MC GPS choices/preferences?

[2KVISRiderDan]

I am looking for input from any of you experienced motorcycle GPS users. I am considering buying a GPS to use on my 2000 Valkyrie Interstate and would like to get it right the first time. Any input concerning type, brand, model, connection, Bluetooth, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

[Bighead]

I use a paper map.....hows that for GPS...
Oh BTW I have ridden coast to coast and border to border and into Canada.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am looking for input from any of you experienced motorcycle GPS users. I am considering buying a GPS to use on my 2000 Valkyrie Interstate and would like to get it right the first time. Any input concerning type, brand, model, connection, Bluetooth, etc. will be greatly appreciated.

I'm not that experienced at it. But I like using my iPhone better than the GPS. It's nice just having one piece of electronics for all the audio needs.

[sandy]

The Garmin's are good for this. I have a 665 which I've loaded 1400 music tracks in it. Your IS has an audio input plug to play music through the speakers or helmet speakers. When a course change is coming, music is paused and you hear about you next turn. The new models are the 395LM I think. Lifetime Maps free.

[Alberta Patriot]

The Garmin's are good for this. I have a 665 which I've loaded 1400 music tracks in it. Your IS has an audio input plug to play music through the speakers or helmet speakers. When a course change is coming, music is paused and you hear about you next turn. The new models are the 395LM I think. Lifetime Maps free.

Being the squeaky cheap guy that I am...700 bucks for the Garmin is out...I use my LG Phone and Google Maps with a Ram X-Mount next to the Bar Clamp plugged into a usb power outlet that I mounted into the fairing. Plugged into the Radio Aux Cord I get loud and clear directions.  With Pre-loaded Offline Maps you don't need data for navigation unless you want live traffic updates. I use the Offline Maps Feature to Navigate around Europe in rental cars as well...although this fall I am buying a 1 month Euro-Sim Card so I have live traffic updates this time.  

[LandElephant]

I used a friends helmet a couple months ago because he had a Sena 20 (?) wireless headset. He syncs his Android phone to use Waze, can take phone calls, listen to music, and communicate to other riders in their group.


It was nice but I am an old school rider.  $3.00 paper map, $10 compass, then the night before I look at an electronic map of the area I want to ride and aim the front tire down a road and off I go.


Charlie Morse

Landelephant

[RDKLL]

I have been looking at this...app on the phone and a streamlined presentation...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ridebeeline/beeline-moto-smart-navigation-for-motorcycles-made

[Rams]

Honestly, I believe they are all pretty close as far as ease of use.   What I have come to believe is, what ever version you chose first will be the version or brand you will normally favor.   

I tried using another name brand than what I have always had.   Mostly because my other frequently lost friends suggested that I should because they had.   I found their choice confusing and no more accurate than my old brand name version.    This is kind of one of those discussions about which oil is best.

It really depends on     you. 

Rams. 

[Serk]

I had a Zumo 550 and later a Zumo 660, both were great, but at this point the live update ability of a modern phone trumps them all for me.

I sold or gave away both of my Zumos (To the same person come to think of it) and now use my Samsung Galaxy Note 8 in a RAM Mount running Waze. I wired a 12v accessory socket (Formerly known as a cigarette lighter socket) under my seat with a USB Quick Charger in it, sealed it up in a ziplock, and run the USB-c wire up under my tank bib to the RAM mount on my handlebars.

The Note 8 (And most current generation phones, but not all check of course) are water resistant, so no worries there.

I too use a Sena bluebooth helmet, mainly to stream music from my phone to the helmet and to chat to my elder spawn on the back for longer rides.

With Waze I get GPS turn by turn navigation, but I also get real time alerts to hazards, loose animals, construction, revenue collection officers, objects in road, etc. etc. etc...

[Oldfishguy]

The Garmin's are good for this. I have a 665 which I've loaded 1400 music tracks in it. Your IS has an audio input plug to play music through the speakers or helmet speakers. When a course change is coming, music is paused and you hear about you next turn. The new models are the 395LM I think. Lifetime Maps free.

Being the squeaky cheap guy that I am...700 bucks for the Garmin is out...I use my LG Phone and Google Maps with a Ram X-Mount next to the Bar Clamp plugged into a usb power outlet that I mounted into the fairing. Plugged into the Radio Aux Cord I get loud and clear directions.  With Pre-loaded Offline Maps you don't need data for navigation unless you want live traffic updates. I use the Offline Maps Feature to Navigate around Europe in rental cars as well...although this fall I am buying a 1 month Euro-Sim Card so I have live traffic updates this time.  

You might want to think about getting the rubber tether that holds the phone to the x mount much better.  The X mounts are great but do not have the greatest grip on the phone for rough roads.  I lost my phone a few years ago over a bridge abutment.  The company sent me a tether I think for $5.

And yes, I use an Iphone for nav/music.  Just put an earbud in and it will talk you to your destination, stopping the music just long enough to give one directions.  One electronic device, that is it.
 

[JimmyG]

Is WAZE full of unwanted ads popping up all the time?

[Serk]

Is WAZE full of unwanted ads popping up all the time?

It is advertiser supported but it's not bad. The main thing is when you come to a stop you'll get an ad for something nearby (Usually food) but as soon as you start moving it goes away. (You can also click the X while stopped if you need to look at the map.)

Also some places pay to have an icon put on the map for their location, but that's not a biggie for me at least.

One other caveat that I'll point out, doesn't bother me but some it might: The way Waze is so aware of what the live conditions are is by user input, either direct or passive. If you're running Waze, your current location and speed are reporting in to Waze, so that they can tell where there's a slowdown, bad traffic etc. If it notices a large number of users are on a freeway and suddenly going 10 MPH, for instance, it'll figure out there's something wrong on that stretch of freeway, warn others about it, try to route around that area if active navigation is on, etc...

(If that bothers you keep in mind, if you're carrying a smart phone that same data (And much MUCH more!) is already being captured and sent to several companies already...)

You can also manually report traffic hazards and get "points" for your reports (They try to gamify it)

An example of an ad you might get while at a complete stop:

[scooperhsd]

I would LOVE to get a Zumo 395 /396 (both with Lifetime maps) for the Valk - I use Garmins in my cars as well and have a way to use them on the Valk as well (that keeps them dry in  the wet - has been tested in a thunderstorm)

[Alberta Patriot]

The Garmin's are good for this. I have a 665 which I've loaded 1400 music tracks in it. Your IS has an audio input plug to play music through the speakers or helmet speakers. When a course change is coming, music is paused and you hear about you next turn. The new models are the 395LM I think. Lifetime Maps free.

Being the squeaky cheap guy that I am...700 bucks for the Garmin is out...I use my LG Phone and Google Maps with a Ram X-Mount next to the Bar Clamp plugged into a usb power outlet that I mounted into the fairing. Plugged into the Radio Aux Cord I get loud and clear directions.  With Pre-loaded Offline Maps you don't need data for navigation unless you want live traffic updates. I use the Offline Maps Feature to Navigate around Europe in rental cars as well...although this fall I am buying a 1 month Euro-Sim Card so I have live traffic updates this time.  

You might want to think about getting the rubber tether that holds the phone to the x mount much better.  The X mounts are great but do not have the greatest grip on the phone for rough roads.  I lost my phone a few years ago over a bridge abutment.  The company sent me a tether I think for $5.

And yes, I use an Iphone for nav/music.  Just put an earbud in and it will talk you to your destination, stopping the music just long enough to give one directions.  One electronic device, that is it.
 

The phone in the picture was my old Nexus 4, I now use an LG G4 with a Rubber Edged Rear Case that grips to the Ram X-Mount very well. It will not slide in the mount without releasing the grip first. I do make sure the phone is mounted properly before riding.

[RainMaker]

The only issue I've run into with the phone is getting outside of cell coverage areas and the thing stops guiding me.  So I'm sticking with the GPS unit I have, which is a Nuvi 780.  It has an mp3 player and about 24 hours of music on the SD card.  Not waterproof so have to put a sandwich bag round it in rain storms, but otherwise works well and far cheaper than the Zumo.  In town, will switch the RAM mount for the phone "claw" and use Waze due to the traffic alerts.

[Serk]

The only issue I've run into with the phone is getting outside of cell coverage areas and the thing stops guiding me.  So I'm sticking with the GPS unit I have, which is a Nuvi 780.  It has an mp3 player and about 24 hours of music on the SD card.  Not waterproof so have to put a sandwich bag round it in rain storms, but otherwise works well and far cheaper than the Zumo.  In town, will switch the RAM mount for the phone "claw" and use Waze due to the traffic alerts.

Google Maps has the option to download local copies of maps for specific areas. If I'm on a trip and know I might be wandering outta normal areas, I'll grab the local versions of those areas, then if I totally lose signal and can't get Waze to play along, I can switch to Google Maps and it's navigation until I'm back in a covered area... Had to do that for Inzane last year for some of the remote areas of Colorado and Wyoming...

[Andy Cote]

IMHO, phones should not be used for everyday routing and mapping.  While you can download some offline maps onto a phone, most people don't and use gobs of bandwidth unnecessarily.  GPS satellites send this out worldwide for free and don't jam cell towers.

I recently purchased a Zumo 395LM complete with a pair of tire pressure sensors.  I do have a problem already though.  The tire pressure APP keeps disappearing from the list. 

-Out of box, connected to PC and installed all updates.
-I hooked up mount, power and audio first.  Everything was fine.
-Connected phone and music using Bluetooth.  Everything was fine.
-Read instructions about connecting pressure sensors.  Went to APP list and no APP for tire pressure,  Scratched my head, checked again, finally did the Restore Defaults method and the APP showed up.  Set up the sensors per instructions and all is right with the world.
-Next day fired up GPS and no APP.
-Restore defaults again.  Redo pressure sensors. Power off and on.  Okay.  Power off, wait ten minutes.  No more APP.
-Do this a couple times just to prove Einstein right (definition of insanity).
-Plugged into PC, refreshed updates (current software is 4.40).  Deja vu all over again.

Called Garmin.  They have no prior reports of this problem but have sent to SW Engineering to see what's up.

Anyone else have this?

[scooperhsd]

GPS satellites DO NOT send out maps - they only send out location information. The maps are loaded on your GPS device (or downloaded live for most smartphones). This is why you must update the maps on your GPS device every so often - I recommend 3-4 times per year (every 3-4 months). If you don't do this regularly, at least Garmin will eventually call your maps so stale that you have not complied with the terms for keeping "Lifetime Maps". It doesn't matter if they have to be stored on an SD card now - I have a Nuvi 50LM that I have to use it with the SD drive in it so it has enough space for the current maps.

There is no reason that smartphones couldn't keep the whole library in their storage - Garmin's are currently taking 3-4 GB for US / North America.

[carolinarider09]

I have used a GPS on my bikes since 2002.

Started with a Magellan (which I still have and it still works) and then transitioned to Garmin's (2820, 550, and 665).

I have no experience with the new model Garmin's.

The units (except for the most recent fiasco with 2019.10 map update) have performed in all weather (hot or cold, rain or snow).  The buttons on the 550 where the units biggest problem since they failed after a few years of use.

I like a stand alone uint that is designed for a single purpose, getting from point a to be the way you want to.  Multi-purpose units like smart phones , because of their very design, are not as efficient  or effective in providing routing.  

Stand alone motorcycle GPS units are designed to be easily used with or without gloves.

On the Valkyrie, it is a sort of standalone system (although I do have an under the seat audio amp and mixer to accept multiple inputs and outputs to my earphones) it does synch to my phone so if someone calls I can see that.  But since I am not using any mic's I could only listen to the phone audio through the GPS.

While it is true you could down load all the map informant to a smart phone, you are then dependent on a single device for routine rather than maybe having the phone as backup.

You are subservient to the App owners for its use, getting data and you, as noted above, well have to put up with advertising (did not now this but seems rational as heck to pay for the mapping). 

A cell phone, in general, is not meant to be used in heavy rain (Ok, I saw someone who said their cell phone was rated for X number of feet of immersion).

A motorcycle GPS is designed for a single purpose, using on a motorcycle and in all weather in a mount that will keep it attached to the bike.  Also, since the motorcycle GPS gets power from the bike by design, keeping it "charged" is not an issue. 

[Hook#3287]

I use a paper map.....hows that for GPS...
Oh BTW I have ridden coast to coast and border to border and into Canada.

I enjoy looking over a map, there's so much more to see and the big picture is easier to view.

But I've found a lot of great roads, I would never have seen, if I didn't use my gps.

I use a car garmin, can't remember the model.  I move it from vehicle to vehicle.

Works great.

If I get caught in the rain, I put it in my pocket.

I've thought of using the smart phone, but I choose to ignore my phone when on the bike.

[Gryphon Rider]

Sorry, I can't answer 2KVISRiderDan's original question, as I've never owned a dedicated GPS unit.

I use a paper map in the clear map pocket of my tank bag, pulling it out and refolding it at every gas stop to show the next part of my route.  If I need GPS to direct me to an address in a city, I use my phone to give me voice directions to my helmet speakers.  If I am travelling and want to look at a GPS map without using cell data, I will have previously downloaded the map data for the appropriate state to my phone's navmii app.  Maybe it's time for a proper GPS unit, but I'm not desparate.  My birthday's coming up, however... 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I've been known to miss a turn or two. Taking navigation advice from me would be irresponsible. I kind of like exploring areas by accident. I do enjoy the cell phone navigation when in an unfamiliar city.

[Wizzard]

Been using a zumo 550 since they came out. Still love it as my choice. Has weather and traffic and does everything I want. As well as XM radio

[Oss]

I never had a GPS but I had a GPS mount and a zip up GPS bag off of amazon for 6 bucks

Each night I consider various routes and write some of them down on small pieces of paper

On each line would be a route#, distance to next turn and left or right for direction to turn on next #

Could get maybe 6 steps on a page.  At end of page I turned over the page  No problems with glare or water.

This worked great till I hit a big freakin road construction in Alabama and lost Fred (that was his name)
as well as one air horn and the kickstand spring

Was kind of like that scene in Castaway where Wilson is lost at sea

Been meaning to replace him as its been 4 yrs now

[MarkT]

I've used GPS navigation on my bikes since before they stopped deliberately degrading the signal back in the early 2000's.  I've had 5 different models of Garmins.  They have become progressively more powerful in processor speed and storage.  I am currently using a Zumo 665 with Sirius/XM antenna.  This model was apparently designed by actual users as it has most everything I want.  They have increased the MP3 capacity to 2,000 tunes per SD card, and they support up to at least 32GB.  That's the largest I've tried and don't need more at this time.  (It's important how you structure the MP3 directories for it's ability to load up the tunes in reasonable time.  i.e., put them in directories with about 25 tunes per dir or it will take too long to load.)  If 2,000 tunes isn't enough, just load up more SD cards and put them in say your pocket.  Garmin's CS is not good, nor is their concern for customer concerns.  They EOL'd Mapsource (computer program to manage your trips and GPS data - uploads / downloads) and replaced it with that STUPID ABORTION "Basecamp".  What a POS that is.  Mapsource had memory leaks and other problems but it did what you need to do in an intuitive way.  Basecamp - WHAT A PIECE OF SΗIT. Yeah I know, I was a programmer, a software analyst, a DBA, and a Sr Software Engineer in my previous life.  I know a software abortion when I'm forced to use one.  Pisses me off so much I'm practically ready to say F OFF Garmin I'm outta here, no more hundreds of dollars from me anymore.  However there's nothing else out there that I know of that can replace Garmin.  Yet.

Meanwhile I'm still using my ZUMO and now I plan routes with other software - primarily www.myrouteapp.com  With assistance from google maps and waze as backups on my phone.  Also they have finally released Myradar on Android phones which is a far better weather radar ap than the same from Garmin using XM.  But the latter works regardless of your cell phone connection since it's satellite radio - works in mountain canyons so I use it as a weather radar backup when cell connection is spotty.

I have installed a mixer/crossover with bluetooth amp under my seat, which feeds into the 300w amp that powers my speakers.  So I have satellite radio, MP3's played by the ZUMO, and Pandora or whatever from the phone which is in an X-holder and powered by a USB power source.  The phone also can be linked thru bluetooth to the Garmin but I'm not available by phone when I'm riding as I don't want to be, as well as I haven't put headsets in my helmets.  

[Alberta Patriot]

The only issue I've run into with the phone is getting outside of cell coverage areas and the thing stops guiding me.  So I'm sticking with the GPS unit I have, which is a Nuvi 780.  It has an mp3 player and about 24 hours of music on the SD card.  Not waterproof so have to put a sandwich bag round it in rain storms, but otherwise works well and far cheaper than the Zumo.  In town, will switch the RAM mount for the phone "claw" and use Waze due to the traffic alerts.

Google Maps has the option to download local copies of maps for specific areas. If I'm on a trip and know I might be wandering outta normal areas, I'll grab the local versions of those areas, then if I totally lose signal and can't get Waze to play along, I can switch to Google Maps and it's navigation until I'm back in a covered area... Had to do that for Inzane last year for some of the remote areas of Colorado and Wyoming...

Yep...you don't have to think about it, it just switches over when you lose data coverage...just no live traffic updates.

[zackod]

You can't go wrong with the new Garmin 396.    Looks like the older 395's are going for $50 cheaper, but recommend coming off the extra $$$ and getting the 396.   I use my Zumo 390 with Garmin Basecamp (free app) and Butler Motorcycle Maps (hard-copy maps) to plan / design / download awesome trips.   Basecamp is a bitch to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it's a wonderful trip planning tool.