GPS Features wanted

[nixoid]

I searched for GPS and found nothing on the forums... surprised me a little. I haven't bought one yet mostly becuase I don't really know what units feature what options and which options I need.

So here is what I want in a unit - not in any order.

1. affordability around 150 - 200
2. record feature - when I ride I sometimes forget where i went to and would like to repeat those rides. If I could hit "record" and review it later and hit go to follow these roads agin I'd be heaven
3. true speed indicator
4. record stats - how long did I travel, distance, avg speed when moving, avg speed over all
5. 2 way downloading - be able to extract recorded data and put new maps and routed preplanned into the unit and onto my computer
6. mountability preferably comes with the right mount
7. durable - anti vibration. water-proof

I be there are other things I want as well - any suggestions. Would like to hear the pluses and minuses so I know what to look for. I am asking a lot for a little price - I think[?] Let me know.

Kevin aka nixoid

[Billy]

I was actually looking for the exact same thing today. Anyone?!

[Billy]

yea everything I found was $500 or up. F THAT!!!!

[chrisc]

Check out the Garmin GPSMAP60cs or GPSMAP60csx. I have two of the csx's. They are small, can run off battery (2 AA's) or 12V DC, good for hiking or the car. They are made for hiking actually, but the work just fine in the car/bike.

It does all the recording stuff you want (they call the feature tracks, speed direction, altitude, etc.) You can replot your tracks in the garmin software or import it into google earth.

What I really like about it is you can customize how many fields you want on the map page and what is displayed.

When I use it for navigation I have "Distance to Next" (turn), "Time to next", "Distance to Destination", "Time to Destination". When I am just riding around I just have "Speed" on it.

You will have to buy a separate mount, and you will want to get the latest Garmin City Navigator North America Maps - which is $80 bucks or so and is good for two devices.

I don't know if it is anti-vibration, but looks to be pretty well waterproof. I haven't dropped it in a lake or anything but it has gotten wet.

After all is said and done though (maps, mount) you will probably be closer to $300 with the 60cs and closer to $350 with the csx.

You can use the base maps that come with it but they suck for anything bout main roads and numbered routes.

[nixoid]

I was looking at the Garmin site today.... no prices of course but the Zumo 400 seemed to have most of those features. I'd love to get all of this in one unit but will downgrade on some of those features because I don't have that kind of scratch to burn on something like this. Hell I signed up for a track day yesterday and it all but broke me.

[DucDave]

I have the ZUMO 450. Everything except BlueTooth....

I'd look on ebay....

[nixoid]

I have the ZUMO 450. Everything except BlueTooth....

I'd look on ebay....

How much did you pay? Not concerned about Blue Tooth

[loridin64]

yea, with all those features your looking at spending a good amount. I have a Magellan 4200. it has most of those features, everything except the 'record' feature that you mention. It will remember locations that your at, but not a route. Good luck finding a waterproof unit that does all that too.

[RandyO]

You will need a Garmin Nuvi 550 model to get those features, expect to pay at least $550.00 or better.

I didn't think that the Nuvi's were waterproof

[nixoid]

I have a friend who got a waterproof case and mounted it to his handle bars. I'll go this route to get my costs down and find what I need. I'm really looking to use most of those features on a one day endurance race so I won't need access to it while I ride.

[Wanderer]

I currently use a Streetpilot 2610. Sure, its old, but reconditioned they're avalible cheapo.
No batteries, so just sling on a wiring harness + RAM mount and you're good to go.
Records trip details, upload/download tracks, waterproof (IPX7 I think - aka, 1m under water for 30 minutes minimum). True speed indicator, spoken turn indication (not street name), via headset.

Downsides, a bit large, no wireless/BT, no batteries.
Other than that, I never ride without it.

[tomfarr]

Kev,

I have been using a Garmin b&w Legend for 2 1/2 years now. It has NEVER failed me, and it does all of the things you ask for, in your initial post. You can get a new one for ~$114.



As you can see, I ride with it exposed to the weather. It has never been an issue.
BMW speedometers of that time were notorious for being optimistic, so I love having a real speedometer.
I broke the reset knob for my tripmeter a while back, so it now does duty as my fuel gauge, as well.
I can download the entire set of detail maps for the state of Indiana in it's 8meg memory.

I bought a second Legend after my 1st one was destroyed in a parking lot tip-over.
I was all set to upgrade to the eTrex Legend® Cx (small screen for map work) but in color, mostly because it has interchangable SD micro capability, so you can carry more maps with you on a trip, without the hassle of carrying a laptop. Unfortunately, I chickened out, because I was unsure of being able to do the 12 volt -> 3 volt conversion like I did for the B&W Legend.
Now, checking prices, I see the color model is not much more than the b&w!
And yes, you can (easily) hook up power from your bike...

Here is the pictorial story of my GPS:

http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/gpsr_on_motorcycle

[schleppy]

I scored my Zumo 450 for $330 shipped on Amazon a while back.

I'd save up more and go for the bike specific GPS, you'll get exactly what you're looking for.

[noxin]

I spoke to someone that said there's a website selling refurbed Street Pilot 2720s for 97 plus shipping.

Found it. http://www.cascadegps.com/store/garm...ilot-2720.html

[neuthunder]

I just got a Nuvi 205w for my car, not sure how useful I could be for a bike but it tracks everywhere I've gone since I've had it. you just have to turn the feature on in the settings menu.

[Slyder]

No one mentioned a Tom Tom. Excellent. Having worked for a company that is owned by tom tom and having been laid off by said company, I am biased. But I can tell you, with the company owned by tom tom laying off really good people left and right...the data quality has dropped. Customers ditching them and going to their biggest competitor, who happens to be owned by Garmin. So, with a Garmin you stand to get better data. And seeing as in the competitor is hiring like mad...you'll be supporting the economy. Win win situation with a Garmin. I have a Tom Tom One...given to me by Tom Tom. I think it's a future rifle target.

[Stiggy]

I am running a Garmin Street Pilot 2720 on the viffer. You can get those for $110 on ebay, factory refurbished. You would never know mine was a refurb. I got a RAM mount and the garmin harness kit. All in all I spent less than $200 for the set-up.
The 2720 is IP-7 (Mil-Spec) certified water resistant. There is a truespeed indicator on the map display.
It does record Tracks annd stats from your days ride, so you can review roads you would like to visit again. You get the Garmin Mapsource software for planning and viewing rides.

I found some great roads today

[ssg]

I didn't think that the Nuvi's were waterproof

The Nuvi 500 and 550 are wp, just to help confuse people like us

[ssg]

I would go with a Legend HCx by the way if you want small handheld but mostly for tracking.

If you want nav, on a bike, you won't get it for 200$ unless you go with a refurbed/used/2720 (or an older BMW Navigator II which is like a 28xx garmin with left side controls). Left side controls = key for operation on a bike. I love the 2720 and it still sees the most use out of anything else I have.

I decided once upon a time to try and get every navigation feature I wanted at once, and the attached is the best I could come up with. I didn't even sport my AARP pocket protector that day either.

[markbvt]

No one mentioned a Tom Tom. Excellent.

Problem is that TomToms don't have the track-recording and trip computer features that the OP is asking for.

Short of going for a used/refurbed older GPS unit, there are no realistic options in the $150-$200 price range that meet all the requirements. The Garmin Zumo 450 is a good option but is a lot more expensive... and it just got discontinued, so the existing supplies will dry up soon.

The aforementioned GPSMap 60CSx is a good choice -- very popular with offroad riders -- but be aware that it can be a little wonky about recalculating street routes if you deviate from the route it's planned for you. It's also more like $300, and then you still need to buy the Garmin street map set if you want it to be able to do autorouting on roads. (The free maps available online are not autorouting-capable.)

The new Garmin Oregon series is a good choice -- similar to the 60CSx in terms of features, but it's a much newer unit that's more compact and has a way better user interface and high-resolution touch screen. I use an Oregon 300 and really like it.

The OP's best bet would probably be a Nuvi 550. I've seen them on sale for around $400. They've been out for a half a year or so now, so prices could start coming down a bit.

--mark

PS: Check out this thread on ADVrider: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363483 The rest of the GPS forum there has lots of great info too.

[akira700]

This is a good thread.

I'm not a full adopter of this yet.
My wife has one and I find it sort of dumb. Maps are nice
finding restaurants etc nice, saving locations nice...
But dumb in that it would be nice if you could teach it.

In the Boston area it often suggests ridiculous routes that with
traffic and construction are just not real alternatives to take.

I wish it could learn from
1) you telling it to forget routes from now on
2) learn and compare: date, time and trip duration
then suggest future routes based on past data

Maybe its too much to ask but often I find I waste time
trying to out think the GPS's suggestions as they seem
sometimes just way off base. I mean if you turn your mind off and
follow it sometimes that is just a big mistake!