If I wanted GPS...

[Cymru-Dave]

Hi folks, while I'm waiting for my GSA to be delivered I'm already looking to spend money on it, GPS, if I was to look at having GPS fitted (properly not by myself) which one should I go for and how much would it all cost.

I see the new LC models have the nav 5&6 and there is a wealth of information on it from the bike, can my 2013 non LC model benefit from the same?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pablo1]

In a word no.
Theres very little to be gained in any case by syncing the sat nav with the bike, get a garmin, everything you need is in the box, connect direct to the battery and jobs a good un.

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

Do you want a GPS or a sat nav?

Bit of a difference.

A sat nav gets you from A to B via XYZ is you wish on tarmac roads.

A GPS can either feed your position to another mapping device or you can get the likes of a Garmin Montana which has Ordnance Survey maps on which show paths, bridleways and "green lanes"....

I'm guessing your after a Sat Nav.

I believe BMW nav's are recased Garmin units, which in my view are the best Sat Navs and GPS's...and you get to enjoy Basecamp.

 

[Cymru-Dave]

Apologies yes I meant sat nav oooops!

 

[JerseyNeil]

As others have said... Go for a Garmin. I have the Zumo 590lm and have fitted it using a migsel mount. Not the cheapest set up but I think it looks the part.

 

[bikemad]

Fitting it yourself is really a doddle why pay for it unless you really are spanner shy ? a Garmin Tomtom etc will suffice any bike don't have to even be a BMW

 

[Blackal]

There is plenty of mileage left in the Zumo 660, so one option would be to buy a factory-refurb unit (with lifetime mapping? LM). Mount it easily - above the instrument binnacle, and it will serve well for many years.
Al

 

[Kritou]

As others have said... Go for a Garmin. I have the Zumo 590lm and have fitted it using a migsel mount. Not the cheapest set up but I think it looks the part.

Must be useful where green laning takes on a new meaning!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

There is plenty of mileage left in the Zumo 660, so one option would be to buy a factory-refurb unit (with lifetime mapping? LM). Mount it easily - above the instrument binnacle, and it will serve well for many years.
Al

I find myself in full agreement with the above gentleman.

I've upgraded my 550 to a 660 last year and it's a great bit of kit. Plenty of second hand ones which will do the job perfectly and it won't break the bank. Very simple to fit yourself with the power connector up by the headstock. That is the best way to connect it and it's a really simple job.

The LC has different software so it won't synch with the bike but you will have loads of info on the 660.

 

[JerseyNeil]

Must be useful where green laning takes on a new meaning!

I see what you did there.......
For the record I only fit the Garmin on the car deck of the ferry on arrival in St Malo.

Calling Jersey GS.... We might need to gang up on him (if we can find him)

 

[Bendy toy]

Shock and waterproof phone case and a GPS app will do the job.

 

[Greenman14]

I'm on my second tomtom rider and I like it a lot. I've not tried the Garmin bike sat navs but the stand-alone Garmin and the one in my wife's VW are both rubbish and much worse than the tomtom.

 

[Rocketman]

Shock and waterproof phone case and a GPS app will do the job.

Been there done that ,works well until the weather warms up and it gets way to hot in full sun and app running as well
Some phones might be ok but iPhones can't take the heat.

 

[trainman]

I'm on my second tomtom rider and I like it a lot. I've not tried the Garmin bike sat navs but the stand-alone Garmin and the one in my wife's VW are both rubbish and much worse than the tomtom.

+1
you wont get one 2nd hand as too new but the base tomtom rider 40 (western Europe maps) is about £250 so cheaper than the zumo's anyway,

the free updates are good including base software giving additional features and developments recently, it can also give you winding routes and find the twisty roads on its own if you wish, when I got mine it included tyre pro membership and you can transfer routes via a usb cable

the manual is available on line

 

[GerJ]

If all you want is to get from A to B quickly, it does not matter much whether you choose a Garmin or a TomTom satnav. But if, like me, you want to make your own routes and upload them to your satnav, then the differences between both brands become interesting. Garmin comes with the (free) Basecamp route-planning software for your laptop, TomTom with (free?) Tyre software. Tyre uses Google Maps and therefore requires an internet connection. Basecamp, however, uses the very same map as your Garmin device, stored on your laptop, and can be used off-line. For me this was decisive, since on my trips I am usually without wifi access. So I take a netbook with an 11" screen on my more extended trips and for me the combination Zumo + Basecamp works a treat.

 

[MWH]

I've got an old Tomtom Rider 2, had it for years and still going. Have recently started using Tyre for some routes which is a useful tool. Both units do the same job, just down to what you want to spend. I've used the ram mountings that came with my tomtom, fixed to the bottom bar over the headlight.

When you're on the move my Tomtom reduces the menu screen to four big "buttons" instead of the usual 6 to stop you really adjusting it on the move. I've found if you put a bit of heavy duty tape on one of the contacts it prevents this "safety" feature.

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

I have the Navigator 4 and Tom Tom
400 both excellent . Both easy to fit . The navigator is my favourite