GPS

[da prez]

Time for a new one. The Garmin is beyond help. I don't need all the bells and whistles. Function and waterproof.

          da prez

[John Schmidt]

Ross, is your place that hard to find up yonder?

I need a new one myself so I'll let you be the guinea pig. 

[carolinarider09]

Time for a new one. The Garmin is beyond help. I don't need all the bells and whistles. Function and waterproof.

          da prez

Well, I believe the Garmin Zumo XT is on sale for $399.  I know, not cheap but if my Garmin's died, that would be my choice.

But, since I have not used the XT, I cannot vouch for its functionality. 

[Psychotic Bovine]

Bro and I just went to just using our phones.

[da prez]

Chris , is there a good phone holster.
 
             da prez

[NewValker]

Garmin Drive 52 ex
 
$99 at WW. Does everything I need it to do. Not m/c specific or waterproof.
Mounted it with handlebar ball mount.

Craig

[Avanti]

A GPS works directly by satellite and it seems rare to not find satellites. A phone drops signals when traveling across states when not running the road corridors and in remote areas.
Satellites are only lost in tight mountainous areas. I can sit in a remote camping area and use my GPS but not my phone.

[Psychotic Bovine]

Chris , is there a good phone holster.
 
             da prez

https://www.tackform.com/

Pricey, for sure. But, very good quality and very secure.

Bro and I use the Enduro series.  On the bottom of the mount, there is a 1/4 20 threaded hole, so we attached a Chubby Buttons bluetooth remote on there so we can pause, FF, and rew music while riding.  But, if you have screen compatible gloves, you can just control via the phone.
With our Sena comms in our helmet, we can even use voice to navigate and take calls.

But, if you just use ear buds or helmet speakers, a smartphone works very well.
That being said, a Garmin Zumo is easier to use and more robust then a smartphone, but my Zumo, after a lot of years in the sun and all other weather, is starting to fall apart.  Most of the buttons are loose and are about to fall off, which is why I decided to switch to a smart phone based solution.
If you plan ahead to travel to areas where there is no cell service, Google Maps allows you to pre-download maps for your area so the gps can still work with no cell service.  I wish I had done that on a ride we went on, as we had no cell service and, hence, no maps!

[carolinarider09]

Not to change the subject but if you have an "older" Zumo and wish to have it modified or fixed, The Palm DR can be of great help.

He changed the buttons and screen on my Zumo 550 and it's still in use (albeit in my 1996 Ford Explorer). 

He upgraded the memory on my Zumo 665 to 16 GB so I have no issues with loading all the new maps on my device.  And it seems a little faster.

"Repairs Done Right!" https://www.palmdr.com

His prices and process and results are excellent. 

[Serk]

A GPS works directly by satellite and it seems rare to not find satellites. A phone drops signals when traveling across states when not running the road corridors and in remote areas.
Satellites are only lost in tight mountainous areas. I can sit in a remote camping area and use my GPS but not my phone.

The phones have satellite GPS (And GLONASS, and Galileo and Beidou, the Russian, European and Chinese satellites) receivers and work anywhere a stand alone GPS will work. You may lose signal and not be able to get live updates to the map, but most phone based mapping programs can download areas ahead of time or cache areas locally to use when out of signal range.

I used to spend big money on Zumo stand alone motorcycle GPS units, but for me the advantages of a phone based solution beat 'em all. Just make sure you get a water resistant phone (Most are now) and a handle bar based phone holder that's also weather proof and has wireless charging built in. The real time traffic/construction/road hazards/police speed trap alerts from Waze are a life saver...

I currently have a RAM Quick-Grip Waterproof wireless charger and, once you install the extra elastic band on the back, the phone is VERY secure; however this one is a generation behind on fast wireless charging technology which is a bit of a bummer...

[Rams]

Serk,
I just googled  "RAM Quick-Grip Waterproof wireless charger" and get a whole bunch of options, would appreciate your opinion on the best and maybe a link to it...............  If you don't mind.

I have a Tom Tom from years ago that I still use on my trike but, use my phone on both the other bikes.   Would be nice to have a phone holder I could trust.   One that also charges would be great.

Rams

[cagrote]

Anyone use rockform mounts i hear there are solid.

[Serk]

Serk,
I just googled  "RAM Quick-Grip Waterproof wireless charger" and get a whole bunch of options, would appreciate your opinion on the best and maybe a link to it...............  If you don't mind.

I have a Tom Tom from years ago that I still use on my trike but, use my phone on both the other bikes.   Would be nice to have a phone holder I could trust.   One that also charges would be great.

Rams

This is the one I currently have. This SKU is the mount with charger only, NOT the ball mount or handlebar clamp:

https://rammount.com/collections/phone-mounts-wireless-chargers/products/ram-hol-un14wb-1

It fast charged my Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ just fine, but it only regular charges my Samsung S22 Ultra... I contacted RAM about it and they said they're working on a newer iteration that fast charges newer phones.

I will re-iterate if you go with this one, the elastic band that comes with it, be SURE to install it on the back to give extra tension to hold the phone in. With the elastic band installed I have full faith my phone isn't going ANYWHERE while riding, even if I hit railroad tracks, pot holes etc...

(Initially I was running WITHOUT the extra band, and hit some bouncy railroad tracks... My brand new $1200 phone shot out of the mount and luckily landed in my lap. I installed the band as soon as I could get home, and many thousand miles later am confident in it in this configuration.)

[Avanti]

A GPS works directly by satellite and it seems rare to not find satellites. A phone drops signals when traveling across states when not running the road corridors and in remote areas.
Satellites are only lost in tight mountainous areas. I can sit in a remote camping area and use my GPS but not my phone.

The phones have satellite GPS (And GLONASS, and Galileo and Beidou, the Russian, European and Chinese satellites) receivers and work anywhere a stand alone GPS will work. You may lose signal and not be able to get live updates to the map, but most phone based mapping programs can download areas ahead of time or cache areas locally to use when out of signal range.

I used to spend big money on Zumo stand alone motorcycle GPS units, but for me the advantages of a phone based solution beat 'em all. Just make sure you get a water resistant phone (Most are now) and a handle bar based phone holder that's also weather proof and has wireless charging built in. The real time traffic/construction/road hazards/police speed trap alerts from Waze are a life saver...

I currently have a RAM Quick-Grip Waterproof wireless charger and, once you install the extra elastic band on the back, the phone is VERY secure; however this one is a generation behind on fast wireless charging technology which is a bit of a bummer...

I use a Quad Lock for my phone.

[Jersey mike]

Not to change the subject but if you have an "older" Zumo and wish to have it modified or fixed, The Palm DR can be of great help.

He changed the buttons and screen on my Zumo 550 and it's still in use (albeit in my 1996 Ford Explorer). 

He upgraded the memory on my Zumo 665 to 16 GB so I have no issues with loading all the new maps on my device.  And it seems a little faster.

"Repairs Done Right!" https://www.palmdr.com

His prices and process and results are excellent. 

If it’s any help before you trash it, this was my experience with Palmdr.com from 2016 and my 450 is still working

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,89279.0.html

[scooperhsd]

If you really want a new GPS, On Amazon, you can find the Zumo 396 (I have this) for $270. Micro Sd card is questionable (mine doesn't work), but it does have 16GB for storage (current North American maps take 8-9 GB), so I also keep about 30-50 favorite MP3 on it as well. It can also play from your Bluetooth attached phone.

There is also the new model Zumo XT at $399 - 500.

[bassman]

Currently on sale....

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/610131/pn/010-02019-00

[Serk]

Small update on the RAM mount - I contacted RAM (The company, not the world famous VRCC member) and they have recently updated the mount to 15w wireless charging. I just ordered the updated one and will report back my findings once it arrives...

This is the new, updated version:

https://rammount.com/products/ram-hol-un14wb-1

[Serk]

I just ordered the updated one and will report back my findings once it arrives...

Received the new RAM Mount and reporting back - swapped it out quick and easy, can confirm it fast charges my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra just fine...

[Avanti]

I just ordered the updated one and will report back my findings once it arrives...

Received the new RAM Mount and reporting back - swapped it out quick and easy, can confirm it fast charges my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra just fine...

Does your phone shut down from over heating when navigating on hot sunny days?

[Serk]

I just ordered the updated one and will report back my findings once it arrives...

Received the new RAM Mount and reporting back - swapped it out quick and easy, can confirm it fast charges my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra just fine...

Does your phone shut down from over heating when navigating on hot sunny days?

I can't speak to the new iteration, but..... on the old one it would stop charging in heat, but it never lost enough battery charge to be TOO much of a concern. I'd just find a plug at a truck stop while eating lunch and cable charge it a bit to top it off when that happened..... But yes, it would pause charging in REALLY hot/sun baking the phone situations......

[Wizzard]

I have a Zumo 550 With a sd card and it works fine. I installed all maps on the SD card. Also ordered and replaced the front buttons myself as it was easy.

[carolinarider09]

I have a Zumo 550 With a sd card and it works fine. I installed all maps on the SD card. Also ordered and replaced the front buttons myself as it was easy.

 

Yep, my Zumo 550 still works.  Only issue with the new maps I found was that the street names were now in lower case letters and would not completely show on my device (well the word started with a capital letter but the rest of the word was lower case)..... 

So, I have last years (or was it year before last) maps on mine.  Also maps on SD card.

[carolinarider09]

Just a followup and a rather long post but I wanted to post by experiences.   

I first used a GPS on a trip to Key West in 2004.  It was a Magellan GPS (which I still have and it still works).  It did not allow me to upload a route but did show me where I was so I had a chance to follow a map I had viewed before the trip (first image below).  This image is from my trip to InZane in 2004.

I upgraded to a Garmin device (6820) a few years later (2005 or so) and it did allow me to plan routes use Microsoft Trips and Streets.  (second image below) It had an issue with playing MP3 music files so, some time later, I added a XM radio antenna (third image below).   Got a chance to listen to music and books.

I had another issue with the 6820 and returned it to Garmin and they replaced it with a Zumo 550 (fourth image below) which I used on my ST until 2014. 

At that time I purchased a Zumo 650 and used it for the first time on a trip to Nova Scotia.  (Fifth and sixth images below).

Some years later I purchased a Zumo 660 as a backup. 

The Zumo 550, 665 and 660 are still in service.  The 550 has been serviced by PalmDr (button replacement)  and so has the 665 (memory upgrade). 

I still, to this day, use Microsoft Streets and Trips to plan my trips (2013 maps).  Yes the maps are old but the Garmin devices don't care and it is far easier to use than Basecamp.

Why this lengthy post?   First to show you my experience with these devices. I have logged over 200,000 miles using Garmin devices.  Second to show you that they can last a long time and can still be serviced and upgraded even today.

Finally there is an another reason I still use the Garmin devices (and yes, if push comes to shove I might upgrade to the new Garmin XT).  It's because I do not like to depend on a single device for anything on a long trip from home.   There is one exception to that statement and that is the PC (or now MacBook) I carry with me.  I do not have to have it to travel but it does allow me to modify a trip enroute, at a stop for fuel or.......

I have the Zumo 550 mounted in my 1996 Ford Explorer.   I use the 665 for trips on the Goldwing with the 660 in the trunk as a spare.  When I travel on the ST1300 or my Valkyrie, I use the 660.   Generally my trips on those bikes are shorter than when the wife and I travel on the wing.

I have and continue to examine the Garmin Zumo XT.  It was on sale for $399 until a few days ago.  But, to use it, I will have to change how I plan my trips.  One more learning experience.  Also, it will not allow me to connect to it as I do with my older Zumo devices. Although I do have an Autocom bluetooth interface module that would allow the XT to connect to my audio system.

Regarding how it is all interconnected, I purchased what was, at the time, a top of the line audio system (that is until COVID hit).  The Autcom SPA system is in my wing and ST and allows me to interface all my devices to my headset:  Radar detector, GPS, CB radio, and Cell Phone.  With exception of the cell phone, it's all wired.  And the Autocom system allows me to communicate with my Pillion rider and she can hear everything I can.  We both use earphones (or in the ear speakers) which limit the wind/helmet noise.  They are custom fit.  Until recently we used earphones from EAR Inc but changed, last year, to Big Ear. 

All of the devices above (except for my cell phone) are powered from the bike's 12 DC system.  No worries about the batteries in these devices (except the cell phone) failing and requiring charging.

In addition, if one GPS fails, I can install the second GPS in minutes and proceed.   The only potential issues would be the failure of the GPS mount. 

I still can get phone calls on my helmet's audio system and I can make phone calls using the GPS.  It's all right there.  More than once I have called ahead to a restaurant I found using the GPS to see if they were open. 

And, as I said before, there is no "single failure" issue, since I carry a spare GPS in the trunk. 

Magellan GPS on Valkrie 2004



Zumo 6820 Valkyrie 2006



Zumo 6820 ST1300 2007



Zumo 550 ST 1300 2008 (Actually the image is later but that is when I first installed it)



Zumo 665 on Wing



Zumo 660 on ST 



Zumo 660 on Valk

[Avanti]

How do you use Big Ears with a mic and how do you plug Big Ears and mic into the motorcycle system?
Also is Autocom waterproof or does it go inside trunk or pannier?

[carolinarider09]

How do you use Big Ears with a mic and how do you plug Big Ears and mic into the motorcycle system?
Also is Autocom waterproof or does it go inside trunk or pannier?

The Autocom system we use has two "headset" mods (for lack of a better term).   Both connect to the Autcom "box" with a seven (7) pin plug. 

The first is designed for in the helmet speakers.  They mount inside the helmet near the ears.  The mod has the plug for the mike and for a "noise sensor" for the "main" headset. 

The seven pin plug hangs below the helmet.  All you have to do is to plug in your helmet "connector" and you are up and running.   

The mikes have a single squelch control on the Autocom "box" that allows you to set the sensitivity of the mikes thereby sort of limiting the possibly of hearing wind noise but it does happen.

There is also a "sound sensor" connection designed for use with the rider's helmet (but that is up to the user).  As the sound level goes up, the "squelch" system raises the audio trigger level for the mikes ...

The more noise, the louder you had to talk to break the "squelch".   Works fairly well.   But the sensor has to be in the "noise path".  Inside a closed helmet won't work real well.

Autocom offers another helmet mod.  It has the same seven pin connector to connect to the Autocom box but allows connection to earphones instead of in the helmet spearkers. 

It does this by having another "line" hanging down from the helmet with a 3.5mm female stereo jack. 

You simply plug in the earphones to the 3.5mm jack and you have audio.  It does mean you have one more lead hanging from your helmet. 

The Autcom box is not waterproof.  Mine, on the ST and the Wing, is stored under the seat. 

On the Valkyrie, I use a different system since when I first got the Valkyrie I was wearing a half helmet and we just listened to the GPS music using a earphone blackbox that amplified the music from the GPS for earphone use.

The Autocom system has volume controls, on the black box, so that you can control the volume to the Rider and Pillion since each person has a certain audio level.   There are controls for adjusting the input volume for devices being connected.  These are "inside" the box.   The box has four inputs. 

Picture below

[Avanti]

It looks like Autocom is no longer available.

[carolinarider09]

It looks like Autocom is no longer available.

Yes I tied to allude to that when I mentioned COVID.   Ebay has some items.   I do not know if they are going to come back.  Their website still works but.......


Someone, a few months, back sent me a bunch of used Autocom stuff.  He said he wanted to try and make sure it good used.  Let me see what it is the box of stuff.