TTRider vs Garmin660...

[PaulW21781]

Hi all...

Well, seems I have a little snag with fitting the Rider I have to the GSA... Bloody size of the mount... I've got the Touratech lockable mount for a V1 Rider, and the unit itself, been running it for the past 12 months hastle free (yes, a TTRider with NO issues!!) but with the size of the mount its bloody impossible to mount it properly on the bike in any location... So, thinking of possible upgrading to a Zumo 660 with lockable mount...

My question is though, how do both units compare??

Just to point out though, I've got my Rider1 running the Urban Riders software & full Europe map, so it's not exactly "standard", so really the comparison will have to be between the Urban and the Zumo...

I just don't know what to do...

I've seen the Rider1 and Touratech mount go on eBay before now for around £200-£250 as a pair, so I know I can atleast sell it on without any hastle.

But I'd be a Garmin virgin, never used one of these before...

 

[muppix]

But I'd be a Garmin virgin, never used one of these before...

I had a TTR2 and chopped it in for a Zumo 550 due to the Rider breaking twice, the second time being right before a big trip. To say I've never looked back would be an understatement - I can't believe I've spent so much time cludging routes together with TYRE when I could have just used Mapsource.

I've no experience of the Urban Riders mod, but it'd have to be unbelievably good to compare to the Zumo.

Mup.

 

[RAM-man]

I've seen the Rider1 and Touratech mount go on eBay before now for around £200-£250 as a pair, so I know I can atleast sell it on without any hastle.

Was ask last week to put together ball mounts as some industry rumbles were suggesting that a sizeable quantity of TT Rider 1's may be unloaded on to the market, but stress it was industry rumblings

 

[PaulW21781]

Well I've spent the day faffing with ram mounts, bits of steel and alu plating and got nowhere other than a bloody hand :-( so think I may just have to save my pennies and treat myself again lol! The rider v1 with the touratech mount is just too bloody big!

Tyre or Mapsource are both useless to me anyways as I run Linux, so all I want is a solid enough navigation which fits snugly and neatly on the bike without having to bodge!

 

[andyclift]

Having had TT Rider Mk1 X2 plus TT Rider Mk2 and Garmin 2720, 550, 550 G12 and GPSMAP60CSX the answer is easy. ANYTHING Garmin.

Tomtom Experience.
My first TT Rider was crap and after a lot of rows with Tomtom they replaced it after having my useless one for eight weeks. That packed up as well as did the Mk2 replacement.

During the time they actually worked I thought the software was a bit mickey mouse and they often told me to turn where there were no right turns or wrong way on one way streets. setting up routes with waypoints was tortuous and trying to zoom in or move around the map screen was a good way to turn to lots of strong drink.

The Mk 1 fell off the useless bike mount on my wife's old CS, jammed in the forks and locked the steering resulting the the bike being dropped.

Garmin Experience.
The VERY old Garmin 12 has never let me down, the 2720 was damaged when it fell off the bike (my fault) Garmin changed it for free, the 550 is now used on my wife's bike and has never let me or her down, the 660 developed a sticky on/off switch out of warranty and Garmin swapped it for a new one for free in four days.

Software is logical and easy to use. computer software for route planning (Mapsource on PC or Basemap on Mac) make it worth dumping Linux and Tomtom have nothing to even compare it with. Whole touring holidays around Europe planned with Basemap and take the Macbook with us instead of maps.

The bikes mounts work OK. The 660 sits on the screen mount on my GSA and the 550 on the yoke of wife's 650 GS twin. Both on Touratech mounts now for a bit of security when leaving the bikes to pay for fuel etc..

I bought the GPSMAP for backpacking as I trust Garmin but would never buy Tomtom again.

 

[beemerboy9]

A lot of magazines and tests say the Tom Tom is easier to use and has better graphics.

However the Garmin after-sales service is miles better - but I would say that after a recent trip (was working round the corner) to Garmin HQ in Southampton where they tried, without success, to repair my 5 year old Satnav, and inspected my partner's unit - all without charge. I was offered an exchange unit at a cost but declined it.

I would buy a Tom Tom for my partner if she wanted one, but would never have one myself.

 

[Bumpkin]

A lot of magazines and tests say the Tom Tom is easier to use and has better graphics.

I've always likened TomTom to Macs and Garmin to PCs (not a great analogy I know...). TomToms have nice intuitive GUI but Garmin's are more versatile/adaptable. You discover, if you can be arsed, the advantages of a Garmin over an extended period of ownership.

This might explain why journalists like the TomTom as a/ being in publishing (and, hence by association, design) they are usually drawn to the visually appealing GUI. And b/ they tend to only have a limited period of time to use the device to review it and don't bother loading Mapsource and actually using the device as designed.

Sweeping generalisations aside; Both devices do the job but IMHO, with experience, a Garmin will do a better job, especially as a sat nav for recreational motorcycling.

 

[Nutty]

Personally, I prefer the TomTom. I've had several TomToms, and a couple of Garmins over the years, but my main issue with the Garmin, is that it will not display the remaining mileage on the main screen, whereas the TomTom displays it in the corner.

I know that on the Garmin, you can touch the screen at any point in the journey where it will display the remaining miles, but I find this to be a pain, as I like to have the info right there in front of me, rather than fiddling about while on the move. It's personal taste at the end of the day, but I'm used to and prefer the TT.

Here's a picture of my TomTom mounted on the GS.

 

[GS TRV]

dunno about the TT but I'm loving my new 660 - has all the features I could ever want

 

[Bobster]

The zumo 660 will show the remaining distance to the destination. you just have to set it up to do so. After sales sevice second to none.

 

[sven]

I had a TTR2 and chopped it in for a Zumo 550 due to the Rider breaking twice, the second time being right before a big trip. To say I've never looked back would be an understatement - I can't believe I've spent so much time cludging routes together with TYRE when I could have just used Mapsource.

I've no experience of the Urban Riders mod, but it'd have to be unbelievably good to compare to the Zumo.

Mup.

Just goes to show one mans meat is another mans poison - my TTR2 has been flawless both on the bike and in the car for three years now, it's far more user friendly than any Garmin I've used with better routing, and planning itineraries on the PC is much easier with Autoroute and ITNconverter than that bloody awful Mapsource programme

Mine was a bargain for £250 on Amazon at the time. If I was buying now, I may have been tempted with a Garmin Nuvi 550

 

[peterbiker]

GPS- Help!!

Hi Guys
Let me first say that I am a complete novice when it comes to sat Navs and I have decided that it is about time I had one for my GS
I have read all the comparisons between Tom Tom and garmin and have decided on the basis of the comments on this site and from speaking to those who have one, that a Garmin 660 is the item of choice.
However I have some questions and points that im hoping that you may be able to help with.
1. What is mapsource, how does it help and how do you use it?
2. My local IAM members are able to find nice a and b roads to get to their destination and pass this on via the forum and some even do the trip and retrospectively store the info in the Sat Nav for later use. Will the Garmin be able to do that?
3.Is it easy to use and do I ned any special programs on my computer to make the best use of it.
4. I have seen it for just over from £400 from Amazon. Does anyone know of any better deals?
Sorry its a bit long and complicated but your help and advice would be most helpful
Peter

 

[andyclift]

Good choice to go Garmin

1. Mapsource is one of the best reasons for not going Tomtom. It is a noce software program that lets you plan detailed routes and upload them onton the satnav. It also lets you download track logs from the satnav so you can see your journies and convert them into routes that you can pass on to friends. We have travelled East and West Europe a number of times with a Garmin and a PC with Mapsource (or a Mac with Basecamp). We don't bother with maps, all our route planning, hotel finding etc. is done on the PC.

2 See answer 1. Yes you can do that.

3. Yes it is easy to use but to get the bet out of it it may be a slightly bigger learning curve than Tomtom - but worth it. My non=techy wife has no problem with her Garmins in car and on bike. The only software you need is Mapsource for planning, POI Loader to install any Point of Interest files you may download from the web, Web Updater to update software. Those that don't come with the satnav are free downloads from Garmin. If you have a Mac you can also download Basecamp (good) (Mapsource does not work on Mac) and Mac versions of the other programs.

4. The deal price seems OK.

 

[peterbiker]

Sat Navs

Hi
Thanks for that. Very helpfull and a very quick response
Peter

 

[tyclyd]

Zumo 660

Hi mate, I had a rider 1 and Garmin for the car but last year sold both on e bay and purchased a new 660 from Touratech with their own mount and have never looked back - its a superb bit of kit, much easier to use than the Rider and last year took me from home through France, into Spain onto Portugal then back trough France into Italy then back home - never missed beat, you wont regret it.

 

[andyclift]

I have had three Riders (two of them replacements from Tomtom). All packed up. Bought a Garmin 2720 (great). That got nicked so bought a Zumo550. Wife now has that (after the third Tomtom packed up) so bought a 660. That has taken me on three trips around Europe including Romania, Poland Slovakia and Czech Republic, all of which are standard countries on the Zumo.

Both Zumos have worked faultlessly with one small problem with the 660. The on/off switch got sticky this year but within three days of a call to Garmin they changed it free of charge for a replacement although it was out of warranty.

We don't bother to take maps on the trips, just a laptop with Mapsource or Basecamp. Give me Garmin every time.