Quest route planning & Sportsbike

[waqxville]

Apologise if this is another please help me wipe my own arse threads!

I recently bought a Quest and have been playing around with it...through which I have learnt loads (together with the manual of course!).

However, I am having trouble plotting a route from start-point to destination which specifically takes in certain roads. I can specify the Quest to avoid boring M-ways etc....but seeing that I have a list of spanking biking roads, I would like to somehow incorporate these into the planned routes (these are of course somewhere between the start point and final destination and not way off course). How the heck can I program these in??..I tried doing it in the 'via' bit, but it seems to only take street names and points rather than roads.


Also, separately, has anyone successfully managed to mount a quest to a sportsbike? I have researched into the QPAC and RAM mounts on this forum, but they seem to be designed specifically for the cross bars of big BMW tourers and not the clip-ons and flat yoke of a fireblade. Any suggestions pls?? Or is it a case of bodging my own mount

Much appreciated!!

 

[ianf]

Use mapsource on the pc to define a route.
Make suitable waypoints at the start and end of all your 'spanking biking roads' then make a route that includes all those waypoints in a sensible order.
Include your 'home' and 'end place' in the obvious first and last points.
Send it to the quest, job done.

As to mounting. You'll need to figure that out with Ram-man. You could however get away with using it in a tank-bag under the clear part of a map pocket.

Reset your max speed etc / clear the tracklog before you leave and you've got some data-logging as well post your best here.

 

[Dellis]

The best way of using a Quest, or any other Garmin GPS, if you are able to pre-plan your route is to use the Mapsource pc software. Select your start and end points then select the white pointer at the top of the Mapsource screen. Click on the route which will turn the plotted route yellow, click again and a straight black line will appear joining start point, end point and where your mouse pointer is. Next step is to click on a point (ie a road that you prefer to take between the start and end points). You can select as many via points as you like which will force the software to take your route. save the route then upload to the Quest. When riding the route you have planned it's best if you disable automatic off route recalculation. You are then using the GPS to follow your own route rather than following the unit's route, in effect turning your GPS into a hi tech map that knows where you are. I do a few navigational rallies and this is by far the best method providing you know where you want to go before getting on the bike.

Cheers

Dave

 

[waqxville]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I totally forgot about the hooking up to PC capabilities of the Quest! ...Looks like more fun is to be had playing around with that today.

GPS in front cover of tankbag - Only problem I have with this is that it lies out of my line of vision (under me chin), which wouldn't be too bad if I can somehow rig up an earpiece and listen to the directions rather than peer down. Might just have to get used to this!

Yes, I am particularly looking forward to my own datalogging efforts..problem being I see myself trying to better all my times, and up my av. speed and top speed for the run to work!
It would be interesting to see how accurate GPS verified speed is different to the bike's speedo. But will let you know!..lol

Now, I hope to learn more about the Quest and its uses rather than get from point A to B.

Thanks once again guys

 

[Taff]

Just a friendly word of advice. Whichever method you use (ie using waypoints or just click and drag a highlited route) if you want to use a dual carriageway, make sure you zoom in enough to see both carriageways, and click on the correct one.

If you do not zoom in enough to see both roads (effectively 2 one-way roads), you can easily ask the GPS to direct you to the wrong carriageway. It's an easy mistake to make, and the truth is we've probably all done it at some time or another.

 

[Dellis]

Another tip, keep your eye on "distance to next turn". That way you don't need to keep looking at the GPS as you've a good idea how long you've got.

Dave

 

[Howard Millichap]

When planning a route on the Quest itself, does it not give the option "use map" when inserting a "via point"? If it does (as the SP3) you find the road you want to include and click on it to make the route go there.

 

[half_empty1]

for mounting you want something like this

http://www.radarbusters.com/products/accessories/motorcyles/mounts/10990.asp

dont know where to buy them in the uk though

 

[waqxville]

Cheers matey for the link! and for everyone else's advice. I think I have just about got the hang of this route plotting thingy. It gets a bit pissing off when I try to alter a route...firstly, need to delete the way point (if there is one!) and when i try to reselect, the yellow line seems to have a mind of its own and starts from the home destination...think I need to be at one with this, like an artist is with his brush

I believe I have seen a Blade with a RAM mount...but when in doubt take the Kwaker out! Unlike its stablemate, my 7r has this screen/fairing brace with a bit of a wimpy horizontal strut (perfect fit for vids when I was running late to blockbusters...bastard DVDs slip straight out on to the road tho ).

This may be an okeyish mounting place....and it nicely takes up that cavernous space under the double bubble right in front of me (who needs the archaic speedo when you got a digital gps one.... )

I will report back my findings when I get around to the fittings.



BOLLOX..It appears that I don't even have an attachment field when I post! doh...you get the picture with the screen brace though

 

[HMR]

The best way of using a Quest, or any other Garmin GPS . . . . . When riding the route you have planned it's best if you disable automatic off route recalculation. You are then using the GPS to follow your own route rather than following the unit's route, in effect turning your GPS into a hi tech map that knows where you are. I do a few navigational rallies and this is by far the best method providing you know where you want to go before getting on the bike.

Yes. I agree to 110%!

One more detail - disable the "Automatic Zoom" also. Increases readability a lot. Now you can use your "moving map" as a co-driver that tells you what the next turn looks like.