GPS

[Firefighter]

I have wanted to own a gps for a while now. I have researched many times and always, I can't come up with any conclusions. I would like to have a motorcycle gps, waterproof, bright screen, powered by my bike. Don't think I need much more than to see where I am in the world and where this road ends up. When I read reviews, seems you are having lots of trouble with the most expensive units. I worry if I spend money on a unit that meets my above listed wants, I will also have problems with the device and I will end up frustrated. I don't mind spending my money but want some quality. I ride for fun only, thats how I evaporate my stress. Do all units cause trouble? White screen, get lost, forget what they are supposed to do? Thanks for any input!
                                              Firefighter

[mirion]

Units that are referred to as "for motorcycles" are pricey. I use a plain jane Garmin Nuvi and it works great. If its starts to rain I snap it off and put it it the tank bag. Had a Magellan before that, none of them have the problems you are referring to. I think they are all depenadable but I would suggest the Ram mounts for it because they have a rubber ball mounting system that absorb a lot of the shock of a bumpy road. You do need to have it plugged into a cigarette lighter style power outlet because the battery charge does not last long enough.

[Former BMW Guy]

I've had a Garmin Motorcycle-specific 2720 for years....bullet proof, waterproof, shock and vibration resistant, robust for the extremes exposed to on a motorcycle.
You can get them refurbished at very reasonable prices with up-to-date maps from a number of reputable retailers. The one I use is GPS City.

JP

[Toledo Mark]

I have ridden through solid down pours with my Nuvi and never had a problem.  My opinion is you do not need the Zumo model.  Nuvi is fine.

[Farther]

My Nuvi was recently stolen out of my cage while on loan to my daughter.  Now I am looking at the two models below.  I do us this RAM mount too.  http://www.amazon.com/Mounts-Motorcycle-Base-Screw-RAM-B-367/dp/B005J43I56/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3NO24BZ3J9CD1

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Vehicle-Lifetime/dp/B00AY7NUYC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3LCQCW8FTBVJB

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Navigator-Lifetime/dp/B0057OCDQS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I2JT1UFKOU3ZDC

[BF]

My Nuvi was recently stolen out of my cage while on loan to my daughter.  Now I am looking at the two models below.  I do us this RAM mount too.  http://www.amazon.com/Mounts-Motorcycle-Base-Screw-RAM-B-367/dp/B005J43I56/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3NO24BZ3J9CD1

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Vehicle-Lifetime/dp/B00AY7NUYC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3LCQCW8FTBVJB

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Navigator-Lifetime/dp/B0057OCDQS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I2JT1UFKOU3ZDC

I have the Nuvi 54LM.  It stays in my truck mostly, but I've used it on the bike before....with a ram mount.  It's pretty much unreadible in bright sunlight.  Other than that, it works pretty well on the bike.  They sell those velco sunshields on ebay for them.  They sorta help....but not a bunch. 

[B]

My Nuvi was recently stolen out of my cage while on loan to my daughter.  Now I am looking at the two models below.  I do us this RAM mount too.  http://www.amazon.com/Mounts-Motorcycle-Base-Screw-RAM-B-367/dp/B005J43I56/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3NO24BZ3J9CD1

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Vehicle-Lifetime/dp/B00AY7NUYC/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I3LCQCW8FTBVJB

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-5-Inch-Portable-Navigator-Lifetime/dp/B0057OCDQS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3EVT9YFBXS6IW&coliid=I2JT1UFKOU3ZDC

I have the Nuvi 54LM.  It stays in my truck mostly, but I've used it on the bike before....with a ram mount.  It's pretty much unreadible in bright sunlight.  Other than that, it works pretty well on the bike.  They sell those velco sunshields on ebay for them.  They sorta help....but not a bunch. 

Ditto. 

I have a Nuvi & I'm toying with getting an MC rated GPS.

HOWEVER,
If you have an iPhone and listen to your music on it, download google maps app; it will fade in and give you audio directions. 

[PhredValk]

I have the Zumo 220. It came with a Ram mount, it's programmable with gloves on and has a sunlight visible screen which is good in most conditions. And the target vehicle (bottom centre) is a little guy on a motorcycle! No MP3 capability, but my Ipod takes care of that.
Fred.

[R J]

Whatever GPS you get, make sure it has lifetime map updates.

Other wise you will pay around $75 a year to keep your maps current.

I'd have to go to the truck to find out for sure, but I think it is a Nuvi 780 from Garmin.

[Hook#3287]

I use a Nuvi 50, it works good and has found me some awesome roads I would have never taken w/o it.

Less $$ than the M/C ones, hard to impossible to program with gloves, hard to see in direct sunlight, it's hard wired to the battery and mounted on the tank under the gas cap.

I think any GPS is going to be a plus, but it should be used as a tool, to help find your way.  People that rely on them as the ONLY guide, will get in trouble.

[Squealy]

I have ridden through solid down pours with my Nuvi and never had a problem.  My opinion is you do not need the Zumo model.  Nuvi is fine.

Thats what I thought too until I rode for 400(ish) miles in the rain and it FRIED my Nuvi....  I replaced that Nuvi with another Nuvi...  I use a ziplock bag when it rains now...  seems to be fine....

[MarkT]

I use mine nearly always - move it between vehicles, consider it even more indispensable than the radar unit.  So spending the extra $ on a Zumo 550 was worth it.  Bright screen, immersible, left hand gloved operation, lifetime updates, limit on map size several times bigger than the biggest maps with an SD card, MP3 player, satellite radio receiver with weather updates and traffic, offline route planning, large track file storage, can replace the unit if it fails from the factory for 25% of list - yeah I'd find losing these features unacceptable.  My GPS before the Zumo - I've had 5 since the first ones were available to the public in the late 90's - was a Street Pilot III which I paid nearly $1000 for - thought it was worth it - though only barely at that price.  The Zumo is much faster, much more features, much brighter screen. When I bought the Zumo 550 list was about $900 while I found it for around $600.  If you can find it now, price will vary as the 550 is discontinued and replaced by newer models, I think prices are comparable.

[indiandave]

I have a 660 Zuma (you get what you pay for think what you pay for chrome pices) Have had it for 4 years, and never has failed. Did not come with life time maps. But this year I updated it for the 1st time and paid 75$ for the lifetime Maps upgrade. Have had may car GPS before and all are died. With the MP3 and SD card this is more than a GPS, on my ST1300 put a amp & SPK under dash - now I have music without headset's.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Same experience for me except mines the 665 with traffic, weather, and XM. The XM is useless hooked up to my IS radio via the 3.5 mm connector under the side cover because the volume is too low to hear at highway speeds through the stock speakers. 

[sandy]

Same experience for me except mines the 665 with traffic, weather, and XM. The XM is useless hooked up to my IS radio via the 3.5 mm connector under the side cover because the volume is too low to hear at highway speeds through the stock speakers. 

I use my 665 on a wing with headsets in a helmet. Wind noise above 70 interferes with music, but I wouldn't trade it for any other unit.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Same experience for me except mines the 665 with traffic, weather, and XM. The XM is useless hooked up to my IS radio via the 3.5 mm connector under the side cover because the volume is too low to hear at highway speeds through the stock speakers. 

I use my 665 on a wing with headsets in a helmet. Wind noise above 70 interferes with music, but I wouldn't trade it for any other unit.

I just ordered an HJC IS-Max BT Raptor Multi Modular Helmet and a ChatterBox XBi2-H Plus. I'm hoping I can get it all to sync via Bluetooth and hear the GPS.

[BF]

You guys with the Zumo 660/665's.....how are they in direct sunlight?

[sandy]

You guys with the Zumo 660/665's.....how are they in direct sunlight?

They're pretty good but I use a shade from Glarestomper.com . It works good now. I don't have any problems seeing it.

[indiandave]

You guys with the Zumo 660/665's.....how are they in direct sunlight?

Better than the car unit's but still could be better, I have mine mount low down but the tripple tree. Wish the screen was bigger sometime or my eyes where better.

[Tailgate Tommy]

You guys with the Zumo 660/665's.....how are they in direct sunlight?

They're pretty good but I use a shade from Glarestomper.com . It works good now. I don't have any problems seeing it.

+1, but not great with direct sunlight on the screen but still manageable.

[PhredValk]

The Zumo is hard to see in direct sunlight, like over my shoulder, but I just swivel it to one side or the other and it cleans right up. I had a car model first, and it worked well in a waterproof mount from mountguys.com.
Fred.

[salty1]

Units that are referred to as "for motorcycles" are pricey. I use a plain jane Garmin Nuvi and it works great. If its starts to rain I snap it off and put it it the tank bag. Had a Magellan before that, none of them have the problems you are referring to. I think they are all depenadable but I would suggest the Ram mounts for it because they have a rubber ball mounting system that absorb a lot of the shock of a bumpy road. You do need to have it plugged into a cigarette lighter style power outlet because the battery charge does not last long enough.

  FWIW Even the pricey units have their bugs.

[MarkT]

550 Zumo must be brighter.  I've never had a can't-see-it issue & don't have any shade for it.  And the sun is more intense here at high altitude.

[Tailgate Tommy]

550 Zumo must be brighter.  I've never had a can't-see-it issue & don't have any shade for it.  And the sun is more intense here at high altitude.

I just realized that  have polarized prescription sunglasses that may make a difference in viewing the screen in sunlight. I'm going to see how visible it is this weekend with and without the sun glasses (also in Colorado at ~5100 ft).

[BF]

550 Zumo must be brighter.  I've never had a can't-see-it issue & don't have any shade for it.  And the sun is more intense here at high altitude.

I just realized that  have polarized prescription sunglasses that may make a difference in viewing the screen in sunlight. I'm going to see how visible it is this weekend with and without the sun glasses (also in Colorado at ~5100 ft).

Keep us posted.  I'd like to here your review. 

[MarkT]

Same experience for me except mines the 665 with traffic, weather, and XM. The XM is useless hooked up to my IS radio via the 3.5 mm connector under the side cover because the volume is too low to hear at highway speeds through the stock speakers.  

I use my 665 on a wing with headsets in a helmet. Wind noise above 70 interferes with music, but I wouldn't trade it for any other unit.

I have run the mini-stereo output thru a mixer/preamp then thru a 400w Blaupunkt Class D amp, then to 4 coaxial 4" Alpine (poly cone) speakers.  Has the power to blow the speakers so I also block lopass below 100Hz at the amp and also with Bass Blockers (large capacitors, block below 80Hz)  mounted in the speaker enclosures.  I also have installed a ground loop isolator.  Sound is good, have had many kudos on it.  Can hear it clearly even at 80 and I lost 40% hearing in the war.

I have the input wire crossing my tank bib with a connector there - can plug any mini-stereo device in, if I want something other than the Zumo.  Ipod, disc player, Iphone (for tunes I guess), whatever. Have Velcro on the bib to hold the device. The mixer also supports 2 more devices - only need one input now for the radar, as the Zumo already handles the tunes and GPS output with it's one plug.  BTW I think the newer Zumos support bluetooth, don't think mine does.  I don't answer phone calls when riding anyway so no loss in my book.  I am interested in setting up something with doppler radar integrated with GPS however. If that shows up at Garmin I'll be interested.  The screens on phones aren't bright enough, never mind waterproofing and controls that work well like the Zumo.

[Tailgate Tommy]

550 Zumo must be brighter.  I've never had a can't-see-it issue & don't have any shade for it.  And the sun is more intense here at high altitude.

I just realized that  have polarized prescription sunglasses that may make a difference in viewing the screen in sunlight. I'm going to see how visible it is this weekend with and without the sun glasses (also in Colorado at ~5100 ft).

Keep us posted.  I'd like to here your review. 

With and without sunglasses didn't make much difference. In direct sunlight it was much better if the unit was angled slightly down.

[JetDriver]

Another vote for the Nuvi.  I've had two. (first one got stolen)  I use RAM mounting, and have been caught in some pretty heavy downpours with no problems.  The GPS is behind the windshield, but it still got wet.  I put little pieces of electrical tape over the openings:  on/off switch, sd card slot, speaker opening.  It works with my gloves on, no problems.  The only time the sun is a problem is when it's behind my back shining directly on the screen.  Then I just shift my shoulders to shade it.  I figure I can cook two or three Nuvi models before I reach the cost of a Zumo, but several years now, and haven't cooked one yet.