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[WFP]

The pain will be hauling a 'puter to upload additional charts...needs more that 114MB of storage for the way we tend to ride...

[Twolanerider]

The pain will be hauling a 'puter to upload additional charts...needs more that 114MB of storage for the way we tend to ride...

Too bad it doesn't accept memory cartridges.  Then you could create "regional" cartridges and plug in the appropriate one as you covered more road.

[Elvis]

Too bad it doesn't accept memory cartridges.  Then you could create "regional" cartridges and plug in the appropriate one as you covered more road.

This was a big problem with my GPS 5 (previous model to the HD version).  It had only 19Mb of hard drive storage and no memory cartridge capability....big PITA cuz you couldn't load all the info for a complete trip...now basically worthless.   New version (Quest) has 115Mb, which is way better plus color but why no removable memory?  Compact Flash capability woulda fixed this problem.  So, still not enough memory to load a big trip.  And no touch screen.  Better to go with 2620 or 2610, IMO and have it all 'in there'.  Need an aftermarket HD type mount for it tho...comeon TwoLane...you can do it.
 
It appears with the Quest, Garmin is still partying like it's 1999...


elvis

[Twolanerider]

This was a big problem with my GPS 5 (previous model to the HD version).  It had only 19Mb of hard drive storage and no memory cartridge capability....big PITA cuz you couldn't load all the info for a complete trip...now basically worthless.   New version (Quest) has 115Mb, which is way better plus color but why no removable memory?  Compact Flash capability woulda fixed this problem.  So, still not enough memory to load a big trip.  And no touch screen.  Better to go with 2620 or 2610, IMO and have it all 'in there'.  Need an aftermarket HD type mount for it tho...comeon TwoLane...you can do it.
  
It appears with the Quest, Garmin is still partying like it's 1999...


elvis

Agree completely with all of it Elvis.  Except for maybe fashioning a new intermediate mount from the fairing piece to the 2620.  My simple little handlebar u-bolt works just fine  [smiley=laugh.gif]

[Elvis]

Agree completely with all of it Elvis.  Except for maybe fashioning a new intermediate mount from the fairing piece to the 2620.  My simple little handlebar u-bolt works just fine  [smiley=laugh.gif]

Yo TwoLane,
Do you find that the RAM mount marks the bars after repeated on/off or no?  I was thinking just mount 2620 on left, plug into the existing cig lighter and forget the wiring hassle for voice...figure I just look at it to know what I need to know, don't need voice prompts on the bike.  Thoughts?

elvis

[Rsantucc]

Hey thanks to everyone for the great feed back. Ok here is my two sense. I did a lot of research on the Garmin 26 series units and the out come and best buy for anyone was the 2610. Why you ask? Well first the 2610 does not have a hard drive and is a true GPS unit that will accept any MAP globally. Using a 2 Meg Compact Flash Card (cost less $100) you can load the entire United States with all the goodies, Restaurants, locations dealers everything on the card which is removable. Also the unit is the same size as all the 26 series units and you can mount it tot he left handle bar using Ram mounts and use the cigarette plug to plug it and have speaker from the plug which at 3/4 volume works great. You also can buy a second card or just copy over your 2 meg card an International map and use the 2610 globally. (I just switch cards out when I travel to Europe and Australia)

The 2620 has a hard drive and you need to have the unit with you to download any updates or make any changes. If the hard drive fails you need to send the whole unit for repair, with 2610 just buy another compact flash or call the company and swap as many compact flash cards have lifetime warrantees.

Mounting: I use the RAM mount system connected to a Garmin Motorcycle mount for the 26 series GPS. This mount allows you to lock the GPS to the mount using a star screw on top of the mount. I purchased all parts through GPS City web site www.gpscity.com .  

Here are the parts I ordered to make it happen: (I used Chrome as who wants black on an expense SEEG) (Also I ordered the cup holder since I can swap the GPS with the cup holder or use both with a multi ball arm. Also ordered the Chrome handle bar mount from the site taht was listed earlier in this trend with 1" ball works great)

NPI RAM Mounts Stainless Steel 0.75'' to 1'' Round Rail U-Bolt Base with 1'' Ball Aluminum Plate, P/N RAM-B-231U 1 $13.95  $13.95  
Garmin StreetPilot 26xx Motorcycle Cradle Kit with Bare Wire Cable, P/N 010-10495-00 1 $35.95  $35.95  
NPI RAM Mounts Stainless Steel U-Bolt for 1.25'' Diameter, P/N RMR-SU2512 1 $4.95  $4.95  
NPI RAM Mounts Plastic Self Leveling Cup Holder with 1'' Ball, P/N RAM-B-132BU 1 $13.95  $13.95  
NPI RAM Mounts Aluminum 1'' Ball 2.5'' dia Base Plate, P/N RAM-B-202U 1 $9.95  $9.95  
Subtotal  $78.75  
"2 Day" Shipping & Handling  $12.47  
Shipping Insurance  $0.00  
Discount/Coupon  $-0.00  
Shopping Cart Total  $91.22  


Well I hope I explained the reason why the 2610 is the best.

PS: I know I know  [smiley=worthless.gif]

[Twolanerider]

Yo TwoLane,
Do you find that the RAM mount marks the bars after repeated on/off or no?  I was thinking just mount 2620 on left, plug into the existing cig lighter and forget the wiring hassle for voice...figure I just look at it to know what I need to know, don't need voice prompts on the bike.  Thoughts?

elvis

Elvis, I've got no problem with marks on the bars.  The upper part of the clamp is plastic and I don't crush it down hard enough to hurt the bars (no reason to).  I also put two thicknesses of heat shrink tube on the u-bolt so there's no metal to metal contact there.

I also do the mount exactly as you describe.  On the left bar.  The unit tucks in behind the wind screen without blocking any instruments.  And just plugged in to the cig lighter.  It's quick, easy and works flawlessly.

I'm not concerned about the hard drive being a source of failure on the 2620's prematurely because of use on the bike.  If you check the shock spec's for a microdrive they are pretty substantial.  Teeth-rattling-knock-your-glasses-off kind of substantial.  Our rubber mounted bikes aren't a real hazard for them.  

Mine's been on the bike for almost 7000 miles of road trip miles to date.  And it got caught (turned on) in a hellish torrential rain and wind storm earlier today.  Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  

The 2610 is definitely less expensive.  And swapping cartrdiges does give you a kind of flexiblity for int'l travel that we don't have with the 2620.  But since I'm not taking this thing overseas I'm not really worried about that too much  [smiley=beerchug.gif]

With the 2620 you never have to load anything though.  It's really way too convenient not to spend the little bit more and just have every bit of mapped data in hand whenever you want it and never have to do a bit of prep to the unit.  Even the map and data updates for it are easy to load also (takes less than a minute with a high speed UPS connection for anything other than a full map reload).  Even better, they're free  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[WFP]

Just a couple of more coments on the new Harley unit.

Right side vs. Left side. - Stopped at a light holding in the clutch, right side is nice to manipulate the unit.  Cruising, I did reach over a couple of times with the left hand.  The Radar detector on the left works well to mute the tone quickly.

With Maps loaded, it did a much better job of staying on the right road of a route...intersections did not affect it like it did without the maps loaded.

Driving directions work well without volume (to nag you).  Took a trip Saturday to the Newport Chowdah Festival.  On the way back, swung around Ocen Drive and was heading home.  We were stopped and emergency vehicles were ahead of us.  Used the GPS's ability to recalculate a route to get around it.  I did not press any buttons or re-route manually.  I just turned around and started riding a different way home and it showed me a shortcut I would not have known about.

Sunday went to Salem, MA and once again the directions were very good...although Tunnels obviously confuse it...doesn't one of the new 26 series have a inertia sensor for the times you lose Satellite View?

At around 20mph, I must hit a resonant frequency.  The unit does vibrate too much to read.  Below that or above it, it works great.

I like it and I really like the finished appearance.  Nothing against RAM mounts, but this is a cleaner no wire install (as long as you don't want to connect to the AUX in on the radio).  I can live with the limited map storage and do not regret my choice.

/Bill

[Twolanerider]

Good to hear that it's working so well Bill.  That clean mounted installation has got to be nice.  Glad you're liking it so well  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[WFP]

Very pleased so far...


Now, hopefully, HD will have a downloadable Dealer Database so that we can preplan with Mapsource and have the Dealer Database also loaded there.  Gotta get a t-shirt you know!

/Bill

[WFP]

I would recommend reducing the estimated speed.  I travel faster on the highways but slower on the city streets.  ETA is usually off do to these factors.

/Bill

[Twolanerider]

I would recommend reducing the estimated speed.  I travel faster on the highways but slower on the city streets.  ETA is usually off do to these factors.

/Bill

That's interesting.  Highlights a difference between the Quest series and the 26XX series.  On that one you saw on the red bike the ETA is figured dynamically all the time based on how fast you're currently going, what your average speed has been, and what the speed limits are for the various roads yet ahead on your route.

The upside to that is that you've always got a really good idea how much time you've got left in the seat on any given day.  The downside (though it's not really a downside, jsut something to take in to account) is that it figures it's ETA based on continuous travel.  So every gas stop means the ETA gets pushed back fifteen minutes or so.

That can actually become something of a game.  Say on like a five hundred mile day see how much time you actually lose to stops.  On the trip from home to Ottawa, IL last week the distance was 534 miles.  Upon morning departure the GPS unit said arrival should be 4:30-something.  Added 54 minutes on to that during the day for fuel, munchies and the restroom.

[WFP]

Don,

I don't think there is a difference.  My ETA also recalculates based on speed, but, it still estimates on roads yet to come.  So if you will be travelling city sterrts, it does not account for traffic or lights that you may know that you will encounter.

/Bill

[Twolanerider]

Don,

I don't think there is a difference.  My ETA also recalculates based on speed, but, it still estimates on roads yet to come.  So if you will be travelling city sterrts, it does not account for traffic or lights that you may know that you will encounter.

/Bill

Yeap, that sounds the same.  Glad I've got the bigger screen.  Sure wish I had the neater mount.

(never happy)

[porthole]

Garmin 276C

I use this unit on the bike, a 15' Boston Whaler, my truck and any boats I might be running. The 276 is really a neat little GPS. It is a marine and road GPS.