But do I really need one????

[malc]

Ive posted about pda or gps only Ive had some relly interesting answers & points of view & ive waited for the sales.
But I keep hitting a brick wall with the "do I really need one thought" cause Ive never needed 1 before I just fancy one but will I use it?
I have not done a continent trip & wont be doing for a few years so its scotland,Ireland & uk for me for the next few years.

So I keep coming round to the question do I really need one?

I personally dont think so but I just fancy 1 aldi have got a medion on offer @ £219 on tuesday any thoughts on it people?

 

[John Armstrong]

Yes, I've been down roads with grass down the middle which I'd never have thought of going down without the GPS. I still enjoy looking at maps to find roads I'd like to do. So maps at home and when I'm stopped, GPS on the move.

 

[Gecko]

IMHO GPS is about the best invetion for bikers since goretex. Once you have one you'll never want to be without . Just like the mobile phones, you'll soon forget how life pre-GPS was. They are brilliant bits of kit. Used intelligently with a good map and you can discover places even the locals don't know about.

 

[Gecko]

IMHO GPS is about the best invention for bikers since goretex. Once you have one you'll never want to be without . Just like the mobile phones, you'll soon forget how life pre-GPS was. They are brilliant bits of kit. Used intelligently with a good map and you can discover places even the locals don't know about.

 

[Micky]

So I keep coming round to the question do I really need one?

You'll wonder how you ever managed without one

Two questions one should ask oneself....
1) Do I WANT one?
2) Can I AFFORD one?

If the answer is yes to both questions then go get one, 'do I really need one' has nothing to do with it

 

[Keba]

Personally I think its all about why you ride, which then leads to if you should really consider getting a GPS or not.

If you need to get to specific places more often than not and you have rarely if ever riden in that area before, then yes, a GPS will be great.

If you like planning out your journey's in advance with a view to 'oooh, I've never been there before!' type destinations, then a GPS will be great.

If you like the idea that you can actually get well and truely lost, don't care where you've been and are just riding for the pure enjoyment of it all, then a GPS will ruin that experience...

I commute mainly - no 'pure enjoyment' for me! I also sometimes go to specific destinations that I've never been to before. I also have more money than sense... Hence - I got a GPS

 

[Fanum]

aldi have got a medion on offer @ £219 on tuesday any thoughts on it people?

Yes.....DON'T TOUCH IT WITH A BARGE POLE!!!!

They're not waterproof and not designed to work on a bike, plus software will be a problem for it.

Keep your eyes peeled for one of the mainstream units....the Garmin Quest for example has been on sale in Dixons for 80 quid which is a stupidly low price...they're clearing out stocks before the Quest 2 arrives.

GPS's are wonderfull things though...as the others said, you'll find roads that you never knew existed (even locally!) and you can just dive down any road that takes your fancy and not worry about it.

Definately get one.....but choose carefully....take an evening and do some searching here to read up on the various units....make sure it's designed for bike use and that it's got good mappping, software, backup and updates.

 

[GSmonkey]

The GPS is certainly the best 'gadget' I've bought in a few years. Even got Royal approval (the wife) after using it for a few months.

I use the SPIII and have two major uses for it:

-Have to visit a place I've never been to in the car. Find out where it is on t'internet, set a waypoint, then no more hassle. You won't miss your meeting because you were frigging around trying to find some obscure industrial estate.

-Going for a days rideout / weeks touring on the bike. I like to get a good set of mapping before hand, OS type showing relief. Do some research on t'internet, and generally sus out the best roads. THEN I plot a route on the PC sitting at home. Then I just go out and ride the thing - this has lead me to find the *best* roads I've ever ridden. You can even mark out the best points of the route / nice looking pubs on-route for a re-visit.

I certainly wouldn't want to do without one on the bike now. I've done the map-in-the-tankbag thing before and its a PITA.

Like Fanum says, do some research first - not just into the unit, but also into the software, as some units don't have PC routing capability.

 

[NeverRodeBefore]

Medion at £219

I've just bought a Medion PNA100 for £205 inc postage from www.medionshop.com (or .co.uk), I can never remember.

It's not waterproof, but like you say, nothing a box won't sort. It's a PDA also, so it's not just a GPS, which is handy... Jawbreaker is very addictive... The battery doesn't last all day, but does have 12v gear included, just the wrong size plug.

I went for a ride with it and it didn't get a single lock on the satallites, and kept turning off on it's own. With it in the top of the tankbag you can't see it through the plastic.

However, I hadn't linked it up to the computer at home... which I did, and then left it for about 10 minutes with an unobstructed view of the sky facing south (a tip from my brother who uses satnav systems on both PDA's and laptops in his trucks and his car).

THe satnav software is Navteq onboard (I think) under the title of Medion Navigator 4.4 with the UK and Ireland preinstalled, and with CD's of most of europe on them. Not sure how many maps you can fit on the standard 256mb memory, or how it switches from country to country... I don't do oversea's yet.

Need to purchase an otterbox or waterproof type and ram mount, and either alter the 12v plug, or wire in a car type extension direct from the battery or into the standard socket.

Good riding to one and all.

 

[Wizard]

So I keep coming round to the question do I really need one?

No, you don't. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using maps and getting lost occasionally.

But if you get one, you'll not look back. You will tackle routes you hadn't previously, you won't worry so much about running out of fuel when you're in a new area, you'll get through/around cities without stress. And as for just riding for the pleasure and not knowing or caring where you are..... that's what the power switch is for. And when you decide you're fed up not knowing where you are and you want to go home, you can do it without the two hours trolling through the pissing rain to find a signpost that tells you you were going in the wrong direction.

 

[Big Lee]

I agree with whats been said My 2610 is an excellent item of kit that allows me to do routes that would otherwise be a PITA to find my way around on the bike & allows me to get to places in the car while Mrs Big Lee entertains our 2yo. That alone is worth the money!
If you want one & can afford it buy one!!

Lee

 

[Gipsy]

I have outline spending approval for one in the new year. I've called it a U-turn avoidance machine!

 

[Pressurized]

A GPS is to a tatty old map as an R1200 GS is to a pristeen Triumph Tiger.

Treat yourself!

 

[araspitfire]

About the only time I'd not recommend that someone have a go at GPS is where that person doesn't like to explore new roads...

If you only commute on your bike, never go to areas you don't know... then you needn't bother...

Unless of course you like to play with electro gadgets....

Al...

 

[malc]

But I own a tiger?

Anyway more to the point which one do I get then?

Im also told that I am the tightest man in the universe so parting with a massive wad of cash may discourage me from buying so Ill set you a limit of £200-£250max.
I dont want to layout a massive amount this early & ive already asked if its gps or gps/pda & seems to be gps only.

plaese help this gps game is a minefield

 

[snoopy]

IPAQ 3715 = £120 2nd hand unopened. 156Mb onboard.
2GB SD = £83 mobymemory.co.uk (cheapest ebay is 89.99)
GPS + 5v charger = £30 ebay
IPAQ 3715 clear case = £5.99 ebay
TomTom 5 = Free
wire, microswitchsw/lever (to auto cut power when pda removed, stop battery going dead), sticky pads, heat shrink, velcro pads = £5.99 Maplin

£244.98

Mounted below the screen, the PDA is in a case with a lid so PDA lifted out in a second. As waterproof as it needs to be as screen does most the job.

You can't do a 2GB PDA GPS system for cheaper than this. You MUST get a 400MHz CPU - slower ones have major probs with GPS software.

For all GPS systems you pay a large amount for the memory and this usually dictates the price by a substantial margin.

 

[TheJoker]

malc, get yourself a GPS, they're wonderful. what I use to do is to go out riding down unknown roads. It is absolutely wonderful to have the "comfort" of the GPS around so you can "set it to point at home" when it's time to stop playing. You'll discover roads you never thoght existed.

As for the money, just get over it: get a unit you like and worry about the money tomorrow.