Another HD-GPS road test
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,682
Likes: 8,414
From: Utah
[QUOTE=thevirginian;15134659] If you call our complaining "bitching" you are dead wrong.
I have to ask, are you a politician?
I have to ask, are you a politician?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 409
Likes: 4
From: Lake Worth, Florida
I had no issues with ride planner when I used it but use Tyre now. I have no issues with the GPS on my 14 limited either. So far it gets me where I want to go and back with no issues. Personally, I do not feel a need for another GPS at this time. Right now I am loading some North Georgia Mountain rides into my GPS for a trip in July and if things go as they have in the past it will work just fine.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 798
From: Bear Flag, lower end
I love my '15 RGS. The absolute best motorcycle I've ever owned.
The GPS system is an effing joke. Decades out of date, crude, hard to use, hard to see, piece of crap. The best $20 I've spent on the bike so far is a handlebar mount for my Galaxy S5, which I Bluetooth to my SENA headset. Don't get me started on Harley and Bluetooth.
I was talking to the regional MoCo rep about it, and he asked what I use the BOOM system for. I said: "It's a $24,000 clock".
A guy I ride with is a PhD in chemistry and a professor at the local university. He just bought a brand, spankin' new Street Glide. I asked his opinion about the GPS. He burst out laughing..."It's effing TERRIBLE".
I know, I know, there are Harley riders who love their GPS. I assume they have a black and white tv and a rotary dial phone at home. There can't be any other explanation, because if you've actually used a modern GPS system...there are no words.
Total POS.
The GPS system is an effing joke. Decades out of date, crude, hard to use, hard to see, piece of crap. The best $20 I've spent on the bike so far is a handlebar mount for my Galaxy S5, which I Bluetooth to my SENA headset. Don't get me started on Harley and Bluetooth.
I was talking to the regional MoCo rep about it, and he asked what I use the BOOM system for. I said: "It's a $24,000 clock".
A guy I ride with is a PhD in chemistry and a professor at the local university. He just bought a brand, spankin' new Street Glide. I asked his opinion about the GPS. He burst out laughing..."It's effing TERRIBLE".
I know, I know, there are Harley riders who love their GPS. I assume they have a black and white tv and a rotary dial phone at home. There can't be any other explanation, because if you've actually used a modern GPS system...there are no words.
Total POS.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 310
Likes: 13
From: Chesapeake
I had no issues with ride planner when I used it but use Tyre now. I have no issues with the GPS on my 14 limited either. So far it gets me where I want to go and back with no issues. Personally, I do not feel a need for another GPS at this time. Right now I am loading some North Georgia Mountain rides into my GPS for a trip in July and if things go as they have in the past it will work just fine.
You guys always mention the Ride planner. Sure, it may work halfway decent, if it comes to that. But that's not the only thing a GPS is meant to do. What I expect from a halfway decent GPS system is, besides legible graphics, user-friendliness, as well as accuracy. And the HD-GPs lacks all of that. I can read the 5" screen of my Garmin better and easier than this 6.5" GPS. Sure, in general you have almost all the features in this HD-GPS, as you can find in a $150 Garmin. But you certainly don't find them as easy to use compared to a Garmin. And finally the accuracy: Why having a "time to destination" feature, if it is off by 30min. Why having a speed indicator that seams to be linked to the motorcycle speedometer and not to the GPS? Why do I have a search feature for HD-dealerships, when it cannot find them (happened 3x to me). Why having a map that shows intersections in the wrong location? Why having a POI-feature that cannot find hotels, or restaurant (happened on several occasions)? If I wouldn't have the comparison to my Garmin, I, probably, would be satisfied with this unit, as so many here.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 752
Likes: 23
From: Acton, CA
Ok, here's a positive post, with some useful advice to boot.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
Last edited by caberto; May 12, 2016 at 05:50 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
Ok, here's a positive post, with some useful advice to boot.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
You guys always mention the Ride planner. Sure, it may work halfway decent, if it comes to that. But that's not the only thing a GPS is meant to do. What I expect from a halfway decent GPS system is, besides legible graphics, user-friendliness, as well as accuracy. And the HD-GPs lacks all of that. I can read the 5" screen of my Garmin better and easier than this 6.5" GPS. Sure, in general you have almost all the features in this HD-GPS, as you can find in a $150 Garmin. But you certainly don't find them as easy to use compared to a Garmin. And finally the accuracy: Why having a "time to destination" feature, if it is off by 30min. Why having a speed indicator that seams to be linked to the motorcycle speedometer and not to the GPS? Why do I have a search feature for HD-dealerships, when it cannot find them (happened 3x to me). Why having a map that shows intersections in the wrong location? Why having a POI-feature that cannot find hotels, or restaurant (happened on several occasions)? If I wouldn't have the comparison to my Garmin, I, probably, would be satisfied with this unit, as so many here.
As far as recalls, the manufacturers are not reading forums to base their recalls on. They listen to customer issues relating to safety.
As far as not knowing the shortfalls of a product before the purchase in this day and age falls on you as well. Due diligence on your part would have told you what you wanted to know. You obviously failed to research your purchase prior to it. Had you done so, that whole human nature expectation thing may have been in check.
You may be one of those people that are just never satisfied. I've met them before.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 673
From: Rolla
Ok, here's a positive post, with some useful advice to boot.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
I would recommend taking the time to learn the product, and practice it. And yes, I've had Garmin GPS's in the past and still do, so I do have something to compare the 6.5 Nav system to. I've had no issues with my 6.5 Nav system, and I don't think it's luck, unless you have a defective unit.
Imported routes always work as I (carefully) plan them out. I can get to POI's without issues, and enter an address and get there without issue. But I did take the time to learn how to use each feature the right way and test it before I hit the road. I also learned how to use Ride Planner, then Basecamp, which has more features IMO, and works great with the Nav system.
So, in summary, in my experience, the Nav system does what it is meant to do, and am quite happy with it... and believe it or not, I also have a high-end home theater system with a pretty nice 70" color TV... not a "black and white" TV as is assumed I would have if I'm happy with this unit, so my expectations are not low
I always try and take the time to learn everything I can about new gear; if I don't, I won't bash it, as it's probably me who is falling short of using it properly... Anything worth having is worth working for.
I also have a stand alone Garmin GPS, so I do know how they work.
My Boom system works every bit as good.
I'll admit it has a much higher learning curve than a simple Garmin.
But most built in factory systems do.
If a person doesn't want to learn how to use the system that isn't HD's fault.
I've never had it fail in finding an address, or leading me to a destination.
I've loaded multiple routes (From the Black Hills of South Dakota, to Northwest Arkansas, and Southwest Missouri), and never had any issues.
You may want to trade out to a non gps radio, take the savings and use a Garmin connected to the bike. There is your fix to the gps issues for you. If you have to have a microphone or headset that's bluetoothed to the radio, you are stuck. Noone i know of makes that unit, at least not yet. All the vehicles i know of that has voice capability is a wired microphone. Phones connect but vehicle head units don't. They don't have the protocols to pull that off. You either wire a microphone or don't use the voice features. That would be one of those expectations i was referring to. You can want it, dream it or expect it, but you won't get it.(at least for now).
As far as recalls, the manufacturers are not reading forums to base their recalls on. They listen to customer issues relating to safety.
As far as not knowing the shortfalls of a product before the purchase in this day and age falls on you as well. Due diligence on your part would have told you what you wanted to know. You obviously failed to research your purchase prior to it. Had you done so, that whole human nature expectation thing may have been in check.
You may be one of those people that are just never satisfied. I've met them before.
As far as recalls, the manufacturers are not reading forums to base their recalls on. They listen to customer issues relating to safety.
As far as not knowing the shortfalls of a product before the purchase in this day and age falls on you as well. Due diligence on your part would have told you what you wanted to know. You obviously failed to research your purchase prior to it. Had you done so, that whole human nature expectation thing may have been in check.
You may be one of those people that are just never satisfied. I've met them before.
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Joe Kucinski
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,682
Likes: 8,414
From: Utah
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
Here's a site that helped me learn the system.
http://boombox.harley-davidson.com/premium.html
http://boombox.harley-davidson.com/premium.html
As far as some of the others here, its much easier to not learn it and just continue to whine that it doesn't work.