Please tell me what setting you are using..... Fastest or Shortest ???? What is the best while riding. I want to stay on the "main" route with the fewest turns and not getting off the highways to run thru little towns. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Be Safe JIM

 

fastest...also check you "avoidance" settings. If you take shortest it will take you through small towns which sometimes is the fastest.

 

Fastest will do what you are asking. However, I have found when I want to take roads other than main highways the shortest route with avoidances enabled takes me down nice, scenic roads. I set the avoidances for toll roads, highway, etc. Try the different settings on your GPS and then see what routes it will take you when you set your destination.

 

Fastest for highway riding, shortest for scenic riding.

 

I use the Zumo/HD 550 and to be honest, have never looked at the option. Guess I need to check it out

 

I use my GPS for work. I travel from the far midwest to the east coast and from main to florida. fastest setting gives me the best routing for the most part. I will however look at both faster and shorter and sometimes pick shorter just for the adventure. Keep in mind I still use an atlas to check weights and measures for the specific route. FYI: I have tried many GPS units and Garmin 1490T is my preferred choice...and I don't use a GPS when riding my Bike...

 

I take the scenic route, sometimes it goes out of the way. I try to avoid main roads and cities especially during rush hour. I use internet maps to get a general idea, but I make up the route on the road. It doesn't usually add much time or miles and I enjoy the ride more.

 

Garmin Zumo 550. Unit set on "fastest", Mapsource software preferences usually set to "shortest". I create my routes on a computer & load 'em to the GPS unit & "shortest" allows me to choose the route with the fewest waypoints. Once I'm on the road I can follow the route, or not. If the GPS "reroutes" when I deviate it will pick "fastest". If I want to go back to my original route after a deviation I stop the route, then restart it. The GPS will ask if I want to start at the beginning. I answer "no", & the GPS will route me to the nearest point on the original route. If I tire of the original route & want to get to my destination as fast as possible I stop the route & select the end waypoint & allow the GPS to pick the fastest route.

 

I own 2 different GPS units. One by Garmin and another one by Tom Tom. I have used several different settings on the garmin and it doesnt seem to really make a difference. The only thing that makes a difference is the highway avoidance setting. But man can that setting REALLY take you the long way, sometimes a good thing.

The Tom Tom with the IQ Routes is far superior to Garmin IMO. It applies some logic to the routing and generally will route you in the most logical path. I have taken trips in the cage before and put them both on a side by side test, and prefer the Tom Tom hands down.

Tom Tom claims to make a motorcycle version called the Rider2, but I have not been able to find them in stock anywhere.

 

Shortest will usually take you through the old highways, which go through (not around) towns and STOP LIGHTS.

The GPS Routes are not always the best route, but it will get you where you want to go.
You still need to look at a hard map. I was going to "Cycle Gear" in Houston one time and my GPS took me through about 5 miles of Houston I did not want (or need) to be in...............with a traffic light on every block.