Thought about a GPS for the heritage...
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3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Spring, TX
Thought about a GPS for the heritage...
Picked up a 2013 Heritage two months ago and I love it. Heading out on my first longer trip from Houston to the Austin Hill country this weekend. Riding to New Braunfels on Friday, then a tour through the Hill Country via Lukenbach and Albert - stay at a buddy's ranch on Sat. and cruse back to Houston on Sunday.
I considered purchasing the Zumo 660 GPS form the local HD dealer, but was sticker shocked at the $799+ tag on that sucker. I'm used to satellite radio and GPS in my cage to get me around so I was drawn to the same features on the bike.
Then I remembered, I bought a Heritage and not a touring bike because I like the idea of getting back to basics. All the tech distracts us from what we notice on the road:the scenery, the smells, the feel of the bike....So this weekend I'll tape a map on the windshield, fire up the engine and head onto the road for 500 miles of adventure. I'll turn off the phone and leave the world behind for a few days. If I get lost, I'll pop into a gas station and look over a map to get my bearings, maybe even strike up a conversation with a local in search of suggestions for better roads and places I may have passed up along the way.
Thoughts?
Cheers...
I considered purchasing the Zumo 660 GPS form the local HD dealer, but was sticker shocked at the $799+ tag on that sucker. I'm used to satellite radio and GPS in my cage to get me around so I was drawn to the same features on the bike.
Then I remembered, I bought a Heritage and not a touring bike because I like the idea of getting back to basics. All the tech distracts us from what we notice on the road:the scenery, the smells, the feel of the bike....So this weekend I'll tape a map on the windshield, fire up the engine and head onto the road for 500 miles of adventure. I'll turn off the phone and leave the world behind for a few days. If I get lost, I'll pop into a gas station and look over a map to get my bearings, maybe even strike up a conversation with a local in search of suggestions for better roads and places I may have passed up along the way.
Thoughts?
Cheers...
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
I agree with you. I've also write down the route I plan on taking in pen on my arm and pull my sleeve up if I feel like I need a refresher on where I am going. I always carry my phone in case of emergency and I can always figure out where I am with it if I feel like I am lost.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 9
$799+ will buy a lot of gas. when you stop for gas, look at your road atlas. stay on the interstate if you are in a hurry...plenty of road signs there. if you are just wandering around the country side, an occasional wrong turn often ends up being the way you should have gone in the first place! use google maps and print out a route to fall back on. riding around looking at your gps makes you as bad as a kid texting...you are distracted and not paying attention to your riding.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: Florida
I rode from Florida to Laconia this year and used the GPS on the way up. It got us there but it was distracting. I really screwed up the route back so we were forced to buy a map. The ride back was far nicer without the GPS. We all knew what roads to look for rather than just blindly follow the guy in front. My GPS has it's place when I'm trying to find someplace locally but on a road trip it stays in the bag from now on.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Virtually all new phones have gps and something similar to google maps. Use it if you choose, but don't pay hundreds of dollars for a gps.
... The NSA is tracking your movements with your phone's GPS anyway, you might as well get some benefit from it
... The NSA is tracking your movements with your phone's GPS anyway, you might as well get some benefit from it
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,626
Likes: 98
From: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
I've had a GPS since day one and like it a lot. No way was I gonna spend 7 bills on one though so I picked up a great little Garmin off Amazon. 99 bucks shipped and it works perfectly. It doesn't like to get wet though but it pops off in about 10 seconds. I don't ride when it rains anyways so that was not an issue for me but when I have been caught in the rain or am washing the bike I just pop it off and you are good to go.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Son and I do at least one big trip a Yr, He has, not I, have all the GiZmo's stuff.. But we don't use any type of GPS on the trips.
We gas up usually every 1 1/2 - 2hrs and go over our roads, that is when we go over our full size Altas we take and use.
I/We don't like having to take our eyes off the road to study a GPS system mounted on the bike somewhere, really theirs enough other things to watch while ridding without
having to do that.
As U said, if U get mixed up U can always do as we do, which is pull over and figure out what to do. Even if U make a mistake, just stop and figure out how to correct it.
U never know, a wrong road doesn't always mean a Bad road.. We've seen some good country on roads we didn't mean to take..
Enjoy Ur trip and be safe..
.
We gas up usually every 1 1/2 - 2hrs and go over our roads, that is when we go over our full size Altas we take and use.
I/We don't like having to take our eyes off the road to study a GPS system mounted on the bike somewhere, really theirs enough other things to watch while ridding without
having to do that.
As U said, if U get mixed up U can always do as we do, which is pull over and figure out what to do. Even if U make a mistake, just stop and figure out how to correct it.
U never know, a wrong road doesn't always mean a Bad road.. We've seen some good country on roads we didn't mean to take..
Enjoy Ur trip and be safe..
.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 11
From: Mass/NH
LOL...I'm old school...I have a nice laminated map for each area I travel. Hey, I even get lost once in a while, but you know, over the years, I have found some cool stuff that were off the beaten path by going to see where this road goes...My grown kids have the car gps and I love to swear at the thing...LOL. My daughter keeps telling me it's not a real person Dad...LOL...I tell her I don't care because she thinks she knows everything...LOL. My brother has one and a few times it did not send us the right way...I'll stick with old school or actually ask someone...Ride safe.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,605
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From: Adirondack Mountains
because route thoughts nag my head.
Whenever I'm concentrating on road signs & finding myself in the wrong lane, I'm a danger to myself & others.