Garmin announces the 2820 GPS for motorcycles

[fcasado]

this one....

which has the extra buttons on the left...which are part of the mounting bracket not the GPS

Mick,

AFAIK those extra buttons just come on the BMW navigator...

 

[Mick_rw]

Thanks...

Mick,

AFAIK those extra buttons just come on the BMW navigator...

for that fcasado, had a feeling it was a BMW piece of kit.....

Cheers

Mick

 

[PanEuropean]

...does this mean that If I buy a 2720 the bottom will fall out of the market and they would get heavily discounted...

Peter, I have no idea at all. The best that I can suggest you do is to look at the product release cycle for other consumer electronics, such as cell phones, PDAs, music players, laptop computers, stuff like that. New products come out continually, and to maintain sales of existing product that is already in the pipeline, manufacturers and retailers lower the price of existing products.

By the way, I have an Apple Macintosh computer - one of the original ones - that has 128K (K, not megs) of memory and a single floppy disc drive in it. I paid about USD $3,000 for it back in 1984. Should I be upset that I can buy a new Apple laptop today for less than that?

It's a merry go round - the moment you jump on it, whatever it is that you have purchased will be less expensive tomorrow, and superceded by something better next month. If you find that frustrating - stick with paper maps, that limits your depreciation to about ₤5 a year, possibly even less if you fold the map carefully each time you are finished using it, and you don't let it get wet.

Michael

 

[araspitfire]

Mr Moore

does this mean that If I buy a 2720 the bottom will fall out of the market and thay would get heavily discounted making me a very P***** off person

Never buy consumer electronics with an eye to resale value... just pick what you need (or want) and get it... don't expect to get anything back off it when you are done, and you wont be dissapointed...

Al...

 

[PanEuropean]

Al's comment above is pretty sharp. If we look at the cost / value equation for a single GPSR in isolation from new product releases, it's pretty reasonable. The price of a new, top of the line automotive navigator has remained pretty steady at about USD $700 for the last 6 years. The first SP III I bought in 2001 cost me $700, and the price of a new 2820 will likely settle down to fairly close to $700 after it has been out for two months. I'm quoting US market prices here, but the concept is the same for other market regions.

If you buy a top of the line automotive GPSR within a year of its intial release, you can reasonably count on the product giving you good service for about 4 years. Past 4 years, you begin to be hampered by memory constraints - because the cartography continues to grow and become more detailed. Assuming you buy one cartography update at the 2 year point, you have a total cost of ownership over 4 years of about $775 - or slightly under $200 a year. For sake of this discussion, let's assume residual value is nil, although in practice you could probably sell the unit for $200 to someone - as evidenced by the notices here on the forum this week of refurbished SP III's selling for ₤150.

The problem that no-one will ever be able to overcome is that there is usually a new, improved product released every year or so. If you want to always own the latest and greatest, you're going to spend a fortune to stay on top of things - same as you would if you applied that same practice to owning the latest and greatest car, or the latest and greatest laptop.

The trick, I think, is this: If you want to buy a GPSR, carefully evaluate your needs. If you don't need the Bluetooth support and you don't want (it's hard to say need here) the media player, then the SP 27xx is a perfectly good product. If you don't need the real time traffic services and you don't need the speed camera alerts, then the 26xx is worth considering. However - if you are attracted to the benefits of the wireless communication, the TMC function, the 12,500+ speed camera database, and the media player - and all the other features of the 'latest and greatest' 28xx series - then, that's the one to get.

We as moto riders tend to be gadget freaks. We like the goodies, and we like technology. As we well know from buying helmets, clothing, bike accessories, and so forth, toys cost money. What more can I say?

Michael

 

[Allroad]

great thread ive learned a lot but am i correct in assuming this will only work with a bluetooth helmet and the only one available at the mo is the BMW one

 

[Mike Werner]

great thread ive learned a lot but am i correct in assuming this will only work with a bluetooth helmet and the only one available at the mo is the BMW one

Nope, there's lots more BT Helmet roundup

You can also wire yourself in, either directly or via a communicator (like Autocom)

 

[Twotter]

Hi There - yes, so true... I took the pictures of the phone records during the daytime a week or so ago, and wrote the post up in the evening last night - I would have preferred to have a more 'anonymous' set of phone records, but, what the heck...

I hope to get to Cambridge sometime this summer, if only for a social visit.

Michael

Let us know when you might be over though I've moved on from working with Alan & co in Cambridge.

 

[HMR]

can't see anything that would make me part with my trusted tough 276C and for the money- unbeatable IMHO

I agree. Plenty of new tech features but no improvements for us who only use the GPS to navigate...

I never use the phone on the bike, I never listen to music, I never drive on roads with too much traffic.

Where are the real improvements as bigger route memory, larger screen, SIRF chipset, built in battery, multiple track storage, etc?

 

[zoltan]

I agree. Plenty of new tech features but no improvements for us who only use the GPS to navigate...

I never use the phone on the bike, I never listen to music, I never drive on roads with too much traffic.

Where are the real improvements as bigger route memory, larger screen, SIRF chipset, built in battery, multiple track storage, etc?

Had a SP111 for the last 5 years and does a good job.Plus Garmin has the best customer service I ever come across.

 

[ebbo]

I agree. Plenty of new tech features but no improvements for us who only use the GPS to navigate...

I never use the phone on the bike, I never listen to music, I never drive on roads with too much traffic.

Where are the real improvements as bigger route memory, larger screen, SIRF chipset, built in battery, multiple track storage, etc?

I wouldn’t be too hard on it HMR, from what I’ve read it may have SIRF III, it does seem to have substantial built in memory for maps and trails, plus Bluetooth for wireless comms so it’s a significant step forward for the biking community.

And it’s interesting to see how quickly Garmin have come up with an answer to the Tomtom rider

 

[PanEuropean]

...And it’s interesting to see how quickly Garmin have come up with an answer to the Tomtom rider

It's interesting to watch Garmin and other companies, but my own opinion is that if you really want to understand Garmin, you need to accept that they are an engineering company, not a 'smoke and mirrors' marketing company.

Garmin has made motorcycle GPSRs for 6 years now, ever since the SP III, which was the first GPSR to be offered with a motorcycle mounting bracket and motorcycle specific cable. They just have not marketed the things as motorcycle GPSRs. Similarly, Garmin was making GPSRs that had differential correction (EGNOS) in them long before Magellan came out with an automotive navigator that offered differential correction, but the Garmin engineers quite rightly determined that differential correction was neither important nor desirable on an automotive navigator. Once Magellan released their product and started bragging about differential correction, the Garmin engineers rolled their eyes and enabled differential correction on all the Garmin automotive GPSRs.

I guess what I am trying to say is that precisely because they are not a bunch of hustlers, they sometimes appear to be following the market, rather than leading it. But, if you look closely, the product release history tends to prove that they are the leaders so far as technical competence and product innovation are concerned.

Michael

 

[PanEuropean]

I agree. Plenty of new tech features but no improvements for us who only use the GPS to navigate...

I never use the phone on the bike, I never listen to music, I never drive on roads with too much traffic.

Where are the real improvements as bigger route memory, larger screen, SIRF chipset, built in battery, multiple track storage, etc?

HMR:

I think I detect a little bit of the 'green eyed monster' in your post...

As long as you don't use a phone, don't want to hear spoken instructions without a wire, don't listen to music, don't have traffic jams in your country (and don't have speed cameras either), you don't need to upgrade from your 296.

However, - if you want two gigs of map storage capacity, or a track log that is sufficient for journeys well in excess of 2,000 km, or bigger route memory - then, have a look with an open mind at some of the newer products.

I don't know what kind of GPS engine (chipset) is in the 2820, but I do know it is awfully fast at picking up the satellites, and it hangs onto them far better than any other GPSR I have ever had.

Michael

 

[JDH]

how much? regards nick

Hi Nick, having just bought the TTR for a trip to France this weekend, I don't have a clue what to ask for it. Obviously until the 2820 is actually available I want to hang onto the rider, but after that I do have my heart set on the 2820 or possibly the BWM variant If you would like first dibs on it, let me know, and we can discuss how much I'm going to lose on it How does the saying go 'A fool and his money..........'


Regards,

John

 

[silvermog]

So ... still no more information posted by BMW about the Navigator III yet ... but ... mine's arrived at the dealer, so hopefully will get it fitted Friday if I can get away from work to the dealers.

Initially as I don't intend switching to a BT helmet, I'll be wiring it into my existing Starcom1 Advance, so we'll see how it measures up ...

As I hadn't yet purchased the BT module for the Starcom1, I'll be pairing my phone to the Nav III (a Treo 650), so more info hopefully after the weekends riding! Be interested to see how the volume levels tie up across the two devices used in this way (the Starcom1 has independent feeds for audio and GPS)

HTH

 

[PanEuropean]

A tip for anyone who plans on installing a SP 2820 on a moto, and pairing it up with a cell phone: It will considerably simplify your life if you hook the GPSR up to switched power (ignition circuit controlled power), rather than directly to the hot battery bus of the motorcycle.

Here's why: If you pair up your phone (and, presumably, your helmet as well) with the GPSR, when the phone rings, the announcement of the incoming call and the accompanying information such as caller name and phone number appears on the screen of the GPSR. If you then touch the screen to answer the call, the audio will be routed to your helmet. Most of us take our helmets off pretty shortly after shutting down the engine, and although there is a control on the touch-screen to shift the audio away from the helmet and back to the phone itself, it can be a bit confusing to remember to do this when you answer a call as you are standing beside your moto.

If, on the other hand, the GPSR is hooked up to ignition switched power, the GPSR turns off as soon as you shut the motorcycle engine off, and your phone automatically reverts to normal stand-alone operation as soon as contact with the GPSR is lost.

Michael

 

[PeterM]

Thanks for the inputs

Looks like I will get the 2720 as I cannot wait for the new to arrive on our shores as I need something from Mid MAy

I have seen the 2720 for £600 which seems very reasonable

Kind Regards

Peter

 

[Crapaud]

Had a SP111 for the last 5 years and does a good job.Plus Garmin has the best customer service I ever come across.

Is this the same Garmin that won't return my emails and put me on hold for one hour this morning when I tried to contact them by phone?

Not sure if your comment was serious or sarcastic?

 

[araspitfire]

Many people have had great luck with Garmin Europe's customer service...

but as allways, YMMV...

Al...

 

[Stu-13]

I'm honestly not sure. Bluetooth has a limited range (about 25 feet), so it would not be suitable for bike to bike.

If you are using the BMW System V helmet with the WCS-1 audio system (as I am), then one of the helmets can be paired with the GPSR for navigation guidance, phone calls, music, etc., and also paired with a second helmet for rider to passenger intercom. But, the passenger cannot hear the phone, the GPSR, or the music. However - the passenger can pair up with a second telephone if they want. This is really something that is specific to the BMW helmet (in other words, the 'headset'), not so much an issue regarding the technical capabilities of the GPSR.

Michael

That’s crazy why can’t both rider and pillion lids sync with the 2820, and the phone sync with the 2820 which in turn would link two both lids? A few tunes on a long trip can keep both folks happy.