sat-nav for bikes, what are the options/experiences

[BoltonSte]

I'm toying with getting a sat-nav with the money Santa brought me. What options do I have to use on the bike besides the TomTom rider?

Besides picking A to B and letting the unit plan the route I'd like to be able to plan routes using the laptop. Think google maps, as you can tell I'm more of a map or key notes kinda guy and I know nothing

Ste

[NTECUK]

i used co pilot (android £20)on my bike with just the audio.

What's wrong with a car sat nav?

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by specialone

What's wrong with a car sat nav?

nowt.

i use a modified garmin and have done all of this year without any problems what so ever. i just taped up the SD port and siliconed around any gaps. i have use it in some horrendous weather and it still works but mine is stuck to the rev counter by the supplied cradle so it screen keep most of the rain off. if it were mounted anywhere else i would use a proper bike specific one.

[Bluepete]

I'm cheap, so use an old tomtom one on a ram mount. Plastic ziplock bag when it rains.

eBay for £30.

Pete

[littleoldman2]

Anything with bluetooth so you can hear the instructions and not have to watch it to much. I've a Garmin Zumo 500 and its brilliant.

I managed to pick up my TomTom Rider for a bargain price on FleaBay. Having the bluetooth connection is a must IMO. Had it on a RAM mount. Then you can use http://www.tyre.tk/ to plan route via google maps.

My missus used an old car satnav with headphones but occasionally the lead would prove to be a pain in the **** as well as trying to keep it waterproof. All comes down to how much you want to spend really.

[tigersaw]

have to agree you dont really need the picture.
I've used a phone running tomtom in my pocket with just a old fash earpiece no problem before.

[maviczap]

I've had a Garmin, which had a Mp3 player built in but needed speakers in the helmet connected via a 3.5mm jack and cable to hear the instructions & music. Having a cable was a pain in the neck and the sound quality was carp.

I've got a TomTom at the moment, which uses blue tooth to connect to the helmet speakers, but it doesn't have an Mp3 player built in.

Both are pretty poor when it comes to navigating, the Garmin was particularly bad, changing its mind at junctions, the TomTom is a little better.

I'd go for a car one in future, as I'm sure that the car ones get updated more often than the bike specific ones.

All that's different is the bike ones are in a waterproof housing and they respond to gloved fingers.

Here's another option to house your sat nav in, so you can use a car one.

http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/motorc...ps-tasche.html

You could put the sat nav in a tank bag, but its hard to see there, so the option above is better.

I think you need to fork out a lot of wonga for a really good bike one, but better off saving money and buy a good car one, especially as the sales are on right now.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Stenno

Then you can use http://www.tyre.tk/ to plan route via google maps..

+1 on Tyre software, really good, takes a bit of getting used to