Garmin gps systems

suggs · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Karma :

Hey lads

im after buying a gps for my bike as i like to do some touring, been using a navman but not waterproof and a pain to use in bright light.

cant afford a new Zumo or TomTom, so looking at an older Garmin such as the Street pilot 3 quest or 2610 models, anyone use any of these? would like the pro's and con's.

are they also usable as every day satnavs and able to take you to local level roads and streets etc.

cheers

Red Mick · Nova Slayer Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Karma :

I have had a 2610 for a few years. It's only got 4 digit post code, so not much good really. It's easy to plan a route on a PC and transfer it though.
On the move it's OK for basic AtoB navigation, down to address level, but if it's particular routes and roads you want, it's not very good at that. You can alter preferences towards or away from Motorways to B-roads, but it does have a habit of finding those little roads with grass up the middle Laughing

Overall, I don't feel the need to upgrade to another model, once you know it's shortcomings, it's more than adequate, particularly if you have time to plan a route on the PC and transfer it, the Mapsource software is easy for a numpty like me to use. Make sure though, that if you get one, it's got the latest version of City Navigator, I have version 9, which is adequate, but I believe there is a later version current.

Hope this helps

suggs · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Karma :

cheers for that, had a look at some reviews and seems the quest is the best of the bunch in that price range but no post code search...

Skudd · Super Spammer Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Karma :

There are loads of second hand Zumos knocking around, I picked the 400 up brand new last year for £199, you can now find the 550 second hand for the same sort of price.
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Red Mick · Nova Slayer Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Karma :

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Streetpilot III was good on the bike, nice and chunky with big buttons.

I never found the lack of precise postcode search a problem, I generally check what the street name is anyways.

Peter3hg · Trackday Trickster Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Karma :

I just ordered a Garmin Nuvi 710 yesterday and a Givi GPS bag. It transmits instructions (and MP3's) over FM so my Scala Rider will be able to pick it up. It has a big screen and the touch screen icons looked pretty big in the shop, so should be usable in bike gloves.
All together it came to just over £200 instead of £4-500 for a bike specific model.

suggs · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Karma :

did think about a gps bag, trouble is i think it will just reflect the light and the screen will be hard to see. if it dosent let me no and ill get one for my navman...