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[rekoch]

I am going to ask Santa for a GPS, so I would appreciate any input from the list.

I am considering three models at this time, the Lowrance 500c, the TomTom rider, which doesn't seem to be availabe yet, or Harleys new version, with the dash mount.

My objection to the Harley unit is the mount, it involves drilling holes in that painted inner fairing, (gasp), but it does result in a nice clean install. I also wonder if it is state of the art technology. It does have a find the nearest Harley feature, I my billfold ever starts to get too heavy!

The Lowrance comes with a waterproof 5 inch daylight screen, and a builtin MP3 player, but it may be so large it occludes dash instruments.

The TomTom rider is so new, I hate to be a guinea pig.

Any input would be much appreciated.

BTW, went to Sturgis last week with MOBE, we both ran flawlessly, did over 2200 miles smoothly and comfortably. Comparing the 05 frame to my 99 frame, which I did 1900 miles on the week before Sturgis, Harley has made some huge improvements in stability, frame rigidity and handling. These are truly sweet rides. We saw lots of CVO bikes out there, MOBE took lots of pics of fellow CVO riders and machines. The heat the first day was problematic, both our bikes went to every other cylinder detonation while idling across Lazelle, the air temp at the time was 104, hard to fault the machine for that.

[WFP]

I am going to ask Santa for a GPS, so I would appreciate any input from the list.

I am considering three models at this time, the Lowrance 500c, the TomTom rider, which doesn't seem to be availabe yet, or Harleys new version, with the dash mount.

My objection to the Harley unit is the mount, it involves drilling holes in that painted inner fairing, (gasp), but it does result in a nice clean install. I also wonder if it is state of the art technology. It does have a find the nearest Harley feature, I my billfold ever starts to get too heavy!

The Lowrance comes with a waterproof 5 inch daylight screen, and a builtin MP3 player, but it may be so large it occludes dash instruments.

The TomTom rider is so new, I hate to be a guinea pig.

Any input would be much appreciated.

BTW, went to Sturgis last week with MOBE, we both ran flawlessly, did over 2200 miles smoothly and comfortably. Comparing the 05 frame to my 99 frame, which I did 1900 miles on the week before Sturgis, Harley has made some huge improvements in stability, frame rigidity and handling. These are truly sweet rides. We saw lots of CVO bikes out there, MOBE took lots of pics of fellow CVO riders and machines. The heat the first day was problematic, both our bikes went to every other cylinder detonation while idling across Lazelle, the air temp at the time was 104, hard to fault the machine for that.

If you go with the HD, you really would have to paint it yellow, I get away without paint on my bike...

/Bill

[naitram]

i haqve the garmin quest, same as the HD unit but no dealer database loaded. as far as the technology goes i'm very happy with it

[WFP]

Oh, mine is with Garmin right now since it kept re-booting!

/Bill

[wilberb]

I have the Garmin 2620. Great unit and I am very pleased with it. You might want to at least consider this model.

[Rsantucc]

I have the 2610 and it allows you to downlaod maps easier via Compact Flash Card. Great unit LOve it

[Twolanerider]

I've got the 2620 also.  Functionally equivalent in usage and appearance to the 2610.  You can upload to the 2620 via USB cable and that has not proven to be a problem at all.  These units have a bigger screen than the Garmin/HD units.  Their mapping and display fuctions are outstanding.  To use one you'll need one of the several different available handlebar mounts.  From my only own experience using these I can give them nothing but high praise indeed.

[WFP]

The only real possitives I give the HD unit:

The custom Fairing mount
The Dealer Database...

It was enough for me though...and understand, I really like electronics and gps...just look at the dash on my boat (VHF/Radar/GPS/Chartplotter/Autopilot/Digital depth Sounder/EPIRB...and more):

/Bill

[WFP]

That's Hyannis Harbor on the upper screen and the fishfinder on the lower screen.

My point is, there are tradeoffs with any decision...you can't get everything to please everybody.

Another example is the radio I am looking at for my truck, an eclipse AVN5495 It has a 30G Hard Drive, 10 for navigation and 20 for music...but it cannot control the eclipse Sirius interface.  The AVN5435 can control Sirius but does not have the Hard Drive.

/Bill

[Unbalanced]

WFP,

Nice SeaRay which one is it I saw 2 motors so was guessing Sundancer 290 or up.

[jmorton10]

I have used a GPS for a few years now & have gone through four different units.

My new Garmin 2610 is a keeper however.  The 2610 with a $99 2 gig CF card will let you load the entire USA Mapquest CD at one time, so it gives you all the features of the 2620 but without the fragile hard drive that can be disastrous on a bike(Garmin does not recommend the 2620 for motorcycle use).

I downloaded all the HD dealer waypoints & installed them also.

Not only that, if you buy the 2620, you don't get the software on disc so you can't do any mapping, routing, waypoints etc on your PC.

The 2610 is an awesome unit, it has more features & a better screen than the Quest which was my second choice.

~John

[jmorton10]

http://www.moccsplace.com/images/harley/gpsdealers/

[Twolanerider]

I have used a GPS for a few years now & have gone through four different units.

My new Garmin 2610 is a keeper however.

[jmorton10]

Personally, I would never trust a hard drive on a bike & I saw two reports of 2620's going belly up for that exact reason before I bought my unit.

I do professional digital photography as a side business & use Microdrives & CF cards in my studio gear.  I have had two Microdrives go belly up just from too much wear in a digital camera(they are a moving disc after all), I have never had a CF card go bad.

I talked to Gamin's tech support before buying my 2610 & they told me rather emphatically NOT to even consider the 2620 if it was to be used even occasionally on a motorcycle.
~John

[re-tread]

The first HD Garmin I had kept turning off while riding, they replace the unit. Then the shoe it fit into became loose and the sound would just disappear. The unit tracks well enough, however it takes getting use to especially when "you" know where your going.

Tech Support is not great - one "gentleman" told me if it doesn't track correctly, just turn it off. [smiley=confused5.gif]

What is  good about it is. It comes off the bike like a breeze, and fits into you pocket, you can also program it while your having lunch. Never had any problem reading the display, in all kinds of light.

I wouldn't buy it again. Hope this helps.