GPS for motorbike

mayoman24

i am looking to get a waterproof sat nav for my vfr400 nc30. im willing to spend about 300. what would be the best to go with??

P.C.

Garmin Zumo 550

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=414#zumo

Try and find a second hand one on fleabay.

KamiKazi

If you have a smartphone just get a RAM mount with waterproof case and hook up a power supply. Phone, music & satnav all in one package

Paparazzo

The 550 is is your phone and music too. I have one, its great. Don't have it connected for sound though.
If you're using your phone try and get some sort of app that let's you pre download maps. Was using my phone a while ago and if you go off the beaten track you'll find plenty of places with no phone signal.

rymus

Paparazzo wrote: »

if you go off the beaten track you'll find plenty of places with no phone signal.

And if you go outside Ireland it'll cost you a fortune in data roaming charges if you haven't got maps preloaded on the phone. +1 to the idea of picking up a second hand zumo.

Interceptor

I had a Zumo 550 and found it cumbersome, difficult to use and unreliable. After it let me down a few times I sold it, but if I needed another bike satnav I'd probably buy a €99 cheapie from Halfords or somewhere and stick it in a ziplock bag on my tankbag.

The phone/music bluetooth link was only a nuisance with the Zumo and I found it a distraction. If you need music while riding a bike you should buy a Goldwing...

'cptr

KamiKazi

Interceptor wrote: »

If you need music while riding a bike you should buy a Goldwing...

'cptr

"need"

'kkzi

Paparazzo

Yeah, I'm not really interested in music when on the bike.

carsQhere

Interceptor wrote: »

if I needed another bike satnav I'd probably buy a €99 cheapie from Halfords or somewhere and stick it in a ziplock bag on my tankbag.

Totally agree. Zumo is way overpriced for what it is. I have a basic car unit, a garmin nuvi 310, shove it in the tankbag pocket (in a ziplok bag if it's raining) & it runs about 3 hours or so on a full charge. Works fine, but needs a bit of faffing about to get it in the right position and keep it there. I can even run the charger cable to it cos there's a 12v socket on the bike, but I wouldn't usually bother.

galwaytt

I have the TomTom Rider 2, and find it great.

But 300 won't get you a 'proper' bike unit - it'll get you a car unit, but they're not waterproof...........

I love that the Rider works as phone kit too, incl text's.

Currently working on working-in the iPod into the scheme of things.

And no, it's not a Gold Wing - it's a Harley.

Paparazzo

carsQhere wrote: »

Totally agree. Zumo is way overpriced for what it is. I have a basic car unit, a garmin nuvi 310, shove it in the tankbag pocket (in a ziplok bag if it's raining) & it runs about 3 hours or so on a full charge. Works fine, but needs a bit of faffing about to get it in the right position and keep it there. I can even run the charger cable to it cos there's a 12v socket on the bike, but I wouldn't usually bother.

I would definitely advise a mount. Tankbags are horrible yolks and destroy the paint

Ratchet

rymus wrote: »

And if you go outside Ireland it'll cost you a fortune in data roaming charges if you haven't got maps preloaded on the phone. +1 to the idea of picking up a second hand zumo.

you should have maps pre loaded before you go

i found ovi maps on nokia great ...use my mobile with ear piece on the bike and via Bluetooth kit on my car...dont really need to see the map while driving ....I keep my eyes on the road and signs ...

one more device less to worry about....would only consider it if i had GS or similar bike

grumpybore

I have a car sat nav ,and for my easter trip to France ,I am buying a waterproof gps mount off Amazon , it clips to your bike bars ,then you put the unit into a zip pouch ....looks ok on the Amazon site .........cant afford a proper bike unit

experimenter

mayoman24 wrote: »

i am looking to get a waterproof sat nav for my vfr400 nc30. im willing to spend about 300. what would be the best to go with??

I have a Garmin Zumo with Full EU maps and motorbike RAM mount etc..used it on my BMW..

Make me an offer if you are interested?

buzzard

experimenter wrote: »

I have a Garmin Zumo with Full EU maps and motorbike RAM mount etc..used it on my BMW..

Make me an offer if you are interested?

Interested in the garmin unit. PM your asking price

grumpybore

...I posted previously about the waterproof cover from Amazon ,it arrived ,fitted to the bike in seconds ,and my cheapo car sat nav fits perfectly .Took it for a 200mile spin on saturday and it worked a treat .Ok so no voice commands ,and from my bike anyway (due to its age) I cant charge it on the go , but for less than 20 euro delivered its a winner for me . It will also hold an iphone or similar .

rymus

Ratchet wrote: »

you should have maps pre loaded before you go

That'd be just heavenly if you could do that on an iphone without buying something like tom tom's crazy priced sat nav app.

rocky112

Try TOMTOM rider and these are especially designed for motorbikes and it would cost around £280 and you can also get a Scala rider ear piece with it this is a bluetooth that will fit with helmet and link direct to TOMTOM.

rock22

Most Nokia smartphones include free maps and , as they incorporate a GPS receiver, can be used throughout world without roaming charges.

I have recently used one and found it as good as any other car type GPS. Dedicated Bike GPS would probably be better. I kept mine in clear rain proff map case on top of tank bag.

And MAP updates are free whereas Garmin and TomTome charges can be up to €150 for updating Europe maps.

Run_to_da_hills

Garmin Zumo 550 good robust device, have one almost 4 years now although I have used it in the Van / car more than on the bike. The only weak point is the brass pick ups on the bike mount. I had this replaced under warranty.

txpjl

I use a Garmin Nuvi 770. ~200 3 years ago. Much cheaper now I guess. I stick it in my tank bag (clear plastic see through) with a set of ear-buds (headphones) and works great. Battery will last for 4 hours, but I can also plug in into the bikes battery using a cigarette connection.

P