SuzukiSavage.com - Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?

Kris01

Serious Thumper

Offline

Eat, sleep, RIDE!

Posts: 3767
Tennessee
Gender: male

Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
10/03/15 at 17:19:59

I've seen some motorcycle specific GPS's. I guess they're sealed against the weather or something. I don't ride in bad weather (unless it surprises me) so I don't need anything motorcycle specific. I can always throw the GPS in my pocket if I have to keep it dry.

Any of you guys have any experience with a decent one for not a whole lot of cash? I just need a map - nothing fancy. Any other options are just gravy.

Back to top

There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix!

2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor

IP Logged

squiggy YaBB Newbies Offline Furiously Savage Posts: 32 Michiana	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #1 - 10/03/15 at 17:30:16 Google Maps. Just get a mount and run a USB cable. In my experience, Maps is far and away better than anything the GPS companies have ever put out.
Back to top	IP Logged

DesertRat Serious Thumper Offline I love rat bikes! Posts: 1569 Arizona	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #2 - 10/03/15 at 18:14:43 I've used GARMIN for about 2 decades. Original Nuvi was good, just updated recently to a Nuvi 40LM. It does the job in my truck. Have not used a bike specific model, just ride, if you get lost, ask for directions
Back to top	-The silence of indifference makes cowards of men. - http://www.pipeburn.com/home/category/rat IP Logged

Dave

YaBB Moderator
ModSquad

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 18099
Camp Springs, Kentucky
Gender: male

Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
Reply #3 - 10/03/15 at 18:16:45

You can buy the used Garmin's pretty cheap. I just bought a Nuvi 500 for $ 125 from the Honda ST forum. It is like new....the owner wanted one that was Bluetooth and this one is not. It is waterproof and the battery is supposed to last 7 hours.

MMRanch is using a Garmin Nuvi that he got off eBay for $ 5.00. It is not supposed to be waterproof....but he has gotten it wet a lot of times and it keeps on working. (I don't know what model he got).

If you want a new Garmin for a motorcycle...they start at $ 300 and go up from there.

There is another Nuvi 500 listed on the Honda ST forum for $ 175....if you want I can provide a link or get his email address for you.

Back to top

Someday I will be old......But not today!

IP Logged

Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #4 - 10/03/15 at 18:43:07 Yes, please.
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

spearheadss Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 161 Wylie, TX Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #5 - 10/04/15 at 14:37:14 I use waze on my phone. If you have unlimited data it is free.
Back to top	2001 Suzuki Savage. Screaming Eagle exhaust. Raptor Petcock. Routy's Forward Controls. 150 Main and 50 pilot. IP Logged

rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #6 - 10/04/15 at 16:37:12 here's a low priced one http://www.ebay.com/itm/TomTom-One-N14644-3-5-Touchscreen-Portable-GPS-Naviga...
Back to top	IP Logged

old_rider Serious Thumper Offline Backyard Bill Productions Posts: 3147 flordia panhandle Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #7 - 10/04/15 at 18:34:47 You can refurbished ones from wally world.... just put a bag around them on the bike.... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Refurbished-Magellan-Roadmate-5220-LM/39367409
Back to top	We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us. IP Logged

1st2know

Senior Member

Offline

Currently between
Savages

Posts: 295
Seattle, WA
Gender: male

Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
Reply #8 - 10/04/15 at 22:08:04

I like the Garmin 52LM. I paid $65 for it from RadioShack. It's not waterproof, so I have it in a sandwich bag - I can still operate it with gloves on and the sandwich bag cover. It turns on when I turn the bike on, and, I have it configured to go right in to map mode when it starts up. When exploring, it's nice to have a map of my surroundings.

I would recommend using a RAM mount, and a Garmin model-specific cradle to mount on the handlebars.

You would need 4 parts to mount it on the handlebar:
- A ram mount with a 1" u-bolt clamp.
- A short universal joint arm.
- A Garmin model specific cradle.
- A ball attachment for the cradle.

Here's a photo of the handlebar mount not including the cradle:
http://www.rammount.com/images/gallery/RAM-B-149ZU/high/RAM-B-149Z.jpg

And here's what the model specific cradle looks like for my 52LM:
http://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-HOL-GA55U

Before buying one, check to see if RAM has a specific cradle for it - they cover most Garmin models.

Also, if you should buy a used one, try to get a model ending with 'LM' or 'LMT' - those models have free "lifetime" updates for maps (LM) and traffic reports (LMT)

Back to top

Kaw VN1700, V-Strom 650, Coal powered Chevy Spark.

IP Logged

Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 18099 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #9 - 10/05/15 at 04:48:44 I have no way to provide a link or email address between the member on the ST site and Kris01 ....so I have emailed him and asked him to contact me.
Back to top	Someday I will be old......But not today! IP Logged

MnSpring

Serious Thumper

Offline

Younger than most
people my age.

Posts: 9346
Minn
Gender: male

Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
Reply #10 - 10/05/15 at 07:44:41

Have a Garmin, Oregon 450. When I bought it, New, it was a 'old' mod, as the newer one, had the same features, but a 1/4" bigger screen. Paid 150.00 New for it.
It replaced the Lowrance 'Go Finder'. (Yea I know, that one is old !)

Use it for, 'hunting/fishing', marks mostly. But on the MC, (Mount McGivered from Parts that Dave sent me). The GPS, Speed, and Direction, is useful. And I do have a, 'map', if don't know the roads.

Back to top

Ben Franklin once said: "If you give up a freedom, for the sake of security, you will have neither".
Which is More TRUE, today, than yesterday.('06, S-40, Stock) well, mostly .

IP Logged

engineer

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 872

Gender: male

Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
Reply #11 - 10/05/15 at 12:45:54

I bought a Garmin Nuvi that was a closeout deal for a little over a hundred bucks. Works great, I use it in my car and on the bikes. I put Ram mounts on two bikes and move the Garmin around. On a bike you have to put the brightness setting up to high and I have the screen set to always stay on. It will run down a battery fast that way so I bought a cigarette lighter adapter that plugs into my SAE battery charger connector and keep it powered up that way.

Some of the bike specific GPS units are not only waterproof but are also set up for trail use by the ADV guys in off road situations.

Back to top

2005 S40, Intruder shocks, Dyna, 52.5/150, 3 washers, 2 turns, modified seat, Raptor

IP Logged

Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #12 - 10/05/15 at 16:53:47 Thanks Dave. cue old AOL voice You've got mail
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

Kris01 Serious Thumper Offline Eat, sleep, RIDE! Posts: 3767 Tennessee Gender:	Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS? Reply #13 - 10/05/15 at 17:07:10 Any "bare bones", basic ones out there? I'm really just looking for a scrolling map. I don't need Bluetooth or a talking GPS or anything like that. I just want one for finding my way back home when out exploring the back roads. Like they say, "Not all who wander are lost". I like to "wander" on my bike.
Back to top	There's no problem that a full tank of gas and a sunny day can't fix! 2008 S40, Rotella T 15W-40 w/ZDDP added, Dyna, 140/90-15, Battery Tender Jr., Seat lift, #52.5/150/3 washers, Raptor IP Logged

Dave

YaBB Moderator
ModSquad

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 18099
Camp Springs, Kentucky
Gender: male

Re: Anyone recommend a good affordable GPS?
Reply #14 - 10/05/15 at 17:55:08

Back to top

Someday I will be old......But not today!

IP Logged