Motorcycle GPS vs Car (Portable) GPS?

[CA Railwhale]

TomTom

I use a TomTom that I used to use in the car. Why buy a new GPS for almost a grand when what I already have works reasonably well. Most of hte time I don't even have the GPS mount on the bike. I only use it when I'm going someplace strange.

 

[Wiredux]

I will add my $0.02 in here. I find it best to go with the MC GPS due to the fact that it is waterproof, more rugged than the car and you can operate it with gloves on. The part about being in the rain with GPS that can handle it should be enough. Nothing like being on a road trip, get caught in the rain and have your GPS go out, or the bag around it fog up and you cant see it.

 

[No 2817]

bluetooth connection to your helmet

The ONLY advantage a Zumo really has for use on a Spyder is bluetooth connection to your helmet, the Nuvi units do not do bluetooth out to a headset.

Chris

 

[bcer960]

The ONLY advantage a Zumo really has for use on a Spyder is bluetooth connection to your helmet, the Nuvi units do not do bluetooth out to a headset.

Chris

But the tomtom does.....

 

[WackyDan]

I've been using the cheaper auto Garmins forever. Am on my second one since 2008 which isn't bad considering how cheap they have gotten.

Obviously as the others have pointed out... The benefits of a Garmin Zumo is primarily the weather resistance and the ability to use gloves with the screen. The other aspect of the MC centric GPS units is that you can set them to not only avoid highways like a car gps can also do, but the MC GPS can be set to take twistier roads. The screens are supposed to be brighter, but still can't overcome glare if the sun is hitting them just right.

Here is how my use of an automotive GPS progressed on my spyder.

• I started out putting a zip lock over my Garmin and using a rubber band to hold it in place. This worked mostly fine, but you'll find you can get some fogging inside the bag. Always carried extra zip lock bags and rubber bands... Because those are good to have anyway. I suppose plastic wrap would work too, but harder to pack...
• Then I bought a Ram Mount Aquabox. This allowed me to use the garmin in a downpour and still touch the screen, etc. I had powerlet outlets for power so power in the rain wasn't an issue either. ONly issue was that the aqua box was just too big. I carried both the aquabox and smaller dry weather mount for it.
• When I moved to the F3-S I wanted a smaller water proof box, so I bought one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B5A38MA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It works well, is smaller and cheaper than an aquabox. Still using it. It can get fogged up now and then if you are climbing up or down a mountain and the temps change fast. I still carry a dry weather ram mount for the GPS though because of screen glare.

The biggest issue with the weather proof holders beside bulk is that you are layering another shiny surface over the GPS screen and that makes glare worse.

AS for the Zumo's and the Tom Tom MC GPS units. I've really wanted one for a while just to simplify my mounts and what I carry with me. In reviewing the latest units I've found a lot of users complaining that Garmin changed the interface on them and that they do not perform quite as well as the previous models. That made me decide to wait until the next units are released, hopefully in the next several months. For me you can't beat the cost of a generic GPS and if it dies it can be readily and cheaply replaced even while on the road at a fraction of the cost of a ZUMO. **But as I said, I like reducing what I carry, so a Zumo for me is a possibility.

As for the rain itself, I have mine mounted behind a rather large windshield. I don't even bother with pulling it or putting it in the weather mount unless I'm expecting to be in rain all day or it will be a torrential downpour. Typically it never gets wet.

I also have two phones (work and personal). I have mounts for them too, but only put one up on the bars. I only visually use the GPS from time to time and mainly use my phone for an additional GPS, finding gas, restaurants, making calls through my helmet if needed and primarily listening to music. I have a weatherproof case for the phone that works pretty well for that. You can't beat a dedicated GPS though for when you are in an area with no data service.... Regardless of whether you downloaded the map data to google maps or not - if you remembered to or even planned to be there.

 

[UtahPete]

As a note on that while the 590 promises life time map updates. That only holds true as long as Garmin determines useful life not your actual length of use time. IE if it lasts longer than a couple model updates they will declare it obsolete. I had this happen with other Garmin units.

I've had a Garmin Zumo 550 for 10 years now and it's still supported with lifetime updates. Maybe your experience was with the cheaper car units?

 

[Fat Baxter]

What Nuvi models are you guys talking about? I have an older Nuvi 40LM with a 4.3" screen (measured diagonally) (the entire unit is only 3" X 5") that I had for my previous car (my current car has built-in GPS). I'm looking at it and thinking that dinky little screen would be a bit small for bike use. OTOH, I'd probably be using it only for the maps and directions. All the other stuff you guys mention (bluetooth, music streaming, etc.) I don't think I'd ever use; I'm not a high-tech kinda guy.

Also, there's no provision for an audio jack, so I'd have to crank the volume up and hope I can hear it over all the noise.

I actually prefer paper maps, as I can get a sense of where I'm going.

 

[CrashDavis]

So for what it's worth that was most of the different between the two, other than my nuvi was so old it was not updateable any longer. As a note on that while the 590 promises life time map updates. That only holds true as long as Garmin determines useful life not your actual length of use time. IE if it lasts longer than a couple model updates they will declare it obsolete. I had this happen with other Garmin units.

On their web site, Garmin says the lifetime map updates are good for the life of the product. They then define "the life of the product" as there is enough storage to accept the new maps. The devices I have will use the SD card as map storage.

 

[chaz7771931]

looking into this gps

This waterproof motorcycle GPS has every feature as ANY GPS on the market. Yes it has blue tooth and works with gloves, but how can you really control any GPS with gloves on while riding? It has a 5" screen and can be seen in direct sunlight. I found a night time screen with a black background and deep blue roads that is even better for daytime driving. It also has
I-GO Australian Software which is the #1 rated software for GPS. BMW, AUDI, Mercedes and most European manufactures use this software. It' $125 and I consider it disposable should it fail. Each time I buy a new bike I get the latest version and sell my bike with the old one.
I use my phone for most of my navigation as google maps has real time traffic alerts. But, I have had my phone let me down because of low coverage. A GPS always has coverage and this one shows about 12 square miles on the screen. When I'm touring I can't tell you how many times I spotted a really nice park or river to follow by spotting it on the screen that is a couple of miles away from my road. It's bullet proof


http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-0-Waterpr...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I was looking at getting one of these but videos say that it doesnt come with maps. Do you know where to download the maps at and at what cost?

Thanks

Charles

 

[Bob Denman]

I will add my $0.02 in here. I find it best to go with the MC GPS due to the fact that it is waterproof, more rugged than the car and you can operate it with gloves on. The part about being in the rain with GPS that can handle it should be enough. Nothing like being on a road trip, get caught in the rain and have your GPS go out, or the bag around it fog up and you cant see it.

:agree::2thumbs::agree:
When rain "sneaks up" on you: you're going to forget about protecting the GPS also... :banghead:

 

[HayRog]

We very recently did a two day comparison of a car GPS and the ZUMO 590LM from the Spyder.
Drove the car with it's "built into the dash GPS" and used the ZUMO simultaneously, plugged into the 12v outlet.

Without a doubt (routing the same destinations) the ZUMO gave more concise directions, gave them a little earlier, and the screen (although slightly smaller) had more information.

ZUMO screen was also (according to Debbie ) a lot prettier.

Just our 0.2c worth.