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[mungam]

What are you running for a GPS on your ride?
What are the best features/why did you buy that model?
What do you dislike about it now that you have used it?
What did you pay for it?
How did you mount/wire it?
Doing it all over again, would you make a different choice?

My experience was with naitram's Garmin Quest.  I borrowed it a few times and liked the portability of it (20hr battery powered).  The only down side was that it didn't hold the entire country.
Enter the Garmin Quest2.  All the benefits of the original but with more memory.  It will hold all of North America.
So I bought it.

  I despise this unit.  Oh they added more memory, but didn't upgrade the processor.  It takes forever to calculate a route and if you miss a turn, you might as well pull over and let it catch up or you will be in recalculation hell.
I contacted Garmin's support via email and went back and forth a few times until I said "so it isn't broke, it just sucks"
No further contact from them....go figure.
I tried to dump it on ebay for 100 less than I paid for it the previous month.  No luck.  I have kept it for almost a year now.  I will do my homework this time around, hence this topic.

I welcome your response and candor as I want my next GPS to eliminate stress instead of adding to it.

Steve

[Chief]

Garmin Street Pilot. Got 2 of them. Never had a problem with it until I put it on the 110". Now I have a problem with the screen changing automatically. I thought it was the unit so I bought a brand new 2610 off of ebay. The new unit does it too. Evidently, the 110 has just the right amount and type of vibration to cause problems with the Street Pilot.

I'll get a Zumo w/Nexrad radar when it becomes available.



As a followup to 2Lane's post, my NIB StreetPilot 2610 was $250 to the door. Garmin gets $225 (+ Freight) to work on your unit. Getting another unit for the price of fixing my 4 y.o. unit was an easy decision.

[Twolanerider]

Steve, the top end TomToms are selling at good discounts all over anymore.  And they are ok.  One of the reasons they are discounted, however, is to try and compete with the Garmins.  The 2820 and Zumo 550 are the most popular and commonly used products for our type of use that aren't the Quest or somewhat lesser units.

Both have much quicker processors and memory to hold the country.  They each add other significant and useful bells and whistles.  There are even fancier and more expensive units out there also.  But if you're looking to step up from the Quest and get some that is bit more expensive, w/o getting something that is a LOT more expensive, take a look at the Streetpilot 2820 or the Zumo series.

One other consideration.  If you're interested in a discounted but very functional unit that only lacks the bells and whistles that have been added to newer modesl check eBay for remanufactured Garmin 2610.  They were very good, easy to use and easy to read.  Speaking specifically to nav functions there are still things I like about the 26XX series more than the new 28XX series.  If my 2620 hadn't of died I'd not have bought the new one.  It did such a good job there wasn't a justification to make the change.  And the 2610 units are occasionally out there CHEAP.

[Fired00d]

Steve,
Zumo 550 and love it. First GPS I've owned so nothing to compare it with, but I've found it easy to learn how to use it.

Purchased it because of ease of use on a motorcycle and it was designed specifically for motorcycle use (buttons, touch screen, features, etc.)

What I dislike is it doesn't tell me who has the coldest beer while traveling. Really haven't found anything I dislike about it.

Paid $679.00 with free shipping from PCNation.

Used a Techmount 30997MC GPS mount.

For power I used my cigarette lighter by purchasing a plug from Radio Shack, and run audio into my radio in the Aux plug.

Would definitely do it all over again.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[mungam]

Steve,
Zumo 550 and love it.
Would definitely do it all over again.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

I was considering that back then and still am now.  It would allow me to dump the Ipod and some extra wires.
I check prices every now and again.  If I see it below $600 I might just grab it.

Steve

[Hoist!]

I was considering that back then and still am now.  It would allow me to dump the Ipod and some extra wires.
I check prices every now and again.  If I see it below $600 I might just grab it.

Steve

Got it for $621 at PCNation.com Steve.

see you on Sat!

Hoist!

[mungam]

Got it for $621 at PCNation.com Steve.

see you on Sat!

Hoist!

Can't wait for Sat!!! Amazing how a little bit of snow (almost 2 feet) makes the thought of a Motorcycle show seem like riding season is just around the corner 

Steve

[hard10]

I've only used Garmin products. I have an original V which was a non mapping unit. My current unit is the 478 of which I have two and a 276C +. I personally like the 478 for the NEXRAD radar feature. One can purchase the same unit and not activate the weather. It transitions from land to marine for boat use. I have used the Zumo and it is very nice but once you upgrade to the higher level like the 478 it's hard to go backwards.

[Fired00d]

Got it for $621 at PCNation.com Steve.

see you on Sat!

Hoist!

You got a good deal they are back up to $654. at PCNation now. One thing I will say for purchasing from them though it's free 3 day shipping.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Dan_Lockwood]

The only thing I've noticed in looking at different sites for discounted prices is that they differ in content from one to the other.

http://www.bwayphoto.com/ViewProduct.aspx?ID=3276493&l=LowPriceDigital

The above link is to Broadway Photo and they have the best price around but the items that come with the unit are very limited.

• Preloaded City Navigator NT North America
• Motorcycle Mount w/ RAM Mounting Hardware
• Carrying Case
• Motorcycle Power Cable
• Security screwdriver
• Owner's Manual on Disk
• Quick Reference Guide
• 1 Year Warranty

In another site it says this comes with the Zumo 550.  Some of the items below may be parts of an assembly and shouldn't have been listed separately, but hey, I don't know.

• Lock Decals
• Instructions
• Adhesive Disk
• Swivel, Ball Joint & Hardware
• Security Wrench
• CD Instruction Manual
• C-Clamp
• Fixed Ball Joint
• Carrying Case
• USB Cable
• Bike Power Wiring
• Suction Mount
• City Navigator NT DVD
• the Unit
• Motor Bike Mount1 Year Warranty
• Alternate Top & Bottom Covers
• Power Cable
• Mounting Instructions
• USB Charging Module
• 1 Year Warranty

So is it really best to buy the cheapest available or are the "extra" items not really needed, like the mount etc?  I see most are using the Techmount, which I'll probably get as well.

Just thought I'd add my $.02 of useless information.

[Fired00d]

Be very careful buying from Broadway I've heard bad things about them and their selling practices. Look at the Garmin site and see what they say should come in the box and that's what you should get. If anybody is selling anything less then that they have "raped" the box of parts.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[mungam]

Just thought I'd add my $.02 of useless information.

I am not considering anything as useless information at this point.  
I want this to be a well informed purchase this time around.  

Thanks
Steve

[JCZ]

I have the Garmin 2730.

It has the entire US and will recalculate within ten seconds after you've missed your turn.  I went with this unit for the XM radio (I ride an 04 SEEG) and the fact that I could use it on my bike, in my car or truck.  I'm very happy with it and would do it again.

[mungam]

I have the Garmin 2730.

It has the entire US and will recalculate within ten seconds after you've missed your turn.  I went with this unit for the XM radio (I ride an 04 SEEG) and the fact that I could use it on my bike, in my car or truck.  I'm very happy with it and would do it again.

How does the XM work through the GPS/bike radio and also what happens when you switch to the car?
My Quest2 has a single speaker on the cig plug with the car kit so it is not stereo.

Thanks
Steve

[Midnight Rider]

Dan...be very, very careful when dealing with some of those electronic/camera places on the internet.  A lot of the bad ones are in NYC or Miami.  Some of their tactics include robbing the box of parts, then charging you extra for them; non USA warranty (Gray Market...comes from overseas, so no USA warranty...the camera company then provides their own warranty); excessive shipping charges; selling refurbished items as new.

Until Garmin comes out with a Zumo 650 or whatever the next iteration will be, I doubt you'll find a unit for under 600 bucks

[mungam]

Until Garmin comes out with a Zumo 650 or whatever the next iteration will be, I doubt you'll find a unit for under 600 bucks

http://www.nextag.com/Garmin-Zumo-550-Motorcycle-510639965/price-history-html
This is what I have been using to track prices.  It looks like timing is everything.

Steve

[Fired00d]

Now I know why that name "Broadway Photo" rang a bell. Look here for reasons to not buy from them - BBB Report of Broadway Photo.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[BayouBiker]

just my POV...
I stayed w/ the stock GPS. I only use it for minor reference (general directions) and the occasional POI (sometimes I gotta be sure to bypass the HD stealers).
1/2 the fun of riding is finding my way using the old fashioned method (get lost & ask someone).
+ after $36K, I'm not buying something to render a 'built-in' piece useless (oops- ok, except for the engine, exhaust, ECM, tires, speakers, seat, sprocket, suspension... ),
the stock Nav does OK, I don't need door2door instructions.

ps - no offense intended as I use TomTom in our cages....

[JCZ]

How does the XM work through the GPS/bike radio and also what happens when you switch to the car?
My Quest2 has a single speaker on the cig plug with the car kit so it is not stereo.

Thanks
Steve

hd-dude wired my bike.  Put the huge XM antenna up in the fairing and ran the wires through the fairing and up the bar to the ram mount.

To get the XM from the GPS to play through the bike speakers, I just run the little cable from the GPS and it plugs directly into the front of the stock head unit on the bike.  Same in my truck, Mercedes and BMW.  I bought a second antenna.  When you register with XM you have to have a "radio ID" however, on this unit, it's actually an antenna ID.  I say this because I had a very difficult time with the people at XM.......they kept insisting that it was a radio ID however, when  I finally figured that they were wanting the ID number off the antenna, it all came together.



**EDIT**  By the way, I've used this GPS on my bike from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific Ocean and am very happy with it.  It never failed me, not on the smallest of back roads, not in the highest altitudes of the rockies, not in driving rain, not in weathr below freezing.  I know that there are a couple of others on this site that use the 2730 (with XM) and 2720 (without XM).  Terrie's was taken from her car when it was left unlocked and I just bought the same thing, again, for her.....

[mungam]

To get the XM from the GPS to play through the bike speakers, I just run the little cable from the GPS and it plugs directly into the front of the stock head unit on the bike.  Same in my truck, Mercedes and BMW. 

I don't have any inputs on the car radio. 
But thanks for the input

Steve

[Fired00d]

Steve,
If you have a cassette player in your car then you can get a cassette adapter that you can plug into the GPS output.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[mungam]

Steve,
If you have a cassette player in your car then you can get a cassette adapter that you can plug into the GPS output.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Post # 100 
No cassette. 6 disk cd changer.  When I use the Ipod in the car I have an FM transmitter.

Steve

[ccr]

Post # 100 
No cassette. 6 disk cd changer.  When I use the Ipod in the car I have an FM transmitter.

Steve

 

A couple of years ago, you never thought you'd be here, did you?  See, we grow on you. 

Sorry we won't see you in Sedonna, but so very happy that we will get to see you in Maggie Valley.

   You know, I've heard you meet the nicest people on a ............\

[Fired00d]

Post # 100 
No cassette. 6 disk cd changer.  When I use the Ipod in the car I have an FM transmitter.

Steve

Is that a wired to the iPod? If it is then you should be able to use that to plug into the output of the GPS also.

Oh, and congrats on post #100.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[rlavigna]

Steve, I looked at many GPS units and found the Zumo 550 to be the best of breed product for use on motorcycles and a great product for car also.  Since buying the Zumo last Feb I have not found anything I would replace it with to date.  Good luck in making your choice.  Rich

[mungam]

Steve, I looked at many GPS units and found the Zumo 550 to be the best of breed product for use on motorcycles and a great product for car also.  Since buying the Zumo last Feb I have not found anything I would replace it with to date.  Good luck in making your choice.  Rich

Thanks Rich!!!
Steve

[mungam]

A couple of years ago, you never thought you'd be here, did you?  See, we grow on you. 

Sorry we won't see you in Sedonna, but so very happy that we will get to see you in Maggie Valley.

   You know, I've heard you meet the nicest people on a ............\

Yup I was working from home and spent most of the day on the site.  Got nothing done for work today, but everyone knows how that goes.......
Sedona...that is another story.  It is back as a possibility.  Looking into the time at work.  My friend that was getting married eloped.

Steve

[ccr]

Yup I was working from home and spent most of the day on the site.  Got nothing done for work today, but everyone knows how that goes.......
Sedona...that is another story.  It is back as a possibility.  Looking into the time at work.  My friend that was getting married eloped.

Steve

Steve,  Sounds like your calendar has just opened up a new opportunity for us to get together sooner then MV.  Look forward to it. Hook up with Bill and Anne. 

Hope Neal can come too.

Can't wait to hug you a great big one.

[spydglide]

What are you running for a GPS on your ride?
What are the best features/why did you buy that model?
What do you dislike about it now that you have used it?
What did you pay for it?
How did you mount/wire it?
Doing it all over again, would you make a different choice?

I welcome your response and candor as I want my next GPS to eliminate stress instead of adding to it.

Steve

Steve, I am also running the zumo 550.  I am very pleased with it so far.  Only had one significant ride (Eastern NC to Ark) since I got it and it was great.  Esp. for finding things in Chattanooga and Memphis.  Haven't figured out how to get it to avoid Interstates w/o using every hog path.  But I'm sure it's as much my problem as the unit.  Best features are: waterproof/easy to use while riding/very visible screen in all light/small and as unobtrusive as one could be hanging on the handlebar/XM capable/fuel alarm is nice on my gas hog............My main dislike is that I can't find a decent place to mount the ugly hockey puck XM antenna/radio and still have it removeable to take to another vehicle (rules out the under the fairing that would hide it). I ordered from the least expensive site that I could find and paid $613.95 a couple of months ago.  Paid $221 for the XM antenna/radio to go w/ it.  Oh, the reason I chose this unit is the earlier research others , especially D00d had done and reported on this site.  Especially the mounting that they had already figured out.  There are good pics on  her somewhere of some mounted.  I need to take some and add to the collection.  Terry figured out the marine cigar-plug.  Seeing some at MV '07 helped me make up my mind also.  I got a quick once over how to from Brian between beers.  har!  spyder

[mungam]

Steve,  Sounds like your calendar has just opened up a new opportunity for us to get together sooner then MV.  Look forward to it. Hook up with Bill and Anne. 

Hope Neal can come too.

Can't wait to hug you a great big one.

I have already been in contact with Bill.  The next step is time off from work.  Should be able to submit the request some time in January.  Hope to know soon after that.

Steve

[iski]

Steve,


Bought my Zumo 550 @ buydig.com for $620 - no shipping charge, no tax.  Handlebar mount is junk - went with Techmount & so far very pleased.  Have had other GPS's in the past - Garmin on the boat, so that may be why the Zumo was very easy to learn.  Or it could have been reading the encyclopedia of knowledge d00d (otherwise known as Zumo Guru) has posted here - extremely helpful stuff.  Except no cold beer locator.... so far.

Have XM built into the 147 function H/K radio on the bike so did not get the ugly azzed XM antenna.  Works great - Aux. plug in on bike for sound & also in one of the cars.  I'd buy it again - price seemed to bottom out to about $600 in Nov. & now is a little bit higher.  Good luck.

Question:  what FM transmitter are you using?  Bought one from Best Buy that they recommended & it's junk - will be taking it back.

[ccr]

...Except no cold beer locator.... so far...

I thought there was a feature to search for restaurants?  Is that not cold beer locator? 

[iski]

I thought there was a feature to search for restaurants?  Is that not cold beer locator? 

In some areas, yes.  In other areas, not so much.  Some of the suthun towns we frequently ride to & through are dry.  In much of southwest Georgia there is no beer or alcohol sold on Sundays.  Figure that's one reason we see so many south GA bikers in North Florida on Sundays.   

A beer mug indicator would be handy at times, but so far no POI. 

[Fired00d]

I thought there was a feature to search for restaurants?  Is that not cold beer locator? 

True, but not always the "coldest" beer. I've found them mostly at little out of the way local establishments that serve really good home cooked food (best burger in town) type places. These type of places don't usually make into the GPS database.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[ccr]

...Some of the suthun towns we frequently ride to & through are dry.  In much of southwest Georgia there is no beer or alcohol sold on Sundays.  Figure that's one reason we see so many south GA bikers in North Florida on Sundays.   

A beer mug indicator would be handy at times, but so far no POI. 

   That is too funny.  We seldom will drink alcohol while riding our bikes, so have never noticed this lack of availability, but I had no idea that one may stop for a bite somewhere and that alcohol would not be available on a Sunday.  I do know of dry counties, but since we don't live near any, never thought of that as being a destination determinant.  Very interesting. Got to add this to the Friday Beer Thread.  

 

[ccr]

True, but not always the "coldest" beer. I've found them mostly at little out of the way local establishments that serve really good home cooked food (best burger in town) type places. These type of places don't usually make into the GPS database.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Now that is very true.  Have found that with the GPS on my car.  Don't have one on the bike yet.  But I was running across Richmond one day, looked up a restaurant to grab a quick sandwich on my way back to work.  I got directions to a Hardees.  The GPS took me to the Virginia Headquarters for Hardees.  The only sandwiches were the ones the workers brought with them.   

[mungam]

Question:  what FM transmitter are you using?  Bought one from Best Buy that they recommended & it's junk - will be taking it back.

It was something I picked up on ebay for 10 or 20 dollars.  It was a combo charger fm transmitter.  I can switch between 4 frequencys.  Very similar to this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-in-1-BK-Car-Kit-FM-Transmitter-Charger-for-iPod-Video_W0QQitemZ120202347725QQihZ002QQcategoryZ73836QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It works, I only use it on long trips.

Steve

[Bungy]

Steve, my Garmin 2730 (and probably other models as well) has the ability to broadcast wirelessly on an FM frequency. Just pick an unused frequency in your area, then set the unit to that frequency. I use it alot when riding in a group - everybody can have tunes! One thing about the Zumo is that it doesn't show the names of the towns your riding thru (http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=15546.msg258809#msg258809 ) when in map mode - to me that's almost a must have feature.

[WFP]

Around here (Southern New England), I find the FM a pain since there are too many radio stations.  i am constantly competing with a channel and find that I need to shift the frequency....when I use FM for an xm radio we have.

/Bill

[iski]

  That is too funny.  We seldom will drink alcohol while riding our bikes, so have never noticed this lack of availability, but I had no idea that one may stop for a bite somewhere and that alcohol would not be available on a Sunday.  I do know of dry counties, but since we don't live near any, never thought of that as being a destination determinant.  Very interesting. Got to add this to the Friday Beer Thread. 

 

We don't have a drink every time we ride (or even close) but sometimes a frosty cold beverage is desired after lunch, for medicinal purposes of course (watching the ocean with a frosty mug can be good for the soul).  Noticed the same thing with my Zumo - it will pick a corp. office or HQ as well as the place of business at times.  I was born & raised in a dry county, but beer could be bought on Sundays (bootleggers).  The GPS is a very handy device - don't have it on this trip since we don't need it, but when we do, its invaluable at times. 

[iski]

It was something I picked up on ebay for 10 or 20 dollars.  It was a combo charger fm transmitter.  I can switch between 4 frequencys.  Very similar to this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-in-1-BK-Car-Kit-FM-Transmitter-Charger-for-iPod-Video_W0QQitemZ120202347725QQihZ002QQcategoryZ73836QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
It works, I only use it on long trips.

Steve

Thanks.

[JCZ]

 That is too funny.  We seldom will drink alcohol while riding our bikes, so have never noticed this lack of availability, but I had no idea that one may stop for a bite somewhere and that alcohol would not be available on a Sunday.  I do know of dry counties, but since we don't live near any, never thought of that as being a destination determinant.  Very interesting. Got to add this to the Friday Beer Thread.  

 

Actually............that would be the wrong thread.  They'll need to start a Sunday beer thread.

[PMRC]

Garmin 478 with XM & Weather w/ NEXRAD weather radar.  Very happy. Excellent unit and can't imagine traveling without it.

[jfscheck]

Love it - just make sure you have it updated via the Bios uploads on the HD site...

[mungam]

Well thanks to all their input on the subject.
I got the Zumo 550 this week.  It is sooooooo much better than my Quest2 was as far as speed of drawing and data input.  The differences...only time will tell but my futures so bring I gotta wear shades 

Steve

[Fired00d]

Congrats Steve!!! I know you'll enjoy it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d