I think my nuvi is pretty simple and to the point. I like it. I never really planned a trip with it. I just like having it for locations of places to eat, hotels, gas, shit like that. I like to know where I'm at and direction of travel. That's why I enjoy it.
The new TomTom Rider 5 that came out in 2013 now has the same screen size and resolution as the Zumo 390 (4.3" screen, 480 x 272 pixels). The few rider reviews I was able to find indicated viewing in sunlight has been improved over earlier TomTom models also. Once I've had a chance to use it for a while I'll be sure to post my impressions.Originally Posted by indiatango
I did consider an inexpensive GPS (not waterproof) but have had too many long trips riding in rain where I wanted to push through the rain as much as possible to the next fuel stop. I need a GPS that functions in the rain to tell me where the fuel stop options are. Some of the areas I ride in fuel stops can be far and few between.
I considered one of the many waterproof GPS / Smartphone cases but glare from the waterproof screen seems to be a big negative pointed out by serious riders that have tried this approach. I love using Google Maps on my Nexus Smartphone in the truck as a GPS now for the past year. I was concerned about using this approach on the bike in a case because the Nexus does get a bit warm when the screen is on full time using GPS. Nexus in a case, in the sun, not so sure?
To the person that said if you need to update the maps on your Garmin then just buy a new unit. I ditto that if you can afford it. It will save you a lot of aggravation.
The TomTom Rider 5 comes with Tyer Pro (the paid version of Tyer if I'm not mistaken). Seems like TomTom has partnered with Tyre for all of their route planning using Google Maps. I watched all the videos at the Tyre site and it looks like it is really geared to the TomTom although it can be used with some Garmin also.
I have gone through the motions of route planning, unfortunately, the GPS that I was using conuld not accept multiple waypoints. I have used the free version of Tyre and tried to use Basecamp. I think Basecamp is a nightmare. It seems like not everyone uses the same terminology for multiple 'waypoints' , 'points of interest', etc. Like a lot of other things, I wish it would become standardized.
The GPS is a great tool. If I get really lost, it can show me the way home. For me, I do a lot of curvy riding in southern Indiana, I can scroll the screen to see if the road I am about to take is a dead end. We have a lot of those around here.
Me too, that's why I like more detail on the screen so I can see farther. I like changing the way I go on the fly, always trying to find that 'perfect' road. Without gps I wouldn't have found amazing roads like I have. I also like to make sure the road is not a dead end or turns into dirt road. After all, I'm a guy and we don't like to backtrack.
I always never use highways, two lane country roads are preferred as much as possible. No traffic, no cars, no lights, great scenery at speeds around 60 mph are why I ride. No better way than gps to find these.
Sometimes I would route towards a destination and set gps to avoid highways and use shorter distance. That usually produces some interesting backroads, problem is ending up on a dirt road which I won't do on 840+ lbs bike.
I mounted my gps on right handlebar, very easy to reach and use my thumb on it. I only do it when going straight and no traffic. I'm pretty handy with them, I've been using them for over a decade. My technique is to scroll around, touch a spot where I want to go and let gps route me to it while avoiding highways, u turns and dirt roads.
My biggest one I used in the past (and still have) is Garmin Streetpilot 7" screen, the best amount of detail on a big screen. I had it on my BMW K1200LT installed in the middle between handlebars. It worked great! Seems to big for F6B, though.
At Daytona Bikeweek last year I saw a custom cruiser with ipad mounted in the fairing. Cool idea but not sure how good would it work on a bike. Here's the picture of it.
UPS delivered my new TomTom Rider 5 Friday. I ordered it the previous day (Thursday) from revzilla.com (free shipping) and evidently it shipped out of a warehouse in the Chicago area that day arriving here Friday (thanks revzilla).
The unit has a nice screen and appears well built. First thing I did was go online to register the unit, update firmware and update maps. You have to have a current version of Internet Explorer installed on your computer (you do not have to boot or use Explorer) and are instructed to disarm any virus protection software. Did all that, the unit registered and "TomTom Home" software loaded very smoothly. The third party Tyre Route Planning software has a .exe file on the TomTom that you double click and Tyer installs seamlessly. Did all this in a small fraction of the time it took for me to Download a new map to my 3-year old Garmin a few weeks ago.
Basic functions on this unit are pretty intuitive. User experience with a Garmin does not help a lot when you are learning the intricacies of TomTom Route Planning. It's not harder than a Garmin just different in some aspects. I purchased this unit primarily because I wanted to Route Plan on my PC, something I was never able to do reliably on my last two Garmins. The Tyre Route Planning software shows a lot of promise and integrates seamlessly with the TomTom. I have already put together about 10 routes (Itineraries in TomTom lingo) and this really seems smooth.
When I plan a Route I have Tyre running in one window and TomTom Home in another. It's easy to upload an Itinerary from the TomTom, (via usb) to Tyre, modify it and save it back to the TomTom or create an Itinerary from scratch in Tyre and save it to the TomTom. While the TomTom is connected to your computer via usb it is in a "communications mode" and does not function as a standalone gps until you disconnect the usb cable (this was also the case with my previous Garmin units).
The TomTom Home software however has a very nice feature called "Operate My TomTom". Click on this icon and a facsimile of the TomTom gps appears on your computer screen and you are operating your TomTom remotely viadirectly from the computer screen. This is a nice feature because you can download a new Itinerary from Tyre to the TomTom, go to TomTom Home and immediately load and look at the new Itinerary in your TomTom gps from your computer screen to verify it downloaded and that TomTom routed as you expected. This makes correcting any routing errors a much faster process.
When an Itinerary is created on Tyre and downloaded to the TomTom the route itself is not actually downloaded but rather the Tyre route way points are downloaded. So in some cases the TomTom may calculate different routes between way points compared to Google Maps in Tyre. Having the "Operate My TomTom" feature in TomTom Home makes it fast and easy to download a new Itinerary from Tyre and immediately check the route on your TomTom without having to disconnect the usb cable and booting the gps.
TomTom has opted for a "Less Is More" approach when it comes to the amount of information that is displayed on any one screen. There is a view map screen that opens up to a scale of about 125 miles per inch of screen. At this scale all the major Interstates are shown but no Interstate Numbers. Touch any Interstate on the screen and a flag pops up with the Interstate Number. As you zoom in secondary routes begin to appear. By tapping the large + or - buttons on the screen the unit quickly zooms in and out. Panning up, down, left, and right within the map screen is smooth and faster than any of my previous gps units. The other night in my truck I was using the TomTom without my reading glasses no problem.
These are only my initial observations, I'll post more thoughts once I've had a chance to use it on the bike.
I sure am old, still like a map.
Deer Slayer
If I can't fix it, I will fix it so no one can fix it.
I love the techy stuff of having a GPS. But I still love using maps also. Its nice to pull into a coffee shop with friends, lay a map on the table and figure out our destination. But the GPS is great in a pinch too. So I enjoy both worlds.
The thing I like best about a GPS is going on a ride with no real plan and taking any road you come across and then another and another getting farther and farther out there (or lost), beyond your comfort zone and then hit "GO HOME". I think this is why they have that feature.
This is exactly the main reason I would want a GPS on my bike. Comforting to know you can just ride off in a direction and take in your surroundings without having to memorize your way back.The thing I like best about a GPS is going on a ride with no real plan and taking any road you come across and then another and another getting farther and farther out there (or lost), beyond your comfort zone and then hit "GO HOME". I think this is why they have that feature.
- Bill
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