Handheld GPS?

[DubbleJay]

Searched around and couldnt find anyone talking about these...

Just curious for what reason everyone seems to choose the bulkier and larger "cage oriented" gps systems rather than the more "back trail oriented" hiking and cycling handheld gps systems. There are many on the market that work great for a motorcycles but before I upgrade I was hoping for a bit of shared wisdom...


Appreciated.

 

[HoebSTer]

one point may be the age of the crowd and ability to view the tiny pinhole size screen while moving. ANother one may be some of the manufacturers of good bike mounts for GPS are for the larger models not the smaller ones. Then take into consideration ability to offer turn by turn directions after we have loaded tracks, waypoints or routes into the device. I tried the 60CSX, it was too complex for me and offered a small screen. I now use the waterproof Nuvi500 which is waterproof, but lacks easy route and waypoints per route. SO, I went and got me an Etrex20, which holds over 500 waypoints per route when loading into the device, where the Nuvi500 only allows 200 or so and is a pain.
Most Zumo's come with City navigator or Streets and Trips, where the 60CSX doesn't and has to be purchased. The Zumo's also accept tons of waypoints per route for easy uploading. Most other Nuvi car-style systems don't have the ability to upload routes which have large waypoint counts.

I don't know if any of this helps, but good luck. OH, I was able to buy my Nuvi refurbished for $160 or so.

 

[DubbleJay]

one point may be the age of the crowd and ability to view the tiny pinhole size screen while moving.

Yeah I thought about this... Honestly, I suppose it is all about the way you use the things. I really only find myself looking at the thing when Im stopped and off the bike. Generally I use them to track my route as Im moving and do very little pre-loading of routes. I never use them in the city, still young enough to generally remember directions before I leave ::008::. Generally speaking I use them to find my way back to a great route once Ive discovered it. I still like to carry maps for everything else.

I think most handhelds can handle what the larger models can (so far as I know)... Still interested to hear some other opinions.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I've got a Garmin Oregon and the screen is just impractical for use while moving. It is hard to see in sunlight, too small, and takes too much attention to use. Another huge issue is that it doesn't have street mapping or gas station POI.

As much as I hate Garmin software, pricing, and reliability, the Montana can do all that the Oregon can and still be used for hiking.

 

[DubbleJay]

... huge issue is that it doesn't have street mapping or gas station POI.

As much as I hate Garmin software, pricing, and reliability, the Montana can do all that the Oregon can and still be used for hiking.

So the Montana does have street mapping and POI?

 

[MikeBear]

Take a look at Garmin gpsmap62. I have no idea how to post pics with iPad, so PM me your email and I will show you pics of my GPS setup.

 

[bloodline]

Get a Montana and be done with it. It has multiple profiles and you can make your own if you want. It holds far more data than a Zumo, has an electronic compass which is huge on a motorcycle and it's sunlight readable.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

For the most part I use a GPS to find the best roads in any particular area. I've owned every Zumo since the 550. I also find them too expensive, often too dim in daylight, and some quirks are very annoying. But when you get down to it, they do work well on a motorcycle. They are designed to be used by a gloved rider using only the left hand. I've used them in violent rain storms with no concerns. I really like being able to sit at home, find great road on the computer, chart them out, load them up and go.

The Zumo 665 has had more impact on my riding than any other GPS. Now that I can see the weather on the screen I find myself riding up to the rain, then maneuvering to stay just out of the wet stuff. It's become a game when bad weather is in the area, and it has led me to new areas I may never have otherwise ridden. I'm finding the 665 to be more useful than just standard GPS stuff.

 

[JTWY]

Searched around and couldnt find anyone talking about these...

Just curious for what reason everyone seems to choose the bulkier and larger "cage oriented" gps systems rather than the more "back trail oriented" hiking and cycling handheld gps systems. There are many on the market that work great for a motorcycles but before I upgrade I was hoping for a bit of shared wisdom...


Appreciated.

I guess this all boils down to what each person prefers. I have been using my Garmin Venture handheld GPS on my motorcycles for a few years now , and before that I used my old Garmin e-trex and I've always got to where I was going. We also play the Geocaching Game using our motorcycles to get there.
I used this website a lot. You type in any street address and it automaticly converts the street address in to GPS coordinates and then I enter the coordinates into my gps. http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocoding.html

JT

 

[JTWY]

Here's a picture of my old 1998 GL1500SE Goldwing with my Garmin Venture mounted to it.

JT

 

[terryth]

I use a delorme pn-30 for off road stuff, I can put topographic maps, satellite imagery, USGS maps on the screen. It has autorouting but its pretty basic. It does have a small screen that's hard to navigate on the screen and run the buttons while driving. I mainly use it for off-road tracks to be able to load and follow mutliple tracks on the screen while making a new one at the same time, which none of the car based ones or even the Zumo's can do at all. Also the screen it set up to be seen quite well in direct sunlight with a reflective layer that lights it up in direct sunlight with the backlight off, it works really well.

 

[DubbleJay]

Since posting this... Ive still not decided to buy a GPS. I'm not really sure I need one. I have been using an Iphone, with Motion-X GPS. Its awesome. 6 different map types, all free, the ability to pre-load large swatches of maps before heading out. Works great outside of cell signal areas... ITs the perfect size, and it cuts down on my gadget load and therefore my charging load.

Have not had an issue yet. Check out the screen shot.

 

[markjenn]

The phone/tablet solutions have really improved. MotionX is a great app. I don't think they have the display, interface, and ruggedness issues as well sorted as a dedicated GPS, and connectivity can still limit their usefulness in some situations, but if you can make them work, they're pretty darn nice and you don't have to bother with map updates and all the rigamrole Garmin makes you put up with trying to keep your maps current on both the GPS and PC. Worth a try.

That being said, I've been a Garmin 60-series user since they first appeared (I think nearly a decade ago), and I'm hard pressed to think of a consumer electronics item that I've ever bought that has provided such incredibly good service for such a low price. I'm on my third unit now and every previous unit I've sold after a couple years of use for only slightly less than I paid for it initially. I've used it for everything - multiple bikes, multiple cars, bicycling, hiking, etc. It does many things that even the high-end Zumos still don't do. It does have a bit of a learning curve, especially if you want to do high-fidelity sophisticated routes loaded from the PC, but is extremely powerful and flexible.

The thing that turns most off with a handheld GPS is the small display, but I think it is something you quickly work around. I didn't think the display of a typical smartphone was big enough to be useful, but we've all adapted and/or bought reading glasses.

I may try traveling with both the 60 and the iPad/MotionX at some point. I'd like to compare their over-the-road flexibility and see how good the caching is.

- Mark

 

[Siseneg]

I use a GPSMap 76CSX for my pocket escapades, geocaching and even sailing. Drop in expansion cards for Blue Chart, then swap to get topo or city navigator loaded. Metal case, fully backlit color display and it floats .
It's not a street navigator by trade but it works well enough. As with any handheld, the UI is cursor-driven so you must do your programming before flight or plan a lengthy rest stop. I do like it; but Garmin is phasing out support.

 

[stevepsd]

Garmin Zumo 665 for my on-road adventures - great bluetooth integration with my droid phones and Sena SMH-10 buletooth headset - plus Weather and XM to boot. Not cheap but as other have said, the motorcycle integration is pretty darn good.

For off-road I am upgrading from my Garmin eTrex Legend to a Garmin Montana. The unit is not much different in size than the vaunted Garmin 62 series (2.9" x 5.7" x 1.4" vs 2.4" x 6.3" x 1.4" for the 62), but has a much bigger screen for older eyes (2"W x 3.5"H vs 1.43" x 2.15") and is also daylight readable. The montana also has a nice, heavy duty mount with built-in electrical contacts to help with GPS's resetting due to vibrations.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I've had a Montana since Spring on the Super Tenere and hate the thing almost as much as using my Gummint issued Blackberry. [/size]The Montana's upside has been that screen size and legibility are fantastic. The waterproofing is good.BUTI've suffered through the dreaded white screen of death, the loose battery is now fixed with a foamie earplug, and the current replacement unit is one is about to go back, because the screen becomes unresponsive when warmer than about 75-80f. Better not stop for gas if it is running on switched power from the bike, because when the screen is unresponsive, it powers back up on the home screen of icons that you can't make work.Even when working correctly, the zoom in/out icons are too small for my gloved finger, so that about half the time when trying to zoom, I'll place a location marker pin. Then you need to escape out and re-zoom from scratch. It gets so frustrating that I hate to touch the thing.And if Garmin is THE big company in GPS navigation, how can they not have learned from Google Maps, Bing, or any other map outfit about human interface in their software? And I've got the Garmin AMP mounting bracket. What idiot thought that an appropriate level of theft protection is an anti-tamper screw and bit, instead of any type of actual lock? What makes it worse is that the turned aluminum housing for the anti-tamper bit is quite nice and surely cost twice what a lock would have.

 

[bloodline]

No problems in 10k miles with my Montana and its been in 106 degrees for hours.

I too wish the zoom buttons were larger or the area around it was "dead". However, when you accidentally place a pin, you don't have to back out and lose your place. Just cancel the pin by tapping the top right corner of the pop up box.

 

[bloodline]

Also, I don't use base camp. I hate it, too.

I use ridewithgps.com. It works great and is web based so I can access my routes from anywhere.

You don't need Garmin software for anything. You can install maps by just dropping them in the directory. Same with Gpx files.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Didn't know about the upper right corner trick to cancel, so thanks.


I wasn't referring to Basecamp - was just talking about how Garmin in general is massively behind in human interface with all their devices.

 

[coastie]

Just ordered the Montana today. I have been reading through the megathread on advrider but there is an awful lot of information on there. Going to try to use ridewithgps. It seems like a much more user friendly program. I'm sure I will have questions. Bloodline have you been happy with the Montana since your last post in this thread?