View Full Version : Motorbike Sat Navs?
Chris199
25-09-12, 06:27 PM
hiya all im looking into purchasing a sat nav for my SV im considering highly to go for the Garmin ZUMO 350LM has anybody got one or used on and if so how is it ? any info would be recommended, also if you have a sat nav what do you have :).
I sometimes use my dads Zumo 550 and it is quite useful. Doesn't seem to realise that some petrol stations in Belgium aren't there anymore so you have to use it carefully and use your common sense sometimes.
I have a TomTom rider v2. It's great, hasn't failed me yet anyway... touch wood.
Got it for £80 on eBay faulty. Changed the battery and it was as good as new
I have the Zumo550. Good users forum at http://www.zumoforums.com/index.php
all the info you want on issues etc. Bear in mind these forums always show all the warts, don't be too put off.
Any satnav is only as good as the database, if you don't update POI (points of interest) files they will be out of date, simple.
I've played with a 660 and it is a significantly better unit than the 550 IMO, the 350 ought to be more along the lines of the 660 in use. Also much more compact shape for pockets.
I've had almost no problems with the 550, does what it says.
Definitely worth getting the lifetime maps (LM) from the start, I haven't updated maps due to cost, and now my 550 is too old to risk paying for new maps when it'll probably die sometime. Often find I'm riding across "fields" especially in France where they build roads at the drop of a hat.
If/when it does I'll just get a new unit with LM.
Specialone
26-09-12, 05:38 AM
Another vote here for the tomtom rider v2, i use mine a lot, it's done two French trips and it's been flawless.
rictus01
26-09-12, 06:11 AM
I've used the tom tom rider v2 before, it's alright, I like the sun shield thing, display wise a bit small though, don't like the garmin data base particularly, I've been trying to justify the cost of a bike specific satnav for some time, but I just can't, the Navman setup I currently use (S90i), does it all and that cost me £50 all in and so far I haven't found anything it won't do as well as a bike one costing at least 4 times as much, if pushed I'd have the tom tom over the Garmin as I prefer the data base and routing.
Cheers Mark.
Rictus,
How do you get audio out of the cheepie Navman? I've using an old route 66 with a headphone socket wired into my autocom stuff but most of the car ones seem to have done away with audio ports and all the bike ones are bluetooth only.
Geodude
26-09-12, 09:12 AM
Tomtom one v1 (first one they made) has headphone socket and are cheap on ebay but are getting harder to find.
Cymraeg_Atodeg
26-09-12, 09:31 AM
I got a Zumo 550 on the Thou', got the full handlebar attachment kit from Touratech for it too.
Map in it is getting a bit old now, so, should update it, but, never let me down, is bluetooth compatable and can fit an SD card in the bottom and play music on it too. It cuts the music, tells you the information you need then plays the music again, simples.
Work really well with gloves on too
_Stretchie_
26-09-12, 09:40 AM
I love my 550, it got us all around the AR10 route and the reccys for it.
I can get a Zumo 660 with bike mount, car mount and full EU maping for £324 which sounds like a bit of a bargain to me. Seems the 660 bike mount has a headphone socket on it so I can use my wired kit until I finally ugrade to bluetooth. Can get the lifetime map package for an extra £60.
Am I missing anything or is this a bit of a bargain? Anyone suggest anythign better? I currently occasionally use a car one in a freezer bag which sort of works but is hard to see.
You can get a blue tooth headphones dongle of e bay.
That will partner the unit fine and stream music to your existing headphones in your lid
littleoldman2
26-09-12, 12:53 PM
I have a Garmin Zumo 500. Only two little niggles. 1 It's great at getting you to your destination but not as good for following a set route once you,ve deviated from it. 2 Inner city and the roads closed it sends you round in a circle and back to the closure. In both cases you have to stop and sort it out before continuing. I'm pleased with it but have no experience of any other.
_Stretchie_
26-09-12, 12:59 PM
I can get a Zumo 660 with bike mount, car mount and full EU maping for £324 which sounds like a bit of a bargain to me.
Sounds good to me.
Chris199
26-09-12, 03:47 PM
just found out tday that Garmin have come together with Suzuki and if you purchase a Garmin Satnav from a suzuki dealer you get nearly £90 off of the price so i think al be getting a Garmin just gotta choose which one lol.
rictus01
26-09-12, 06:13 PM
Rictus,
How do you get audio out of the cheepie Navman? I've using an old route 66 with a headphone socket wired into my autocom stuff but most of the car ones seem to have done away with audio ports and all the bike ones are bluetooth only.
one of the benefits of the Navman S50/70 or 90, is they all have both bluetooth and an earphone socket, although I don't use either myself and at sub 40 mph the volume on max is easily heard anyway.
Cheers Mark.
i'm a cheep skate and just use a car one siliconed up. not failed me yet and have been in some very bad weather with it.
Thunderace
26-09-12, 06:53 PM
I currently occasionally use a car one in a freezer bag which sort of works but is hard to see.
REALLY! Cmon Dad your'e on popstar wages don't be a cheapskate!:rolleyes:
REALLY! Cmon Dad your'e on popstar wages don't be a cheapskate!:rolleyes:
Spend all my money on wine, women, song and fuel. And these days I hardly drink and never sing!
Bye a sat nav bag . Its cheap enough .
Quiff Wichard
27-09-12, 10:36 AM
Use my I phone with tom tom on in a holder that u can get off e bay .. £30 .. waterproof
Bye a sat nav bag . Its cheap enough .
Done that too but then they are rubbish with the sun on them as the plastic has no anti-glare and is never flat and the touch screens don't work too well through plastic or with gloves on. Then if it's strapped the bars the tank bag prevents you from seeing it anyway. If you put it in the tankbag you can't see anything as all the angles are wrong.
To be honest I've tried all the cheap ways and now need to decide to "make do" with what I have or actually treat myself to some decent kit for once. Problem is if I stick a £500 satnav on the bike I will need to do some more exotic travelling which will cost me even more money!
Luckypants
27-09-12, 01:39 PM
Not that keen on sat navs, especially on the bike. They always seem to be expensive to me as well, for what is a relatively simple bit of technology. On a couple of occasions when totally lost I have used me phone sat nav / mapping to get back on course.
This is my usual navigation aid
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X6034HC7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
And my European navigation aid
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61KDqbq2DaL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Not that keen on sat navs, especially on the bike. They always seem to be expensive to me as well, for what is a relatively simple bit of technology. On a couple of occasions when totally lost I have used me phone sat nav / mapping to get back on course.
This is my usual navigation aid
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X6034HC7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
And my European navigation aid
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61KDqbq2DaL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
I find the pages tend to flip over at speed though!
Luckypants
27-09-12, 01:51 PM
:smt040
On the tank bag is glare city .
My Hg one is ok but I do aggre 150 for a bike specific one sort or demands use.
As for being sent round in circles with road closures in town, well yes they'll do that 'cos they don't know the road is closed so if the best bet is a circle and carry on as before, then that's what it'll say. As everyone says about satnavs, you're the one with the brain so remember to use it.
When I've met closed roads like that (happens quite often particularly abroad), then make progress as best you can more or less in the right direction (if all else fails then use the sun), then when it looks like you're past the block start taking notice of the satnav again. Occasionally I've ended up doing maybe 10mls more than necessary, but that's all part of the fun (?).
I use a wired speaker-in-helmet system, charging bluetooth headset batteries would annoy me when touring I'm afraid, but I can certainly see the advantages for shorter trips. I used the drivers out of some second-hand Sony headphones (£5 ebay) and a curly extension cable for a few quid.
love my satnav. plan the route for my sunday fun the night before then away i go on the sunday. lowers my stress levels as i'm never lost and it tells me where petrol stations are. if i decide to take a detour from my planned route then no probs as it will recalculate but more often than not it tells me to turn round. must turn u-turns off :-)
Sat nav does'nt know the fun routes .
Nor does Google maps.
Ok you can save a made up map on garmin ones.But still not ideal .
Use my I phone with tom tom on in a holder that u can get off e bay .. £30 .. waterproof
Is that an Android phone? Have you tried planning a route using TYRE?
TomTom for the iPhone doesn’t
victor_meldrew
29-09-12, 04:46 PM
Blimey ... I'm still inside the 1990's - I use an old Garmin Quest stuck onto the headstock (I too suffered with glare wtc from nav bags and tank bags )
Its waterproof, has a six hour battery life and is no bigger than a phone so slips in the pocket easily . TBH I ride where the notion takes me and only switch it on if I get totally lost at the end of the day .. so for me its perfect :)
Just got some petrol from tesco and they gave me a £20 voucher for tomtoms. The only one they seem to have on their website is the urban rider with European maps and a scala headset for £268 which with the voucher is £248.
Sound like a good deal?
Chris199
01-10-12, 03:31 PM
wow that is a good deal actully, never mind mine is on its way now lol, cant decide wether or not to get the scala rider q4 bluetooth headset or another cheaper one.
Skybaba
28-04-13, 10:23 PM
Thread resurrection!!!
I'm tempted to get the GARMIN ZUMO 350LM; anyone got one recently?
http://www.handtec.co.uk/satnav-gps/motorbike-sat-nav/garmin-zumo-350lm-free-hard-carry-case-and-strap.html
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