GPS Unit - what's good?

For my spring trip, I am taking a route that I know very well (through Banff National Park, Rogers Pass, then down to Penticton in the Okanagan), so I don't think I really need a GPS for that. If I was going to dip down through the states, I would get one since that is uncharted territory for me. It makes sense to have a GPS when you tend to be wandering around a bit, rather than stopping and buying maps all over the place.
As far as getting mildly lost, I like doing that too, so I think the secret is just to turn the damn thing off for awhile. I went to Italy with a friend a couple of years ago, and he was insistent about using this GPS. But it wasn't updated, so it was telling us to turn where there was no turn, and it got us lost in a subdivision - we ended up doing circles upon circles in the same neighborhood. Man, and my buddy just wouldn't give it up; he just had to use this thing!! It eventually drove me crazy!
So for me, I would have to subscribe to some type of software that always keeps updating the roads, etc.
I think I'll stick to a map this trip. Besides, I just bought the bags for $1200 Cdn, so I'm out of spending money for awhile. Picking them up next week....

 

I have a Zumo 550 and I highly recommend it. I am sure there are others, check out Tiger GPS dot com. I would only consider motorcycle specific units for water proofing and vibration resistant. The m/c units have sturdy mounts, too.

Ron

 

Thumbs up for the 550, it works great and the fuel range/gas station feature is A-1 for tourung in unknown areas!

 

I need a new gPS, so ,looks like a Garmin 550 for me! waterproof idea does it for me.
My 7 year old gps needs updating so sod the credit crunch, out with the real money, i cant keep hoarding ,awaiting doom`s day.
Sometimes it is nice to turn it off if you got a day to just ride, sometimes i get lost on pupose, it`s amazing where you end up and different things you can see off the main roads,turn out you drive next time out go a few miles, then just keep turning say 4 turns to the right then 1 to the left, then after a magical mystery tour, turn GPS back on to guide you back.
Also say in france its usefull telling you the closest fuel stops!

 

As mentioned before zumo is still overpriced.TT ONE with ram mount works good enough for me with a quarter zumo price,go figure....

 

If you guys don't feel like spending $500 the Garmin 760 is on sale at Amazon(LINK) for $199 right now. Cheapest price I have seen on it since black friday(Got mine for $193 shipped off ebay with 30% Live Cashback offer). Normal net price has been about $250 for this unit so it's a good deal. It has Mp3 player and Bluetooth.

I originally bought one for my father to use in trucking and he loves it so I bought one for myself. It's pretty decent for the price/feature ratio. There are a million different mounts out there or you can stick it in a tank bag and it works just fine.

 

I use the Tomtom Rider 2. I've used Tomtom for years for all my cross-continental trips. It's worth its weight in gold, IMO.

Garmin owners seem to be very happy with their units. There's a reason why Tomtom and Garmin are the two top brands.

Bubba, I get the feeling you consider GPS to be the devil, LOL. What's the story, Bub?

 

Absolutely, the Garmin Nuvi 750 series will do both. You can plan a route with Mapsource, from Garmin, check it out on Google Earth, and then download it to the Nuvi via USB or put it on a SD card and use the card with the Nuvi.

 

Cool, I had no idea about that. I'll have to dink around with my 760 and check it out.

 

In Mapsource, on the Menu bar, then View, at the bottom is "View In Google Earth".

I usually plan my routes in Delorme Street Atlas because it's easier to work with, IMO, than Mapsource. I then create the same route in Mapsource so I can upload it to the Nuvi. This was the main reason I went from a Nuvi 350 to the 750. The 350 did not support importing routes like the 750.

 

another way to go, if you like google is to use the FREE GMAPtoGPX plugin for firefox... draw a route in Google, create GPX waypoint file (most GPSs use), download to GPS, enjoy


Link-> GMapToGPX » Communications From Elsewhere

Nother link-> Create GPS Tracks | SundayMorningRides.com