Ok Gang, I need Advice on GPS units....

[Speedie Gonzales]

I am thinking about getting a GPS for the bike and I don't know a lot about them...I want your thoughts on them...Pros and Cons of the ones you have and used...

Thanks

Speedie

[Rocket]

Danny- This is the one I got after seeing a few at Maggie Valley http://www.thebuzzelectronics.com/Productimages/101461.jpg Garmin Streetpilot III. It works great and was inexpensive (relatively speaking) and is fully gasketed so its waterproof. The screen is color, a good size and buttons are easy to use while riding. I ordered a RAM mount so I was able to place ie exactly where I wanted it. I did a search on Ebay to find mine.

I know there are better/faster ones out there, but for me it was a cost/usage issue. I really didn't want to spend $1000 or more, so that influenced my decision. Have fun researching and playing :D

[RayO]

I highly recommend the Garmin 2610. I've had mine for about 6 months now and couldn't be happier with it. If you get it here:
http://www.gpsdiscount.com/products/index.html?p=769
you can get it for $740 which is hundreds less than Cabellas or a lot of other places, and the best feature it has is the touch screen. Other than that it is a lot like the StreetPilot III, color, voice, size, waterproof etc. The remote is about useless on a bike, but the touch screen is wonderful. Also since it takes compact flash memory cards, you can put in a much larger one if you want, but the 128 meg it comes with is adequate for most anyone. I used mine for Americade and had the whole trip including New York City data loaded for restaurants, motels, etc., LOVE IT!!

[BigJon]

:a13: Is that what you are buying me for Christmas?:a13:


:D Cool!!!! :D

[holmes]

I'd swap out to the Garmin 2610 if I had the extra "whip out" in my pocket. The StreetPilot has beed a WONDERFUL machine but there's a reason it's been discontinued and replaced by the 2610. The StreetPilot is SLOW to recalculate routes AND it is driven by a proprietary chip design, rather than the standard SanDisk storage units. The StreetPilot requires you to press a bunch of buttons which occupies a bit of time and eye usage while on the road. Once you get the hang of it many things can be done by touch with a bare hand but if you wear gloves like I do year round it can be difficult.

The Garmin 2610 has the new touch screen feature and it makes zooming, etc. much easier than with the StreetPilot. You can use your finger, gloved or not, OR I've seen people attach a stylus tip http://www.stingerstylus.com to their glove for quick and easy screen alterations. It also sports a faster processor inside the machine for QUICK recalculations. They have changed the storage chips so you can now use a standard SanDisk stoage card (up to 2MB of storage...YIKES!)

The Garmin 2610 also has a color display that adjusts to lighting conditions automatically. Something the StreetPilot did not have.

I've bought my GPS units from http://www.gpscity.com in the past and they have very competitive prices and packages. Good luck with your research.

Holmes

[R J]

Speedy, if you are interested in a Street Pilot III, I'm selling mine since the kids got me a 2620 for Father's Day.

I havce all the software, the 128 storage chip, extra power cable, 1/2 of the Ram mount on the unit. I also have the other end of the Ram mount but it doesn't accept a U Bolt like the one I have on the bike....

E-mail me if you are interested....... It is going up on e-Bay right after InZane........ Danny, e-mail me for the password to the photos.

Here is a link to where I stored my pictures of the unit for e-Bay usage.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v281/rjb448/

[Mosa]

Speedie,

I just got a Garmin GPSmap 276C as it is both Marine and Auto usable... waterproof like the others... not touchscreen, but has most of the others features.

Mosa

[Thunderbolt]

It found TNT's mailbox from Cleveland Tn. after I put in her address. It is a black and white job, not as expensive as the others mentioned, and only has room in the ram for about 19 mb of maps. You load the maps from your PC for the area that you are gonna be in before you leave home. It will hold something like most of N. Ga. and Eastern Tn. and Western N.C. for detailed maps. It has all the main roads standard, you just have to load the detail stuff. I also mounted it on a Ram mount after my homemade one almost let go on I-75. It can and should be hooked to the acc. on your bike. If you tell it where you want to go by clicking the buttons for a particular city, it will tell you where to turn and beep just before you get there and show you a picture of your turn direction. Tells your speed, the time, and lots of other things. Of course the more expensve ones do these things and even talk to you. Just depends on the $$ you want to invest.

[Torqued]

Personally, I really want a Garmin 276C. The form factor, functions, and buttons seem to be well suited for motorcycles. I have reservations about using the touch screen w/ gloves, grime, etc. The only thing I don't like about the 276C is that they use the proprietary Garmin memory cards. The cards used to be quite expensive, but the prices have come down a bit.. They are not as cheap as standard CF or SD cards, though.. However, I think the rest of the features/etc. make up for having to use the Garmin cards..

Here are some good threads on message boards. The info is posted by other motorcyclists using GPS:

http://www.concours.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5927

http://www.concours.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6046

An extensive review of the 276C:
http://www.gpsinformation.org/wilson/g276crev.htm

Here is a comparison table of various Garmin GPS units:

http://www.gpsnow.com/gpscmpm.htm

A couple of good GPS discussion @ by GL1800 riders:

http://www.ridersrally.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=766

http://groups.msn.com/gl1800/general.ms ... 9758430656 (http://groups.msn.com/gl1800/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=119972&LastModified=4675471469758430656)

Another long discussion on the 276C from the Adventure Rider board:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... light=276c (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38990&highlight=276c)

[watcher]

I also have a Garmin 2610.
I like it a lot and find the touch screen feature very handy. I paid $740.00 online.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-6/745710/VTX5-28-04cc.jpg

[sixgunsrider]

8) I don’t know much about GPS too but I saw a good review on Motorcycle Cruiser. Com and for what you get the piece in good. If you’re like me you don’t care about all the fancy stuff. Heck save a buck and buy more leather & chrome is my way of thinking. It’s black in while but heck you won’t get lost with this one. I’m thinking of getting it as it is more with in what I am willing to spend for a gadget, around $375. I’m not into fancy thingamajigs but I sure heat getting lost and like to know where then heck I’m at. LOL :)

http://www.garmin.com/products/gps5/

[watcher]

Don't forget your safety. When riding a motorcycle or driving a car for that matter, you don't want to take your eyes off the road any longer than necessary. Color screens are much easier to read because they have way better contrast. I know, My brother used to have a black & white GPS and it wasn't nearly as easy to see details. Safety is the real concern here, not fancy doo-dads.