Bingo!Originally Posted by 1951vbs
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.That may be my favorite feature as well!
That is great I do it too. Or when I ride into Western NC Mountains I record the hotel location, I ride as many backroads as I could and then have gps get me back to hotel avoiding highways and dirt roads. This usually produces some fine roads!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.
I've been playing with the TomTom each evening and getting very familiar with it, even been reading the online user manual. I've been practicing with it primarily via my desktop computer. Any time I connect the TomTom via a usb cable to my computer "TomTom Home" automatically boots up. From the TomTom Home screen I simply click on "Operate My TomTom" and my TomTom device boots up on my desktop screen. Nice thing here is I can use the computer keyboard &to type in destinations and click on selections (very fast). No connecting & disconnecting the TomTom from the computer to see if what you did TOOK as expected.
A really nice feature is that you can plan routes via "City Centers". Just type in the names of towns along your desired route as way-points. TomTom sets the way-point at the City Center but does not actually navigate to the City Center but rather the fastest route past the City Center to the next way-point. I created a quick route from Auburn IL to Quincy IL which TomTom calculates via Interstate. Then I simply added "City Center" way-points by typing in Jacksonville IL and Meredosia IL, recalculated the route and a nice country ride exactly as I wanted. No dinking around with pinning way-points on the map and hoping you have them near the intended highway. This is a big help when trying to make the GPS take the route you want with the least number of keystrokes. Not to mention I did it all from my computer keyboard.
I've been using Tyre with Google Maps to plan routes. In a few cases routes are planned differently in Tyer compared to TomTom. When maps are downloaded from Tyre only the route way-points are downloaded. So TomTom may calculate routes differently between way-points in some cases. Solution is to use an adequate number of route way-points in Tyre.
On the other hand I am starting to find it easier to create routes from "TomTom Home" using the "Operate My TomTom" feature and City Centers as way-points. Either way this is way easier than my previous experiences with Garmin. Simply stated, "TomTom Home" works and "Tyre" works. Both respond quickly and appear to be glitch free so far. And every time I connect the TomTom to my computer it automatically performs a Backup and updates painlessly.
GONRDN and I have very similar views on GPS. Low $ Nuvi's suit my small needs.
I never do any trip planning. (Fold out maps discussed by the group are my choice.)
Displaying your actual speed and the speed limit at that location is ~nice~ (Displayed speed limit is not always 100% accurate, but it's nice in a pinch)
Never had any problems downloading maps. Had a couple of Nuvi's now. Good if you get lost, but haven't been lost in years,,,
Both Garmins are/were a billion times better than the POS OEM GPS in my truck,,, I can park in a Home Depot parking lot, in Houston, search for "Home Depot" and I swear to God it ALWAYS lists one at least 600 miles away in another state as 'the closest Home Depot" Absolute crap!
That is very good information and I am sure you will find it helpful but I would prefer to spend more time riding and less time "programing". I just think we are getting a little to dependant on electronics.I've been playing with the TomTom each evening and getting very familiar with it, even been reading the online user manual. I've been practicing with it primarily via my desktop computer. Any time I connect the TomTom via a usb cable to my computer "TomTom Home" automatically boots up. From the TomTom Home screen I simply click on "Operate My TomTom" and my TomTom device boots up on my desktop screen. Nice thing here is I can use the computer keyboard &
A really nice feature is that you can plan routes via "City Centers". Just type in the names of towns along your desired route as way-points. TomTom sets the way-point at the City Center but does not actually navigate to the City Center but rather the fastest route past the City Center to the next way-point. I created a quick route from Auburn IL to Quincy IL which TomTom calculates via Interstate. Then I simply added "City Center" way-points by typing in Jacksonville IL and Meredosia IL, recalculated the route and a nice country ride exactly as I wanted. No dinking around with pinning way-points on the map and hoping you have them near the intended highway. This is a big help when trying to make the GPS take the route you want with the least number of keystrokes. Not to mention I did it all from my computer keyboard.
I've been using Tyre with Google Maps to plan routes. In a few cases routes are planned differently in Tyer compared to TomTom. When maps are downloaded from Tyre only the route way-points are downloaded. So TomTom may calculate routes differently between way-points in some cases. Solution is to use an adequate number of route way-points in Tyre.
On the other hand I am starting to find it easier to create routes from "TomTom Home" using the "Operate My TomTom" feature and City Centers as way-points. Either way this is way easier than my previous experiences with Garmin. Simply stated, "TomTom Home" works and "Tyre" works. Both respond quickly and appear to be glitch free so far. And every time I connect the TomTom to my computer it automatically performs a Backup and updates painlessly.
1951vbs,
I take a few trips each year say 4 days, 2,000 miles. May ride 650 miles the first day to get to the interesting roads. May do a couple of 350 mile days on the mountain twisties and then 650 miles back home. In a case like this it is nice to be able to explore and plan the route at the comfort of your desktop. For those that ride like this and that have planned routes on a Garmin they know it's not a simple task to get the GPS to navigate via the route of your choosing unless all of your riding is via Interstates.
On long trips I ride rain or shine so pulling into a gas station while it's raining to pull out paper maps is not a good option for all. Also during rain and periods of reduced visibility it's nice to have a waterproof GPS to let you know how far it is to your next exit so you can slow accordingly. This was very useful to me recently during heavy rain and near white-out conditions. I could concentrate on the traffic around me and not worry about scanning for barely readable traffic signs.
I understand a lot of Bikers are not traveling long distances, have no need to use pre-planned routes on their gps and for them the $100 GPS is the perfect solution. However for others that do use pre-planned routes and find creating and using them difficult and frustrating on a Garmin, then those folks may find my impressions of the TomTom useful. So in the end I think the TomTom is going to make trip planning easier and faster so I can spend more time Just Riding.
Dshark,
I understand what you are saying and if it works for you that is wonderful. Everyone has their preferred methods on the road and yours sounds solid. I....DO...also use a GPS my trips, I just don't preplan it all. I will sometimes follow the route the GPS selects or divert when I see an interesting road or sign for a historical marker or "Historic Downtown" or whatever. Eventually I will get back on course.
As far as riding on trips, you are not alone. I have logged over 800,000 miles (half without GPS) and I also ride through the weather no matter what and you are right GPS as an aid in those conditions is a safety feature. I will however pull over during lightning storms from now on!
You have me convinced, If I ever need the capability of pre-planning every way point and road I will definitely look at getting a Tom-Tom. The IBA rally guys must take it to the next level. I think I'm getting lazy, I just want to ride.
Mike, you and me both, brother.I will however pull over during lightning storms from now on!
I realize this is a total thread jack but....Mike, you and me both, brother.
3 years ago on the return from a 6000 mile trip I was only 1 1/2 hours from home (sound familar) and it had been pouring so much for so long I was laughing as I had never seen or ridden in this much rain and the lightning bolts were as big around as a lighthouse and hitting the sides of the road but I trudged on. I thought, after 35 years of riding at that time, my tires act as insulation....right...but there is so much water I was worried about conductivity. It got so bad that for the first time ever I pulled over for the weather until the lightning slacked off a bit. When I got home I googled "lightning strikes motorcycle" and was suprised to learn it is quite common and the result is typically death. Now if you google "lightning strikes motorcycle" you get dominated by your incident but that is because you made it! Ride on Miles, Ride on, my friend!
To get back on track I was using my GPS and since I couldn't see the white lines on the side of the road I was watching my Garmin to keep in my lane!
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