Best Satnav?

[Remy]

I've been impressed by some of the motorbike specific satnavs I've seen, especially the Garmin Zumo 550 which you can use in a car. What have you got and where would you recommend I buy from - I've seen some 'cheap sites' on the net but they don't get good reviews so will steer clear of them.

[dwb]

I've got the Zumo 550 - good piece of kit. Not used Tom Tom's Rider to compare it with, but most reviews seem to favour the Garmin.

Doesn't look like you'll get much change out of £400 (e.g handtec.co.uk, but out of stock). satnaveasy.co.uk is selling the Zumo 660 for about £380 ('remanufactured' whatever that means) with 12 months warranty.

Or take a gamble on a used unit on ebay I suppose.

Dave

[Remy]

I've decided to go for the 660 - cheaper and newer than the 550, and from Amazon.

[Mawsley]

If I was a courier I'd have a Sat-Nav.

I'm not, I enjoy seeing things and just riding for the hay of it.

[dex]

I've got a Zumo 660, which I bought in preference to the Tom-Tom after grilling everyone I could find who had one or t'other.

Halfway along the Pyrenees last month I bumped into a guy with the top Tom-tom - who said he was about ready to skip it as the screen was unreadable in the sunlight. We put the two next to each other and he decided he'll order a Garmin when he got back!

There's cheaper options that work pretty well (car sat nav in waterproof case), which I've used in the past - but I have to say I think the 660 was worth the money for the ease of use and the way everything integrates.

[mealexme]

I've got a smartphone with an app, put a few holes in the car cradle and connected it to my handlebars. That plus a pair of headphones works great

til it rains, or is sunny (too reflective) lol

[techno]

Have decided i may if I get my bonus next year treat myself to a satnav as I cant always rely on others to navigate and i want to do more touring, have always regarded them as not necessary upto this point as the wife has mentioned getting one before.

So maybe if she wants to use it she'll split the cost with me

[Remy]

Have decided i may if I get my bonus next year treat myself to a satnav as I cant always rely on others to navigate and i want to do more touring, have always regarded them as not necessary upto this point as the wife has mentioned getting one before.

So maybe if she wants to use it she'll split the cost with me

 

Well I always used maps and said I'd never get a satnav, but I tend to go all over the place on my bike and into some quite remote areas and another problem is I need glasses to read a map now LOL!! I was impressed by this one after seeing it used by a biker I rode out with, and it can also be used in the car. I'll give it a review here once I've used it a few times!

[Namso]

I've been using my Nokia phone as a satnav, no internet connection required as all the maps are loaded into the phone and its "free for life" as Nokia say, I just plug in my headset and put 1 earphone in (you could use 2 if you wanted to because it doesnt block out all the road noise but I prefer knowing that i have 1 full functioning ear while satnav lady talks) and the phone goes into my pocket, the voice instructions are good and auto reroutes if you make a wrong turn.

[Jonabonospen]

I have got a TomTom Rider version 2 and I personally like it. I also have the car mount for it so I can use it in the car for work too. It does have its little niggles but so do the Garmins from what I have seen and heard. Sometimes the sun can reflect off the screen a bit but just a little change of angle of the mount soon sorts this out. It works just the same as your normal car TomTom's so is really easy to use, but the Rider model is just made so that it works when you try press it with gloves on.

I never thought I would have a satnav on a bike, but it really is worth it. You can plan your days specific route to take in all the places and spots you want, or you can just go for a ride wherever the mood takes you with it turned off and then just turn it on press home and head back. Then also for any touring or far away meets / rideouts where you dont know where it is they are great. The other great advantage is that if you are riding roads you dont know then a quick glance down on the straights gives you an idea of what the corners coming up are like, tight, easy, opening, tightening etc etc. A great example of this was last weekend when me and my mate went out and I was leading and could anticipate what sorts of corners were coming up and ride at a suitable speed where as my mate was slowing down more as he didnt know what to expect.

[wannars125]

I have the Garmin Zumo 220. Was fantastic going round Europe. Found most places quite easily and the Mapsource program that you get to upload routes is really good. Has lots of good information on the device itself although it does record your top speed. Not good I guess if you get pulled over!!!

The screen was clear enough most of the time and the instructions are good although I turned it off as it kept cutting out the intercom!

I also think it's a bit cheaper than the 660 if you haven't bought it already.

[dex]

If you like mapsource (I don't, I think it's rubbish) then you'll love TYRE (Track Your Route Everywhere) - it's completely free and uses google maps, letting you click and drag waypoints etc.