Garmin Nuvi Reliability when used on bike?

[Tyrroneous]

So my 2610 GPS finally kicked the bucket.  I'm looking for a replacement.  

What I want/need: Internal battery (that was my one complaint about the 2610)
                               bluetooth
                               Ability to download routes built on computer to gps unit
                               Ability to use north american or european maps (planning a riding trip in Italy next year)
                               Would love waterproof, but not a necessity

The zumo's fit the bill, but they are $$$$$.  Used ones are hard to come by plus there's the whole issue with getting a used one to talk to Mapsource on my 'puter.

There are about a kazillion Nuvi models out there.  I have no idea what garmin was thinking when they decided to produce so many different Nuvi's.  I have found a couple Nuvi's that will do everything I need except they are not waterproof (again, not that big of a deal).  My concern is with the robustness of the Nuvi line.  Will the vibrations from a motorcycle kill a Nuvi in short order?  Or will they last 4 or 5 years of off an on use?  

[carpe_diem]

Be aware that "bluetooth" on non-Zumo Garmins is not for a helmet headset.

Nuvi bluetooth (basically a car hands free kit for your cell phone)  is not the same as Zumo bluetooth (helmet headset with directions and music)

[Tyrroneous]

Well crap.  I could care less about making phone calls while riding.  I need to hear directions and stream music.  

Thanks for the heads-up.

I guess Zumo it is.

[satxbonneville]

You could try this...


http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Bluetooth-Stereo-Adapter-Players/dp/B002DTRO9Q/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_3

[xdavemanx]

I've had less than stellar luck out of my low-end Nuvi.  It tried to route me onto a bridge that was 100 feet above me once as I was going under it, it's sent me down innumerable dead end roads, and it has no ability to program your own track.  It also takes forever to create a route, and if you overshoot your mark it's MINUTES before it recalculates.  If I ever get another GPS, I'll do my homework better, and maybe just get a more robust e-Trek style GPS and maps.

[camaroz1985]

You could try this...


http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Bluetooth-Stereo-Adapter-Players/dp/B002DTRO9Q/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_3

I got the same thing from ebay.  Don't buy it.  It doesn't work.  Read the reviews on Amazon.  Wish I would have seen it before I bought mine.

[GerryPetrecca]

I've had less than stellar luck out of my low-end Nuvi.  It tried to route me onto a bridge that was 100 feet above me once as I was going under it, it's sent me down innumerable dead end roads, and it has no ability to program your own track.  It also takes forever to create a route, and if you overshoot your mark it's MINUTES before it recalculates.  If I ever get another GPS, I'll do my homework better, and maybe just get a more robust e-Trek style GPS and maps.

I just got back from 4 days in VT and my 1390T sucks on the bike. Great in the car, but not on the bike.

Main problems are:

Not water proof!!!  On the way up got  into a bit  rain and had to stop and disconnect power cord and place unit in tank bag.

can't connect to any kind of helmet blue-tooth unit so you can at least hear directions even if you can't see the screen.


even though power cord was plugged into unit it seemed to use up the battery then go into charge mode and the screen would go black.

touch screen with gloves on sucks, especially while moving.

When sun was above or behind me the glare was awful.  I even had on a piece of anti-glare .

[Bryan217]

I just got back from 3 days at Americade and I love my Zumo. The bluetooth headset is great. I don't have to look at the thing to know where to go, I just listen for it. And even when using the intercom to talk to my fiance on the back, the Zumo will override it so I don't miss a turn. And the Zumo is truly waterproof. I know. I drove home in the rain and not a single problem.

My only issue with the Zumo is it's choice of routes. It picks some strange ones. I mapped out my own route for the trip up, but forgot to to do it for the trip home. Never again. But other than that, the Zumo rocks.

[Scoop]

I am just in the process of mounting the Nuvi 550 to my bike.  It's waterproof, has battery and updated maps.  That's all I need.  I tend not to rely on the GPS much, just using it to find restaurants and hotels and navigate a bit through unfamiliar towns.  My route is done by map and circumstance.  But, it can be handy for getting me back to where I was before I got lost
So, I think that after my research, the Nuvi will do it for me.  Can't justify the extra bucks for the Zumo, which is essentially the same unit with added bluetooth features.  I don't care about hearing the GPS rattle on, don't need to link to a phone and don't need to stream music, so I should be OK with the Nuvi.

[GerryPetrecca]

I am just in the process of mounting the Nuvi 550 to my bike.  It's waterproof, has battery and updated maps.  That's all I need.  I tend not to rely on the GPS much, just using it to find restaurants and hotels and navigate a bit through unfamiliar towns.  My route is done by map and circumstance.  But, it can be handy for getting me back to where I was before I got lost
So, I think that after my research, the Nuvi will do it for me.  Can't justify the extra bucks for the Zumo, which is essentially the same unit with added bluetooth features.  I don't care about hearing the GPS rattle on, don't need to link to a phone and don't need to stream music, so I should be OK with the Nuvi.

Sounds like that 550 would have been a better choice.  I got my unit as a christmas present from the family,  looked like it might work.  I Even got an aqua box but that makes access to the screen even worse.  Membrane attracts dirt,dust and pollen like a magnet.

[satxbonneville]

Sounds like that 550 would have been a better choice.  I got my unit as a christmas present from the family,  looked like it might work.  I Even got an aqua box but that makes access to the screen even worse.  Membrane attracts dirt,dust and pollen like a magnet.

Well, that's not great news since I just bought an Aqua Box to mount my GPS on the Strom. I picked up a cheap Insignia (4.3 with TTS) unit from Best Buy for $69.00. If it lasts a year or two I figure that's a pretty decent bargain considering the price Garmin wants for the Zumo will net me about 10 of the things. No Bluetooth, but I really don't want to listen to the thing squawk while I'm riding and as others have mentioned I use it mainly to find places to eat and as a last resort if I just utterly lose my way - I still prefer maps and happenstance for navigation.

[Bryan217]

Sounds like that 550 would have been a better choice.  I got my unit as a christmas present from the family,  looked like it might work.  I Even got an aqua box but that makes access to the screen even worse.  Membrane attracts dirt,dust and pollen like a magnet.

Hey Gerry, I know it was a gift from your sister, but you should sell it on ebay or something and get the Nuvi 550.

[HipGnosis]

Be aware that "bluetooth" on non-Zumo Garmins is not for a helmet headset.
Nuvi bluetooth (basically a car hands free kit for your cell phone)  is not the same as Zumo bluetooth (helmet headset with directions and music)

I'm shopping for a new GPS and the Nuvi 765 has A2DP Bluetooth - that will connect to a headset and a cell phone (per a review).  
I'm getting very close to pulling the trigger on the 765.  I am going to buy it from a vendor w/ a decent return policy just in case.

[Tyrroneous]

 I'm shopping for a new GPS and the Nuvi 765 has A2DP Bluetooth - that will connect to a headset and a cell phone (per a review).  
I'm getting very close to pulling the trigger on the 765.  I am going to buy it from a vendor w/ a decent return policy just in case.

Please post a review when you get a chance to try it out.  

[knolltop314]

Please post a review when you get a chance to try it out.  

+1

[Scoop]

I've been a week on the road with my Nuvi 550.  Works just as well, if not better, than my 2610 did, given what I want it to do.  I like the little blue track that marks where I have been.  It's quick, accurate and hasn't tried to steer me wrong yet.  I also like the little speed limit feature that has the speed limit sitting just above my current speed so that I can quickly get to legal limits if I have to
Good clear screen, although the way I have it mounted, there is some glare if the sun is directly behind me.  I will have to change the angle of the mount slightly and maybe get a shade.  
One bug, yesterday it posted my distance travelled as 4200 miles, at an average speed of 352 mph.  No wonder I got that ticket in Wyoming!
Otherwise, a great little unit.  I am quite pleased with it.

[Marcster]

Well crap.  I could care less about making phone calls while riding.  I need to hear directions and stream music.  

Thanks for the heads-up.

I guess Zumo it is.

Not so fast, Tyrroneous!!!

I bought a Nuvi 780 to use in a RAM mount on my Yamaha, thinking that I'd be able to use a bluetooth headset, which doesn't work as carpe_diem pointed out above.

**HOWEVER**

The Nuvi 780 (and many other Garmins) can broadcast to FM radio -- this is primarily so that when you are in a car you can hear the directions and the music that you have stored on your Nuvi through your car's speakers.

When I originally started using the Nuvi 780 I would plug earbuds directly into the Nuvi, which as you can imagine is not the most convenient.  I mean it wasn't awful, but it was far from ideal.

Finally the lightbulb went off and I set up the Nuvi 780 to broadcast to FM, grabbed my Sansa Clip and tuned it to the same FM station that the Nuvi was broadcasting to and "voila" almost perfect setup.  The Sansa Clip has a battery lift of about 12 hours so as long as you charge it, it's even rally friendly (it can charge via mini-usb, which is the same connector that Motorola uses for their RAZR phones).

The FM broadcast doesn't go far -- in fact if you get off the bike to gas up you will get static -- but while on the bike it's pretty damn good, unless you travel into an area where a radio station is using the same broadcast channel you chose.

You'd want to use this site to choose appropriately based on where you live, work, travel:
http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant

Here is a link for my Nuvi 780:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011UEUNG
(scroll down for the chart that shows all the different models -- you could use any of them that have "FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)").  Don't base a decision on whether any of them have "MSN-enhanced traffic" because MSN cancelled that service altogether in January, 2010.  MSN's service has been replaced by Garmin's nüLink, but you'll have to have a GPS that has nüLink built-in and it is at an additional cost (as was MSN's service).

------

Now Nuvis do lack the ability to load maps made in Mapsource or those prerouted maps you can download from motorcycle sites.  If you want to do that, you're looking at a Zumo (or I believe you can do that with the Nuvi 500 or 550, but they don't have the ability to play music at all).

To make routes that go on specific roads, you'll have to map it out in Mapquest and make specific waypoints to make sure you go the way you want (otherwise the Nuvi will pick the fast/shortest route).  Mapquest has an agreement with Garmin and you can just sync your route to the Nuvi.

There is a Mapquest limitation of about a dozen waypoints per route.  The way to get around this for an all day ride is to break your route up into multiple partial-routes.  It's pretty easy to change to a different route (at a stop sign, parking lot, gas fillup, etc.)

------

To power it on the bike I used an all-weather power adapter I bought from Walmart.  Along with the cable and in-line fuse cost me about $30.  I hid the power adapter behind the front fairing.

[Kiwi]

Now Nuvis do lack the ability to load maps made in Mapsource or those prerouted maps you can download from motorcycle sites.  If you want to do that, you're looking at a Zumo

I use Streets & Trips to create custom routes into my Nuvi 750 all the time. All you need to do is export the route info as a .gpx file, plug the gps into your PC and copy over the file. I never tried using Mapsource though, I find it to be not nearly as user friendly as Streets & Trips.

[msszq]

 I'm shopping for a new GPS and the Nuvi 765 has A2DP Bluetooth - that will connect to a headset and a cell phone (per a review).  
I'm getting very close to pulling the trigger on the 765.  I am going to buy it from a vendor w/ a decent return policy just in case.

I recently got a refurbished Nuvi 785t and can confirm that the bluetooth option works just fine with my J&M bluetooth helmet system. I don't use it for my phone, just for music and directions. The music will stop while instructions are given and then resume afterwards. I can also pause the music from my headset (it doesn't have controls for skipping forward/back). At first I had problems with them pairing and was concerned that it wouldn't work, but J&M had me send my unit in for a free software upgrade and that has fixed my issues. I really like that the gps pushes the sound to the headset louder than what I was able to achieve when I was listening to mp3s from my phone.

[falconati]

Bought a Zumo 660 before heading to Canada.  It was amazing.  Would recommend.

[Mastros2]

I have a nuvi 765t and works great.  It's always in an aquabox so not to be exposed to the elements.  

Not so fast, Tyrroneous!!!

I bought a Nuvi 780 to use in a RAM mount on my Yamaha, thinking that I'd be able to use a bluetooth headset, which doesn't work as carpe_diem pointed out above.

**HOWEVER**

The Nuvi 780 (and many other Garmins) can broadcast to FM radio -- this is primarily so that when you are in a car you can hear the directions and the music that you have stored on your Nuvi through your car's speakers.

Marcster actually showed me the FM transmitter trick during the Burger Run and it works great.  Yeah, the music quality isn't 100% but perfectly fine for me.  I have the music being piped through my cell and wear Skull Candy ear bugs while I ride.  The music stops for the gps turn by turn directions.

[Marcster]

Marcster actually showed me the FM transmitter trick during the Burger Run and it works great.  Yeah, the music quality isn't 100% but perfectly fine for me.  I have the music being piped through my cell and wear Skull Candy ear bugs while I ride.  The music stops for the gps turn by turn directions.

Yup!  It's kind of funny but it doesn't just mute the music, it stops it altogether and then restarts after the directions have been announced.  Garmin's logic on that must have been that they wouldn't know if you were listening to a Podcast or audio book (many Garmins, including the nuvi 780, are compatible with Audible.com).

[FJRmgm]

I use Streets & Trips to create custom routes into my Nuvi 750 all the time. All you need to do is export the route info as a .gpx file, plug the gps into your PC and copy over the file. I never tried using Mapsource though, I find it to be not nearly as user friendly as Streets & Trips.

tT
+1 - I use S & T to create routes for my Nuvi 770 and it is MUCH easier to use than that wonky Mapsource piece of crap.

As for not being waterproof, a ziploc baggie slipped over the unit fixes that problem easily.

[jonl]

I have a Nuvi 200, cheap as they come.  2-1/2 seasons on a V-Strom, no issues, works well.  I like the accurate speedo, and (mostly) accurate directions.  Maps are 2007, so a bit dated when in areas that have new roads.  

It sits underneath the windshield so is mostly protected from rain. See picture below.  If it rains, I just turn it off, and when the opportunity presents, cover with a ziplock bag.  Cheap enough I don't worry about it.



I also use it to get a general idea of the road ahead, curves, intersections, etc.  Mostly I just have it display a map, without selecting a destination.

The Nuvi works so well, I bought my wife a Nuvi 255W and a handlebar mount for Christmas, which she alternates between her Bandit and her car.

I'd buy a Nuvi 500 if this one broke or was stolen.

[Tyrroneous]

Great info so far y'all.  Keep it coming.

What about switching map sets?  My wife and I are planning on spending a few days on a bike in Italy next year.  Can I switch between US and Euro maps on a Nuvi?

Also, I guess I don't understand how you can download routes you've constructed from Mapquest to the Nuve but you can't download routes from Mapsource to the Nuvi?  Seems a bit odd to me.    

[FJRmgm]

oh yeah, and thanks for the tip on using the Salsa Clip and FM to broadcast the spoken directions from the Nuvi.

[Mastros2]

Someone else mentioned a showercap for weather protection  

[Marcster]

oh yeah, and thanks for the tip on using the Salsa Clip and FM to broadcast the spoken directions from the Nuvi.

You're welcome!  

[Windblown]

My Nuvi 750 is just about dead after a couple of years on bikes.  It powers up and down on it's own at times. Sometimes it gets stuck on loading the map at power up, battery is only good for 30-60 minutes now so I have to keep power to it.  I think it was the thumper that did it in but it got abused pretty hard occasionally on the Concours as well.

I'll probably bite the bullet and get a MC specific model next time I buy one.  

[Tyrroneous]

  I think it was the thumper that did it in but it got abused pretty hard occasionally on the Concours as well.
 

My Buell aint exactly vibe free either.  

[crashtech]

Nice reading.....I am getting my nuvi 765 installed on my bike this weekend and looking foward to testing it out......Dont have much $$ invested so if it bombs or falls wont be heartbreaking. Got to have my buddy school me on it....LOL

[Scoop]

3000 miles last week with the Nuvi 550 on the BMW.  No problems at all, a bit or rain and hot and cold temps.  Worked great.  Does just what I need.

[camaroz1985]

I bought a 765 based on this thread but haven't been able to connect it to my scala rider q2.  Maybe it is because of the A2DP thing, or maybe I am just not smart enough for all this technology.  Anyone  have luck with the 765 and the q2?  Maybe I will try the FM transmitter thing, though it seems kind of weak.

[Justin]

3000 miles last week with the Nuvi 550 on the BMW.  No problems at all, a bit or rain and hot and cold temps.  Worked great.  Does just what I need.

Glad your works. Mine does most of the time, but likes to reset itself halfway through a ride .. arggghhhh!!!

[AzItLies]

Not so fast, Tyrroneous!!!

I bought a Nuvi 780 to use in a RAM mount on my Yamaha, thinking that I'd be able to use a bluetooth headset, which doesn't work as carpe_diem pointed out above.

**HOWEVER**

The Nuvi 780 (and many other Garmins) can broadcast to FM radio -- this is primarily so that when you are in a car you can





To power it on the bike I used an all-weather power adapter I bought from Walmart.  Along with the cable and in-line fuse cost me about $30.  I hid the power adapter behind the front fairing.

Wow! this is great info thanks! I have a nuvi 780... I have a sansa clip... guess what I'm gonna do next with them!! haha

Thanks! looking forward to this!

[Jesse]

AzItLies,

I usually don't worry about spoken directions but I'm leading a ride next weekend and figured it would be good to keep overshooting and turning around to a minimum - they're a contrary bunch and you don't want to get them mad! So, I tried a sansa clip with my nuvi 760 a few weeks ago and it worked fine.

If your fm signal is weak, plug a 3.5mm patch cord into the speaker outlet on the nuvi to act as an antenna. I found that strengthened the broadcast signal a lot. I ended up winding the patch cable around the mirror stalk as there was a lot of noise generated under braking when I draped it around the windshield on the Uly.  

[AzItLies]

AzItLies,

I usually don't worry about spoken directions but I'm leading a ride next weekend and figured it would be good to keep overshooting and turning around to a minimum - they're a contrary bunch and you don't want to get them mad! So, I tried a sansa clip with my nuvi 760 a few weeks ago and it worked fine.

If your fm signal is weak, plug a 3.5mm patch cord into the speaker outlet on the nuvi to act as an antenna. I found that strengthened the broadcast signal a lot. I ended up winding the patch cable around the mirror stalk as there was a lot of noise generated under braking when I draped it around the windshield on the Uly.  

Hey thanks Jesse! much appreciated info. This is gonna be fun Just got a couple of Ram mounts set up and well, I'll probably ride around for hours just for the fun of it ! hahaha Great weather in Arizona right now too Good luck with your ride.

[camaroz1985]

I actually reset the 765 to the UK region, which gets rid of the signal strenth restriction the US region imposes (115dB vs. 106dB).  I was able to walk all around my house (with the GPS in my kitchen), and still have great reception from the Scala Q2.  Sure this might not be completely legit, but someone on another forum measured the output from a stand alone FM modulator and it was higher output than the Garmin even in UK mode, so I don't think the FCC could complain too much (not that they really care though).

I also have an Aquabox.  I was going to put my cell phone in it, and just use everything from the phone, but unfortunately the touch screen doesn't work through the flex lens.  I think I will keep looking for something to work with my phone (HTC Trophy), as I really would like to use only my phone.

[djacobsen5116]

I have a Nuvi 1390T and agree with the glare issue.  Useless when the sun hits it.  

Garmin Mapsource.  I use this to create routes and download them to the 1390.  Not the easiest piece of software to work with so far but I've only created about 10 routes with it.  I have a knack of creating an endpoint before I reach the end of the ride and have managed to delete the whole route trying to get rid of the endpoint every time.  Manual is not a lot of help

Streets & Trips.  Tried creating routes using this but couldn't get them loaded to the Nuvi.  Pretty sure it can be done but may need to be reformatted first.

[Dan K]

My Nuvi worked great until it flew off of the homemade rigged mount I was using (I was relying on the ball click only...I wicked it up on Blue Star Highway in Michigan to pass 7 or 8 cruiser riders and when I went to check it next, it was gone...hope it didn't hit any windshields...)

- Dan

[camaroz1985]

I have a nuvi 765t and works great.  It's always in an aquabox so not to be exposed to the elements.  



Marcster actually showed me the FM transmitter trick during the Burger Run and it works great.  Yeah, the music quality isn't 100% but perfectly fine for me.  I have the music being piped through my cell and wear Skull Candy ear bugs while I ride.  The music stops for the gps turn by turn directions.

What size box do you have, and do you have it hardwired?  I have the RAM-HOL-AQ6U (Medium Wide, says it is for Garmin Nuvi Devices) and I can't plug the power in.  I think I need a right angle adapter, or a right angle cable.

[ia sprint]

I'm using a 1490t and it's doing what I need.  I've done a few routes in mapsource and downloaded them to the unit.  As someone else posted, make sure you put the waypoints in order to get your desired route, or the unit will change it for shortest distance.  Bought it refurbished off Amazon, for the price I have no complaints.

IA Sprint