TomTom Rider @ tomtom.com

[TheJoker]

Jeez that title sounds stupid...

Anyhoo - it's now orificially out:
http://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=146&Language=1

And, Yours, Sir, for only £599....

sooo... 3x Quests or ONE TomTom Rider...?!

Does anyone know if I could connect PMR radio and/or MP3 player to the TomTom Riders Bluetooth outfit..?

My guess is that I'd have to use one of those intercom boxes (can't think of the name at the moment... *sigh*)

 

[TheJoker]

Help me along here, fellas...

The TomTom Rider comes with a bluetooth headset, but the actual Bluetooth "dongle" is a little clip that you're supposed to clip onto your shirt pocket or similar...

... If Bluetooth is a wireless system, isn't it a bit daft to have a wired wireless system...?!

IMFO they could have made the dongle waterproof and clip onto your helmet with that velcro-type stuff that I've seen used on other helmets for other intercom systems. (It's same principle as velcro but it's basically "thicker" "things" that grip to both sides)...

... or should I get my coat..?!

 

[SilverFish]

Help me along here, fellas...

The TomTom Rider comes with a bluetooth headset, but the actual Bluetooth "dongle" is a little clip that you're supposed to clip onto your shirt pocket or similar...

... If Bluetooth is a wireless system, isn't it a bit daft to have a wired wireless system...?!

IMFO they could have made the dongle waterproof and clip onto your helmet with that velcro-type stuff that I've seen used on other helmets for other intercom systems. (It's same principle as velcro but it's basically "thicker" "things" that grip to both sides)...

... or should I get my coat..?!

Id say your right there.

If you look at the picture of all the bits:

Item 1 is the Bluetooth receiver
Item 2 is a standard handsfree
Item 3 is a Helmet (flat speaker) hands free with a separate wire to join it to Item 1.

I dont see any reason why that wire couldnt be made much shorter. The Bluetooth receiver might be smaller enough to tuck away somewhere withing the 'collar' of the helmet, else you could try to waterproof it yourself by wrapping it in cellophane (might work!) and see how you get on.

If you already own an Autocom or Starcom however, you could plug the Bluetooth receiver directly into the intercoms Aux socket. I guess that should work? The main drawback though, would be that the Bluetooth receiver needs to be charged up and cannot (AFAIK) be bike powered (either direclty of from the Intercom). I did ask the TomTom People about this at the bike show, they said they were looking into it and would be introducing some hardware to connect directly to an Intercom, without Bluetooth.

 

[Mouse]

And, Yours, Sir, for only £599....

sooo... 3x Quests or ONE TomTom Rider...?!

If the Rider is as good as everyone's been saying, a fairer comparison would be to the Garmin 2610, which is about £550.

 

[TheJoker]

If the Rider is as good as everyone's been saying, a fairer comparison would be to the Garmin 2610, which is about £550.

Oh yes, indeed Mouse. You're spot on. The TomTom does offer more than the 2610, especially considering the TomTom PLUS service which can update your data during the ride by using your GPRS phone. And making/receiving phone calls. In fact, for £50 more than the (now archaic) 2610 it seems like a bargain.

however I think the bang for the buck on the £200 Quest is unbeatable. You get 90ish% of the functions of the 2610 at 1/3 of the price....

Quest + Nurburgring year card, OR
TomTom Rider.....

 

[TheJoker]

Id say your right there.

If you look at the picture of all the bits:

Item 1 is the Bluetooth receiver
Item 2 is a standard handsfree
Item 3 is a Helmet (flat speaker) hands free with a separate wire to join it to Item 1.

I dont see any reason why that wire couldnt be made much shorter. The Bluetooth receiver might be smaller enough to tuck away somewhere withing the 'collar' of the helmet, else you could try to waterproof it yourself by wrapping it in cellophane (might work!) and see how you get on.

If you already own an Autocom or Starcom however, you could plug the Bluetooth receiver directly into the intercoms Aux socket. I guess that should work? The main drawback though, would be that the Bluetooth receiver needs to be charged up and cannot (AFAIK) be bike powered (either direclty of from the Intercom). I did ask the TomTom People about this at the bike show, they said they were looking into it and would be introducing some hardware to connect directly to an Intercom, without Bluetooth.

Silverfish - I would probably stick it into my helmet somewhere, or as you say, waterproof it somehow. Or I might have missed something. Maybe it isn't very complicated to use the wire - just seems a bit pointless to me..

What I'd ideally want is a BT reciever in my helmet that's capable of stereo sound so that I could connect an Autocom/Starcom onto the bike, including MP3 player, GPS voice, and using my Bluetooth phone... Lot of technology to go wrong!

Maybe I'll just save my money and

 

[ynotbiker]

hold on a minute is this right,600 pound for tom tom,but next year wanting to travel down to portugal with my daughter via holland,germany,spain,wanting to take back roads,twistie stuff scenic ect,does this mean i have to pay a extra hundred pound for maps[cards]

 

[TheJoker]

hold on a minute is this right,600 pound for tom tom,but next year wanting to travel down to portugal with my daughter via holland,germany,spain,wanting to take back roads,twistie stuff scenic ect,does this mean i have to pay a extra hundred pound for maps[cards]

Seems so; €100 per region on a card or €150 on a CD to which you will need to add appropriate memory cards...

Bang for the buck...?! I think not

 

[ynotbiker]

i think not also extra 500 pound to tour europe,its just a one off trip with my daughter,looks like a 2610 for me

 

[Deleted account 240901001]

...... The TomTom does offer more than the 2610, ..
[.:

Such as cross border route planning?

 

[Mouse]

however I think the bang for the buck on the £200 Quest is unbeatable. You get 90ish% of the functions of the 2610 at 1/3 of the price....

Can't argue there, the Quest really does look like excellent value. Even at 300 quid, once the stocks of cheap ones run out!

The mapping charges for the TomTom are making it look like not very good value at all.

 

[Droopy Dick]

I had a good look at the TomTom Rider up at the NEC.

It's quite impressive in many ways, not least because it does proper postcode searches unlike Garmin.

It's very light in weight and the screen is large and seems very clear. I was less certain about the bike mounting kit/cradle. That didn't see very strong.

The Bluetooth receiver thingy is very small and would fit anywhere about your person. I think the cable to the headset is long to allow it to be clipped to a belt.

Autocom are at this very minute making proper connection devices.

The TomTom headphones are quite large, however, and might require some helmet liner to be dug out.

I wasn't impressed by the idea of only being able to update the region where you live for free on the basis that you don't travel much, and that national upgrades would be charged. Aftert all, a GPS is used because you do travel to places away from your home base.

I was also unhappy abou the idea of paying extra for Europe.

And all those extras like speed camera locations and stuff.

Oh, and I was not very impressed when I was told that places like PC World and Halfords would be selling them but not have any in stock. So, if you actually want to see/handle one, you're buggered! I mean, who on earth is going to spend £600 on a toy they haven't even seen?