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CVO Technical => Electronic Toys and Gadgets => Topic started by: GtreetSlide on December 10, 2011, 12:07:26 PM

Title: GPS advice needed
Post by: GtreetSlide on December 10, 2011, 12:07:26 PM
Currently I have an original TomTom GPS (water-resistant) that I can move from my mounts on my bikes to mounts on my cars and ATV. I never could get the TomTom to plan complex routes correctly and often ended up on dead-end dirt roads that the GPS map said were paved highways, etc. Now the TomTom will actually flip out and try to map you to a completely different state. ??? It cycles on and off while riding for no reason. My opinion is that TomTom is an expensive piece of junk with lousy customer support. Most accessories and mounts I needed had to be purchased from after-market vendors. No more TomTom for me....

I need to replace it with a waterproof GPS that I can get wiring and mounts for all my vehicles. I would prefer to go with Garmin, but don't know where to start with all the different models. I need a reliable waterproof GPS that I can get mounts for to use in cars and bikes. All feedback appreciated.

Thanks, Jim
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: Screamin on December 10, 2011, 01:08:38 PM
My Garmin Zumo 450 works well getting me down the road. Besides an occasional side trip (set for quickest) it's not had any major issues. The 450 is the plain jane of the zumo family w/ very few bells and whistles. But, the software that comes w/ it is the most PITA program I've ever had the displeasure to use. Have to keep track of like a bizillion things to update it. The mapping program, MapSource and now Basecamp have few advanced features and unless you're willing to spend lots of time getting used to it I've found it totally frustrating. The Zumo unit itself has been exposed to rain but not a heavy gully washer. I cover it w/ a baggie if I'm going to get wet. The touch screen works reasonably well though a screen protector film makes it a little more difficult to drag the map around the screen. With an SD card it holds tons of songs but of course you must cable it to the bike's radio's input jack. Battery life is not very long if you're doing anything other than just navigating so a constant power supply is needed. I use a cigarette light plug. The RAM mount system works very well. The screen size is ok but it needs adjusted in sunlight as at certain angles it's unreadable. Lastly, the little screw which secures the unit to it's cradle is a PITA w/ the small screw driver that comes w/ it. The aftermarket supplied a small thumb screw which is much easier to use and functions very well w/ the exception of theft deterance which in itself is a non-issue using a RAM mount.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: HD Jim on December 10, 2011, 01:49:32 PM
I have a Zumo 660 that came with my 12 SEUC.  I had also had one prior to that on my 06 UCEG.  Both work well on the bike and are waterproof.  The Harley version has the ability to integrate with the HK radio.  You can also buy a fairing or handlebar mount for it.  I like the software for the computer and bein able to plan routes to download to the GPS  I also have the lifetime map update which keeps the maps for the GPS up to date.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: bluegoose on December 10, 2011, 02:08:39 PM
I installed a Tom Tom 540 TM last winter - wired direct to back of cigarette lighter.  

I was pleased it has a large screen and worked well for a basic GPS - it does have lifetime map upgrades.  No issues with dirt or unpaved roads.  I normally travel a lot of secondary roads so my biggest issue was trusting it when it told me to turn. At first I stopped several times to physically check the map - GPS was always right.

I don't normally make reservations when traveling - never know where I may end up - really liked the Hotel / Motel feature.

It will easily go from the bike to another car / truck in a couple of minutes.

Only downside is it can be difficult to see in direct sunlight and is not waterproof so you will need to put a bag over it during heavy rain.  I just carried a couple of little zip lock bags.

Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: 2harleys on December 10, 2011, 02:15:59 PM
Zumo 660 Road Tech for me. Have been extremely satisfied. Integrated into the Harmon Kardon. I do not use XM so do not need the 665
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: MKW on December 10, 2011, 03:38:19 PM
I have a Zumo 660 that came with my 12 SEUC.  I had also had one prior to that on my 06 UCEG.  Both work well on the bike and are waterproof.  The Harley version has the ability to integrate with the HK radio.  You can also buy a fairing or handlebar mount for it.  I like the software for the computer and bein able to plan routes to download to the GPS   I also have the lifetime map update which keeps the maps for the GPS up to date.

Can you give me a little guidance on how to plan a route then download it to my 660?  I'm not that bright when it comes to gizmos
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: SmileMaker on December 11, 2011, 04:58:08 PM
I mainly use the ride planner at the HOG website. Plan your route and use the option to export to your devise(660).
Plug your gps into the computers USB port. The site has had no problems recognizing the 660. It sends the route along with waypoints to the 660 as a gpx file. When you later start the 660 it recognizes the new file and asks if you want to import it. Not very difficult (I may have missed a step on the power-up, I haven't used this feature since our
June California trip). I have used the map source software that comes with the Garmin and it's fun to check out the
Route in google earth, but I find ride planner easier to use.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: MKW on December 11, 2011, 08:15:30 PM
I think I got what I was looking for-appreciate it  :2vrolijk_21:
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: GtreetSlide on December 14, 2011, 02:12:45 PM
Thanks for input!
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: GtreetSlide on December 14, 2011, 02:35:52 PM
Descriptions online for Zumo 660 and Zumo 220 are very simular; Big price differece however. Is the 660 worth that much more and what extra does it really provide? Thanks, jb
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: Midnight Rider on December 14, 2011, 03:13:32 PM
Descriptions online for Zumo 660 and Zumo 220 are very simular; Big price differece however. Is the 660 worth that much more and what extra does it really provide? Thanks, jb

The two biggest differences I can see are screen size and MP3 capability.  Also 3D for some things.  The biggest reason for getting the ROADTECH 660/665 (HD version of the Garmin 660/665) is that you can make it seamlessly talk through the HK radio on the touring bikes.  With any of the actual Garmin units, to get voice prompts you have to run a stereo patch cable to the AUX input on the front of the radio.  It just depends on what you want to do.  HD was running a special on the Roadtech that included lifetime map updates ($90 value), and you can also order through one of the 20% discount houses.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: 49445CVO on December 14, 2011, 09:24:06 PM
The two biggest differences I can see are screen size and MP3 capability.  Also 3D for some things.  The biggest reason for getting the ROADTECH 660/665 (HD version of the Garmin 660/665) is that you can make it seamlessly talk through the HK radio on the touring bikes.  With any of the actual Garmin units, to get voice prompts you have to run a stereo patch cable to the AUX input on the front of the radio.  It just depends on what you want to do.  HD was running a special on the Roadtech that included lifetime map updates ($90 value), and you can also order through one of the 20% discount houses.

Side note, I think I remember that the H-D one has a 2 year warranty vs. Garmin 1 year.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: MKW on December 14, 2011, 10:06:13 PM
The two biggest differences I can see are screen size and MP3 capability.  Also 3D for some things.  The biggest reason for getting the ROADTECH 660/665 (HD version of the Garmin 660/665) is that you can make it seamlessly talk through the HK radio on the touring bikes.  With any of the actual Garmin units, to get voice prompts you have to run a stereo patch cable to the AUX input on the front of the radio.  It just depends on what you want to do.  HD was running a special on the Roadtech that included lifetime map updates ($90 value), and you can also order through one of the 20% discount houses.

I was told that my SESG cannot have the voice prompts come through the speakers.  The only way the street glides can have that accomplished is to run that AUX cable and be in the AUX mode.  Don't understand why the SG can't be set up to run through the speakers :nixweiss:  On that note, I tried my ear-piece that came with the 660 and it blows!  I have the volume cranked and cannot hear it where its useful.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: North Georgia Hawg on December 14, 2011, 10:53:27 PM
I was told that my SESG cannot have the voice prompts come through the speakers.  The only way the street glides can have that accomplished is to run that AUX cable and be in the AUX mode.  Don't understand why the SG can't be set up to run through the speakers :nixweiss:  On that note, I tried my ear-piece that came with the 660 and it blows!  I have the volume cranked and cannot hear it where its useful.

NOT true! The MoCo chose not to provide the capability natively on the SESG - but it's easy to do. I have it working on my SESG now using the H-D NIM. The 665 interrupts whatever is playing on the radio, iPod, etc, to give you the voice prompts.

The SESG does not have the 6A/B connectors in the fairing that the NIM normally plugs into, but you just splice into four wires to make a 6B connector - the CAN+, CAN-, Radio Memory, and ground. Works great. There is also a connector harness that the MoCo sells to pick up the CAN+ and CAN- wires from the big 35-pin connector 28 on the back go the H-K radio.

You can also make a simple alteration to your radio to implement a rear aux port, so you don't have to run the ugly wire out of the fairing and into the front Aux port on the radio for the Road Tech 660/665. Everything is inside the fairing this way.

There are threads in this forum discussing how to do this. "Legalley" has a good one for the SESG that tells you exactly what to do... 
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: pweber6 on December 14, 2011, 11:31:44 PM
 Read reply #29 on this link:  http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=53364.msg940314#msg940314

It will have a do it yourself diagram on making a Y connector that plugs into your CVO Street Glide IPOD connector.   Simple to do or take it to your dealer. 
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: bloper123 on December 15, 2011, 06:18:16 PM
You can turn the Volume Higher enough to blow your speakers up if you go by the book and when the GPS is talking just press the up on the AUDIO switch and it will take the volume as high as you will ever need it. I had this same thing happen to me until I read the owners manual on GPS page. I hope this will help you...
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: GtreetSlide on December 15, 2011, 07:14:55 PM
I did see on HD site that they have a conector set to go inside the fairing so the GPS prompts come thru the speakers. I think it said it would work on most baggers except a few SE models. All this is good helpful info. Think I'm gonna try the 660 from HD on my 09 SG....

jb
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: MKW on December 15, 2011, 09:06:02 PM
thanks guys.  A little background history.  I own the 2010 SESG and added the iPod and 660 GPS.  Initially mounted the GPS to the handle bar and ran that AUX wire to the radio.  Then I moved the GPS to the fairing mount and bought the internal wiring harness to have the voice prompts piped through the speakers.  The tech at the dealership was trying the make it work and then finally said that the SG cannot work with the GPS in that manner.  I was just defeated and called it a day.  Would like that capability but settled as is for now.  By the way, they gave me my refund on the harness but the parts guy was a bit put off.  I told him to lump it and that I wouldn't buy any parts from him and since have avoided him.  Its all about customer service if they want my money.
Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: philgrocks on December 24, 2011, 11:54:43 AM
The standard wiring harnesses don't work with the Street Glide. That is the challenge.  Sadly the factory does not make the right harness and just says it is not supported.

Turns out that the Navigation Interface Module (often shortened to "NIM" in the postings) just needs a 6 wires.

If you look at this diagram http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=53364.msg940314#msg940314

I did as this diagram suggests... I purchased the overlay harness and I cut the 275B connector that connects to the NIM off (leaving as much wire as I can) and connected the 6 wires to the existing harnesses.

Battery + & Ground were easy to find.  The CAN+ / CAN- need to be sliced into the existing wires on the back of the radio.  Then the Audio+/Audio- need pins into unused positions in the back of the radio (as per the instructions).  Since I did not have the pins I just cut those wires off from the overlay harness and used them.

The other hint is that I had a Garmin Zumo 660... Not the Harley Davidson version which is nearly identical "Road Tech Zumo 660".  It is painted differently, has HD dealer locations preloaded, but more importantly (and is critical for operation with the NIM) is a special signal that tells the NIM that audio is being spoken.  This little detail had me very confused, I had the wiring correct, but the NIM was not working... All because I had the wrong model Zumo.

If you have questions I would be happy to help.



Title: Re: GPS advice needed
Post by: pweber6 on December 24, 2011, 12:21:39 PM
Yeah, only the HD version of the zumo seems to work with the NIM.