Basic Satnav

[Mark1892]

Can someone give me a few ideas to look at of basic sat navs, not necessarily cheap ones but ones that will sit on the front of the bike, show a route with arrows on the screen, easy to use etc. Don't need anything fancy just good old fashioned get me home or get me back on track to a destination if i go the scenic route

And additionally to plug into the unused connector under the headlight, will i need to do anything else except wire the power cable into a bmw connector - relay, fuses etc? TIA

 

[Nutty]

TomTom for me

 

[Mark1892]

Urban rider or rider pro Nutty? Any disadvantages with it that you find annoying?

 

[Wapping]

The Garmin seems to be the default GPS device of choice for most motorcyclists and, now that they are being factory fitted to some makes of motorcycles, the manufacturers, too.

I would estimate that I have clocked up well over 300,000 miles using Garmin devices of one sort or another. They have got better and better over the years. I would hazard a fairly good guess that 99% of the (very few) routing errors I now make are down to me (the operator) not the device itself. Buy and use with confidence.

So there's your choice, Garmin or TomTom. Time to flip a coin, perhaps? Me, I'd go Garmin.

Assuming you have a 1200 GS, you'll be fine powering a GPS device directly from the dedicated 'under the beak' spur. No need for any fuse, relay or other gubbins.

 

[Mark1892]

The Garmin seems to be the default GPS device of choice for most motorcyclists and, now that they are being factory fitted to some makes of motorcycles, the manufacturers, too.

Assuming you have a 1200 GS, you'll be fine simply powering a GPS device directly from the dedicated 'under the beak' spur. No need for any fuse, relay or other gubbins.

Yes Wapping 2011 GSA. Loads of people have garmins so they must be good but appear to be pricey and after buying the bike, a new textile suit, aluminium luggage and a few hundred quids worth of add ons from NN, my kids are still hoping for santa to visit

I'm off to the NEC bike show next weekend to have a play with some and maybe get a deal

Just a quick search and the 220 retails at £370 but the 220 with Scala headset is only 30 quid more

 

[tuftywhite]

I've got a case for my iPhone and use the free SatNav app Nav Free.

You can buy extra countries, speed camera warnings and other packs quite reasonably. I bought a RiderMount case for it and can use the phone with my summer gloves.

Also means that with the USB charger I have, the phone gets charged on the move and I don't have an extra bit of kit to take around with me/worry about.

 

[Greg Masters]

I'm off to the NEC bike show next weekend to have a play with some and maybe get a deal

I doubt that you'll get a 'deal' at the NEC other than being ripped off on the door etc.

Save your money and put it towards a Garmin!

Greg

 

[Mark1892]

I doubt that you'll get a 'deal' at the NEC other than being ripped off on the door etc.

Save your money and put it towards a Garmin!

Greg

Lol probably right Greg but going anyway, i buy nearly everything online due to the mass savings that can be made. You never know

 

[Mark1892]

Tufty. I have a Samsung S2 and was considering using it but buttons probs too small I'd have thought

 

[Nutty]

Urban rider or rider pro Nutty? Any disadvantages with it that you find annoying?

Rider Pro Europe. Very easy to use, everything is on the main screen (time/ miles left etc). I reckon you should be able to get a deal at the NEC as there were offers last year.

 

[beemerboy9]

Urban rider or rider pro Nutty? Any disadvantages with it that you find annoying?

Once upon a time in the dim and distant past, the after-sales service from Tom-Tom was frightful - and that put a lot of people off.

Nowadays the stories seem to be of quite satisfactory service. I think you can but with confidence now.

I think the Garmin route planning is "better-integrated".

I would only ever buy Garmin for the bike, but would happily buy a Tom-Tom for the wife's car.

 

[JayC]

How about one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-Touch..._In_Car_Technology&hash=item564a476379&_uhb=1

<img id="icImg" class="img img500" itemprop="image" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/3-5-Touchscreen-MOTORCYCLE-Car-Weatherproof-GPS-SAT-NAV-/00/$(KGrHqUOKjcE353SrP(6BOCRJZRG(!~~_35.JPG" style="" clk="0" alt="" mskuskip="false">

 

[Mark1892]

How about one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-Touch..._In_Car_Technology&hash=item564a476379&_uhb=1

<img id="icImg" class="img img500" itemprop="image" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/3-5-Touchscreen-MOTORCYCLE-Car-Weatherproof-GPS-SAT-NAV-/00/$(KGrHqUOKjcE353SrP(6BOCRJZRG(!~~_35.JPG" style="" clk="0" alt="" mskuskip="false">

You got one?

 

[Wapping]

Yes Wapping 2011 GSA. Loads of people have garmins so they must be good but appear to be pricey and after buying the bike, a new textile suit, aluminium luggage and a few hundred quids worth of add ons from NN, my kids are still hoping for santa to visit

I'm off to the NEC bike show next weekend to have a play with some and maybe get a deal

Just a quick search and the 220 retails at £370 but the 220 with Scala headset is only 30 quid more

You asked for 'not necessarily cheap ones'. Add in the 'Loads of people have (them) so they must be good' and a Garmin is looking fairly tops. There again, lots of people also watch Sports Dancer Sing Off On Ice.... So you can never really tell.

As Greg says, put the NEC entry fee towards a Garmin. To which I'll add, you should have avoided the 'few hundred quids worth' from Norman..... You'd have paid for your Garmin by now

Enjoy, whatever you get.

 

[JayC]

You got one?

Yes , I used it for my 2010/11 and 12 Alps tours including the Dolomites. I use it for a back up to maps but also as a mileage muncher when cracking on.

Though it can be charged indoors I have it wired into the bike battery and has previously been fitted to an F650, F8GS and currently the 12GS.
It comes with two cradles, one for the car and one for the bike, plus charging leads for both.

For your needs I would say you can't go wrong though I must adapt a sun shield at some stage and prior to next years travels.

 

[Kritou]

Yes , I used it for my 2010/11 and 12 Alps tours including the Dolomites. I use it for a back up to maps but also as a mileage muncher when cracking on.

Though it can be charged indoors I have it wired into the bike battery and has previously been fitted to an F650, F8GS and currently the 12GS.
It comes with two cradles, one for the car and one for the bike, plus charging leads for both.

For your needs I would say you can't go wrong though I must adapt a sun shield at some stage and prior to next years travels.

Can you tell us something about the mapping, updates, routing options etc?

Thanks

 

[JayC]

Can you tell us something about the mapping, updates, routing options etc?

Thanks

Kritou, have you read the link I provided?

 

[Mark1892]

Ah but those things from Normans were absolutely essential

The one on the ebay link is obviously an inexpensive one but without feedback to performance or reliability, I would be more willing to pay more for an established and proven brand.

 

[Kritou]

Kritou, have you read the link I provided?

Yes, I read all the descriptive stuff on the listing but couldn't find what I wanted. Maybe I should Google the actual device

I wonder who supplies the mapping?

Cheers

 

[Mark1892]

Jayc, reading the feedback the maps are 2010. Have you updated them?