GPS products

Forum Sponsor
Part of me agrees about the Zumos due to Garmin -- If the 350LM was $200 I'd have bought it the day it came out, but at $700, I just can't justify it given what it is. You'd think with all the apps now Garmin would smarten up (almost seems they have with the Nuvi line, but definitely not the Zumo lineup).
 
I can't agree more, which is why I posted the question in the first place. When I bought my playbook I downloaded a nav app for $7 that was very highly rated and supposed to be easy to use. Use on or offline, with turn by turn voice prompt that I could pair with my headset. Done right? What a load of crap. You need a degree in full retard to use it and the voice prompt never works. Makes me think all the BB haters are right
Click to expand...

I went through a few until I stumbled on MotionX and the others like the CAA App etc were marginal at best.

But the MotionXDriver was an eye opener and with the companion MotionXGPS a bargoon.
Very straight forward to use, find a destination or a previous destination and you can add a new destination to an existing route.

The standalone's have to get their prices sorted. For $200 it better be bright, full featured and waterproof and BTW you don't NEED to mount the iphone - I just keep it in my pocket.
 
silverbullet132 said:
True, but it is easier to navigate if you can see where you are going (upcoming streets etc).
Click to expand...
RAM has mounts for smartphones -- They even have a waterproof aqua-box version for some of them (it's what I'm debating if I don't get a zumo, but for now I'm just using my old nuvi as my phone is a POS)
 
conundrum said:
RAM has mounts for smartphones -- They even have a waterproof aqua-box version for some of them (it's what I'm debating if I don't get a zumo, but for now I'm just using my old nuvi as my phone is a POS)
Click to expand...

I personally do not like the idea of a waterproof box. Sometimes I need to access when riding, or quickly at a light to make a quick adjustment, find gas, etc. Having it locked away takes a lot of function away from a good motorcycle GPS.

I think my Zumo was worth the money, lots of great features, works with gloves, warns me about fuel well in advance with 1 click find a gas station options, plus using basecamp I can plot plot and plot some more the different trips I will do and want to do.
 
wonderings said:
I personally do not like the idea of a waterproof box. Sometimes I need to access when riding, or quickly at a light to make a quick adjustment, find gas, etc. Having it locked away takes a lot of function away from a good motorcycle GPS.

I think my Zumo was worth the money, lots of great features, works with gloves, warns me about fuel well in advance with 1 click find a gas station options, plus using basecamp I can plot plot and plot some more the different trips I will do and want to do.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the Aqua-boxes still work with capacitive touchscreens -- so you can still use the device when in the box. I've never actually used one though myself. Gloves of course could be a problem.

I also figure I might cave and buy a zumo at some point -- I'm just holding out hoping Garmin has a reality check at some point in the next 1-2 years.
 
conundrum said:
AFAIK the Aqua-boxes still work with capacitive touchscreens -- so you can still use the device when in the box. I've never actually used one though myself. Gloves of course could be a problem.

I also figure I might cave and buy a zumo at some point -- I'm just holding out hoping Garmin has a reality check at some point in the next 1-2 years.
Click to expand...

Guess I was just thinking of a big waterproof box.

I really do like the Garmin products, but a lot of stuff does not make sense. Like I buy a Zumo 660 and get no lifetime map updates, but if I buy a cheap $150 dollar garmin I get lifetime maps. Its little things like that, plus as soon as you are out of warranty, they are terrible and will do nothing to help, at least from my experience with my old Zumo 550.
 
I got the Zumo 660LM last year and it's been pretty good so far. I have it mounted using a stem mount and it looks pretty clean. Only problem I've had with it so far is the audio out on it. For some reason towards the end of last summer the headphone audio out jack just stopped working. I got a new bike recently so I'm going to have a look and see if maybe just the wires were pinched or something on the last one. All in all, a good GPS that stays charged while riding :).
 
I use Motion X GPS Drive for my Iphone and really like it. It has never let me down. And with some of the new case out you rare 100% waterproof, data usage can be a issue but I have a 6gig a month plan and have never even got close to that running it for days at a time without downloading any maps. I like the Zumo lineup but at this point cannot justify the cost.
 
conundrum said:
AFAIK the Aqua-boxes still work with capacitive touchscreens -- so you can still use the device when in the box. I've never actually used one though myself. Gloves of course could be a problem.
Click to expand...

I used to use a non waterproof gps with an aqua box and it was totally receptive to use with gloves on. The glare was a bit worse than without the aqua box. Also the aqua box is big and bulky. I also prefer a waterproof gps that I can look at. I have thought that I would prefer to keep my phone in the aqua box so I could see who's calling to decide if I wanted to answer or not.

Nuvi 550 gets another vote here.
 
I have a refurb. Garmin 1490T. Has 10 route capability, fairly large screen and can be used with gloves. $129 at Tiger Direct. RAM mount on my clutch master cylinder and plugs into an Eastern Beaver cigarette lighter type 12v plug . Not waterproof, but on the rare occasion I've get rained on a sandwich baggy is a perfect fit. Can't beat the value.
 
Personally I use this setup and its never let me down:


LifeProof.jpg


With

RAM-HOL-UN7BUIU2.jpg


With

RAM-B-201U1.jpg


With

RAM-B-342.jpg
 
JZ67 said:
Important key factors for me are being able to hear the instruction through my headset (Interphone F4) and being able to program my own routes. My headset only pairs via A2DP bluetooth so it will not pair with gps units that do not have this profile.
Click to expand...

You may have a challenge with Garmin GPS with your bluetooth headset.

My BT experiences with my Zumo 550 were great; they really ironed out its BT interoperability. Nav prompts and phone to the BT headset, music to my headphones. However, I can't see your A2DP limitation working in your favour here. I'd suggest trying a friend's unit (with the latest firmware) to see if you can get it paired and operating the way you like.

My BT experiences with my Zumo 660 have been dismal; Can't get nav alerts or music in my Scala G4 (equiv) headset, and I've tried a bunch. I can't blame the Scala in this, though it might be an annoying 660/Scala interop problem. YMMV.

I love Garmin for its GPS functionality, but I've resigned myself to needing to use headphones for music and nav prompts. BT headset works fine for phone calls, but that's about it.
 
Corsara said:
Oh, i didn't know about this. Pretty nice I must admit.
Click to expand...

Ya I do a lot of towed water sports and have a really bad habit of jumping into the water with my phone on me. The only reason I bought an iphone was so I could get a life proof case. Believe it or not i've done a long line submersed start for footing at 50mph with the phone in my pocket and absolutely zero water damage...lol

Here's a vid of what I subjected it to...lol

[video=youtube;xGVEbrqe3D8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGVEbrqe3D8[/video]
 
Love my Lifeproof cases.. got for iphone and ipad. Im still pondering a new GPS tho, and a new headset for the helmet
 
found Magellan Compass for my Playbook for $4.99. needs to be connected to the net but uses very little data connets to my headset via bluetooth and ican create my own routes. Ram mounts are available so I'm pretty well set for now. Thanks for all the advice.
 
Last edited:
JZ67 said:
found Magellan Compass for my Playbook for $4.99. needs to be connected to the net but uses very little data connets to my headset via bluetooth and ican create my own routes. Ram mounts are available so I'm pretty well set for now. Thanks for all the advice.
Click to expand...

Are u gonna pre-download maps?
Would you see the maps in the sun glare?

Sent from my Phone, dont judge the grammar
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom