Benefits sat nav

[Guest]

Hi there!

I bike a lot and often find it annoying to use directions printed from Google. Do you know what the best biker sat navs is and why?

Thanks Rick

[Throttled]

I knew sat navs were programmed with coffee shops and speed cameras, but not directions to your local benefits office.

[Tango]

I use Google Maps on my mobile. Problem is that it always wants me to take the most major roads around.....even if it's not the most direct route

Upsides: It's free on my mobile.

Downsides: Apart from the routing thing.....it needs a tank bag with clear window or something as the phone is not waterproof.

Haven't rigged up a charger....so battery life is limited (although my ST has an accessory socket in the left side trailing edge of the fairing...so I may need to investigate that)

[lucky]

Garmin units are lovely to use great features clear maps good to use. Maps are constantly updated (at your cost)

TomTom rider has better maps, you can reveiw your route before hand, the map data updates quicker its a better A-B nav.

Ive used TomTom rider, rider 2 also Garmin quest, street piolet, zumo 550, 450 660 and 220 and the BMW navigator range.

Fav unit has to be the Zumo 660 like i say the map could do with updating a bit quicker round town.

Also when directing off route the garmin units give distance as the crow flies not road distance like the Tom Tom

Hope this helps

Lucky

[Stu]

I use a Tomtom rider v1 and find it good enough for what I use it for

I also use a program called tyre on the pc which allows you to plan routes and transfer them to the sat nav and it follow that route this can at used with Tomtom or Garmin

[Colin the Bear]

Look at map before setting off. Use watch and sun as compass. Carry small compass incase it rains.

[nman1]

I just keep going until I stop. I then check the local accent and if it sounds familar, I know I`m getting nearer home. Job done.

Seriously though, good question. I`ve been thinking of getting one. I try and head to places and inevitably get lost so I end up not visiting the place I set out to visit. I`ll have a look at the BMF show tomorrow.

[Stu]

check out ebay if you only want one to get you from A to B with no fancy bits the tomtom V1 is ideal

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOM-TOM-RIDER ... 500wt_1362

[TC]

I use a Garmin Zumo

Brilliant bit of kit. Waterproof, shockproof, TC proof.

I use a program called 'TYRE' to plan my route on the computer, work out which routes i want to take, then transfer it to the satnav.

Just make sure when you put in a waypoint/POI etc you zoom in to make sure the point is in the correct place and not on the next street or just off the track, as satnav will keep taking you you back until you have gone through the exact point programmed (it just takes a little playing with)

Also on the Garmin when you have set up the satnav it will show you the mileage and time to final destination (not the next point). But when you select go it will only display the ETA not distance. Not a big thing but annoying for me as i like to know distance to next point and destination.

Having said that it never lost a signal all over Scotland in all weather.

The screen is very clear, you can use it with your gloves on, it has bluetooth capability and you get good prior warning of turnings and directions.