GPS Question
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,553
Likes: 17
You can really do this on the cheap.
A good affordable GPS is this Garmin nuvi 255W. Wide screen and works great. My bud has this exact model on his bike.
A good mount is this one made by RAM. It's what I use and it works perfectly.
A good power supply (provided you have a battery tender pig tail hanging from your battery) is this one from Powerlet. Use zip ties to run it up under your tank, zipping it to existing wires. That'll also give you the ability to charge cell phones and anything else using a cig lighter charger.
Before shipping the total is $161.89 for everything.
A good affordable GPS is this Garmin nuvi 255W. Wide screen and works great. My bud has this exact model on his bike.
A good mount is this one made by RAM. It's what I use and it works perfectly.
A good power supply (provided you have a battery tender pig tail hanging from your battery) is this one from Powerlet. Use zip ties to run it up under your tank, zipping it to existing wires. That'll also give you the ability to charge cell phones and anything else using a cig lighter charger.
Before shipping the total is $161.89 for everything.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
Hey Bry.. he asked what others have done... was just telling him.
My opinion you need to be looking at a whole lot of other things and not a GPS. If you need to consult a GPS, get off the road.. pull it out of your pocket, turn it on... get your directions... turn it off... put it back in your pocket.
My opinion you need to be looking at a whole lot of other things and not a GPS. If you need to consult a GPS, get off the road.. pull it out of your pocket, turn it on... get your directions... turn it off... put it back in your pocket.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 4
I only use the GPS to help me find my way back home from a ride.... or find a fuel station. 
You can do this on the cheap as above or get a Garmin Zumo, their kit has everything you need, a couple different mounting options, has both motorcycle and car modes, weather proof, you can outline a road trip on your home PC and transfer the route to the GPS, has internal battery backup that gives a couple of hours. Has a really nice Garmin high end software and user interface. You can download audio tour and have audio cometary on a local attraction as you cruise around... Can be programmed to alert you to start finding fuel and shows you most of the nearby stations.. and the best way to get there... it clips on and off easily, offers blue tooth, for hands free phone use and MP3 player that can play wireless to helmet speakers. Not much if anything left out, but also maybe $700, about a $200 premium over the equivalent car model. It is a well made product, no shortcuts.
The topic comes up often enough that you could find options for just about anything in between,the quick and dirty to full feature at a price.
You can do this on the cheap as above or get a Garmin Zumo, their kit has everything you need, a couple different mounting options, has both motorcycle and car modes, weather proof, you can outline a road trip on your home PC and transfer the route to the GPS, has internal battery backup that gives a couple of hours. Has a really nice Garmin high end software and user interface. You can download audio tour and have audio cometary on a local attraction as you cruise around... Can be programmed to alert you to start finding fuel and shows you most of the nearby stations.. and the best way to get there... it clips on and off easily, offers blue tooth, for hands free phone use and MP3 player that can play wireless to helmet speakers. Not much if anything left out, but also maybe $700, about a $200 premium over the equivalent car model. It is a well made product, no shortcuts.
The topic comes up often enough that you could find options for just about anything in between,the quick and dirty to full feature at a price.
Last edited by ColdCase; Dec 22, 2010 at 09:23 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I bought a 99 dollar Tom Tom and a 11 dollar bike handlebar mount. I also had to wire a cigarette lighter plug to my bike. I use that sucker everywhere I go. Its an absolute godsend. Especially since moving from Chicago to the unfamiliar South. Just punch in the destination and you can veer and change your route as much and as often as you wish and the stupid thing just keeps correcting and reroutes you to your final destination.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,248
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville, NC
just a question. I'd like to have a gps for longer trips and would have to go cheap. My question is just how water proof or water resistant are gps devices which aren't purpose made for a bike like the Zumo is