GPS PURCHASE QUESTION

[speedbuggy]

Hi folks.
I have a 2008 Spyder GS SM5.:yes:
I want to purchase a GPS devise for myself. I had a 12 volt plug installed this spring for this purpose.:clap:
My question is:
With all the GPS devices out there, what would you consider the BEST.? Being in the sunlight, would the
screen burn out?:banghead:
My wife and I do a lot of riding, and sometimes she says we get lost. Never.:yikes:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.:bowdown:
I currently use the old fashioned GPS device, paper maps.:shemademe_smilie:

Thank you in advance for all your wisdom:helpsmilie:

 

[opiewhan]

Garmin

Hi folks.
I have a 2008 Spyder GS SM5.:yes:
I want to purchase a GPS devise for myself. I had a 12 volt plug installed this spring for this purpose.:clap:
My question is:
With all the GPS devices out there, what would you consider the BEST.? Being in the sunlight, would the
screen burn out?:banghead:
My wife and I do a lot of riding, and sometimes she says we get lost. Never.:yikes:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.:bowdown:
I currently use the old fashioned GPS device, paper maps.:shemademe_smilie:

Thank you in advance for all your wisdom:helpsmilie:

Purchased a Garmin few years back.. Has voice command and cost about $300? works great.. spent $12 on a holder and was able to mount it on handlebars right in the middle below ignition/key area.. installed 12 volt lighter/adapter on dash.. good luck..

 

[billybovine]

I had an inexpensive Garmin Nuvi mounted on the handlebars of my 09. It was cheap and worked. It was not waterproof. I could not hear turn by turn directions. But I really did not care. Or you can go the other way and get a Garmin Zumo model. Made specifically for motorcycles. Waterproof and can send turn by turn directions to your helmet by Bluetooth.

 

[PatriotRider]

I'm a Zumo fan, mainly because it's a for motorcycle product. In particular, the 550 which is the model introduced years ago. Mine has been through rain storms, left out in snow, low side shock forces, and drops to concrete parking lots. And when the screen/digitizer wears out and fails every couple years, a replacement, do it yourself, plug n play fix it kit is available on ebay for $40 to make it like new.

I can't recommend it any more highly. They are available on the used market. The newer ones are recommended by others.

 

[MCML]

PatriotRider, that sure looks like an FJR with bar risers and factory screen.

Speedbuggy, I have used two non-Zumo Garmin units over the years. As I do not do much riding in the rain the fact that they were not waterproof has not been an issue (well, almost, some scrambling for the zip lock bags has occurred). The recent models' touch screens (mine is a 2555LMT) seem to work fine with gloves. On one unit I could cable the sound into my StarCom intercom. On the other, not. For me, the visuals are enough. That said, I am seriously considering going Bluetooth-capable on the next GPS.

 

[Chupaca]

Choices choices..!!

I have the Garmin Nuvi which I use in both the car and the spyder. Works wel,, bit hard to see in the sun but hey. I did recently see an amazing new on with more features that I have seen on any other sold by zoozmc.com. This is where I'm going next...:thumbup:

 

[Larry rt]

If you have a smart phone, you already have one. I also have the 6660,that came with bike.Use it more for locating gas stations ,hotels and restaurants. Either way,you won't get lost.:yes:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

GPS

" WATERPROOF "........any GPS is waterproof if you wrap it in Saran Wrap.......seriously.......I bought an older Garmin 50 LM works great....................jmho.........Mike :thumbup:

 

[Fjrwillie]

I depends what your expectations for the GPS are. Garmin is by far the most prevalent motorcycle GPS out there and top notch customer service for when you get into a jam. That said, do you plan to create routes in a mapping program and then send these to the unit or simply want to be able to find and go to the nearest seafood restaurant. ( I am probably gonna hit Gloucester MA this weekend so have seafood on the mind). If you want to plan routes you and purchase a Garmin unit, there are 2 mapping programs available. Basecamp the new one and MapSource (which I use).

If you don't plan to create routes, but want to send some locations to the GPS, called waypoints almost all over them will accept them. Look at the specs for the unit and see how many "Waypoints" it will accept.

Now you may think you want to plan some routes to hit those special roads you see on a map there are 2 choices in the Garmin line. Zumo and Nuvi. The Zumo units will do everything you want it too, routes, waypoints, send routes to the unit and then some, water resistant, and motorcycle friendly.

The Nuvi's will do exactly the same thing as the Zumo. I have been running 2 Nuvi 1490's in all sorts of weather for the last 4 years and they work perfectly fine. Yes I run 2 gps's at once. With that said, in the Nuvi line you need to look carefully at the specs. If the specs refers to "Trip Planner", you will not be able to download routes and execute them successfully !!! I have provided a spec that has trip planner in the specs.

Qualifier . this was true about 2 years ago when I purchased a 2735 at a great deal. I called Garmin and they confirmed it would not execute a route the way I wanted it too. The qualifier. This may have changed and maybe someone here can update. This unit was worthless to me for motorcycle travel and sits in the car to find addresses and stuff.

I have uploaded a pic of the Zumo 660 to show the difference. See that it take up 20 routes, but there is no reference to Trip Planner. It is my sense this is what you want to see under a Nuvi for effective route planning

The Zumo's have come down in price so they are within reason GPS City has the Zumo 660 LM (lifetime maps) for 365.00 which is a far cry from the 600+ dollars they used to be.

So if you can describe how you want to use the unit a more precise answer and unit can be found.

Willie

Hi folks.
I have a 2008 Spyder GS SM5.:yes:
I want to purchase a GPS devise for myself. I had a 12 volt plug installed this spring for this purpose.:clap:
My question is:
With all the GPS devices out there, what would you consider the BEST.? Being in the sunlight, would the
screen burn out?:banghead:
My wife and I do a lot of riding, and sometimes she says we get lost. Never.:yikes:

Any suggestions would be appreciated.:bowdown:
I currently use the old fashioned GPS device, paper maps.:shemademe_smilie:

Thank you in advance for all your wisdom:helpsmilie:

 

[Brentc]

Happy with iPhone 6 and tomtom app

I've done a couple trips so far with my iPhone 6 and the $29 Tomtom app mounted on a $49 ram mount paired to my Sena 20s helmet for directions. Although on one trip I didn't even use the voice navigation, but would just glance down periodically for the next turn distance. Very happy with this setup

 

[speedbuggy]

I depends what your expectations for the GPS are. Garmin is by far the most prevalent motorcycle GPS out there and top notch customer service for when you get into a jam. That said, do you plan to create routes in a mapping program and then send these to the unit or simply want to be able to find and go to the nearest seafood restaurant. ( I am probably gonna hit Gloucester MA this weekend so have seafood on the mind). If you want to plan routes you and purchase a Garmin unit, there are 2 mapping programs available. Basecamp the new one and MapSource (which I use).

If you don't plan to create routes, but want to send some locations to the GPS, called waypoints almost all over them will accept them. Look at the specs for the unit and see how many "Waypoints" it will accept.

Now you may think you want to plan some routes to hit those special roads you see on a map there are 2 choices in the Garmin line. Zumo and Nuvi. The Zumo units will do everything you want it too, routes, waypoints, send routes to the unit and then some, water resistant, and motorcycle friendly.

The Nuvi's will do exactly the same thing as the Zumo. I have been running 2 Nuvi 1490's in all sorts of weather for the last 4 years and they work perfectly fine. Yes I run 2 gps's at once. With that said, in the Nuvi line you need to look carefully at the specs. If the specs refers to "Trip Planner", you will not be able to download routes and execute them successfully !!! I have provided a spec that has trip planner in the specs.

Qualifier . this was true about 2 years ago when I purchased a 2735 at a great deal. I called Garmin and they confirmed it would not execute a route the way I wanted it too. The qualifier. This may have changed and maybe someone here can update. This unit was worthless to me for motorcycle travel and sits in the car to find addresses and stuff.

I have uploaded a pic of the Zumo 660 to show the difference. See that it take up 20 routes, but there is no reference to Trip Planner. It is my sense this is what you want to see under a Nuvi for effective route planning

The Zumo's have come down in price so they are within reason GPS City has the Zumo 660 LM (lifetime maps) for 365.00 which is a far cry from the 600+ dollars they used to be.

So if you can describe how you want to use the unit a more precise answer and unit can be found.

Willie

Well thank you very much. I did not know that much before. I am not tech savvy. Don't even own a cell phone. But man, there is a lot to consider. I will get my son-in-law to help me with this I think.
Thank you very much