scorpion46

I'm looking for a good gps unit that will work on my bike. I'm not posting to buy from here, I'm just getting ideas for ones that are worth looking at. I've never had one and they all sound pretty much the same to me. I have noticed on some that it states the units are not compatible with motorcycles.
So lets hear what kind you have and the pros and cons that you have experienced.
Thanks

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Dj12midnit

I use the Waze app on my Iphone. works great with my Scala rider and it is free.

mfile2000

Woman

Tanker2Biker

I did this same research a couple months ago, and chose a Garmin Nuvi 1490 for a couple reasons, first and foremost being that the NUVI 1490 would link to my PC and MicroSoft Streets & Trips 2013. I can use Streets & Trips to plan trips or routes on my desktop at home (or my netbook if I'm on the road), and connect the GPS unit to it and download the route, rather than having to load the route using the interface on the GPS.

The screen is large and easily visible, and it has turn by turn instructions that will link via bluetooth to another device if you want (I don't, I just use the visual).

Now the down sides. I have a power outlet on the bike to plug it in, but sometimes the plug on the back of the unit sometimes wiggles loose, and then the unit resets itself, and you don't have the use of it for a minute or so.

All in all, I like the unit. It is an older model, so it was on sale at Fry's Electronics. Here's one on Amazon for about $140:

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Fizgurd

Tanker2Biker, I think I read your research results a while back, and agree with your choice, I have the 1490LMT earmarked for purchase in the future for my travels too.

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USA_Mike

I use my phone. Samsung Exhibit. And a map.

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Tanker2Biker

To add a little detail, the problem seems to be with the plug on the back of the unit. This unit is not one that Garmin certifies for motorcycle use,and it seems the vibration sometimes causes the unit to see the plug not as a power source, but as the connection to the PC (which it is when it is plugged into the PC).

When this happens, I reach up and pull the power plug, and it runs on it's internal battery, for about 2 hours, then, when I stop for lunch, or just to take a stretch, I plug it back in and charge the battery again.

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dadorfman

If the problem is just that the plug wiggles loose, that can be remedied by velcro. Only the Garmin zumos, however, are waterproof.

Another thing you might want to look for is a headphone jack. The zumos have that, too, while others don't.

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David
'07 C90 Trike
'06 C50
'97 Marauder (deceased)
'86 Honda Rebel 450 (deceased)

moenko

Another advantage of the Zumos is that they are "relatively" safe as they lock into the cradle and are secured with a specialty screw, so no one can just come by and grab it (unless, of course, they just take the whole RAM mount off and cut the cable).

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Carsten
2004 BMW R1150RT
2006 Yamaha Stratoliner S (sold)
2006 Kawasaki Nomad 1600 (sold)
2005 Suzuki C50 (sold)

C50TinAB

As a stand alone gps I have a Garmin 265W that I got from my wife a couple of years ago. Since then my car has a factory gps unit built into the dash as does my truck which has a Garmin unit. All three of them have map sources from Navteq but their UIs and features differ. I like the Garmin software better than others but that's just a personal preference so my suggestion is you find a store where you can get your hands on some working units and actually play with them a bit and go from there. For a motorcycle one that's waterproof and vibration proof would be two features I'd be looking for.

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