Satnav advice please

I know this was discussed last week, but it was mainly car-related,
so...

Good burghers of UKRM,

I'd like to get a replacement satnav system that I can use on the bike
but transfer to the cage as and when.

Having had the convenience of satnav in the car for a few years, I
would like to extend the facility to two-wheels - mainly for touring,
or those occasions where I become temporarily uncertain of my location
because I decide to try out some new roads and invariably end up
somewhere I don't recognise.

My cage has utterly appalling integrated satnav, which I only use if
I'm *really* desperate - I prefer to use my ancient iPaq with a wired
GPS and TomTom 3. This works, but it aint pretty. It's not fast
either - route finding can take several minutes, but once it's going
it works well enough.

I love the TomTom interface too and want to stick with it - unless
someone can tell me about a much better option.

As I see it, I have the following options:

- TomTom Rider
- TomTom Go (and risk it with the lack of weather-proofing)
- New PDA/GPS and a TomTom upgrade
- New Smartphone with BlueTooth GPS and TomTom software

Anybody know about the weather vulnerability of the TomTom Go units?
Or for that matter about weather-proofing a PDA?

I've seen some pictures of PDAs affixed to bikes, but it looked kind
of abusive. I'd prefer a one box solution, so I'm leaning away from
the SmartPhone option - which probably isn't gloved-hand friendly
anyway.

Any 'Rider' users care to comment about it?

And before someone suggests... I do carry a map on the bike, I'd just
like a new toy.

HVB

 

I've got a Rider, but as it's the only satnav gadget I've ever used I
can't really compare it to anything else.

It does what it says on the box, it has stood up to rain and V-twin
vibration with no problems, it's easy to use, instructions are clear and
there's no noticable lag, and it works just as well in the car with a
car mount.I'm pleased with it.

Gadgets are good, aren't they? You can never have enough gadgets.

I always struggle with maps. A leftover from my childhood ADHD is a very
poor working memory, and though I can work out my route on a map as well
as anybody, within a few seconds of looking away from the map I've
forgotten it. With my satnav I no longer get lost.

 

HVB wrote:

I use an Ipaq with TomTom3 on it in one pocket with an earphone for
directions and a bluetooth GPS in another pocket.

I don't want to look at the screen when riding - I'm generally busy so
the spoken stuff is OK to let me know I've missed my turning when SWMBO
is not there to do it.

Does me for around 6 hours riding without a charge, I find spoken
directions give me enough hints to get me to places.

 

Garmin 2610 for me or the newer 2720 if you are feeling more flush.
The TT Rider is relatively unproven re its weather-proofness and
bouncibiliy for use on a bike.

 

HVB wrote:

I've had one for a couple of months and found it to be good. Invaluable
on an epic trip to Scotland where I wanted to use Bike magazine's
recommended cross-country route without faffing about with maps. So far
no problems other than finding my speedo over-reads by about 15%. Oh,
and being able to overlay speed camera positions is nice.

What about the Garmin? Quest/Quest2? They're a bit cheaper than the
Rider.

 

You can get a refurbed StreetPilot 3 with accessories (including a basic
motorcycle mount) at gpsw.co.uk. £156.93 including delivery.

Doesn't do custom POIs but is waterproof and rugged, they say.

Suit you sir?

Martin.

 

Garmin 2610 ideally in a shock proof mount such as the Touratech - the
combination gives you go anywhere ability that is waterproof in the worst
conditions and plugs straight into a cage as well, I use an external ariel
as well on the bike as sat coverage in some parts of Europe is sketchy in
gorges and deep valleys. Coverage on the mountains is good and Andorra
showed as better than 2m accuracy.

A very good idea and nice for seeing the 'bigger picture'

The combination of GPS and a local map has seen me OK over most of Europe
over the last few years

 

Harsh but true in some cases

 

That's not 100% true though - you can get the cameras as an overlay map
and for campsites you've got enough waypoints to play with unless you
plan a *really* complicated route. Granted, the newer units have tons
more features (some even useful) but as a good basic unit, the 2610 is
hard to beat.

 

Can't remember what they cost - there should be a link from somewhere on
the pocketgps forums IIRC. TBH the overlay makes the whole map of SE
useless as all you see are the green and red dots of the camera locations.
There are areas where you basically can't see anything else...

 

Nick wrote:

These may be of interest, waypoints for speed cameras, camp sites, hotels
etc. Including France and to a limited degree Spain, I used them earlier
this month on a 2610 and they worked well.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=46

 

Yes that is a good point, I believe the 27xx beeps when it gets near a POI
such as a speed trap.

Regarding speed traps in Spain it is very easy, the temporary signs telling
you about the speed cameras are the speed cameras!

For France, well I am told that speeding is bad news as the locals Feds have
zero tolerance but that didn't stop us from sitting at 180 kmh for often
hours on end on the motorways, for lesser roads the locals flash and wave
frantically when you approach a mobile trap and these always seem to be
just before or after roundabouts and was normally identified by 3 or 4
police cars plus a load of feds

Go figure, it sure as hell confused me.

One of the countries we passed through had big signs saying RADAR - I think
it was also speed related as they were normally just before a permenant
camera that was set low to the ground on the verge - possibly France.

 

Does this work well enough in areas if you're in an area you don't
know? I figured that the voice prompts would be more useful on the
bike, but I'm not sure I'd want to dispense with the screen.

On my current set up I'm in the habit of turning the voice prompts off
(I find them a little annoying - and if you go the wrong way, "Jane"
can be a little threatening before she eventually relents and replots
a route).

HVB

 

The Garmins are a little pricy. I may have to find somewhere selling
them and have a bit of a play before making a decision. Thanks for
the recommendation.

HVB

 

But no proximity alerts on user POI which is where the 2720 scores for
use as a scamera locater.

 

In that case, I may be a bit cunty already! I'm sure someone will
be along to confirm that soon.

Thanks for the link!

HVB

 

If a RAM can't satisfy you then nothing will.