Any suggestions for a well priced, basic but durable GPS and mount, Hamilton area? I don't need the super awesome latest tech marvel, just a good basic easy to see unit.
Good GPS?
- Thread starter happycrappy
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For durability, I haven't found anything that beats RAM mounts, they are available at Bass Pro Shops (or online from places like GPS City and GPS Central in western Canada). They are not cheap though.
If you want a Garmin GPS, Radioworld at Steeles and Hwy 400 has a fantastic selection (and great prices on refurb units). Costco only carries one or two models, but has great prices and a really good return policy.
Many people on here advocate for cheap GPS's that can be cracked and have better software installed on them. Never tried one before, but each generation of Garmin's has been progressively worse in my opinion (they are concentrating on making 100 different crappy models instead of 3 good ones), i would definitely investigate the cracking route. There are a number of threads on GPS's active right now, have a read through them and then if you still have questions post them up.
Based on my experiences, for north america, your best bet is Garmin or a cheap GPS. Magellan, tom-tom, etc. cost about what the garmin does but have even more issues. Radioworld stopped carrying magellan and tom-tom because they couldn't get parts for them and their warranty service sucked.
If you want a Garmin GPS, Radioworld at Steeles and Hwy 400 has a fantastic selection (and great prices on refurb units). Costco only carries one or two models, but has great prices and a really good return policy.
Many people on here advocate for cheap GPS's that can be cracked and have better software installed on them. Never tried one before, but each generation of Garmin's has been progressively worse in my opinion (they are concentrating on making 100 different crappy models instead of 3 good ones), i would definitely investigate the cracking route. There are a number of threads on GPS's active right now, have a read through them and then if you still have questions post them up.
Based on my experiences, for north america, your best bet is Garmin or a cheap GPS. Magellan, tom-tom, etc. cost about what the garmin does but have even more issues. Radioworld stopped carrying magellan and tom-tom because they couldn't get parts for them and their warranty service sucked.
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Thank you. It's definitely the cracking/vibration issues I was worried about. (I ride a thumper, lol)
wonderings
Well-known member
The cracking he is talking about is software, more like hacking the software of the GPS to get more out of it.
Cost can really vary depending on if you want waterproof or not. If you dont care about a waterproof unit, the options are all over the map, if you want waterproof it narrows it down a bit. The Garmin Zumo is a great device, I have a 550 and use it all the time, though the price tag is not cheap. A cheaper waterproof unit is the Garmin Nuvi, very basic, but will get you there.
mototrek
Well-known member
On the bike, I sue the Garmin Etrex Legend Cx. It's bulletproof, water proof and rattle proof. Color screen - but it's detractors will complain about the screen size. That's crap the screen is adjustable and color. There is a bike mount (meant for a mountain bike - but works perfectly on every bike I have owned. This unit is for orienteering and fishing.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-eTrex-Legend-Waterproof-Hiking/dp/B000CSSHG4
Griffin
Well-known member
I use a cheap, re-furbed Tom Tom I got from GPS City a while ago. Cost me about $75.00. RAM mount. It isn't waterproof and I don't bother covering it with a zip lock bag and have been in heavy rain for more than an hour at a time with no problems. It is tucked in within the shelter of my windscreen so it doesn't get soaked in water but I'd say it's water resistant at least. I prefer the small screen because it doesn't take up a lot of space and I only use it as an occasional reference. If it ever stops working I'm not too upset if I have to buy another. For me it sure beats $700-800 for a waterproof motorcycle version.
silent_vik
Well-known member
question for those who have garmin 550: can u put custom maps on it? e.g. make a map on google maps or something equivalrnt and transfer it over to the gps?
I've just started fiddling around with this type of thing, but you can make a route in MapSource and then view in on GoggleEarth.
yes. I do that all the time. Create them on MapSource, upload, voila.
The Garmin eTrex VistaCx
The Garmin 60Cx
Both models were mounted onto my KLR, and they have near identical software, so while there is a steep learning curve initially, I transitioned to the 60Cx like it was an old friend with a larger screen.
Why? The eTrex was colour display, waterproof and battery operated and I paid $380 for it when it was new. They are discontinued, but you can still get your hands on them. It took me from Deals Gap to the East Coast and has over 100,000 km on it, then a friend of mine was shopping in LeBaron this year for a GPS, and they had the discontinued Garmin 60Cx on sale for $190 so we each bought one. It was a total screen size upgrade for me, and the 60Cx allows you to use 12v battery to power the unit, so it now has a power cable wired into my bike, but AA battery backup if the cable failed or I want to loan it to a friend or use in the tent.
It saves tracks and has a "trackback" feature that makes following an offroad route far easier. In addition, a compass that will point the crows path to the waypoint, and tell you when you are off the line, and which direction to steer back onto the path. It was the Excaliber of the off road dual sporting world, and many guys still mount them to their machines, and are a common site at Rallies as the organizers load the tracks onto the device via USB prior to the event.
What can I say? You did say Thumper and inexpensive.
$200 to buy, $35 for the ram mount kit from GPS City via mail, and a couple of AA batteries with mapsets downloaded off of the Internet like Canada Topo 4.0 which does both streets and Topo for the entire country, or City Navigator North America 2010.
There are tons of guides on use, setup etc, as well as the ability to download a GPX file and load it into Mapsource a PC mapping client, then send it to your GPS.
Create routes by adding waypoints, then save and email them to your friends.
It's old tech, but it works for me, and I've put the darned thing (eTrex) through six kinds of hell on three different bikes.
You did say Thumper.
my nuvi 550 got stolen and I was wondering if it was just me who found the gps a bit slow? Or maybe I needed to upgrade some sort of firmware? I got it when it went on sale at costco last year.
If it was just in need of an upgrade, then I'm down to grab another 550. I was just a little bit disappointed with the speed of the thing. Another thing that drove me nuts was typing in the postal code - you'd have to switch between numbers and letters (and they're awkwardly placed). My dad's entry-level garmin switched from letters to numbers by itself in the postal code field. So was it just the software?
If it was just in need of an upgrade, then I'm down to grab another 550. I was just a little bit disappointed with the speed of the thing. Another thing that drove me nuts was typing in the postal code - you'd have to switch between numbers and letters (and they're awkwardly placed). My dad's entry-level garmin switched from letters to numbers by itself in the postal code field. So was it just the software?
socially distorted
Well-known member
GPS ... phewwwwy
why use em?....just ride! lots of times getting lost is the fun part
why use em?....just ride! lots of times getting lost is the fun part
or just get your fellow rider with a Scala to tell you where to go. lol
