You can dick around with Nuvi's and iPhones (that disappear in direct sun), but in the end, there is only one real and permanent solution to motorcycle gps...the Garmin Zumo series.

I played with several Nuvi's on motorcycles. They work ok, but features are somewhat limited, and of course unless you have a 500 or 550, you always have to do something to protect the Nuvi in the rain.

I played with the iPhone for a while last year. Bought a waterproof case and all and mounted it on the handlebar. Worked pretty decent, but the display on the iPhone is inadequate for motorcycle use since it will simply disappear in direct sun. Plus, if you mess around and damage that iphone by dropping it or getting it wet, then you have just made a $650 mistake (should have bought the Zumo in the first place!).

You asked about solutions other than the Zumo. There are options, cheaper options, but no real sustainable, worry-free substitutes for a dedicated platform that is designed specifically for motorcycle operation. You get what you pay for with the Zumo.

 

Smart phones have issues and have not worked for me in several areas of Virginia, West Virginia and Smokey Mountains...Note that if someone is following something like the scenic routes on Mad Maps for their travels that many times these historic or scenic byways do not have cell reception..Seems like those phones require cell tower reception in order to communicate location and are not satellite navigation tools. No reception, does not work..
The motorcycle specific GPS would be the best..and it is important to note that routes are NOT routes on the GARMIN car GPS (even though it says you can enter routes)..It will look like the HD RIDE PLANNER is in the GPS but if you try it, you will see that it changes the route unless you add dozens of way points...I would think a motorcycle GPS would allow true routes but it was rather expensive for me and i did have a car GPS available already.

 

I WAS a huge advocate for iphone or smartphone gps systems.

There are some advantages:
- Take calls
- One device for music, gps, etc... to worry about charging and stuff

I decided to still get a dedicated GPS when I was leading a group and my phones gps lost its signal for a long time.

 

Having maps on the phone is a must as far as I am concerned, especially as a motorcycle GPS.

By definition I want to ride the most remote roads, that is where coverage is worst. Also, roaming is damned expensive

 

Correct if you are using a smartphone GPS app that requires data streaming. The TomTom app on an iPhone stores the maps on the phone so it works just as well as a normal satnav (from a coverage perspective)

Personally I have never had a problem with the screen blacking out in the sun, maybe I mount mine more vertical than those that have experienced this.

Biggest bugbear with the iPhone solution is the touchscreen not working with gloves. Apart from that I can honestly say it performs just as well as any other satnav I have used, and I do use it a lot.

 

The easiest GPS to mount, I think, are the Nuvi and the more popular TomToms. I personally do not see a need to spend the kind of money on a Zumo when I can get everything I need from a Nuvi. It might also come down to what mounts best for you: http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/gpsguide.html

 

I used my HTC Evo for navigation on a recent trip. I had it plugged in charging but found that if I used the Google navigation app and streamed music from the phone to my Sena at the same time, the power draw exceeded the charge and drained the battery. Shame because the map is quite good and a nice supplement to my Zumo 550, showing live traffic conditions, etc.

 

Bingo, was waiting for someone to mention that, iphone, droid etc touch screen does not work with gloves, nuvi does. With gps enable you don't need cellphone/3G reception on those devices but the touchscreen is a dealkiller. Nuvi 760/780 still available on ebay have the audio out jack and can enter as many waypoints as necessary in route planning. FM transmitters do not cut it for playing mp3/ turn by turn on
your HK, the signal will constantly get interference as you are on the move, the output signal is not strong enough.

 

I have been using the Lifeproof case for my Iphone, the thing is great, you can dop your phone in a mudpuddle, completely submerge it in the water and pull it out unfased. The Lifeproof company recently came out with a handlebar mount, so I picked one up and so far it seems to be great. The clamp is perfect for my Drag bars, I can see when a call comes in during the ride, Listen to music, use the GPS, set my phone to video and record the ride, and I don't have to worry about coving it with a bag or anything else because the Case is completely water proof. I have dropped my phone numerous times, never had a problem, Submerged it in water while driving my boat, you name it this case can handle it. I recommend anyone using an otterbox or any other case check the Lifeproof cases, and Bike mounts out they are awesome. anyways thats my two cents, take it for what you will.

 

Just a note, there are gloves that will work with touch screen devices. I could have had that option on the elk skin ropers I just bought..... Glove companies know this is an issue.