I use a Garmin 1450LMT life time maps and traffic with a handlebar Ram Mount system and then loaded the harley dealers POI download to it I have about $220.oo into it and it works great and moves to all six bike real easy just need a ram mount ball on each bike

 

+1 on being able to transfer to Garmin and TomTom via MapQuest, Streets and Trips, or Google maps. What I've found more useful is to pick the cities you want to go to/by along your route, then if you want to avoid the super slabs, go into settings and select avoid highways/interstates. I have found some awesome routes and roads by using that feature.

 

I use a Garmin GPSMap76CSX I've had for several years now.
It imports routes and waypoints no problem.
There are options you select as to what type of roads you prefer to ride, and the most important is to select the option NOT to recalculate the route.
That way the GPS follows the route you loaded, and doesn't take you on a route of it's own choosing.
You can still recalculate if you want, but it won't do it without you knowing.
Comes in handy when I stray off-course, and I don't recalculate... I continue to see my original route on the screen. I can parallel the original route, cross it, or go back and follow it.

 

Go to Garmin's site & look at the "spec" page of each GPS you're interested in. In "specs" it will have either "routes 0", or "routes 25/50/100/etc." Those with "0" will not download routes/waypoints. Those with "25/50/100/etc." should accept routes & waypoints. Once you find the one you want call Garmin support & verify with a tech.

 

That is what I was hoping to read as I like the drag feature of Google maps.

 

My old Nuvi 200- series will not allow you to import routes, so I check the specs carefully of the then-available Garmins that would.
I ordered a refurbed nuvi 855 several years ago through Amazon, I think, for a very reasonable price and I have planned several routes on the HOG ride planner (primary reason for membership) then saved the file as a .gpx file and exported it to the 855.
It works very well in this manner..
I am sure there are other models that will allow you to import route files, but not all will, so check the specs.
Importing maps, photos, mp3's and importing routes are different functions, so, just because the specs say it will import, doesn't mean it will import routes unless specifically called out as such.

 

I love to do route planning in Google Maps in the terrain view. That way I can see/stay on those twisties in the mountains. Then I use a javascript program called GMaptoGPX to produce a gpx file (full view) coordinates. I copy and paste the long/lat coordinates into notepad and save as a gpx file. Import that into Mapsource, clean it up and export to Garmin. I have both the Zumo 220 & Nuvi 500 because of the smaller screen on the bike. FYI - they are the same unit & the Nuvi is cheaper. That's what works well for me.

 

I did an 8 day trip last October with a Nuvi 760 that I had loaded maps created on MapQuest. (I made a separate map for each day.)

Once creating the MapQuest route, you can then click on a tab to 'send' it to your Garmin. The tab is next to the MapQuest 'Print' tab.

 

www.tyretotravel.com free mapping software that will integrate with Garmin

 

Thanks for all the great info gents!