Best motorcycle satnav?

[DaineseMan]

I'm looking to purchase a new satnav, and with the introduction of the new Garmin Zumo 350LM, I was wondering whether you guys thought this is now the best one on the market.

[GTIR]

I think they're all overpriced.

Get a Tom Tom One (or whatever), a waterproof case and a yoke/handlebar mount.
all in £150, assuming you don't already have a Tom Tom.

[DaineseMan]

GTIR said:

I think they're all overpriced.

Get a Tom Tom One (or whatever), a waterproof case and a yoke/handlebar mount.
all in £150, assuming you don't already have a Tom Tom.

I'm using a TomTom Go 820 in one of those waterproof cases. Problem is that the screen visibility is terrible in sunlight.

[off_again]

Had the older Garmin unit while in the US but I own the newer TomTom Rider.

I found the Garmin great in the US, lanes and general directions matched with the signs and road numbers, so it was great. Friend I was with had a TomTom and he did struggle, as it wasnt quite good enough. I also find the Garmin good at programming and doing a planned route.

But, I find the TomTom is great in Europe, has better and simpler display and with the PC app its actually very flexible and powerful. Its also a shed load cheaper and the current Rider version comes with a decent mount (RAM) but it is not powered. Better value for money, but not as sophisticated as the Garmin.

Personally I think I made the right choice with the TomTom for Europe.

[creampuff]

GTIR said:

I think they're all overpriced.

+1.

Double or triple the price of a car sat-nav and they don't even have as many features eg no internet connection.

Garmin Zumo 660 is the ultimate one though, with a price to match. It beats the Tom Tom imho as it comes standard with a powered mount and hardwired connection for audio-out. The user interface is not as good at Tom Tom however.

[GTIR]

DaineseMan said:

GTIR said:

I think they're all overpriced.

Get a Tom Tom One (or whatever), a waterproof case and a yoke/handlebar mount.
all in £150, assuming you don't already have a Tom Tom.

sunlight.

Lolz.

[Wedg1e]

I use a Garmin Nuvi, £90 at Tesco (other places sell them too ), mount from Maplins, clear plastic bag for when it rains.
Touch-screen still works inside plastic bag and with gloves on though you do need to have the finger precision of Len Fairclough.

[obscene]

Zumo 660. I have one and also use it in the car. Cracking bit of kit.

[Silver993tt]

I've used my old car navi, a Garmin Nuvi 670. It doesn't need a waterproof case and has been in many a downpour without any issue. Bike sat navs are a complete waste of money, have smaller screens and less features.

[ZesPak]

creampuff said:

+1.

Double or triple the price of a car sat-nav and they don't even have as many features eg no internet connection.

Garmin Zumo 660 is the ultimate one though, with a price to match. It beats the Tom Tom imho as it comes standard with a powered mount and hardwired connection for audio-out. The user interface is not as good at Tom Tom however.

Sorry, have to agree here.

Do you have a smartphone? You can use that. And with bluetooth in your helmet it's neigh-on perfect.

I do this on a daily basis using Copilot Live, can't really fault it tbh.

[londonbabe]

I have the Garmin 660
The powered mount with audio is great, and the touch screen works with gloves, in the rain.
Routing is generally spot on, as are speed limit warnings.

However, the "avoid highways" option is to be used with caution as it will send you anywhere but where you need to go sometimes, and there are a fair few smaller streets missing from the UK maps. It's sometimes quite bad at counting roundabout exits too.

[Silver993tt]

londonbabe said:

I have the Garmin 660
The powered mount with audio is great, and the touch screen works with gloves, in the rain.
Routing is generally spot on, as are speed limit warnings.

However, the "avoid highways" option is to be used with caution as it will send you anywhere but where you need to go sometimes, and there are a fair few smaller streets missing from the UK maps. It's sometimes quite bad at counting roundabout exits too.

I've never had a problem with the Garmin maps, even in continental Europe. I did sign up for the lifetime map updates some years ago fo a one of payment which was a bargain as you get the latest maps when you want them.

[Smiler.]

Silver993tt said:

londonbabe said:

I have the Garmin 660
The powered mount with audio is great, and the touch screen works with gloves, in the rain.
Routing is generally spot on, as are speed limit warnings.

However, the "avoid highways" option is to be used with caution as it will send you anywhere but where you need to go sometimes, and there are a fair few smaller streets missing from the UK maps. It's sometimes quite bad at counting roundabout exits too.

I've never had a problem with the Garmin maps, even in continental Europe. I did sign up for the lifetime map updates some years ago which was a bargain as you get the latest maps when you want them.

I did this with the Zumo.

I also got a Terfelizer (sp) mount for both bikes.

Made up two leads with waterproof plugs & can use on both.

The scamera warning subscription is not the best though. The M4 near Slough is still showing 50mph Specs.

There is something odd going on in London though, possiblly something to do with the tall buildings or the rumours about organised crime.

[rsv gone!]

I have an older Garmin 550. The hardware is more dated than even cheap new car GPSs but it has generally been pretty good.

I only use it to keep me on track of pre-planned routes and it also helps as a hairpin-warning system. Finding fuel quickly can be pretty helpful too, although on the continent many of the tiny village fuel stations are closed on a Sunday.

[RemaL]

I have the Zumo 550 and was never impressed with it. used it on the kit car and bike. but having a tom tom in the wife's car I would rather use that than the 550. Now just use the mobile mount with my HTC Desire

[Iang84]

RemaL said:

Now just use the mobile mount with my HTC Desire

What nav software do you use as been contemplating doing this with mine

[Ruttager]

ZesPak said:

Sorry, have to agree here.

Do you have a smartphone? You can use that. And with bluetooth in your helmet it's neigh-on perfect.

I do this on a daily basis using Copilot Live, can't really fault it tbh.

I've been using co-pilot on my iphone for about 3-4 years now. Best thing about it is that it wires into my autocom so it does sat-nav and music (could probably also do hands free if you really wanted) Great when touring as you can take a quick look down at the screen and see the road layout ahead. Good for just sodding off on sunday and then turning it on to get home when lost.

The best thing is that it just clips off the bike and goes in my pocket. The bike charges the phone so its one device that does everything. Get in my car, slot it into the holder and its sat nav in my car... And so on. Keeping it waterproof is the biggest headache (freezer bag and an elastic band works for me).

[DaineseMan]

Ruttager said:

ZesPak said:

Sorry, have to agree here.

Do you have a smartphone? You can use that. And with bluetooth in your helmet it's neigh-on perfect.

I do this on a daily basis using Copilot Live, can't really fault it tbh.

I've been using co-pilot on my iphone for about 3-4 years now. Best thing about it is that it wires into my autocom so it does sat-nav and music (could probably also do hands free if you really wanted) Great when touring as you can take a quick look down at the screen and see the road layout ahead. Good for just sodding off on sunday and then turning it on to get home when lost.

The best thing is that it just clips off the bike and goes in my pocket. The bike charges the phone so its one device that does everything. Get in my car, slot it into the holder and its sat nav in my car... And so on. Keeping it waterproof is the biggest headache (freezer bag and an elastic band works for me).

Have you ever considered these products?

http://www.lifeproof.com/life/
http://www.lifeproof.com/shop/cases/iphone-4-4s/
http://www.lifeproof.com/shop/accessories/mounts/l...

[Mr OCD]

Have to admit I agree with the comment about being overpriced...

I installed Skobbler GPS Navigation to my iPhone for £2.49 ... plugged in ear phones, tucked phone away and it was spot on ... gets me everywhere via voice instructions, can download world maps for £7.99 to the device and even integrates with music / speed cameras / etc.

TBH I can't see the point of spending £300 + (I was going too!)

[toxgobbler]

Been using a Zumo 550 for the last 5 years and it's ace, got a lifetime subscription maps package thingy so it'll never go out of date. Robust, waterproof and just works (came with a car cradle too).