
The other issue, and it's huge, is power drain! To solve this I've fitted a double USB socket on the left speaker grill and a 12v socket on the right. The USB has an isolator switch as shorting it with rain could kill it. Both work great and the 12v, being directly connected to the battery relay terminals also gives me a way to quickly plug my Optimate battery tender in.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
They're all hard to see...
Another reason why I like my Samsung tablet as a GPS. The near vertical screen is fairly easy to read all the time except when the sun is directly behind me!
2014 Copper RTS
Tri-Axis bars, CB, BajaRon sway bar & shock adjusters, SpyderPop's Bumpskid, NBV peg brackets, LED headlights and modulator, Wolo trumpet air horns, trailer hitch, custom trailer harness, high mount turn signals, Custom Dynamics brake light, LED turn signal lights on mirrors, LED strip light for a dash light, garage door opener, LED lights in frunk, trunk, and saddlebags, RAM mounts and cradles for tablet (for GPS) and phone (for music), and Smooth Spyder belt tensioner.
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Very Active Member
for those of you using a tablet where do you put it
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by ahh-cool
Jack how much does xm cost and is it a separate subscription for the weather and traffic?
Check with them. I have multiple accounts and pay a discounted price.
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
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