Bike GPS

[markbvt]

The current Zumos do have lifetime maps (they have LM at the end of the product name). The older ones don't, but then the older Nuvis didn't either.

--mark

[markbvt]

Many of them are also still extremely hard to read in bright sunlight. Another plus for real paper maps.

True, that's also an advantage of the transflective screen used in the Oregon and Montana series -- it reads very clearly in direct sunlight.

--mark

[Garandman]

Btw Waze records your track. You can look at them online, haven't tried to download one.

I got a PM asking what GPS Im using and how it is mounted. On the motorcycles I've used the Nuvi 500 (which seems to be the same as the Zumo 220) the Zumo 550, and the Zumo 660.

Difference between Zumo 550 and 660/665.


550 installed.


I fabricated a mount with some RAM mount parts and a section of 1" rectangular aluminum tubing. Cost was a few dollars and it took an hour or so.

I ran the harness and jack for the headphones to the back of the tank. I listen to the navigation with a wired headset. Wearing headphones in MA in both ears may be illegal in MA, so beware.

[MattR302]

I have a garmin that my wife doesnt use anymore since she got her iphone. I put in the map pocket of my tankbag if I need to use it. I'll eventually get a ram mount on my bars or something.

If I had a smartphone, I'd be real hesitant about using it as a GPS mounted to the bars. I remember hearing last summer about a rider who crashed on an exit ramp I use fairly often. I think his phone was on his bike and he ended up getting separated from his bike. He got lucky when someone found him the next morning and lifestar was called. Since then I always keep my phone and wallet on me, never in a tankbag or my givis.

Found the story- http://m.myrecordjournal.com/mobile/...9bb2963f4.html

[Garandman]

State Police say Carlton Crooks, 28, of Waterbury suffered an incapacitating injury, which firefighters on scene said was an amputated left leg.

Ouch. Then he had to sit there all night, with no one but his leg to talk to.

[AEG]

I have a garmin that my wife doesnt use anymore since she got her iphone. I put in the map pocket of my tankbag if I need to use it. I'll eventually get a ram mount on my bars or something.

If I had a smartphone, I'd be real hesitant about using it as a GPS mounted to the bars. I remember hearing last summer about a rider who crashed on an exit ramp I use fairly often. I think his phone was on his bike and he ended up getting separated from his bike. He got lucky when someone found him the next morning and lifestar was called. Since then I always keep my phone and wallet on me, never in a tankbag or my givis.

Found the story- http://m.myrecordjournal.com/mobile/...9bb2963f4.html

Your bike has handlebars, you can get a bike mount from Amazon for $10 for the Garmin GPS. A good point to keep the phone in the pocket of the jacket instead of the tankbag. That is where I used to store it before I bought a tankbag and it goes back to the jacket.

[Jwayma]

Hey John, its the 5. Didn't want to spend the $ on the 10. The 5 works fine for what I use it for, talking to the wife, or is it taking orders from her? Anyway the latest firmware update improved the performance. It used to drop her for no apparent reason and now it stays connected or paired better. I've used it connected to my iphone but Bluetooth is an iphone battery eater, so I don't do it often.

regards,

John

[Garandman]

I used my old Nuvi 500 with MC mount for trail riding last week. The 500 came with topo maps. First thing I learned was to turn up the detail to "most" but when I. Did, most of the trails we rode were in there. Having the contour lines was useful to see hills and the like.

It will run about 4 hours on the internal battery. I hooked up the charger and over 4 days it seems to have wiped out my battery, checking into that now.

They sell used on eBay for$100 to $200. At $200 buy a Montana, but if you want it for car use, the 500 is pretty handy. Mount is rock solid and unit is waterproof.