Satnav

[pitrat101]

Hi fellas, tried a search but too much to trawl through to find what I'm after! So here goes! What satnav do people use? BMW navigator? motorcycle specific or a car nav, just trying to find out the pro's and con's for each and what would best to suit me. At the moment I have no plans to do Europe but that may change as I get used to longer rides, I just don't like using phone as a satnav.

Cheers guys

 

[Bendy toy]

I have an ancient Garmin 550, but is real way below current standards.

Get a reasonable car sat nav and put it into a waterproof case. Dont go too big as space is really quite limited if you you want to see the bike instruments.

A large screen phone may be the best option. More than enough processing power and tough cases are 10p these days.

 

[Pablo1]

garmin 660, had it for 6 years, everything you need is in the box, can be used in the car also as most garmins.
point to note when i updated my bike to a wc which came with the factory prep i was delighted my 660 fitted perfectly, no need to pay silly money for a bmw nav

 

[kevingambrell]

Iphone 6 plus in a waterproof case running the TomTom app. Works very well and a good size screen.

 

[Alan R]

I have two, garmin 590 and 390. The 590 has a slightly bigger screen but in my opinion, not very bright graphics that are quite difficult to read in bright sunlight. It also has a multitude of functions that I do not use - camera control, tyre pressure monitor function, ability to answer a phone and music player. The cable to the mount is quite thick and has several jack sockets that need to be accommodated on the bike.
The 390 is about half the price and has a slightly smaller but easier to read back lit screen. If I'd bought this first I wouldn't have bought the 590.
Alan R

 

[Watty100]

I used to use a car nav in a handlebar mounted case. They are OK up to a point but being unable to hear the voice commands is a huge disadvantage. I'm now a convert to bike specific satnavs (Garmin390), don't have worry about it getting wet, more options for mounting it where it can be seen more easily, and connected to my ears via a bluetooth kit makes it bloody marvelous to use.

 

[Bendy toy]

I don't use the voice commands and frankly don't miss it. That said, I don't deliver parcels to zillions of addresses every day.

 

[pitrat101]

Thanks guys a bit of scope there! I found an old tomtom 1 lying around and have updated for now, but sounds funny I cant find anywhere to mount it that not in way of clocks! any pics of how you lot mounted yours?

 

[lawvar]

Go to aldi they have the garmin on at HALF price

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[Greenman14]

TomTom Rider plus TyreToTravel mapping app on my PC, itinerary planning works a treat. Only experience of Garmin is a cheap car device that just doesn't have enough info on the screen. Also the TomTom plan winding route feature is great for bimbling around and takes me on roads I've not seen even though I've lived in the area for 25 years.

 

[Pablo1]

SAT NAV MOUNTING- GARMIN

As I said with any garmin everything you need is in the box.

 

[Mr K]

Garmin 350LM, bike specific, waterproof, touchscreen works with gloves on.... might be a newer version available as mine is 3 years+ old now.

 

[Andy63]

Hi fellas, tried a search but too much to trawl through to find what I'm after! So here goes! What satnav do people use? BMW navigator? motorcycle specific or a car nav, just trying to find out the pro's and con's for each and what would best to suit me. At the moment I have no plans to do Europe but that may change as I get used to longer rides, I just don't like using phone as a satnav.

Cheers guys

Don't dick around getting a car satnav and waterproof case my mate tried that the case never fitted the bike properly and it kept dropping, he couldn't see the screen most of the time. In the end he bought a Garmin 350LM so while trying to save money with a cheaper set he ended up spending significantly more. cheaper satnavs in a case are a false economy.

Bite the bullet and get a bike specific Tom Tom or Garmin (350LM or 390 I would recommend) So much more versatile you can plot your own routes Bluetooth comms and comes with a Bike ram mount and a car mount. You cant go wrong.
Also once bought, you will be itching to go off and explore UK and Europe.

Let us know what you decided to get.

 

[Pukmeister]

I've had a Garmin Zumo 660 for years (its the ford escort of satnavs.) I also have an old Tomtom Rider but the mount is shagged.

As said already go to ALDI ( or ALDI online) and get yourself a brand new Garmin Zumo 340LM with full lifetime mapping of Western Europe for £199 before they sell out (limited stock offer). If I didn't already have my 660 I'd buy one myself.

Edit: Sold out online, in store deals remaining.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/garmin-zumo-340lm-motorbike-sat-nav/p/069229010220100

 

[Bendy toy]

I have a Garmin 550. I find it slow in towns as I can take me past the turning I need to take and the map detail is crap. It's ok in more open areas but then I don't really need it anyway.

My plan is to put the iPhone into a tough case and install a proper set of maps. Its a MUCH better processor and even the 5Ss has a bigger screen.

TBH anything a lot bigger will block the bike instruments so no advantage. For carrying the tough case just bolt it to a ram mount. Then clip the phone inside when you need the sat nav.

When I upgrade the phone I may well do this as the 5s can stay in its case and on the bike.

 

[adventuredon]

Garmin nuvi 690 or something. car sat nav. Brilliant

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[alanb2]

I got a 5 inch Garmin from Halfords for less than 90 quid. Fitted tight behind the screen on a RAM mount. Nice clear bright screen, who needs audio? Ridden in all weathers, no need to remove it or put it into a bag, it's only the power lead at the back that's not waterproof. If you need to remove it it takes 2 seconds to unclip it from the RAM holder and pop it into your pocket. Total cost 130 quid? why pay 500? Alan

 

[duckspeed]

Why indeed?

 

[Guigsy]

I've got a proper SatNav style mount above my clocks than includes a USB socket. I've then bought a waterproof and rugged case for my phone and a pair of quadlocks to I can mate the phone to the mount. The last few generations of phone screens are very bright, so sunlight visibility isn't usually a problem. It also means I get realtime traffic info. It was very useful when I was riding across Europe last year, there were loads of weekend road closures in the Black Forest, my mates SatNav just kept sending us up dead ends. Both Google Maps and TomTom mobile both knew about the closures. The only problem with using a phone is the interfaces tend not to be glove friendly... but you have to stop anyway so it's not too much of a pain.

Tip: If you are looking for a waterproof case for your phone, make sure you can get to a power button!

 

[GerJ]

@PitRat101: What do you want to use it for? The Mrs and I go camping and plan our routes more or less day by day. We bring one set of good maps, preferably 1:200,000, and a netbook PC to make our routes on. The routes are uploaded to the satnav. Since only Garmin's Basecamp route-planning software will work off-line, using the very same map as the satnav itself, we opted for Garmin and bought a Zumo 350LM. The Zumo-Basecamp combination works a treat and we are very satisfied with it. However, if you are not going to do that much route-planning off-line, perhaps a TomTom will serve you just as well.