Triumphrat

Tone in't Fens · 06-07-2008, 05:40 PM

I know there are past GPS threads but they are a bit old now; and satnav technology moves on at a pace.

I'm in the market for a device that I can use predominantly on the bike and occasionally in a car. I already have a Starcom Advance. I've used satnav in the cars for a number of years now and I'm quite sold on it. It's always struck me how much more convenient it would be on the bike. At the moment I'm using an ageing and eccentric Navman iCN610

Has anyone any good/bad experiences? Advice much appreciated.

Skidpan · 06-07-2008, 06:40 PM

I got a TomTom One Europe edition from Tesco a few weeks back, 130 quid, to use in the car. I have used it a few times and I think it is very good. I wasn't going to use it on the bike until I heard about this http://www.ram-mount.com/aqua_box_mo...wide_mount.htm

I am now trying to get hold of one. I might end up paying 50 quid or so, I'm not sure, but it will be a d@mned sight cheaper than a bike specific GPS, that's for sure.

littlefield · 06-08-2008, 09:45 AM

Garmin 2610's are available refurbished for under $200. They're very popular. You can fit an entire continents detailed map data on a 2GB SD card. Zumo 450/550 are also popular as are 276C, also available refurbished. advrider.com has a very active GPS forum, Laying Tracks.

RT · 06-08-2008, 11:32 AM

+1 on the 2610. picked up one a few weeks ago for $200, with 3 yr warranty, 1 gig card, added ram mount for $30. Direct wire harness is less than $30. It's a no frills unit but will get you where you need to go unless you need, bluetooth and all the gizmo's. Easy to use with large buttons and touch screen. No real problems with gloves on. Garmin software IMO can be a PITA to use sometimes.

in US check getfeetwet.com

Also for a ton of info on GPS check advrider.com, laying down tracks section.

Nigeh · 06-08-2008, 06:14 PM

Garmin everytime for me. I started with a streetpilot III and am now using a BMW Navigator 3 bluetooth, which I took off my BMW and the Triumph dealer fitted to my Tiger.

Have looked at other makes but have stuck with Garmin (the BM one is a garmin but with the added screen of a direction compass).

Just make sure it is waterproof and has enough memory to store all the maps you want

BoneyMalloney · 06-08-2008, 08:07 PM

Make the right choice and learn how to use it properly!

If you get the wrong one you will hate them all...

I stick to Garmin for the bike and have been using a Quest for the last couple of years but will probably change to a Zumo in the future. The Quest is small, waterproof and does its job well all over Europe, so no need to change at the moment. It sits nicely on the Tiger dash and is wired through my Autocom, giving all the information i need, although it doesn't have the facility to upload a speed camera database.

The reason why i use the Garmin is the PC software. I sit at my computer, choose the roads i want to ride on, upload them to my Quest, pop it on the bike and go..! When i get home i can download the tracklog which shows me where i've been, at what speed, altitude, all the averages you could ever want etc. A great piece of kit.

But if you buy the wrong one and don't know how to use it you'll end up riding up and down the motorways!

There are loads of forums on GPS, have a search - i think ADVRider have a motorbike specific one...

Good luck!

TJoe · 06-08-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigeh

Have looked at other makes but have stuck with Garmin (the BM one is a garmin but with the added screen of a direction compass).

I've recently considered the garmin zumo, but a common complaint from others is the lack of decent compass bearing and headings info. I am afraid to ask how much the BMW gps is!!??

Nigeh · 06-09-2008, 08:43 AM

TJoe I was very afraid of the BM price too cost is around £1200 although you may be able to get one for about £900 ish!!!!!

Luckily I had a result with mine. I had a K1200GT before the Tiger and it had a navigator 2 sat nav but there was a bad case of condensation behind the screen on hot days. I spoke to the BM dealer and as the sat nav was less than 2 years old they exchanged it for the latest Navigator 3 bluetooth, a real result as the previous owner threw the Navigator 2 in with the bike along with the cradle with the extra buttons on it.

I believe it is the same as the garmin 2610 only difference is the BM version has the compass and also all the BMW dealers programmed in (which you need if you have a BM cos you will be in there plenty of times!!!!)

Pickaxe · 06-09-2008, 09:17 AM

I've got a Garmin Zumo which I rate highly and before that I had the Garmin Quest. The units robust and the touch screen is easy to use.

The Zumo comes with all the necessary hardware to mount on a Tiger, along with a very good car mount and map software.

They've now come down in price as well.

STman · 06-09-2008, 09:17 AM

I use the Tom Tom Rider version 1, had it over a year know and find it friendly to use. When planning trios I use the 'TYRE' software which is free to download off the website. This lets you plan routes on your PC via Google Earth or maps and you then upload straight into the TomTom.
The new version 2 has improved Blooth- Tooth connection.