GPS etc. ???

I ride a lot on the country back roads, just wandering & get lost a lot.
Sometimes using the iphone to ping my location, not the best of methods.
What do I need in the way of a locator, garmin etc.?
And isn't there a bracket that locates it for easy viewing?
What's a good device? Cheap but with good road mapping?
Thanks, Robert.

 

If you are not planning riding in the rain, a cheap GPS will get you to your destination. GPScity do have great price and you can order the Ram mount as a combo. I used Tech mount on the VFR but Ram mount on my GS. Let me know if you want picture of my set up.

 

Seeing as you have an iPhone then I think the cheapest solution would be to add the TomTom app and buy a basic tank bag to put the phone in the plastic map pocket so you can see the screen and it should be fairly waterproof.

If you also want to hear the instructions, then add a cheapo Bluetooth headset for your helmet - like the Blinc M1 or M2 which will sync with your iPhone. The down side of the iPhone is the battery will drain fairly quickly. If you need to regularly use a GPS, then a proper motorbike GPS (Garmin/TomTom) hooked up to the bike electrics is the best choice but will be a lot more expensive.




SkiMad

 

I have this setup (many thanks to Britt) and had a usb power outlet installed but not used that.
http://vfrworld.com/forums/gear-accessories/18599-ram-tank-mount-garmin-nuvi.html
I might go for a longer arm next season tho...

 

I've got Joe Rocket hammer head tank bag with GPS and cell phone pockets made into it. Seemed like a great idea but its like an easy bake oven for anything you put in the pockets. My Iphone overheated on a 75-80 degree day when it was in the cell phone pocket. I never had the Garmin GPS overheat but its not visible in the daylight at such an angle and overall its just not handy to see. What I've found works best is sticking the suction cup mount to the wind screen just above the gauge cluster. The tach is still mostly viewable and the GPS is right in my line of site and is clearly visible even in the bright sun. With the volume up all the way, at least at in town speeds, I can still hear the voice prompts.

 

Thanks guys. I may just put the tom tom app on the iphone, add a power outlet and call it a day.
And yeah, I 've also had the iphone to get too warm in the sun and it shuts down. Maybe some tinted film will solve that?