GPS systems.

[zx10guy]

Hey all. I'm looking at getting a GPS. I was wondering which ones everyone here are running and the type of mounts. I would also like to use it in my car too as I'll be going to various client sites for work. Are you all using the regular car GPS' with your bikes or the other way around?

Thanks.

[ELK]

I have one of the automotive Garmin Nuvi models. It works great, even with gloves on.

[zx10guy]

You don't have any issues with moisture? What about the mount you use?

[SpeedRacer]

I've got one of those Garmin Zumo 550, had it about 4/5 years great little machine GPS/XM/weather/traffic, water proof easy to operate with gloves. The best part was about two weeks ago the little bugger crapped out......Realize, the warranty is one year. Anyway, after troubleshooting the unit with the phone tech they agreed to replace mine with a factory refurbished unit including the 2010 map upgrade for $127. I thought that was pretty good....I think the map upgrade alone is like $60 turnaround was like 7 days.

Techmount makes mounts for Ducati applications, I like mine some folks don't 'cause they say their to fragile......My recommendation is just don't over tighten the mounting screws.

[Smurfslayer]

My zumo & I have been lost in 9 different countries, not to mention every state on the US east coast except SC. Not always on the bike though.

I give the zumo high marks. I have a hard mount on my ZX14, and have been using a powered tankbag from RKA on the 1198s. I like the 550 because it speaks the street names, which allows me to actually look for road signs rather than back and forth between the gps & the signs.

The 550 takes SD cards, plays music, speaks street names and the map waypoint information is pretty darn good. They now have lifetime updates configureable for US, Europe or both in a bundle. Very handy.

I have several friends in the motoring world with the zumo and we consider this a 'don't leave home without' essential.

HTH

[TimOz]

Garmin Zumo660.

I use a Naviholter mount that is specific for the MTS1200 and a Touratech lockable mount. See here for pics:
How to install the Naviholter GPS mount

here are some pics of the RAM mounting system I used before the Naviholter: Picasa Web Albums - Tim Carroll - MTS1200 Zumo6...

You and also get a RAM mount that attached to a ball that fits onto the bar clamp. This should fit any bike.

Pros:
- Battery backup with long life so it can stay on when the bike is off and you can use it walking around.
- Pretty much totally waterproof.
- Excellent screen.
- Touchscreen works really well.
- Has bike and car modes and knows automatically by the mount you clip it into. This changes the screen and a few bits of the operating software so it works perfectly with big fat gloves on.
- I drive an old Merc car and I swap from bike to car all the time. Comes with both mounts.
- Flawless navigation as long as the road you are on is mapped.
- Displays the vehicle speed accurately
- Pretty flexible display. You can choose distance to go, distance from start, time to go etc. It even has a fuel range function if your bikes lacks this.

Cons:
- Price.
- Pricing of any map updates or maps for other regions. This is not an issue with the unit but a Garmin policy. I have Australian and US maps on my unit so you need to budget for this.
- Fairly large and heavy compared to some of the new, cheap thin units BUT the screen is good and this is partly a function of having the battery on board.

[keantan]

I dunno about you guys, but I just picked up a TomTom Urban Rider. Maps for malaysia/singapore weren't cheap but I get along with the TT instructions better (they repeat them more i guess hehe : ) ) Have never really gotten along with the garmin interface either.

TomTom is imo a good pick too, bit expensive though, and doesnt have a built in speaker for in car use. and the bundled cradle doesn't charge the unit.

[amullo]

I bought myself a Garmin Nüvi 1300 at radioshack when i was in Florida for 125$ and loaded the euro maps on it when i cam home. Worked very well and the touchscreen was easy to operate with gloves aswell..

TomTom make a rider model, but I´m not sure i would spend the money on that.. The Nüvi in a plastic bag would probably survive most rains I would ride through.

//A

[Diesel 6]

Bought this for the car, but using on the bike too. Without power from the bike, it is useless - runs out of juice in about 10 minutes. If it rains, I'm taking it off and putting it into a ziplock.

Mounting system:
TechMount, $70

RAM Cradle, $12

RAM Cradle, $12

Nuvi mini-USB hardwire cable, $15

Nuvi mini-USB hardwire cable, $15

[John]

When I had a Multistrada the Zumo models were hands down the most popular GPS units on the Multi website. I sold the bike before making a decision, but the price of the Zumo was beyond what I wanted to spend.