GPS advice for motorcycle

[Streak]

I am toying with the idea of a gps for the bike.

Apart from the waterproofing what are the pro's and cons to using a car gps compared to a bike gps?

And is there something worth using for under $200?

The waterproofing does not bother me to much, where I have my dash shelf the water does not get in, and if it is teaming down I would have stopped anyway for wet weather gear.

I am a navman fan and have one eye on this one:

http://www.navman.com.au/car-gps-devices/MY-Series/MY80T/Overview/



Mounting it will not be an issue as all the plates can be adapted to a ram mount if you are creative enough 

[alans1100]

I use Navmans poorer cousin the Mio Moov 300 (?) It spends more time on the bike than in the car for which I bought it for. The main problem with a car GPS is screen visibility on sunny days.  But then I use the suction cup mounted onto the front of the fake tank cover as there is very little vibration compared to the screen. Should it start to rain it's easy enough to take the unit off and slip it into the LH Fairing pocket while still on the move ( if it looks like rain, put the wet weather stuff on before you go).

We also have Heathers Android phone and our Galaxy 10.1 Tab with free GPS software installed and I tried the phone as a GPS when we went to Port Pirie last week. It works ok as a stand bye. I've just ordered the car mount and 12 volt charger for the Galaxy Tab which will become the GPS unit for the car. Actually the Tab is pretty good, picks up our location within 20 seconds inside our house.

I'm looking at the Peaklife motorcycle GPS  http://www.chinavasion.com/portable-gps/cvugtr16/ as it can be hard wired to the bike and the Mio Moov maps should work on it ok but there's more important items to come first.

Don't be surprised if your GPS sends you down a road that's no longer there or that a road has been changed and not updated.

I use this site http://www.whereis.com/index.htm  to find what ever I'm after and then enter the location as a way point in the GPS.

[Streak]

I was curious about the peak life as well, I do wonder about having to supply your own maps, where you can buy a Navman with 3 years worth of maps and updates included, what the better value is?

The F15 is what I have in the car, it has done many trips on my CB750 with me, but I war set the bike up as stand alone.
http://www.navman.com.au/car-gps-devices/previous-products/F15/Overview/

[saaz]

I used car GPSs on the bike for a while. They do the job, but screen visability was an issue at times but manageable by chnaging the screen angle. Having to set it up and take it off all the time was a bit of a pain.  Using the GPS with gloves on was a challenge at times, but again manageable.  My little M35 navig8r got me through a Sydney downpour when I could barely see the road and relied on voice instructions alone - it still works, so car GPS can survive.

I beta tested for navig8r, and they have an iPhone app that is supposedly quite good. as it is a more modern version of their standalone GPS software that incorporates much of the beta tester feedback.

[tj189]

I am using the Peaklife that Alan mentions and have had no problems (touch wood) with it, and it has done some large kilometers and strange weather.
Saaz raises some good points as well.

One of the reasons I like the Peaklife is that there are a number of choices for mapping software.  I use Igo Primo for its versatility in setting the software up for my style of riding and map updates are readily available.   

[terrydj]

I have used the Garmin Zumo for a few years now and for me its perfect. Got the music, has the phone/phonebook, all the service stations, places to stop and it wortks real well with gloves on . And for those with a dash???? The best place for it is right in the middle as you look kind through it, and Google Maps and Mapsourse loads straight on it and I havn't broke it yet

[Streak]

I am using the Peaklife that Alan mentions and have had no problems (touch wood) with it, and it has done some large kilometers and strange weather.
Saaz raises some good points as well.

One of the reasons I like the Peaklife is that there are a number of choices for mapping software.  I use Igo Primo for its versatility in setting the software up for my style of riding and map updates are readily available.   

So ou can use any map on it? Say I have navman maps, will they run on it?

[tj189]

there are two main providers of maps, whereis and navteq.  They need to integrate with the software you are using, in my case io primo, if you are using tomtom then you need the maps for that software or navteq then maps for that etc.  so in your case navman maps would not work on a peaklife running igo primo.

navman runs its own operating system and is not compatible with peaklife as it runs WinCE for its operating system. (at least as far as I know). 

Another example on mine is that it can also run OziExplorer. So if required I could be using igo primo then via a software button switch out of igo primo to OziExplorer and when finished switch back into Igo Primo smilar to what the HEMA Navigator does.

[Streak]

My other thought was to pick up say a garmin nuvi 250 or a navman MY30 cheap a chips eBay, I can mount with a ram mount spend $70 odd and I am good to go, I am no worried about the gps Bluetooth, I jut what to be able to plan my trip, and keep an eye on time, speed, location, that kind of thing.

Peaklife sounds good, but might jut be a touch to much messing around for me

[tj189]

I am sure you will find something that suits what you want it for 

[Streak]

Well i have had a win, I bought Teela an EZY15 Navman for the Car, and have pinched the old one an F15 for the bike, it is a solid gps with updated maps, and did thousands of km's with me on my CB750



i discovered that from ram mount i can buy a 14mm ram ball mount, that will fit into the ball bracket that comes with the GPS:




I bought an extra RAM arm to go with it, Paul from Southern Insight threw in the extra bolts i needed for nothing as well so all round exellent service



I spent about $90 all up, so am quietly happy with myself 

[tj189]

nice one 

[Whizz]

Streak, sorry to [sort of] hijack your thread, but talking about GPS systems on the bike, I have just ordered myself a new TomTom Urban Rider (found out I had enough points on my Amex card to get one for just $184, thanks ex Mr employer for paying my bills!).

I do notice that the one gripe that people have is that the charging USB connector is underneath a little door in the bottom of the unit that you can't actually have open in the normal mount. This means that you can't charge the thing whilst you're on the move. You can buy a mount that does allow charging, but it costs $159!.

I have seen a review on YouTube where the bloke modified the supplied mount by cutting a slot in the bottom to allow the door to be opened when fitted.

So my question is, has anyone got one of these, and have they done the mod, and if so does it significantly weaken the supplied mount in any way?. In other words, does the mount still work with this slot cut in the bottom???

[Aj1300]

Hi Whizz, I have the Tom Tom, and get about 6 hrs before it goes flat. I also use it in the car and the mount has a power socket, but the mount on the bike doesn't. I could use the one out of the car but I would have have it on my tank with the suction mount which would look crap.I will go and see if you can cut a bit off the bike mount to fit the cable in. I will let you know.
Cheers Adam

[ST2UP]

Using our old car Garmin 760 in a RAM mount on the plastic between the bars, 12 volt from cig plug in side compartment, if it rains and we need the GPS we slip it into a samwich bag and clip back into RAM, don't worry about listening to voice instructions just follow the arrow.....although you can hear it at in town speeds with the flip helmet up.

Cheers

[tj189]

Whizz, I have not done the mod.  From what you have described it should work ok, one concern would be that the usb plug may fall out through vibration??
a forum that may interest you with your TomTom:
http://www.austech.info/tomtom/

[Streak]

Well gps has turned up from eBay, ram mounts and arms have arrived so will put it all together and see if it all works correctly, if it is a success photos will be shown