Basic sat nav recommendations please

[Hustler]

A recent trip to Europe has finally (again) bought home to me the fact that I really do need a sat nav.
In the past I've been, and still am really, a dedicated map person although I do have an old Tom Tom in the car.
Getting lost every day became simply a big pain in the bottom, especially in Germany where my knowledge of the language is near to zero.

I don't need bluetooth or MP3 capabilities neither of which I understand if the truth be known, which will possibly also give you a guide to the age bracket I'm in.
I don't want to use base camp, be able to plot a twisty route, know my mpg, my service log or my tyre pressures.

I would like the beast to work in the car though and I'd like it to talk to me in the car but not the bike.
I need to be able to get brackets to fit it to the bike and the car if need be in case they aren't included.
My guess is I'm looking for some older sat nav model but I would like lifetime map updates and the ability to choose quickest or shortest routes.
Nearest petrol station would be a nice touch but not essential.

Think that is all, thank you for listening.

 

[Wapping]

Find a secondhand 660 or 550 here or on eBay. Both very good devices and more than adequate. Given the choice? A 660 for its larger screen and the way it can be better configured.

Both will work with Mapsource and / or Tire. There again, there is very little wrong with BaseCamp, though you'll not need all the bells and whistles it offers.

Finding petrol stations? The software is good but the data behind it (as supplied to NavTec / Garmin) is not great. If you get a choice, head to the one that appears to be at a supermarket, as they close down less often. There again, you've got this far, so you'll probably not need the GPS support to find fuel anyway.

 

[oblertone]

Another vote for Garmin; I use a 550 on the bike, don't route plan or use way points either. Very handy for getting to an address, or just getting out of town. Given a choice I'd get a 660 as the 550 is a bit old by now, but still a very good bit of kit

 

[mrsroynie]

I'm very happy with my Garmin 390LM. Has a slightly smaller screen than the 660 or 590, but is very clear and readable ... and at least £100 cheaper RRP (new). Features-wise, they all seem much of a muchness. The 390 and 340 have better battery life than the bigger models, but don't have MP3. I picked mine up for about £300 from an eBay seller.

 

[cookie]

Tom Tom app on a smartphone. Miles better for simple navigation than that garmin shite.

I have both.

 

[Hustler]

Don't have a smartphone I'm afraid cookie so that idea not an option.

Thanks for your replies people, most appreciated.

 

[Wapping]

It would be interesting to hear what you get and, more importantly, how you get on with it.

 

[Kritou]

Basic satnav = Garmin Quest = no bells or whistles

£50 on eBay, free Open Street Mapping (OSM)

Two days touring from one charge

 

[Blackal]

Garmin quest is tiny - I don't even use mine on a sports bike now - also, very small memory - so you need to load a "corridor" of maps if you want to go down through Europe, for example.

I'd get a Zumo 550 or 600 - still current, and mounts are available cheaply/easily. Mounts for the 350/390 are not so common.

If buying new - I think there is a good price for the 350/390 from Burrows (I posted a link in the satnav section a few weeks ago).

S/H - A 550 for £150? 660 - slightly more (£170?)

Al

 

[Hustler]

Garmin quest is tiny - I don't even use mine on a sports bike now - also, very small memory - so you need to load a "corridor" of maps if you want to go down through Europe, for example.

I'd get a Zumo 550 or 600 - still current, and mounts are available cheaply/easily. Mounts for the 350/390 are not so common.

If buying new - I think there is a good price for the 350/390 from Burrows (I posted a link in the satnav section a few weeks ago).

S/H - A 550 for £150? 660 - slightly more (£170?)

Al

I'll follow up the Burrows link, thank you Al.

I do need to check up on mounts as sat nav ideally needs to fit a Yamaha MT-07, an older BMW - R65, and fit in a car as well. I assume Garmin is the place for mounts but I can google that question.

Thanks also for the price estimates Al.

Thank you Kritou as I did initially expect to be pointed to something older but I'm now leaning towards something newer. Probably.

Will report back Wapping.

Thanks very much everyone.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

If you want to have a look at how the 550 works and the mounts give me a shout

 

[Hustler]

If you want to have a look at how the 550 works and the mounts give me a shout

Thanks very much for the offer, what a good idea.

Might have a bit of trouble finding you of course as I haven't got a sat nav.

pm on its way.

 

[Blackal]

I'll follow up the Burrows link, thank you Al.

I do need to check up on mounts as sat nav ideally needs to fit a Yamaha MT-07, an older BMW - R65, and fit in a car as well. I assume Garmin is the place for mounts but I can google that question.

Thanks also for the price estimates Al.

Thank you Kritou as I did initially expect to be pointed to something older but I'm now leaning towards something newer. Probably.

Will report back Wapping.

Thanks very much everyone.

Additional mounts (you'll get bike and car mount with a S/H one) - you can get on here (ask or wait until they come up) or on Ebay.

The 550 is narrower than the 660, which may help, and the 550 is still a sought-after unit, as it is probably better built than the 660 and has the (advantage) of not requiring battery out to get access to the SD card (660 uses micro-SD underneath the battery).

Al

 

[Myke Rocks]

Don't have a smartphone I'm afraid cookie so that idea not an option.

Thanks for your replies people, most appreciated.

Cheaper to buy a second hand Smartphone and put Co pilot on it. (All of Europe is under £30.00) Unlimited waypoints.
Ok, so the voice prompts are in merkinspeak, but it's still superb.
I also have TomTom on the same phone, but CoPilot is much better in Europe. For example, when plotting a route, it ignores countries. Thus, you just plot from say Memmingham to Klagenfurt. 2 different countries, but it is smart enough not to prompt you about this.
Myke

 

[Hustler]

Cheaper to buy a second hand Smartphone and put Co pilot on it. (All of Europe is under £30.00) Unlimited waypoints.
Ok, so the voice prompts are in merkinspeak, but it's still superb.
I also have TomTom on the same phone, but CoPilot is much better in Europe. For example, when plotting a route, it ignores countries. Thus, you just plot from say Memmingham to Klagenfurt. 2 different countries, but it is smart enough not to prompt you about this.
Myke

Probably is a good idea Myke but of course that means something else for me to learn i.e. smartphone.
I've got a really really old Nokia mobile that is switched on for emergencies only and I don't use text.
I know, still in the dark ages.

 

[Norfolk Tiger]

Thanks very much for the offer, what a good idea.

Might have a bit of trouble finding you of course as I haven't got a sat nav.

pm on its way.

And replied to.

 

[Wapping]

Will a decent basic GPS unit beat a smartphone when it comes to ease of use, general integrity, water resistance and ease of powering? Yes, in all probability.

Will a decent basic phone beat a GPS device for... Um... Making phone calls? Undoubtably.

 

[mrsroynie]

Mounts for the 350/390 are not so common.

Don't be daft. Both motorcycle and car mounts (for the 390 anyway) are included in the box ... as you would expect.

 

[Sleepy]

Smartphone satnav's are utter crap on a bike, ignore that advice..

 

[cookie]

Smartphone satnav's are utter crap on a bike, ignore that advice..

shouty, opinionated bollocks.

again.