Free services like Google Maps, already in your smart phone, have made GPS's extinct.

Personally when riding, I still prefer the old school method. I jot down my route ahead of time, on (gasp)..a sheet of paper!

I've been known to fold up a map in my jacket too. Learned those ways from my pops when I was a little kid.

And tape one across my tank.

Now 'n then when you pull over to stretch yer legs 'n relieve yourself...pull out the map 'n glance at it.

Also...IMO, doing it the old fashioned ways drills it into your head better, you get a better realization of where you are and where you're going, and more of it is in memory cuz it makes you pay attention...so you know your way back by heart a lot better.

 

I think you have an under-developed sense of adventure.

 

Perhaps...

Or perhaps it's my sense of adventure that creates this need...

On more than one occasion I've done no thinking or planning at all. I just hopped on the bike and headed a direction - for hours. Sooner or later I find myself taking a break somewhere and not having any idea where I'm at. Eventually, I have to decide it's' time to turn around and head for home. The GPS on my phone comes in handy for determining 1) where home is, and 2) what's a good route to get there. It's a crap shoot in those situations on whether I'll have signal or not. CoPilot can come in handy in those times when I don't. Are there other ways to deal with it? Sure. But why choose a hammer when a nail gun will do it better.

And that's just one scenario...

 

That’s what I was gonna say - I usually just pick a direction and ride...then if I have no idea where I am I use nav to get back.

Of course, if I’m going somewhere specific I might nav on the way out, but usually I just pick a direction...

 

I lost track of this post as i was in between scoots. I appreciate all of the input. Ive used the 550 and 660 quite a bit. i went and did a lot of research(again). I even consider the tomtom rider. Ive decided to go with a roadtech 590. On one hand, as many will agree, the zumos can be a HUGE headache from the basecamp (formerly mapsource) software to update glitches, device glitches, etc. That being said for plotting routes, including stops, calculating time and miles, etc im of the opinion that the zumo is unparalleled. I've done many rides and followed gps up, during and back. Im hoping they've simplified things a little and they operate a little smoother.