Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'd like to get some recommendations on a good GPS unit. I am looking for a basic unit that I can mount to my bike and also take it with me when I go camping. There are so many options to choose from I don't even know where to start. My price range is $100 to $150. I don't need an MP3 player or 10K maps. Just need a fairly accurate unit to help keep track of where I need to go.

I recently priced ones that mount to motorcycles and got sticker shock

If you don't mind used, check ebay for garmin v. Just a little hand held unit - can pick them up for under 100. Motorcycle mount is 22 dollars. Make sure they have the map software and include the unlock codes.



I can also use it hand held, or have a mount for it in my jeep as well.

I use a Legend Cx on the bike and on the trail. Note that you will need to purchase City Navigator and an SD card to use with this unit.

I use a Nuvi 200W in the car.

garmin 2610 or 2720 work well and are cheap at the moment

I also have Garmin Legend CX. The iPhones have GPS capabilities and with given time there will be great mapping/routing software.

]I'd like to get some recommendations on a good GPS unit. I am looking for a basic unit that I can mount to my bike and also take it with me when I go camping.
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I also wanted a GPS for the bike....but when the wife got a look at the prices of the motorcycle specific units....she told me for that much money, I could just damn well be lost and call AAA for directions!
So.......I went to Costco, and purchased the Magellan RoadMate 1412, and wired a cigarette lighter adapter to the battery to power it for less than half of a Garmin Zumo 450!
I call her my little Lolita, and she's guided me to Reno and back, and up and down the Oregon coast....and on trips here in Wa State
She's even survived my crash while down in Oregon...after I picked myself up off the road, I also picked up Lolita and a mirror....there is not even a scratch on her!
Of course the Magellan is not waterproof, so I cannot use her in the rain
But, I do use it in the car, when not on the bike...
For the price....it's well worth it!

R

My Garmin Zumo 550 doesn't fall in your price range but I find it great. Nice and easy to use while riding, clear screen, good on the directions, securly mounted. I just trundled up to MA on it from VA, no issues.

Hmmm. Spend $150 now on something "good enough" or bank the money for a bit longer and get "just the thing" - The Zumo is hightly recommended. I've got a 276C. Love it. Has been superceded by the 376C (which includes satellite radio and weather capabilites) much pricier.

Can't go wrong with Garmin. They're the industry leader. If I'm not mistaken, as with all electronics, you can get a 'refurbished' unit for a song.

P

Tenku wrote:]I'd like to get some recommendations on a good GPS unit. I am looking for a basic unit that I can mount to my bike and also take it with me when I go camping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I also wanted a GPS for the bike....but when the wife got a look at the prices of the motorcycle specific units....she told me for that much money, I could just damn well be lost and call AAA for directions!
So.......I went to Costco, and purchased the Magellan RoadMate 1412, and wired a cigarette lighter adapter to the battery to power it for less than half of a Garmin Zumo 450!
I call her my little Lolita, and she's guided me to Reno and back, and up and down the Oregon coast....and on trips here in Wa State
She's even survived my crash while down in Oregon...after I picked myself up off the road, I also picked up Lolita and a mirror....there is not even a scratch on her!
Of course the Magellan is not waterproof, so I cannot use her in the rain
But, I do use it in the car, when not on the bike...
For the price....it's well worth it!

R

there are various ways to "make" them waterproof, the cheapest easiest ways would be encasing them in a ziplock bag or the like, or fashioning some manner of rain cover. might not be pretty, but it'll keep the water off for anything but a serious squall. it all comes down to how ugly you're willing to put up with, and how much plastic wrap and ziplock baggies you feel like layering onto it.

I'd also look to see if anyone actually makes a clear waterproof case for these things. they may be hard to find, and expensive, but they'd likely work better than the homebrew version, with the added benifit (perhaps) of a bit of ballistic protection to boot.

I bought my garmin 2720 refurbished on amazon. right now I think theres something wrong with it as it can only find 2 sats and when it finally finds 3 it lasts a couple minutes before it loses it. BUT it could be because of the Hurricane that just went through. With that said its waterproof but you would need a power source for it as there is no battery that comes with it. I got it for $180 I think.