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Anyone here use one?
Would be nice to have one i can also use in the car and VERY nice if i could plan routes on the computer (Mac) and upload them....
Suggestons? 🙂
Chat forum?
I have a clamp with a ball and socket attachment that takes a waterproof case to put the car garmin in, jut ran a cigarete lighter cable off the battery to plug into and voila.
Nahh not doing that for lots of reasons sorry. 🙂
Buy TomTom/co pilot for your Iphone, get a decent mount, done.
better than a dedicated Satnav as you have real time traffic updates easy to update the background data and send out software patches.
I know my dad uses one and has been very happy with it. I believe it all hooks up into the helmet using Blutooth and he's used it in both the US and Europe. It wasn't cheap as far as i recall (lots more than a car one) but i guess you get what you pay for?
I know he's planned routes and uploaded them to it but he uses a PC - as a technophobe i have no ideas it that would differ for a Mac.
I had the Tom Tom rider as a replacement for my ancient Garmin when it died. The Tom Tom was a piece of crap and ended up getting a refund. An uncle had the Garmin Zumo which has been faultless, connects to his intercom through bluetooth. Buy a quality mount (Ram, Touratech if deep pockets) for any Sat Nav used on a bike as they do take a lot of abuse.
The old Garmin had its own software for creating routes but the lastest ones use Google maps. The TomTom never tried due hardly been able to use it due to warranty returns.
Friends of mine have Garmin Zumo and Tomtom Rider. The Zumo is much newer, so widescreen + more features. I know the rider works in the car as well, he has a mount - its pretty old now though and looks it.
I use my old N95 phone with a bluetoothGPS + tomtom installed. Works well throughout Europe. Great for roads you dont know and you are leading, cause you can see how tight the next corners will be 🙂
I use RAM mounts+case fitted to the yoke.
I use http://www.tyretotravel.com/ (well I had an old version, I see its been updated a lot) to map and plan then upload to device.
Iphone, get a decent mount, done.
Or that. No. 🙂 Can't be used with gloves on for a start!
it does seem to be a 2 horse race though and i do prefer Garmin TBH. Just been having a gander and the Garmin software is Mac compatible 🙂
There must be one that can transmit to your visor screen - how cool would that be. Or perhaps how annoying ??
I've been having a think about this recently. My bro went on a bike club blast round France and Belgium and there was a mix of GPS led bit and using-a-map led bits. The GPS bits frequently pointed to closed/incomplete roads and other reasons for having to get the map out and reconsider. The map led bits led to some lovely riding, but Andy hurt his brain a bit keeping all the route details in his head and leading a big group for a few hours at a time.
Personally, I don't like the way sat-nav directions reduce your bubble of knowledge. You know what to do at the next turning (probably, but "keep left at the next junction" - which junction, should I come off here? or that one just after? This can't be right. Ahh, balls...) But you tend to lose the bigger picture - other towns on the way, where's near where, what's on the way.
I think a great option would to have an i-pad (other tablets are available) in a see-through tank-bag top with just a map and your position on it. Want an afternoon of vaguely-informed following-your-nose? Perfect. Ahead of time on a planned route and want to divert onto some wiggly roads? You can plan that on the go. Lost? Maybe, but you know the way back. Off-route but happy for the moment? Grand, and you know the next village to aim for.
The GPS bits frequently pointed to closed/incomplete roads and other reasons for having to get the map out and reconsider. The map led bits led to some lovely riding,
if you read the OP you'll see i want one where i can upload my own routes. This s why! 🙂 Although in many years use my current car Garmin has only led me up a farm trac once!
but Andy hurt his brain a bit keeping all the route details in his head and leading a big group for a few hours at a time.
The new stuff can log a route so you can re-trace it. No need to hurt your brain! 🙂
I think a great option would to have an i-pad (other tablets are available) in a see-through tank-bag top with just a map and your position on it.
Tried just that wth my iPhone. Doesn't work. Why? Too much reflecton on the screen - can't see it.
I've got a Garmin Zumo 660, I don't use it on a motorbike, but need a waterproof unit as my car hasn't got a roof.
I'm really pleased with it, and on the PC(not sure if there is a Mac version), there is a Garmin program called Mapsource, so you can plan routes using that, so you can tell the satnav exactly where [u]you[/u] want to go, then upload straight to it.
I've been using Garmins and Mapsource for about 8 years now for European driving holidays and think they're fab!
My tankbag has a cut-out in it for a satnav, which works ok but as I ride a sportsbike it does mean having to move my head down and refocus from the road to use it. Maps have the same problem. Since I already have a tomtom for car use, this worked out a lot cheaper than a bike-specific one. It's gotten me to the South of France and back without any wrong turns.
I've recently picked up a RAM Mount, which has loads of attachment options but the one I went for is a rubber bung which fits into the centre yoke on a sportsbike, and so far is much easier to see than the tankbag option. Only done short trips so far but will be testing with a trip to Italy soon. It's not waterproof but a freezer bag and rubber band solves that. 🙂
As mentioned above, tyretotravel is great for planning routes. It lets you use all the functionality of google maps and then save to the sat nav. So much better than the tomtom software (I've never used Garmin so can't speak for that), and apparently can be run on a Mac using Wine...
Zumo 550, until stolen was faultless on the bike or in the car (stolen from the car). Back up from Garmin site was simple, easy to operate with the left hand only, easy touch screen. Survived many bike mounted downpours. Took me across europe many times and was absolutely dependable. Easy to hardwire to the bike ignition as well...
Havnt used a TomTom, but would get a Zumo again.