A good GPS

[mbishara]

I'd like some recommendations for a good motorcycle GPS. Something that is glove friendly and can help me upload previous riders' routes that they saved. Also something that will save the routes that I did so that if I want to I can re-trace the steps during another ride some other time.

The problem is that it's easy to chart a course from point A to point B but the best course to take is usually the issue as well....

Any suggestions out there?

[mbishara]

With my car I just use my iPhone's Tom Tom app and it's very good but I don't think that it's good for a bike. Can't use it with my gloves on, always worried when it rains, it's very basic (mainly from points A to B) and I can't upload routes saved b other riders. These are just a few of the issues.

[Bouts]

I have a Garmin 1490T, I use it in my truck and the on the Concours.  It does routes, downloads routes, or you can download the waypoints and make the route on the GPS.  The transition from waypoint to waypoint in seamless in the route.  I've travelled through Alberta and into BC using it.  And this summer QC.ON and into NY and VT states.  The suction cup mount sticks on the inside of the windscreen, very little vibration, and extremely easy to see and look at while riding.  Best of all, it hasn't fallen off yet!  lol  More than I can say for my older Magellan!

[Cablebandit]

This looks like another "mine is best thread"  

So I have to vote for the Gamin Montana.  The auto-routing outdoor units beat just about anything out there unless you need Bluetooth music.

[PatM]

Garmin Zümo 665.

[bungie4]

This looks like another "mine is best thread"  

So I have to vote for the Gamin Montana.  The auto-routing outdoor units beat just about anything out there unless you need Bluetooth music.

Funny you should say this. I just mentioned on another forum I'd replace my 2820 with a Montana today if it only had Bluetooth. Not for tunes though for directions. Once you have that sweet Australian accent giving you instructions without even looking down, it's hard to go with out. (either the bluetooth or the hawt Aussie).

[Mike-H]

I use a older garmin zumo 550 which is purpose made for a motorcycle...but in turn came with the extras enabling it to be used in my car & truck...(designed for use with gloves)

[mbishara]

Thanks I'll check them all out. It's mainly for my bike. My phone is plastered to my hand all the time so I just cradle it in the car and use the phone's GPS.

[Huron52]

I have a couple of older 2610's and a 660  all have their good and bad  

[bungie4]

I have a couple of older 2610's and a 660  all have their good and bad  

True that, my 2820, despite lieing to me constantly (Huron knows this) has two shortcomings, the first is the screen washes out and is unreadable for most of the day because of the sun, and the second, it won't 'reverse' a route which is a real pain the ass when your 1000 miles from home.

[Mike-H]

I have a couple of older 2610's and a 660  all have their good and bad  

Figures...only rich guys own 660's

[Nodaclu]

Getting ready to do the same thing, and I think I've settled on finding a used or refurbished Zumo 550. Couldn't get myself to pay the price premium when they were new, but at current market rates, it seems like you're getting an awful lot of motorcycle GPS for the money.

[garry]

I have been very pleased with my zumo 450 and if it ever got lost/stolen/dies I would likely replace it with another zumo. It gets used a lot, has been through torrential rain more than once, and has been stone axe reliable since 2008. The Garmin software for crafting your own routes isn't the most intuitive stuff out there, but it works well enough once you get your head around it.

[bomber]

I have been very pleased with my zumo 450 and if it ever got lost/stolen/dies I would likely replace it with another zumo. It gets used a lot, has been through torrential rain more than once, and has been stone axe reliable since 2008. The Garmin software for crafting your own routes isn't the most intuitive stuff out there, but it works well enough once you get your head around it.

^this -- my 450 is great!

if it went walkabout, I'd likely get a Montana, mostly for the off-pavement features, but, if the 450 stays healthy, I'll happily ride with it  . . . ..

[sleazy rider]

Garmin Zümo 665.

 

[Kneescrubber]

I use maps.

[Cablebandit]

So does pretty much everyone with GPS.  

[cyjo]

I use a Nuvi 550. Waterproof and reasonably good to see in the light. I picked it as I couldn't see dropping 5 bills on a gps. It does have it shortcomings though. No bluetooth but I don't mind that. I turn off the voice on all my navigation anyway. Something about the text to speech bothers me. I miss my Streetpilot 2720. I liked the way you could configure data fields. I like to know the sunset times and other data. I guess I should look at a trail gps. The montana looks very attractive.

[mbishara]

Thanks for all of the great feedback guys. A last question.

How do you plan your routes? It's easy to plot a course from points A to B on a GPS but motorcyclists like the scenic routes so just highway slabs for 1,000 miles isn't as appealing...

Is there a site to go to that we can upload other people's routes to these GPSs? Or something like that?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[sleazy rider]

Setting, routing, check freeway avoidance.  Shazaam! No slab on route calculation.