GPS

[MaxiScoot]

Since I'm directionally challenged, I've been considering getting a GPS. I really don't know much about the different brands. I've been looking at the Garmin Quest. It's small and you can put it on your bike, in your car, or in your pocket.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, etc., etc., etc. :?:

[wabbit]

I got the quest for christmas. I like it a lot. It has all the power of the larger units and is portable like you said. You'll have to come to the coffee shop meetings in Plano and you can check it out.

[Xtabber]

I got the Garmin StreetPilot 2610. I use it on the bike (with a RAM mount) and in the car too. It not only does a great job automapping, but it holds alot of detailed maps (128MB worth), has a large screen with touch controls and talks to you (giving verbal directions like, turn right in 500 feet).

I really like it, but it's not cheap...

[Bobthearch]

I'm not familiar with the Quest, but the GPSMAP76S and eTrex models are great units. Personally, I use the 76S, but not on the bike - I have a pretty good sense of direction on the highway.

Happy shopping,
Bob

[banner]

I've got a Garmin GPSMAP 60CS. I haven't used it on my bike yet (still need to find a mount), but it works fairly well in the car, on the boat, and on the trails. It has a decent amount of memory and the base map knows about most highways in the US. You can also upgrade to a different basemap if you want more detail. One thing that it does not include are voice prompts for the directions, but it does do autorouting and display prompts on the screen. It also would be difficult to use the buttons while you have gloves on, but then again you probably shouldn't be messing with it too much while riding anyways. :twisted:

I hope this helps.

[Karl_L]

Banner, I use the 60C too. I started with the RAM mount cradle (http://cyclegadgets.com/Products/RAM/ram.asp?prod=RAM-GPS60). It's simple and inexpensive and you can get it from most online sources of RAM products. But I was tired of having to take the GPS with me whenever I got off the bike for a few minutes so I got this locking mount (http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/search_sku.lasso?SKU=065-0077&TopCat=navigation&SubCat=GPS_MountsÂ*&-session=touratech:E976BCD2CEFF5B186068E03A905389EF ) from Touratech. It's a lot more expensive but allows more peace of mind when you are away from the bike for a few minutes.

I also really recommend wiring a power cord to your bike's battery. The battery contacts in the 60C are a weak point and the vibration can cause the batteries to momentarily lose contact. If you don't use bike power then it's not uncommon to look down and find the unit turned off. The 60C uses 12v power so no voltage conversion is needed. You can get a power cord with bare ends a and a fuse already included here. (http://www.gpscity.com/gps/brados/55121.2.14840435061556645046/garpowerdata.html) I already had a cigarette lighter power cord so I just cut off the plug and put in a fuse holder.

[wabbit]

I just recieved the touratech mount as well from cycoactive.com. IT is a little overkill for my cafe racer, but when I buy a dual sport in the future it will be right at home.

[Cammie]

Wildgift, chime in here. I rode with Peter yesterday and today (the weather here in SoCal was back to normal). He had his Christmas gift GPS mounted to his SV 650. It looked very nice. As I recall, it was reasonably priced. We went on prescribed routes so the GPS wasn't necessary. Being directionally challenged myself, I see how this could come in handy.

Cammie

[dcom]

I also got a Garmin Quest for Christmas and absolutely love it! Cycoactive sells a Ram mount for it, if you don't mind running it on internal battery power while on the bike. I've got the mount on my Heritage and it's great.

The cool thing about the Quest is that it comes with a car mount and the City Select software for North America. The mount can be moved from car to car if you want and the software contains details for just about every city in North America. Plus, with the Mapsource program you get, it's easy to plan routes. You basically draw the route on the roads you want to use, then download it to the Quest. It'll graphically, and audibly (in the car) tell you where to turn. We plan on going to Paris in April and I'm taking it with me.

[MaxiScoot]

I've ordered the Quest. It should be on my doorstep when I get home tonight. Now I've got to find a mount that will work on my scooter. :?:

Thanks, everyone for your suggestions! :-)

[Mer]

We've got the Garmin V. It works great with the Ram mount. We were having issues with the batteries so Randy wired it in to the battery a few weeks ago. Now we won't have to worry about battery life on long trips.

[guitardad]

Lionlady and I have a Garmin GPSMap 276C that we swap between both bikes and the car. Big color screen that doesn't wash out, runs all day on batteries, and it's designed as a marine unit so it's pretty waterproof. It has buttons rather than the touchscreen of the 2610/2620, but I won't mess with it unless I'm stopped, so it's not a big problem. http://www.CycleGadgets.com has a good assortment of mounts. We got the Touratech cradle - beefy aluminum, with a screw-down latch - and put it on a RAM mount system. Works great!

[dcom]

You'll have a fun time with it. Go to Cycoactive's website (http://www.cycoactive.com) and look for their Quest RAM mount. It should fit on your scooter

[MaxiScoot]

You'll have a fun time with it. Go to Cycoactive's website (http://www.cycoactive.com) and look for their Quest RAM mount. It should fit on your scooter
Many thanks, Shutterbug! :)

[Lezbert]

I have a Garmin Legend that I got on E-bay last year. I wasn't able to figure out quite how to set it up right, so it sits in a box in the closet. I should try this again. I'd originally gotten one so I could start geocaching...from the bike. :)

[Squelch]

I have a Garmin eTrex Legend that I got right before I went back to Iraq, and I got a handlebar mount for it when I got home. It works great, and it helps me keep track of which way home is, what my actualy mileage and speed is, and I can save all of my routes on my computer. I love it...

[wildgift]

love my 60c, with a RAM mount from www.cyclegadgets.com
solid, works great, once you do the battery fix so the vibes don't jar the batteries loose (use foam tape)

it's a swell unit--you can put in your fave routes, and i can even use the buttons with my cycle gloves on.