NON motorcycle GPS on a motorcycle

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by txrancher47 GArmin 760 with a RAM waterproof setup...works fine except you can not hear the GPS. The RAM setup cost about 70.00. Mine is a clutch mount. I thought the 760 had an ear plug jack you could run to your aux. input on the radio?

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[Biggie]

I have a Nuvi 750 and a ram mount on my 04 UC. You can program the Nuvi 750 to the radio station you're listening to and it will transmit to the bikes radio loud and clear without plugging into the auxillary port.

[bcmwake]

my garmin nuvi 200 suction cup fits perfect on my tach of my electra glide and shoe string safety to handlebar

[OwnerOfHarriet]

I first used a 2610 which to me was better than the 2730 (which I am now using) in having memory expansion and features -

my 2610 did not break, but the film over the screen lifted -- and I bought the 2730 - -then I contacted Garmin and they told me they would replace the 2610 --

the thing you want is a flash drive not a spinning hard drive -- the vibration will kill hte hard drives - but any of the flash styles will work just fine

one feature I liked on the 2610 and some of the others is that you could just have a screen showing you speed and distance traveled -- the 2730 didn't have that

[CroK]

Wow! 84 responses and they all answer your question with detailed descriptions of 'this is how I did it', and yet still only seem to say 'yes you can indeed use other gpsunits in place of the expensive HD models. Cool!

Now let me tell you what I tried...

I don't have a regular gps like used in autos or bikes, so I tried the one I got for my boat, a hand held garmin unit that is water 'resistant'. It doesn't have any road maps, but the screen is made so that it looks like a straight two laned road. It actually has a white line lane divider, just like real roads.

As for directions, it only shows waypoints that you enter as either starting or destination point. It won't tell you when to turn, but it will give you audible warning if you deviate off course too much. Finding your way around rivers, lakes or ponds, government installations, over railroad tracks (not the crossings, bare tracks), and fenced in yards is fun too. A true adventure in it's own right!

And no matter how far I have to deviate off course, I always have a direct heading plotted for me from my current location to my destination, with distance, time to go, and even audible notification when I am within a certain range of reaching my destination!

You want to have fun? Try this yourself and see what fun is all about! A true test of MC operator's skill for sure! You might think about swapping your street tires for some nice all terrain multi-use rubber tho...

[jetspeed8]

I use the Tom Tom 720 Go (yes, from one of my cars) with a eCaddy Deluxe for the HD controls. Radio and Phone functions are bluetooth and work great with my phone headset. Hard wired the mini USB cable to my aux switch.

http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/CTGY/GPS.html

[Chips]

I've used the Garmin Nuvi on my bike for 2 years. Combine my experience with the comments posted in this thread, I'd say the 'jury is in' on the matter.

It appears any GPS will work fine on a motorcycle
no voice ( ie: can't hear it on the bike)...not much of a concern
not waterproof...not a big deal
vibrations...not an issue

ride safe

[SeanEMac]

i use the the nuvi 1250, I mount it on either the windshield or the gas tank using the windshield mount. the only time i ever had an issue was when I pushed the unit out of the mount while trying to turn it on.

one feature the 1250 doesn't have is the ability to pick exactly what route i want to take - i believe that garmin motorcycle specific models allow this and i think the 760 does as well (is that correct?). does anyone know if the 550 allows this? If so it seems like a great choice, you can buy one for less tahn $200 delivered on ebay, it's waterproof, and it's solid state.

i checked the website, but i'm still not positive if it does this or not.

thanks - sean

[bittysmom]

I use a Tom Tom 1 that I use. Seems to work fine. I do worry about getting stuck in a downpour or something, I would have to pull over and remove it since it isn't made to get wet. Someday I want to get a GPS for a Motorcycle so that I don't have to worry about that. But they are really expensive and just not in my budget.

[nvsteve]

This thread has been very helpful.
I've decided to get the Garmin 755T for several reasons.
90% of it's use will be in my truck.
The price is about half of the original msrp.
Don't need bluetooth.
Headset connection.

Any comments?