The Honda Owners Club

Thinking of maybe treating myself to a satnav system for my bike, mainly for when i go on walkabout and just ride for an hour or so in whatever direction i want, then try to find my way home. But i would like to travel further afield and tour abit in southern England, take in sights normally missed in the car, you know what i mean!

So which ones do u guys and gals use....don't need to spend a fortune, but just one that does the job!


Cheers

Neil

Hi Neil,

I been using a Tom Tom Rider which sits into a cradle on the bars and charges its self from the bike, alternatively if I use it in the car I can charge it up from the cig lighter. The screen is touch operated and the Bluetooth facility allows it to connect to both my intercom and my phone, giving me instructions via the intercom and hands free receiving of calls. (you can’t phone out whilst moving)

My maps and itineraries are stored on a 2Gb SD card along with “My Favourites” which means I can alter my route to return me back home within a couple of taps of the screen. Used in conjunction with your mobile, you can get traffic updates if you wish. The route options are shortest, fastest, avoiding motorways, cycling and walking. There’s also an option which asks you what time you want to get there and displays your schedule in positive or negative time, very useful if you’re on route to somewhere and want to stop off for a break.

I’ve had mine now for 18-months and it’s taken me all over Europe, covering 15000 miles. If you haven’t sorted one by the time we go to Normandy, you can take a look at mine.

JB

Cheers John, not in a desperate hurry, so may well have butchers of yours on your bike!!


Ta


Neil

Hi Neil...I went through this dilema last year. Ended up deciding that the 'weatherproof' versions mounted on the bike in cradle are not only v expensive but also unsightly on the bike and unnecessary. Ended up buying a Navman sytem which I stick in my leathers pocket and plug earphones in. You dont need to see a screen to get directions!! Down side is battery lasts circa 3 hours!

....That said, used it to get all the way to Le Mans and back no probs and it only costs 150 quid! Flippin excellent. Use it in the car also!

..So unless you want to shell out and have a 'gismo' attached to the bike, go for my option! ..worth a thought anyway

I use a Navman 510 & have for 3 years.I have it mounted on the bike & it is powered from a 12 volt socket on the bike.If it rains I put a platic bag over it to protect it & never had a problem this way.I get the directions via earphones or bikes speakers whichever way I want at the time.

Yep Neil, Chris and Kevin are quite right. My Tom Tom's mounted on the L/H handle bar on my Pan and it doesn't look out of place, nor does it foul on the tank but on my VFR750 it just not practical to put it in the same place so I've made a bracket so it fits under the screen above the clocks.

Some of the guys that I went to Austria used the Garmin SatNav which proved just as good as mine but I think the mountings were a lot more awkward and looked worse than my mounting.

Choices for a bike range from:

Garmin Zumo - modern, has all the bells and whistles - not too expensive (OK, around £350-400). There have been some reports that it sends you down strange routes - but others who have said it's the bees knees.... Wiring it up can be a pain according to the reports.

Tom Tom Rider 2. Uses the TT software which is pretty good. Map updates tend to be late and expensive - but it does the job. I think it only talks to you via Bluetooth (not sure on this). Not sure on the price - I think it's also around £300+

A generic PDA, ToimTOm software and a separate BT GPS device. This is what I have connected to my Autocom system via wires. It works well and is completely waterproof when I put a Tescos plastic food bag over it!!!! Not for the fainthearted - it needs setting up.

Older Garmins (such as the 2610). Cheap on the internet but tends to have old maps, no postcode lookup etc. Useful to get started, but you will soon want something more modern.

To add to Alan's list, an ordinary TomTom Go. Not waterproof, but a plastic bag will cure that.

There's lots of reasons why, which I won't go into unless you really want to know, but I'm currently considering dumping my Rider and mounting a Go720 on my bike.

My opinion is that TomTom software, however packaged, is the way to go.

As regards up to date maps, in practice TeleAtlas (TomTom) and Navteq (Garmin) tend to leapfrog each other, so which is the most modern today will be behind when the other releases an update. My preference is for TeleAtlas maps because they are more accurate in my area - other regions may differ.

Having had (in fact still have) both a Tom Tom and a Garmin, i prefer the latter. It appears to be a bit more reactive and doesn't tell you to turn as you are sailing past the junction. On the subject of boats, Garmin make a lot of marine application units which is a good endorsement for me.

Regards

Chimpy

Just goes to show Chimpy, personal preference plays a large part.

I've had a play with a Garmin, and couldn't live with it.

One of my biggest disappointments is the Garmin OE satnav on the Wing. If (when) I buy a new bike I will put a TomTom on it and not use the Honda one.

alansh wrote:Tom Tom Rider 2. Uses the TT software which is pretty good. Map updates tend to be late and expensive - but it does the job. I think it only talks to you via Bluetooth (not sure on this). Not sure on the price - I think it's also around £300+

My Tom Tom is the earlier Rider 1 which connects to both my phone and my Starcom intercom by Bluetooth. If I use it in the car, I use a hands free Bluetooth ear piece that I'd normally use in the truck.

My My guide was £79 inc p/p from ebuyer.com, it runs igo software, 3 hour batt but will be getting 12volt soon and as for weather proof i dont do rain and if im out and get caught the old food bag.... you can even get a bike mount for it....

steviebaby1000 wrote:My My guide was £79 inc p/p from ebuyer.com, it runs igo software, 3 hour batt but will be getting 12volt soon and as for weather proof i dont do rain and if im out and get caught the old food bag.... you can even get a bike mount for it....

Sounds like a good bargain, Does it do European maps?

They can be bought at the time you get the sat nav.... £48 for full europe on a SD card.... you can get a TMC cable as well... the unit comes with a 12 volt socket but im gunna get another one for the bike... it dosent have a mains charger but i got one from Halfords for £6.....

Check this link http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Home-&-Leisure/cat/GPS-Satellite-Navigation they have some very good buys.....

Steve that sounds like a good place to start for sanav at that price too!


As my first satnav for bike, do u recommend that one?
Pros ?
Cons?


Cheers


Neil