GPS

[skeet]

I am looking to buy a GPS for my bike. The Garmin 550 appears to have the things best suited for bikes. Are they as good as advertised, and does anyone have one installed? Any information will be appreciated.

 

[Lowflyingowl]

I have mine installed on Kewlmetal GPS attachment. I've only used it a few times, but I like it and will use it often this summer.

I haven't signed up for the XM yet, but that is next. Got the antenna mounted somewhere under the cowling...

I have a Scala Rider Bluetooth teamset that I have mapped to the GPS and can hear the instructions fine. I have a Garmin also in my car and we've used it often -- we like the speech to text so it reads the street names.

You can also use a plug-in set of headphones or earbuds. Note that the XM doesn't work with Bluetooth, so don't think you;re going to do that. I 've just used my earbuds for music. I normally don't ride with music but on those long rides ...

 

[LDFIREWORKS]

i have a garmin 550 in my car for 2 years now and i would be lost without it [ha ha ] it works great most of the time

 

[bone crusher]

Until today I would've said the zumo 550 is great...

However, I got the newest update and bluetooth firmware and now it works like crap...

I have an iphone and the new bluetooth firmware is a POS...I'll have to talk to garmin...

In addition, the unit died after the software update...had to take out the battery and reinsert...

So...I like the zumo 550 but am now worried that it isn't going to work well with my iphone anymore...it worked great before the bluetooth firmware update...

I, too, have a scala rider 2...does work well with that...

 

[M2Wild]

I am too cheap to shell out the $$$ for the Zumo. Got a Nuvi 750W ($150 after discount) and put it in the map pocket of the tank bag with hookup to the 12V in the trunk.

 

[sabunim5]

I have the Garmin 550 on my Spyder and it is great. IMHO, if you aren't going to use the bluetooth feature, save your self a lot of cash and get the 450 instead.

 

[Lamonster]

I have the Garmin 550 on my Spyder and it is great. IMHO, if you aren't going to use the bluetooth feature, save your self a lot of cash and get the 450 instead.

:agree:
Talking on the phone while you're on your Spyder is a bad idea. IMHO

 

[bone crusher]

Lamonster,

In that case, don't listen to music, talk to passengers/other riders, etc...

I don't see talking as an issue on a bike being your hands are on the bars anyway...the danger in a car is that usually the person is holding a phone and is distracted...then they plow into someone else because they're oblivious as to what is going on in the world around them...

You can decide who to talk to anyway...

 

[zackybilly1]

I run a Garmin Street Pilot III on my other bikes (with more handlebar room) but on the Spyder, I opted for the Garmin Nuvi. I used the included suction cup mount on the windscreen and plug in the trunk. It is very compact, does everything I need and is cheap. I could buy 5 Nuvis for what I paid for one of the Street Pilots.

Z

 

[bone crusher]

The zumo 550 is nice...I got it hardwired to the battery so never a concern...it's also mounted on the right side handlebar and I got the Garmin safety nut so that the mount cannot be removed...you have to consider not only the actual unit, but also the mount...

My only problem now is getting the old bluetooth firmware back on it...the new one is a mess! Other than that, the zumo is waterproof and is quite accurate...it works well as a mp3 player (now that I can get the SDHC card working)...

 

[sleepman]

The zumo 550 is nice...I got it hardwired to the battery so never a concern...it's also mounted on the right side handlebar and I got the Garmin safety nut so that the mount cannot be removed...you have to consider not only the actual unit, but also the mount...

My only problem now is getting the old bluetooth firmware back on it...the new one is a mess! Other than that, the zumo is waterproof and is quite accurate...it works well as a mp3 player (now that I can get the SDHC card working)...

I'll check my computer at work to see if I have an old copy of the bluetooth version 2.4 or 3.0 both of those are supposed to work flawlessly with the iphone.

 

[bone crusher]

I'll check my computer at work to see if I have an old copy of the bluetooth version 2.4 or 3.0 both of those are supposed to work flawlessly with the iphone.

Thank you for the help...

I was fortunate enough to get great tech. help from Garmin when I called today...I was able to reinstall version 3.10...works great again...just doesn't have the feature of 'address book'...this is a new addition on 3.40.

It's odd how 3.40 didn't work properly with the iphone...I'm wondering if anything was corrupted with the download and installation...the features worked except for the 'call home' function and any call coming in was matched to the improper name...odd...

Do you know anyone with iphone 3g who has had success with version 3.40?

 

[Lamonster]

Lamonster,

In that case, don't listen to music, talk to passengers/other riders, etc...

I don't see talking as an issue on a bike being your hands are on the bars anyway...the danger in a car is that usually the person is holding a phone and is distracted...then they plow into someone else because they're oblivious as to what is going on in the world around them...

You can decide who to talk to anyway...

You might want to do a little more research on that seeing you are all about safety.
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/articles and topics/crash causation/cell-phone-dangers.htm

 

[go2lkg]

Hey Skeet - I got a 550 for Christmas and mounted it with the hardware that came with it on the right hand side of the handlebars. I did have to go and get a 1-3/8" U-bolt...the one that comes with the RAM mount is too small. I have not tried the bluetooth yet but will post again if I run into issues. Good luck! :thumbup: GO2LKG

 

[CincySpyder]

Is that right? The xm does not work by bluetooth on the 550. I guess it has to be hard wired?ray:

 

[jetskier]

I agree with Lamonster, speaking to someone on the phone while driving is a bad idea. It's not the holding of the phone that's the issue, it's the concentration levels moving from the road to your discussion! I know, I've been using hands free phone systems in company vehicles for almost 15 years and after one too many near misses I decided to switch the thing off when driving!

 

[Lamonster]

This was just released today. opcorn:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=6624316&page=1

Many drivers believe they're safe if they're using a hands-free phone, but research has shown otherwise. A 2005 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers using cell phones were four times as likely to have an accident involving an injury, according to Ann McCartt, senior vice president for research at the insurance institute.

"I think there is still a big misconception among drivers and policymakers, intuitively, that a hands-free phone would be safer," she said. "And there may be a margin of safety there, but it is still unsafe."
The reason, according to researchers, is that either way, a driver is distracted by the conversation.
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University studied the brain waves of drivers using cell phones and concluded that listening alone reduced the amount of brain activity devoted to driving by 37 percent. The quality of driving showed a "significant deterioration," according to the study released last year.
"What the research is saying [is] it is an enormous distraction if you're on the phone and you're not paying attention to what is going on around you," Froetscher said.

 

[Lowflyingowl]

CincySpider -- right, XM doesn't work with Bluetooth. I don't think the version of Bluetooth on the 550 supports stereo. I've signed up for XM but will only use it wired. Was going to try it out yesterday but the wife decided she wanted to ride...

Agree with Lamonster -- no way I'm going to talk on a cell phone and ride at the same time, bluetooth or not. I use Bluetooth only for the GPS directions and for rider to passenger communication, which there is not much of. I don't need any more distractions!! I only do one thing at a time -- XM or GPS or passenger.

 

[NancysToy]

Agree with Lamonster -- no way I'm going to talk on a cell phone and ride at the same time, bluetooth or not. I use Bluetooth only for the GPS directions and for rider to passenger communication, which there is not much of. I don't need any more distractions!! I only do one thing at a time -- XM or GPS or passenger.

I also agree. I have only hooked up my cell to the intercom once, when I was expecting an emergency phone call. Listened then hung up immediately, stopped, and called back. I don't even put my cell within reach in the car. I just check for messages when I stop. No GPS for me, either. I don't want anything I have to stare at or concentrate on. One that talks to you might be OK. Now, let's talk about cupholders on motorcycles. I can't get behind that one, either...big time!
-Scotty

 

[Lamonster]

Now, let's talk about cupholders on motorcycles. I can't get behind that one, either...big time!
-Scotty

A bottle of water to drink or help cool you down on a long trip across the desert in 100+ is a must Bro. That's the only reason I put one on my Spyder.

Overheating the body or dehydration is a very bad thing on a motorcycle. I know this by experience. I was on a trip from San Diego to Ohio in the middle of the summer one year and got heat stroke. That cost me two days on that trip. I won't ride like that again.nojoke