To tight to buy Sat Nav

[Brian ROSEN]

A wonderful invention

Why DO YOU want a sat nav? Do YOU NEED one?
I can think of only few reasons for them e.g fuel station when in the middle of nowhere with low fuel. Far to many people rely on them even for going to the corner shop.

What a silly question! They will soon be fitted to every type of vehicle as standard. It is an extraordinary device and if you have not benefited from it you are living a very sheltered life; Try, for instance, finding an address in the middle of a large town riddled with one way streets, in heavy traffic in poor weather! (Lyon for instance.) (Even worse if your wife is navigating!=

 

[Ali-bear]

Two things:

1) Never EVER let your wife/parter/gf navigate. Its been years since wimmins lib and they still can't do it.

2) You can use satnav as long as you only ever use it on single-digit motorways (the old ones that go up down and across) at night so everyone can see you've got a big glowing thing in your face.

 

[Grandad]

At least with a Sat Nav it can only work the right way up after connecting it to it's cradle, the complete opposite to when the wife is reading the map..!!

Like someone said earlier, don't rely upon Sat Nav, a good basic knowledge is a must but they are handy for various things. I have the Zumo 550, complete with music, phone and GATSO warnings.

I never rely on my Sat Nav for all my directions and certainly not for all GATSO warnings. They are a great aid and brilliant in built up areas trying to find a specific address.

Tank Bags i have the touratech model, overpriced like many things but good quality and fits well. Filling with petrol not really an issue. Used to have an Oxford years ago but with no metal for the magnets to fix to thought the touratech was the better option. Can easily be used as a bag as well.

Good luck

 

[Kritou]

The Oxford map case has six large suckers and a safety strap to keep it in place on a plastic tank - works well and is easy to shift when refuelling

 

[Big Lee]

has six large suckers

You could say that about this thread

 

[barneydinosaur]

I suspect that trying to read a map on a bike will ensure a speedy arrival at the nearest A&E.

I look at the map before I leave and make simple notes on a journalist's pad which I then put in the tank bag window - Road No., Junction No.(on Mway/big roads) and next major or minor town/destination etc. Keeps it simple.

That said, I'm just about to take delivery of a reconditioned Zumo 500 (with warranty) for about 230 notes (I figure that whatever's likely to break has already broken and been fixed)

 

[AdamA]

I suspect that trying to read a map on a bike will ensure a speedy arrival at the nearest A&E.

a) Why would anyone have to look at a map or sat nav on the move?
b) Why would doing so ensure they have an accident?
c) How do you think the man in the brightly liveried van with big flashy blue lights navigates to the scene of said accident?

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Navigating

"....a) Why would anyone have to look at a map or sat nav on the move?..." THAT is the major attraction of a GPS; Mine (although old fashioned) gives me precise instructions into my earpiece; the latest models have 'bluetooth' connections, as do the helmets of course.

 

[AdamA]

"....a) Why would anyone have to look at a map or sat nav on the move?..." THAT is the major attraction of a GPS; Mine (although old fashioned) gives me precise instructions into my earpiece; the latest models have 'bluetooth' connections, as do the helmets of course.

And even if you don't use the audio (I don't) and choose to look at the sat nav on the move, then using the right settings gives you just a simple diagram of the next turn/turns and distance too it which is "seen" in a second, rather than a whole page of an atlas that needs searching for the current location and the next turn etc.

 

[Ali-bear]

Plus, you don't get bits of cabbage and kebab meat stuck in between the pages, 'cos it don't 'ave none

 

[Pukmeister]

Had sat nav in a few forms for many years now, still got 3 of the things (PDA/Nav 2/TT Rider).

The odd glance down at mine PREVENTS me from visiting A&E:

Used often as a final check for hidden/staggered junctions and driveways and estimating length of straights before committing to an overtake on unfamiliar roads.

 

[SMB]

I found the Zumo great in Norway. We were going across the Ice Road (still had 5ft walls of ice), and had prior warning of the hairpins - some great ones!
Also I found the speed readout in Kmph very useful - fines are heavy in towns.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Technology

It is amazing that we seem to have to justify using this facility which costs billions of pounds and is available free of charge!

 

[barneydinosaur]

a) Why would anyone have to look at a map or sat nav on the move?
b) Why would doing so ensure they have an accident?
c) How do you think the man in the brightly liveried van with big flashy blue lights navigates to the scene of said accident?

er....not quite sure what you're getting at for a and c.

a) noone has to look at any aid on the move but they do:

I hardly look at the screen most of the time, but on the odd junction where my memory fails me a quick glance gets me going again in seconds few rather than pissing about taking gloves off, removing maps and turning to the right page and soaking them in the process etc.

The zumo also comes into it's own when exploring new areas too. Just ride where you like and when you have had enough set a destination and off you go...

I’m relatively thick and so find that remembering strings of road numbers/destinations/waypoints a bit difficult for an entire journey (or a decent segment thereof for that matter). Approaching a busy major junction and not knowing which exit to take is not much fun and stopping before junctions to read the map is a pain.

That’s the point of simplified notes…to avoid the need to look at anything more complicated on the move. (satnav directions also tend to be simple)


b) Also, as a result of being a bit thick, I find it very difficult when on the bike, to look down at a map, locate my present position, find the junction that I’m approaching and trace along the exits for a sufficient distance to establish which one it is that I would like to take, make a mental note of any road number and major or minor destinations on my chosen route that may turn up on the approaching road signs whilst keeping a good grip on the busy fast moving traffic around me and not running into the back of the car in front or off the road at the next bend. I’m not a fighter pilot for the same reason. 'ensure...A&E' is probably over-egging it a bit but if I start map reading and riding I am sure that an accident's not too far off.

c) Dunno - maybe they have a satnav or a mate with a map or spend a lot of time on home turf.

 

[AdamA]

er....not quite sure what you're getting at for a and c.

a) noone has to look at any aid on the move but they do:

Quite. So you know EXACTLY what I am getting at with a) then.
You can pull over if you find looking and moving too much.

However many people do look at maps and sat navs on the go with no worries at all (some of us are trained to do it whilst driving and giving a commentary). Most choose to do so on long straights with few hazards about.
However a sat nav screen certainly shows less confusing info than a long list of names and numbers taped to the tank.
Again, you can stop if it all becomes to much. No need for it to ensure an off.
Map reading whilst riding isn't the best idea. But it can be done without self harm.
A sat nav is a lot less time consuming or distracting tho(except when it chirps in your ear and takes your mind off the road.).

c) Dunno - maybe they have a satnav or a mate with a map or spend a lot of time on home turf.

I meant how exactly do you think the emergency services manage to navigate whilst on the move rather rapidly if looking at a map/sat nav whilst moving ensures an accident happens.
Yes they sometimes have an opp in the passenger seat, and they sometimes know where they are going, but they also often nav from a sat nav and if that lets them down a map.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

A pointless argument

Who wants tubeless tyres/ rear suspension/ disc brakes/ electronic ignition/indicators/windscreens/ heated grips/ heated saddle/GPS/ helmets/vizors/alarms/EWS/ABS/etc.etc. My first bike had none of these and motorcycling was just as much fun- AND the roads were empty and parking was easy. Down with all this technology. It wouldn't be necessary if there weren't so many people able to afford cars. (The way things are going perhaps we will see a return to the good old days! There will be fewer speeding English motorists tearing through France in the future I suspect - not to mention shorter lift queues.)In fact wouldn't life be lovely - except my pension is paid in £'s - although not many of them.

 

[t'other dave]

Some people just have no sense of direction sat nav works for them, I have, so manage fine with out. On a recent trip to Slovenia 3 cars, 2 with sat nav me without, I was the only one not to make cock-ups after rush hour traffic and a smash at munich, I rerouted and sat at 65mph for two hours on the motorway the others rerouted via sat nav then averaged 90mph and they finally caught up at a Austrian border service station, we'd allready drank a coffee.
Another recent trip as a passanger going to Glen Etive, the driver is a sat nav freak, wanted to go the long way round cos tomtom said M8 M80 A84 A85, he went with my route M8 A82 and agreed much quicker. But 11pm in September is dark and when heading at a wet round about at 70mph I shouted BRAKE he repleid oh tomtom didnt know about that island it says straight road ???

So silly question about why want and need? NO if you want/need one then fine, if you like toys fine buy one. I was'nt saying dont buy there shite but if you dont want to spend the cash for somthing thats just for gadget sake then buy a tankbag and map.

 

[birdseye]

got a surplus garmin 2610 together with mounting kit for a BMW. not been used much so I would like to replace with a marine garmin for my boat. anyone interested please indicate

also have the baglux map holder ie the one that clips to the baglux tank cover if anyone wants one.

had to give up bikes so these bits are left over.

 

[AdamA]

Some people just have no sense of direction sat nav works for them, I have, so manage fine with out.

I have a great sense of direction and knowledge of UK roads.
Most people that know me use me as a route planner.
I can ride all day and only look at the map once or twice, even on roads I don't ride often.
I managed fine without sat nav for years.
I still like having a sat nav tho.

I hardly ever set a destination and follow it, but it's great when you load pre worked out route to follow. Get to a junction and can't remember which way it is.
With a map you have to stop, get it out, turn to right page.
With sat nav you just look down (assuming you don't have an ear piece connected).
Running short of fuel.
Just head for the closest POI.
Unexpected road blockage.
Just take the next turn off and let it reroute.
Got a puncture/breakdown in the middle of nowhere.
Tell the recovery guy exactly where you are.

BTW I think it's the people with no sense of direction that sat navs aren't the best for. It's these people that DO follow them blindly and end up going miles out of their way, going down unsurfaced roads, taking HGVs down height, weight, width restricted roads etc.

Anyone with a little common sense will simply use them as a very useful aid to navigation.
They aren't the be all and end all, but they are damn useful.

 

[James Embrey]

BTW I think it's the people with no sense of direction that sat navs aren't the best for. It's these people that DO follow them blindly and end up going miles out of their way, going down unsurfaced roads, taking HGVs down height, weight, width restricted roads etc.

Anyone with a little common sense will simply use them as a very useful aid to navigation.
They aren't the be all and end all, but they are damn useful.[/QUOTE]


I agree, I have a good sense of direction and always check on map to plan 95% of route. I think i will get a Garmin 400 which I have since found at £199to help with last 3 or 4 miles in cities, this should help in stopping my being squashed by HGV or likewise on islands as I work out were to go. I have class 1 hgv licenece and seeing anything down your left is hard!

James