best GPS setup?


xorbe

xorbe

Member
(Yeah, the thread title is inaccurate now. First I wanted the ultra-gps setup naturally. Then I realized I only need basic nav to do what I really wanted to achieve.)

Basically want a stand-alone gps, as my phone gps doesn't always have a cell network data connection. Don't need fancy, just a map to get around if lost. Started by looking at Garmin and TomTom "motorcycle specific" GPS units -- they are way too expensive. Also, note that the nicer "glass capacitive screen" Garmin models don't respond to gloves well or at all (I tried this at the store). But the economical models work fine with the matte pressure sensitive screens.

Progress:
Got economical Garmin Nuvi 57LM for $149 from Best Buy.
Ordered these Ram Mount parts on Amazon:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002AQV51A"]Amazon.com: Ram Mount Rail Base with Stainless Steel U-Bolt and 1-Inch Ball for Rails from 0.5 to 1 Inches Diameter: Car Electronics[/ame] - handlebar clamp
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KWPJ04"]Amazon.com: Ram Mount Composite Short Double Socket Arm for 1-Inch Ball Bases: GPS & Navigation[/ame] - short riser
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KO5XVU"]Amazon.com: RAM Mounts RAM-B-238 RAM 2.43" x 1.31" Diamond Base with 1" Ball: Car Electronics[/ame] - ball-cradle connector
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DLL97BS"]Amazon.com: RAM Cradle Holder for the Garmin nuvi® 52, 52LM, 54 & 54LM: Car Electronics[/ame] - gps cradle

Maybe this one Arkon piece works all by itself directly into the gps ball socket?
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FMUP0U"]Amazon.com: Arkon Bike or Motorcycle Handlebar Mount for Garmin nuvi 40 50 200 2013 24x5 25x5 GPS: GPS & Navigation[/ame]
 
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tho9504

Member
i just use my older Garmin 205W. I purchased the mount for our bike from Ram Mount, which mounts right on to the handlebar. The only draw down is that you cannot hear the audio, only see the map and turning points in front of you. So, once in a while you would need to look at it to see how many miles or feet to turn.. Unfotunately, my gps unit does not have a 3.5mm audio jack, else i could plugged in headphones to the jack.

If you already have a portable car gps unit, just check out ram mount for the mounting bracket for your bike. It's on a pivot, so could angle it any direction you want.
 
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Superzoom

New Member
I have used a Garmin 60CSx for the past seven years on two different bikes. Very rugged, fairly simple, and quite versatile, as I have used it for motorcyling, in car, on my bicycle, in boats, and on foot while on vacation in strange cities. I've even used it while running. I like that it is versatile and tough. But the screen is small, and no touch screen, although it can be operated on the bike with gloves on.

It routes well, and I've used it on trip from coast to coast, and it's never failed me.

I use it with rechargeable AAs, and have mounted it with a RAM mount.

It's been discontinued, I believe, but the Garmin GPSMap 64 seems to be very similar, for about $330.



Or you could go even more basic and cheaper with a Garmin eTrex 20x for $250.



Otherwise, the expensive Garmin motorcycle specific GPSes seem quite prone to problems and failure. I would go for the Tom Tom Rider over one, probably.
 
xorbe

xorbe

Member
What I really want to do is buy this handlebar mount, cut the 1" ball in half, then simply epoxy it to the rear of the gps cradle for minimum height rise:

 
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BlastOffMike

Member
I'm really not happy with what you get for your money with most of the Garmin units. Keep in mind you'll need to spend an additional $100 or so on maps that are actually usable if you get one of those. The included base maps are super basic, you'll likely want a lot more detail.

So instead, I've been learning about off-line navigation options I can use my Android phone for. I mount it to the handlebars with a Ram Mount X Grip which works great. Check out a couple great navigation apps called OSMand and Locus. They're very cheap and you can gets loads of detailed vector maps for free or very cheap.

You can do everything you could want to do with those; routes/tracks, turn by turn routing, import .gpx files etc.

I use OSRM Website to plan routes on my computer, then export them as .gpx files to my phone and navigate with either OSMand or Locus. Works awesome and does NOT require a data connection.

I can't decide which of those two apps I like better so still playing with both. These options require a bit of a learning curve but give you so much more flexibility and are so much cheaper than any Garmin options.

The guys on advrider.com use these heavily and you can learn anything you need to know from there. There are iOS options as well but I'm not personally familiar with those.
 
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leem00

Sport touring Member
Elite Member
BlastOffMike said:
I'm really not happy with what you get for your money with most of the Garmin units. Keep in mind you'll need to spend an additional $100 or so on maps that are actually usable if you get one of those. The included base maps are super basic, you'll likely want a lot more detail.

So instead, I've been learning about off-line navigation options I can use my Android phone for. I mount it to the handlebars with a Ram Mount X Grip which works great. Check out a couple great navigation apps called OSMand and Locus. They're very cheap and you can gets loads of detailed vector maps for free or very cheap.

You can do everything you could want to do with those; routes/tracks, turn by turn routing, import .gpx files etc.

I use OSRM Website to plan routes on my computer, then export them as .gpx files to my phone and navigate with either OSMand or Locus. Works awesome and does NOT require a data connection.

I can't decide which of those two apps I like better so still playing with both. These options require a bit of a learning curve but give you so much more flexibility and are so much cheaper than any Garmin options.

The guys on advrider.com use these heavily and you can learn anything you need to know from there. There are iOS options as well but I'm not personally familiar with those.
Click to expand...
Thanx Mike... I will have to look at these...I never knew those options existed.
 
xorbe

xorbe

Member
BlastOffMike said:
I'm really not happy with what you get for your money with most of the Garmin units. Keep in mind you'll need to spend an additional $100 or so on maps that are actually usable if you get one of those. The included base maps are super basic, you'll likely want a lot more detail.
Click to expand...
Well, I entered several locations as favorites last night (vs trying to set up a single huge route). Seems to have all the roads I'll be using! Like what kind of "more detail"? I don't see anything beyond "Lower 49" on Garmin's site for street maps, which is what I got. I guess my routes aren't super adventure, haha.

I'd rather not strap my tiny Android phone that contains my personal data to my bike exposed to the elements. It also has a capacitive glass screen requiring something other than a glove press, gets too warm with the screen on for extended periods, and has a flimsy micro USB connection that's already destroyed half a dozen usb cables just moving around my desk.
 
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BlastOffMike

Member
xorbe said:
I'd rather not strap my tiny Android phone that contains my personal data to my bike exposed to the elements. It also has a capacitive glass screen requiring something other than a glove press, gets too warm with the screen on for extended periods, and has a flimsy micro USB connection that's already destroyed half a dozen usb cables just moving around my desk.
Click to expand...
True, there are some disadvantages. I haven't had any problems though as far as over heating or destroying USB cables. The capacitive screen not working with gloves is definitely an annoyance, sucks pulling over and removing a glove to make any changes. Still, it's been working out very well for me.
 
O

OctoberNotice

New Member
By your shopping list, it seems you're doing close to my future set up.

I'm getting the GPS, Garmin. The Akorn handlebar unit, then for power I'm going to wire in a battery tender to the battery and wire it in past the tank, to hide all the wires.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041CDPQO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com: Battery Tender 081-0069-8 Female Cigarette Adaptor for Quick Disconnect: Automotive[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FMUP0U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com: Arkon Bike or Motorcycle Handlebar Mount for Garmin nuvi 40 50 200 2013 24x5 25x5 GPS: GPS & Navigation[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXZY42W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com : Garmin nüvi 42LM 4.3-Inch Portable Vehicle GPS with Lifetime Maps (US) : Commercial Trucking Gps Units : GPS & Navigation[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NCOKZQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com: Battery Tender 081-0069-6 Ring Terminal Harness with Black Fused 2-Pin Quick Disconnect Plug: Automotive[/ame]

Whole setup runs me currently $105. I prefer Amazon when I can to avoid sales tax on big purchases!
 
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tho9504

Member
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AXZY42W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com : Garmin nüvi 42LM 4.3-Inch Portable Vehicle GPS with Lifetime Maps (US) : Commercial Trucking Gps Units : GPS & Navigation[/ame]

Does this GPS have a 3.5mm Jack for audio output? Else, you will not be able hear turn by turn instructions... With the jack, you could plug in earphones to the jack...
 
xorbe

xorbe

Member
Yeah, I don't plan on having turn-by-turn audio. Just need to ensure I'm not lost. I don't think that 42 does, and my 57 definitely doesn't have any audio plug.

Bought the 12v -> 5v usb cable that has the 5th pin hack to enable the Garmin to function in navigation mode. I was just going to wire it to something that gets power when the key is on.

Hard wire-in cable
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004M4TZF6"]Amazon.com: Garmin USB Power Cable: GPS & Navigation[/ame]


USB cable with hack (red band GPS about half way down)
https://www.3brpowersports.com/products_Red_Band_USB.php

Otherwise yeah you need a large power receptacle for the stock car cable.
 
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xorbe

xorbe

Member
Okay, RAM mount installed. Where's the best place to tap +12V that is hot (and ground) when the key is on (and the engine/headlight is not necessarily on)?

 

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cobaltitaliano

Member
OctoberNotice said:
By your shopping list, it seems you're doing close to my future set up.

I'm getting the GPS, Garmin. The Akorn handlebar unit, then for power I'm going to wire in a battery tender to the battery and wire it in past the tank, to hide all the wires.

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 081-0069-8 Female Cigarette Adaptor for Quick Disconnect: Automotive

Amazon.com: Arkon Bike or Motorcycle Handlebar Mount for Garmin nuvi 40 50 200 2013 24x5 25x5 GPS: GPS & Navigation

Amazon.com : Garmin nüvi 42LM 4.3-Inch Portable Vehicle GPS with Lifetime Maps (US) : Commercial Trucking Gps Units : GPS & Navigation

Amazon.com: Battery Tender 081-0069-6 Ring Terminal Harness with Black Fused 2-Pin Quick Disconnect Plug: Automotive

Whole setup runs me currently $105. I prefer Amazon when I can to avoid sales tax on big purchases!
Click to expand...
I really like this way, especially if you already have a garmin unit from you car to slap on, this mod would be cheap
 
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