Which GPS
- Thread starter EastCoast
- Start date
For the Hayabusa I've used the Garmin Legend because it's smaller and I'm not looking for all the functions of bigger units. But on the Goldwing I've got the Garmin 2610 which is a very good unit but I felt a bit big for the busa.To each their own.
greyrocket
Registered
i have a garmin e-tex works well gives me speed and basic maps. that tom tom is not out yet i thought ?
The Tomtom Rider is now available.
greyrocket
Registered
sweet i'am going to look it up right now.
well here's some food for thought
A) why do you want one ... as in what features do you want?
- Speed display/tracking
- navigational aid
- routing / route saving / route planning
- would you ever use it on a boat / plane
B) How much do you wanna spend?
C) Where are you going to mount it? ( tank bag / bars / stem stand / etc)
D) How are you going to power it? ( batteries / direct connect)
E) Where are you going to use it? ( bike / hiking / car / boat / other)
Each GPS has its purpose. If you want something small that just does speed and basic maps, get one of the less expensive ones. If you want something that can do routing, auto-routes you around stuff or if you get off the route, shows detailed map info and stuff like that, you'll need to step up a bit in size/price. I can tell you a lot of units are not good for the bike for a variety of reasons, but the new "micro drive" ones suck generally because of vibrations. There are models out there that allow you to use water maps and land maps, some that allow both of those AND hiking topo maps and National Parks maps. Some that have expandable memory, others are fixed. Some can use battery and/or direct connect... some have fixed antennas others allow for external ones or replaceable ones. Some are waterproof, others not so much
I personally have a Street Pilot III Deluxe I got off a guy in Canada on Ebay. He is a Garmin distributor and it was a factory refub but has given me NO problems in over a year of owning it. It does all of the various maps, battery/direct connect, small enough to fit in my tank bag easily, uses expandable, though proprietary memory, and does all routing with speed/altitude stuff as well. The one thing it doesnt have is WAAS which is basically a more sensitive system that allows for greater accuracy... think 1-3M vs 5-15M in accuracy of your exact position. Doesnt mean much if you are just riding/driving... could make a hell of a difference if you are charting TOPO maps in the mountains
gps city has a great selection and good comparison tools... as always, shop the price but thats a good resource to start your search.
So once you answer those questions, it will narrow your search criteria down though
oh yeah, search around on the forums, this topic has been discussed at length before
A) why do you want one ... as in what features do you want?
- Speed display/tracking
- navigational aid
- routing / route saving / route planning
- would you ever use it on a boat / plane
B) How much do you wanna spend?
C) Where are you going to mount it? ( tank bag / bars / stem stand / etc)
D) How are you going to power it? ( batteries / direct connect)
E) Where are you going to use it? ( bike / hiking / car / boat / other)
Each GPS has its purpose. If you want something small that just does speed and basic maps, get one of the less expensive ones. If you want something that can do routing, auto-routes you around stuff or if you get off the route, shows detailed map info and stuff like that, you'll need to step up a bit in size/price. I can tell you a lot of units are not good for the bike for a variety of reasons, but the new "micro drive" ones suck generally because of vibrations. There are models out there that allow you to use water maps and land maps, some that allow both of those AND hiking topo maps and National Parks maps. Some that have expandable memory, others are fixed. Some can use battery and/or direct connect... some have fixed antennas others allow for external ones or replaceable ones. Some are waterproof, others not so much
I personally have a Street Pilot III Deluxe I got off a guy in Canada on Ebay. He is a Garmin distributor and it was a factory refub but has given me NO problems in over a year of owning it. It does all of the various maps, battery/direct connect, small enough to fit in my tank bag easily, uses expandable, though proprietary memory, and does all routing with speed/altitude stuff as well. The one thing it doesnt have is WAAS which is basically a more sensitive system that allows for greater accuracy... think 1-3M vs 5-15M in accuracy of your exact position. Doesnt mean much if you are just riding/driving... could make a hell of a difference if you are charting TOPO maps in the mountains
gps city has a great selection and good comparison tools... as always, shop the price but thats a good resource to start your search.
So once you answer those questions, it will narrow your search criteria down though
oh yeah, search around on the forums, this topic has been discussed at length before
Oh yeah, I got mine for under $400 delivered... it has the color screen
Another board favorite is the GPS V by Garmin... looks like around $300 at GPS City.. very similar to the SPIII but B&W screen and a few little other differences
Another board favorite is the GPS V by Garmin... looks like around $300 at GPS City.. very similar to the SPIII but B&W screen and a few little other differences
if you want something with alot more features than just seeing how fast your going... the novelty of that wears off after two/three trips in my opinion..
anyway.. check out a garmin v.. or the vplus.. same thing just with a color screen.
gets you the north american map source software.. auto routing.. turn by turn.. and it doesn't have a stupid name like tomtom..
course it's quite a bit higher in price last time I looked too.. but it's a sweet unit.. I love mine.
anyway.. check out a garmin v.. or the vplus.. same thing just with a color screen.
gets you the north american map source software.. auto routing.. turn by turn.. and it doesn't have a stupid name like tomtom..
course it's quite a bit higher in price last time I looked too.. but it's a sweet unit.. I love mine.
Are you looking for something to simply verify speed with, or do you want better navigation for longer trips?
I've been using the Garmin 2610 for navigation and such; the GPS voice is mixed into my headset, so it's pretty clean on the bike. If that's what yr looking for, I'd highly recommend it...
I've been using the Garmin 2610 for navigation and such; the GPS voice is mixed into my headset, so it's pretty clean on the bike. If that's what yr looking for, I'd highly recommend it...
Garmin 276C , huge color screen!
I own a 276C and it's great! Large color screen is great, but lot's of other reasons:
* All solid state (no mechanical hard drive for storage)
* One 256M storage memory chip holds several states worth of data (For example, VA thru FL with memory left over). Purchase a couple of extra memory chips and you'll have all or most of the US in ready to go in seconds.
* 276C very easy to see and operate while under way.
* Audio output can be piped into your intercom.
* Powered by 12vdc or its internal batteries (nice for portable operation)
* Doubles as a full marine GPS when you load the Marine maps. (Even operates as a depth finder with optional sounder.)
* GARMIN PIO (Points of Interest) Database - it's great and updated regularly. Need a shoe store in the middle of Little Rock, Arkansas? No problem, it'll take you right there. Shops, Walmart, resturants, etc, etc, just type it in, and push GO!
The TOM-TOM is becoming popular but remember; 1) It's made in England (map updates? - Who knows?)
2) It holds the entire US maps at once, but I believe they use a hard drive and mechancial things have a tendency to fail.
You can't go wrong with the Garmin 276C, but good luck with your decision. Here's a GPS discount houses: www.gpsdiscount.com
* All solid state (no mechanical hard drive for storage)
* One 256M storage memory chip holds several states worth of data (For example, VA thru FL with memory left over). Purchase a couple of extra memory chips and you'll have all or most of the US in ready to go in seconds.
* 276C very easy to see and operate while under way.
* Audio output can be piped into your intercom.
* Powered by 12vdc or its internal batteries (nice for portable operation)
* Doubles as a full marine GPS when you load the Marine maps. (Even operates as a depth finder with optional sounder.)
* GARMIN PIO (Points of Interest) Database - it's great and updated regularly. Need a shoe store in the middle of Little Rock, Arkansas? No problem, it'll take you right there. Shops, Walmart, resturants, etc, etc, just type it in, and push GO!
The TOM-TOM is becoming popular but remember; 1) It's made in England (map updates? - Who knows?)
2) It holds the entire US maps at once, but I believe they use a hard drive and mechancial things have a tendency to fail.
You can't go wrong with the Garmin 276C, but good luck with your decision. Here's a GPS discount houses: www.gpsdiscount.com
No matter which model you buy just make sure that you buy a Garmin. They are by far the best in the industry hands down. Some of the other GPS manuf actually contract Garmin to provide the internal PC boards and such for their units but then they will scrimp on other features.
Just my.02
Just my.02
If you can justify the cost, it is hard to beat the 276C. The screen is hands down better than the SPIIIs and 26xx.
Here are a few pics of the way I mounted mine.
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Here are a few pics of the way I mounted mine.
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