Best Garmin GPS for bike & car

[montmil]

The only GPS equipment I've ever used, outside of a handheld backpacker's unit, has been installed in the instrument panel of a few of Uncle Sugar's aircraft. Nothing but the best on the taxpayers nickel, but just not what I'm now interested in.

Bengt Phorqs has a Garmin 2720 -no longer manufactured- that proved to be pretty spiffy during our last October jaunt to Barber's in Alabama. Found us a great BBQ joint! Me thinks he uses it on his Beemers, too.

I'm considering purchasing a Garmin GPS for use with the Triumph Trophy and would also like to be able to transfer it to the car/s when needed. Any suggestions on a nice model? I'm a Luddite at heart so don't want Bluetooth, XM radio, WX radar, etc.

Suggestions and experiences appreciated. Now then, if Santa will just come across with some dough.

Monte

[Lucky_Lou]

Ive just invested in a nice Tom Tom for the car and if needs be i will stick it in my pocket and use it on the bike should i get lost but i cannot justify paying 3 times more for the same unit to fit the bike, seems to be a rip of to me...and anyway there are no wrong turns on a bike as some one here reminds us.
Lou
Btw anyone using sat navs needs to keep a grip of common sense as they can often be wrong and send you the wrong way one tried to put me in the sea once....stupid is

[Bengt_Phorqs]

...and anyway there are no wrong turns on a bike as some one here reminds us.
Lou
Well it's good to know that someone is paying attention!  
Btw anyone using sat navs needs to keep a grip of comm [smiley=clap.gif]on sense as they can often be wrong and send you the wrong way one tried to put me in the sea once....stupid is  

And Lou you are absolutely correct about misdirections.  Many is the time I've found myself in a Louisiana sugar cane field while looking for a 5 acre oil field service center.  And if you do end up with a Garmin, turn off the sound on that goofy woman who likes to give bossy directions.  We can get that without the Garmin.  Of course you can download the voice of Mr. T.  "Hey fool, where you heading now??"
 [smiley=furious3.gif]

[Bob_Roller]

I'm surprised you don't have a Luddite GPS, a sundial, 'whiskey compass' and an altimeter . [smiley=grin.gif]

[stockman]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 200 very inexpensive which I use for work and it has many hours on it and still work great. I bought an inexpensive handle bar mount for $30 and although I can't see it really well in certain lighting conditions on the bike it is readily at hand. Having used a GPS daily for the past 5 years I can tell you that I always know the basic routes or major highways and routes to take and use the GPS for the final route from the major roads to the destination.
I would not spend a lot of money on one even though I could justify the cost. There are some nice units out there with lots of capabilities but in the end do the same thing as mine.

[rwait]

I've traveled 12,000 miles in the last year using a refurbished Garmin220 that I bought from www.ecost.com, and a RAM mount from www.gpscity.com.  I carry some zip lock baggies and zip ties that I put over the unit when it rains.  Total cost was probably $110.  Given the quality and cost of baggies, I refuse to spend the $$'s for a weather proof GPS.   Buy an extended warranty from www.squaretrade.com and you can feel even more comfortable.  

RW

[balibeemer]

I agree with the comment about the stupid woman - My brother in law was trying out his GPS in my car and 2 km from the house "she" told us to do a u turn on a road that was abot 2 m wide and flanked by ricefields! total lack of local knowledge.
As I live on an island, it is impossible to get lost. Gimme a map and compass any day!

[Crossrodes]

I have a Garmin Nuvi for my car/truck.  I also have a Garmin built product in the Goldwing (from the factory).  I have no issues with how they work however one thing to be aware of...the cost of updating the map software.  I believe it cost me over $100 for each of these GPS's for map updates.  Now Garmin has discontinued providing map updates for the Honda Goldwing version of its GPS.  That sucks since the bike is an '06.

My advice...look for a device that will give free map updates or one that you pay a one time charge for updates.

[Barry]

I can understand they must be a great business tool but I've never used one having an aversion to being told what to do especially if the damn thing gets it wrong too.  Half the fun of a long run can be planning the route but I admit map reading on a bike can be challenging.

Now I might be interested if I could take charge of the thing and tell it  what route I had planned and it just told me when to turn....  bit like a speaking map.

Maybe they already do that and I'm missing out ?

[Crossrodes]

Barry the ones I am familiar with work the way you have described.  Having lived where you live I can't imagine a better place to use a GPS if you are not riding on the motorways and are not familiar with the roads.

The downside...you tend to forget the route you have taken if you have Nellie the Navigator telling you when to make a turn.

[Darwin_R65]

My GPS is referred to as bitching betty. Garmin NUVI 1390.

It's good for travelling main cities.
I also download Shonkymaps which is an unofficial set maps for a Garmin covering Australia.

Basically written for 4WD's travelling outback Australia.
http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/

Not much good outside Oz.

Its been good but i wish i had something I could upload routes to not just waypoints.

[Semper Gumby]

I have a Garmin 276 on the bikes with RAM mounts.  My wife has a Tom Tom for her car which I hate for this reason:  It always scales in close so even though you know exactly where you are you don't have perspective of surrounding landmarks.  So you are lost until you get where you are going.  Hate the Tom Tom.  It assumes you are stooopid.  

This last year the BMW club did a ride from Atlanta to Savannah to get shrimp for the club cookout.  The guy planning the ride sent out a garmin route over to Augusta Ga into the South Carolina wilderness down to Allendale and then over to Savannah.  Somehow we ended up turning down I-285 instead of going up I-85 which complete botched his pre-planned route.  So I pulled us off I-20, pushed the "don't use Slabs" button and on the fly created a new route through Augusta on two lane roads and had a great time based on what I remembered of the route.  The moral of the story is KNOW YOUR GPS and KEEP A PAPER MAP OF THE ROUTE - THEY DON'T NEED ELECTRICITY.  Some times those wiley electrons have an annoying habit going in unexpected directions or not at all.  This will leave you an out when the programmers of your GPS cut you loose in the wilderness.

So I guess the Best GPS for Bike or Car is the one you know the best.  8-)

[suecanada]

My partner Derek just bought a Tom Tom which included the Lifetime maps in the price. I did go the full monte and get the Zumo 660 which I move from bike to bike as each has the cradle. We also have a sunshade around the unit so you can see. My "voice" is British Daniel so I pay attention and like his voice. Like having James Bond telling ya where to go! BUT, Daniel makes huge boo boos too! Gotta carry maps for sure. When the GPS comes in handy is when you are hot an tired after a full day riding and in a strange town. Where is that motel??
David and I got our Lifetime maps through a deal as AMA members. 4 updates of software and maps per year. Been some sales lately on Lifetime maps. I like the GPS's mp3 player the most I think. Put Koss Sportapro headphones in the helmet for great stereo sound! The Sportapros can be removed and put back on their headframe so no tearing apart things. Good titanium drivers. Put memory foam behind the headphones so they softly rest against my ear. No more sore ear as I had with earbuds which also make it hard to put your helmet on without dislodging them.

Always take the maps and highlight the route chosen so you can see it quickly while riding or write the route out...all the turns only....and make it BIG print and have in the map pocket on tankbag!
The sunshade is a godsend too! Velcroes around the GPS unit.

[montmil]

I'm surprised you don't have a Luddite GPS, a sundial, 'whiskey compass' and an altimeter . [smiley=grin.gif]

I read every GPS thread response. Thanks to all for the advice and experiences. I'm taking Bob's advice. Now then, where did I leave that compass... [smiley=beer.gif]

Monte

[DeeG]

We have a Garmin Zumo 550 and a 478C.

Zumo has touch screen and is bluetooth-able.  478C is a marine version so if you ride and drive and pilot, it works for all three.

Both are waterproof, both have a port for the XM/Sirius puck.

We have the XM weather package, it works wonderfully on the 478C, but is next to useless on the Zumo.