Motorbike GPS

Major_Grooves · The Doctor Joined: 10 May 2002 Karma :

Have many people got GPS for their bikes?

I was looking to see if GPS was available on the Nokia 6230, but apparently it isn't.

What I have found is the TomTom Rider which is due for release this summer. It's designed for motorbikes, and has a wireless connection to a headset for voice instructions rather than having to look at the screen. They haven't declared the price for it yet, but after, yet again getting lost in central London, I think it is something I will invest in. Anybody know how much these systems usually cost?

Do any of the other GPS systems have wireless voice instructions?

edit/ reading the review bit more it says it is the first gps system with a bluetooth connection to a headset. Must Have! Drooling

edit again/ some more searching and I find a site that says the expected price will be around £499 + VAT Shocked

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Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

I've bought a Garmin Quest which I haven't yet fitted to the bike, but was bought mainly for that.

I had to buy a mount seperately, which I got from Ram Mounts for 25 quid. GPS unit itself was from and ebay shop for 350 notes.

Can't fault it so far in the car. Great feature which I know will be handy on the bike is things like pressing the search function for finding the nearest petrol station to your current locations when your reserve light comes on, or the nearest place for food etc.
The other handy bit is that one you've set you home place all you need to do is hold the find button for a couple of seconds and it will work the route home for you from wherever you are.

So, lazy day riding about all across the country and hit the button for the best way home at the end of it. No more getting lost (I hope, I haven't tested it yet!)

Planning to fit mine tomorrow at some point if I get chance. Will maybe then road test it to Silverstone for the next BCF trackday on Monday.

It's not wireless but I think you can get a helmet wired system to get the directions, but the screen is easy enough to glance at. Haven't tested how long the battery lasts for yet either, but expecting about 2-3 hours for continued use on the highest screen brightness setting. But I'll not be using it all the time so will have it switched off when not needed and just for finding places. (At least, that's my theory!)
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TheShaggyDA · Repost Police Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Whilst I love gadgets, I really can't see myself getting a GPS. If I'm heading somewhere I haven't been before, I'll just print a page of the area from Multimap or Autoroute. Finding places to eat/fill up has never been a problem, and neither has finding a route home.
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Major_Grooves · The Doctor Joined: 10 May 2002 Karma :

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

https://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/1843480212.02._PE20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Thumbs Up

feef · Energiser Bunny Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :

I've got an older GPS, which shows directional only.. more designed for sailing and/or mountaineering, than as a roadmap system.

But that, coupled with a tankbag with a map in can make for some interesting routes.

Just set the way point and head in that general directiojn, with the map as backup if you end up on some goatrack full of cowshit and potholes Smile

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

I've been considering getting one of the Garmin extrex legends. Not to rely on for road navigation, but as a back-up so you know exactly where you are on a map.

I like the idea of stopping while lost in some foreign city and being able to see on a streetmap where I am and where I want to be.

Adam_P, did you buy one of the US spec models? If so I was wondering how restrictive it is having a US base map on there?

Cheers

Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

Johnny GSX-R · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

'GARMIN QUEST', proved to be one of the best and also waterproof, loads of back-up service and accessories etc.

Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Bit over the top?

https://www.touratech.de/shop_uk/media/Navigation2.jpg
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EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

I wouldn't fancy parking that in Croydon.

89CBRChris · Scooby Slapper Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Karma :

although you've probably seen this thread it does contain some usefull info.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=41652

I also just ordered the mounting system from RAM for my quest and am expecting to have it to fit this weekend, I will post a pic to show how it looks Thumbs Up

Also garmin are supposed to be releasing a powered motorbike cradle for the quest which should work with RAM mounts and it has a headphone jack for instructions to be played through, although this isn't as good as a wireless link it should be OK.
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Jrod · Page 3 Girl Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Karma :

Yup, I have a gps system. I've only used it once and it just attachs to my screen brace. Will be good for in the summer. Thumbs Up

DukeRed · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Karma :

I've heard the streetpilot 2 is the one to get, not too expensive but with everything you could want and more. Thats what the gs forum suggested.
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instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

Grooves, I'll be joining you on getting gps for the bike this summer also. I think I've already settled on the garmin quest though, or a garmin product. Tomtom....I dunno, I guess I'll have to wait until it comes out so I can read reviews on it. Thumbs Up

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

If your useing them for in town stuff the tom toms are the best at their job!

As for straping one to the front of the bike hmmm i'm not too sure, garmins while not being quite so user friendly (not because they are bad to use the tom toms are just very very good) are VERY well built, i've dropped mine quite hard onto concrete 4 times at least and its done no damage, they are designed to stand being dropped, being submerged in upto a metre of water, they are sturdy withpropper mounting gear they can quite happly be used off road if your that way inclined...

Personally i'll be sticking with the garmin stuff, £500 is a hell of allot of money to spend on navigation gear and seeing it on the pavement in a million pieces/destroyed from vibrations/wet e.t.c. would be a bit upseting!

Main bits of advice, get one with expandable memory, auto re-routeing and most importantly a colour screen! Thse are bits that my gps lack but its still very usefull, just haveing the destination as a waypoint means it might take a bit of finding but you WILL eventually (even if it means pulling over to check the map, you know where you are and what direction your going in)

https://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~noriba74/images/bike/tagps.jpg

Dis is mine, should be able to get them for £150 off e-bay and the mounting backet is £30... software is the git though, but if you know where to look its not a problem...
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Major_Grooves · The Doctor Joined: 10 May 2002 Karma :

instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

It's one of those gadgets you can live perfectly fine without (I usually write down instructions then put them in my clear pocket in my tank bag, but it's definetely a case of "ooh, something cool, I want it". Happens all the time to me with technology Laughing

Again, I will wait until it's been properly reviewed by a bike mag (which will be expected since its made for bikes) before making a decision on which one I would like. Either got to be the garmin quest, garmin gps 5 model or this new tomtom one. Thumbs Up

tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

As someone who's had a GPS of one make or another now for several years, I wouldn't be without one on the bike.

It beats paper maps hands down, no messing around finding the right page and even in built-up areas I've had few reception problems.

Also in conjunction with https://www.geocaching.com/ it gives you somewhere to head for on a random rideout.

The features of the TomTom Rider certainly look cool... my current unit (a Garmin GPSMap76S) only has a greyscale display and no audio alerts... hmmm.... might upgrade.... Drooling

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hustler · Crazy Courier Joined: 29 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've been looking for quite a while, I think I might end up going for a mobile phone GPS system so I can have it in the car plus stick it in my pocket for the bike (listening to the directions).

https://www.tomtom.com/lib/img/mainproductbox/mobile5_uk.jpg

https://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=69&Language=1
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tgabber · Crazy Courier Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Karma :

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Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

Fitted my mount on Firday afternoon and took the bike across to Donington today for a road test and pleased to say mine works a treat on the bike.

No problem at all reading it while riding it along and seeing the mapping/reading the speed/direction etc. And I've even managed to mount it so that I can still see all of my normal clocks including the full rev range and speedo. Thumbs Up

Only downside??!!

I've found out that my speedo SERIOUSLY overeads! Thumbs Down

Like, when I'm supposedly doing 80mph, I'm actually doing 71.
And what I thought was a reasonably accurate 131.... turns out to be 117. Rolling Eyes

So much for digital dash's being more accurate. I can see why Mr C tells everyone to get a GPS reading for speed! Laughing

Loads of summer days out ahead! Wink

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instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

It overreadds that much!?!?!?!? I never thought it would be that bad!

Makes me question if your unit is working correctly!!

It also makes me want to delay purchasing the gps for my er5, so I dont find out that 118mph is actually 98mph Laughing

Although my er5 takes the speed reading off the front wheel, don't know if thats more accurate or not. Confused

Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

I'd like to hope it's reading accurately. It's not that far out on my car, but even that overeads. But then everything does pretty much.

But it does seem a long way out on the bike. But then, maybe all bike manufacturers are calibrating their speedo's to live up to the PR bullshit they spout at every new launch.

I'll have to fit it to my mate ZX-10R and see what that will really do. He's got a digi dash on that too.
____________________
Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP Sad

Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary