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[RPR50]

I've resisted nav. Something about the highway unfolding as it comes. I get lost occasionally but it's part of the experience. With the SESG I'm taking longer trips. WV last weekend. Washington DC this weekend. I didn't get to DC until Friday about seven, and my destination was downtown. Before I left, i had printed the turn by turn, and right before i hit the metro area I taped it to the dash. Worked like a champ but it had its moments. I've not seen the bike as schedule constrained so precise ETA not been an issue. Unlike in a car, there is no passenger to check the map so you're on your own. I'm starting to see the benefit of nav. Might be time.

[michaelbmenaker]

try it. you'll love it.

[Fired00d]

I resisted for the longest time too... until I went to a GTG and saw how they made things so much easier. As you mentioned riding on the bike doesn't give you the luxury to have maps, printed directions easily at your disposal. Even worse when you get in larger unfamiliar metro areas. Now that I have mine I leave it on all the time not so much for navigation but for the MP3's, and also if you go out riding on unfamiliar roads and find one that you'd like to ride again in the future you can download the tracks to your computer, or save it as a route on your GPS. Getting lost by "GPS" and then hitting "Home" to get back is a wonderful thing.

As was just mentioned... try it you'll love it.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[2010SSRS]

waiting for a sale.............

[1sharprdkg]

I have to admit I put off getting a GPS for a long time. So last Christmas bought the Zumo 660, finally found a pretty good price on internet. Comes with motorcycle and car mount. Must say it has been very useful on several trips in the car. Recently got my dash mount complete on the 09SEUC and will use it next week on extended trip on bike for the first time. Very handy device but I still carry a paper map, just in case. Or maybe because I can't stop being old school. Good luck GPS shopping!

[RPR50]

If I'm doing more major metro riding, nav is a must.  It just comes at you too fast. Rest of the time, I get my general direction set amd check a map when I get closer to the destination. We'll see.

[ultrafxr]

Used my Road Tech Zumo 660 for the first road trip in July.  Met some friends near Philly and went over to Mike's Famous H-D in New Castle (Wilmington) Delaware.  The 'lane assist' feature came up for the first time on the metro interstate and it sure helped knowing what lane to select what with all the traffic - I mean it was heavy and fast and furious.  Would not leave home without a gps on the bike.

[grandpadoc]

We use ours pretty much as a entertainment center on a trip for music, ebooks, and videos and turn on the nav to get to the final destination.  The time and miles to destination is a nice feature also to find and plan gas stops or call ahead for lodging. Our unit has bluetooth but its only useful to alert us that a call came in as we use half helmets or no helmets on our rides.  Doc

[110tHunDer]

 
First time you need (and I mean NEED to find gas) it pays for itself.

[grandpadoc]

First time you need (and I mean NEED to find gas) it pays for itself.

...amen to that. Sometimes its nice when your just blowing out miles to find POI's along the way and make the day a little more interesting. The speed limit warning has saved me a couple of times in urban areas when I'm not paying attention (most of the time).    Doc

[SIX38]

I'm completely satisfied with the features and performance of my Garmin Zumo 550.
     User friendly, touch screen works even with gloves on.
     Gas gauge with low gas alert is a useful feature.
     XM radio is much easier to use than the OE HK radio.
     Can load MP3 files
     XM Traffic feature is a big help. I've found it to be accurate and up to the minute info.
     Weather info is another plus. The weather map feature will show the surrounding weather conditions 
     Garmin "proximity" (red light) camera subscription has more than paid for itself. Lots and lots of cameras in the New York City, Long
     Island area.
     Having advance warning voice prompts to upcoming turns, etc. makes for much safer riding.
     Great for finding your hotel and restaurants in unfamiliar towns and cities.

TRY ONE, YOU WILL LIKE IT!!
Tom P. 

[kraut]

the feature we perhaps enjoyed the most is the gps will teach you new roads in your very own backyard.

You know those roads you have taken for decades just out of routine, never even thinking about the alternatives - a gps will show them to you 

[RPR50]

Appreciate all the thoughts. Just curious. The forum shows lot of different mounts. I'm torn between the fairing mount and the new chrome Harley handlebar mount. Thoughts?  Thanks.

[Bigdog6996]

I use the fairing mount.  I find it much cleaner looking.  It's great but limits your choice of windshield bags to aftermarket.

[kraut]

there are almost as many solutions for this as there are Zumos around 

After several more or less adequate attempts I talked a friend into handcrafting a handlebar mount shown here.

I prefer the handlebar mount as it's comfortably within reach from a relaxed riding position without having to take your hands too far away from controls, in your normal line of sight when checking the mirrors and can be tilted to avoid reflections. Cable goes through the handlebar. And shiny