Recommendations on GPS

[Davey_sprockeT]

Hi all,
any recommendations for a gps for the bike?
any to avoid?
where to buy in Perth (online)

Cheers

[GSDisciple]

get ready to receive multiple suggestions including a 300 word essay from either (or both) Mike and Ben!!!!

JP

[_Wilks]

Brevity rules...

http://www.bmwmccwa.asn.au/phpBB/viewto ... zumo#p2015

[Davey_sprockeT]

get ready to receive multiple suggestions including a 300 word essay from either (or both) Mike and Ben!!!!

Wow, I followed your link wilks...........

I did do a search for "GPS" and it came up with nothing, so hence my post. It would good to hear from the earlier writers, now a year on abouts and how their choice of GPS turned out.

As I say, I'm probably to spend some moola and don't want to buy the wrong one, simply based on price.
Plenty of blogs on the net, but there nothing like a "real life user", so please everyone jump on so I buy the correct one.

[bully1]

with GPS you get what you pay for , be prepared to spend up to 1k for a really good unit. Stick with the major brands, Garmin, Magellan etc.

I got my Garmin from gpsoz over east and couldn't be happier, it's my 3rd Garmin and find it very easy to use with a screen that a half blind old man like me can read on the go.

[Davey_sprockeT]

Thanks Bully,
what model do you have and does it have topo map capacity?

[bully1]

I've got the Zumo 220, don't know about the topo maps, for the riding that I do ( lots of offroad) it does the job, has all ROADS marked on it but not tracks, it has bluetooth but no storage for music photo's etc ( for me not required ) the other Zumo models do.

I wanted a GPS that I could plan a route on and download where I've been. Check out www.gpsies.com for route planning and loading to a Garmin GPS

[gjo247]

Hi Davey,
I have a zumo 550 which I used to get me around Europe last year. Use of the unit really couldn't be easier, but it most certainly has some issues. I posted an article on advrider (zumo 550 secrets and mysteries) about some of them, which, when you are confronted with, can be really upsetting. There are all sorts of things which Garmin won't help you with, but if you have a look on zumoforums.com, you may find a bit more direction than I can give you. I am not trying to knock them completely, but I am not sure that I can recommend them either.
Cheers,
Gavin

[Davey_sprockeT]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your input.
I was about to invest in the Zumo 660 then I came across this and this may throw a spanner in the works ............

The TwoNav Delta
made for motorbikes, marine, 4x4 etc.
http://www.octapc.com.au/prod3856.htm

stuff on the net is all Italiano/ daego so it's a bit hard to tell if they are happy/pleased, or not happy/angry

To see the manual check here:
http://en.compegps.com/support/manuals/
and dial in Delta/ english (obviously)

TwoNav are quite big in Europe, and been in OZ since early this year. They are also taking on the North American market also, where I read on ADVrider that they aren't too hapy with Garmin,or their aftermarket service.

It will take the mini SD card with topo maps, uses all the map file types, plus can use Vector & Raster, the computer software is a free download along with any updates at no charge (unlike Garmin). The unit looks and feels very solid and the loom is excellent with weatherproof connectors etc. 2 year warranty and comes with the usual RAM mount.

I called in here and spoke to Nick
OCTAPC
Phone Number: 08 9274 2373 (WA Time)

Facsimili Number: +61 8 62629458

Mobile: 041 888 0876

E-Mail: sales@octapc.com.au

Shop Address: 47 Great Eastern Highway, Bellevue*. WA 6056

*** use Midvale as suburb if using a navigator ***


If it can do the other bluetooth services like phone,mp3 etc, I might just be tempted.

Also came across this
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/home.do

if your'e into tracks and the like.

If I do lay out the big moolah's, I'll try and negotiate a club discount.

[_Wilks]

Davey

What bike do you ride?

If it's a DS bike, where do you plan riding?

And lastly, if off-road, how do you plan to use the GPS? That is, as an occasional reference tool (just to confirm where you are) or as a total trip planner and therefore a critical part of your ride navigation (partic if very remote)?

[bully1]

GPS's are fine as a reference tool, but on a long trip I still take the good old solar powered GPS system with me. The GPS will only show the areas close to you whereas a map will give the bigger picture.

[brockadavis]

I have two GPS's
Tom Tom . I like the map display on the Tom Tom but had problems with the mounting on the bike. The first one popped off on a rough road in Tassie. On the second mount the brass connections on the mount failed and the GPS would turn itself off and on.

Garmin Zumo 660 . Bought this because I was frustrated by the poor reliability of the Tom Tom. While I prefer the Tom Tom's map display the Garmin is much better overall. It recently survived an accident where my bike was written off and stayed in its mounting. It was scuffed up but still works ok.

I agree with Bully that you really need to a good map in conjunction with the GPS to have an overall appreciation of the big picture.

[Davey_sprockeT]

Wilks, I'm hoping to get a GS, so lots of black, and a fair bit of brown (or red to be more accurate)

[_Wilks]

I'd be interested to hear how the TwoNav performs. I bought my 550 thru OctaPC... Nick does def know his stuff.

I've had my Zumo 550 for over 3 years. I have not had one iota of trouble with it in that time. It has proven very durable having seen extended use on the Gunbarrel, Tanami Track and Anne Beadell Hwy in addition to many thousands of kms on secondary roads like Gibb River Rd (twice). After 3yrs of use, the few software upgrades (2?) for my 550 from Garmin have been free. It's the map upgrades that hurt - but I'm still on the 2008 version of maps I bought with it, so no pain yet.

After a quick glance thru the TwoNav manual and your post, for me, the superficial pro's and con's are:
Pro's - raster maps
Con's - the early caveat in the manual about avoiding vibrations (a quick ride up the Tanami could be a worry for it); lack of glove friendly hard buttons (the Garmin 660 also lacks this); lack of MP3 player (sure helps pass the monotony of NWC Hwy - which I've done countless times - or the Eyre Hwy).

I only write the following 'essay' to give balance to the brief replies (including mine) which lack context.

My use of GPS and paper maps differ. Perhaps it is due to my context, which is... I rarely head off for short rides but when I do, my use of the GPS is limited, so paper maps usually do the job. However I usually head off on longer rides, anything between 4 days and 4 weeks. If any part of that long ride goes into remote areas (where other traffic may not be seen for days or weeks), before I leave home I will plot out key waypoints (eg track junctions) by cross referencing my GPS maps with paper topo maps and Google Earth. I also have downloaded Hema raster maps into my iPhone 4 (which has GPS functionality) which are viewed via Memory Maps app. I usually carry a paper map as backup. This works well for me. It is not infallible, but I reckon nothing is.

Experience has taught me (4WDing in the Pilbara) that when directions are going pear shaped, a paper map (even with good contour detail) still requires YOU to pinpoint where you are. Human error can still prevail. However a GPS will give you coordinates. And if your GPS has good off-road maps, your GPS will then allow you to navigate out of your predicament. And yes, human error can still prevail using a GPS, but you'd have to be a goose not to figure things out... or you've tried to use City Navigator to find your way around some of Len Beadell's desert tracks.

IMHO Davey, the type of destinations and routes you have planned for the GS should determine your navigation tools. If it is to be a GPS, then research wisely, for it has to be capable of running specialist topo maps and must be robust/durable - should you decide to get way off the beaten track.

[Davey_sprockeT]

Thanks Wilks, much appreciated.

Does anyone have any experience with these: http://www.strike.com.au/products/GPS/S ... rcycle-GPS

I believe they sell these at Auto Classic?