GPS decisions
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 752
Likes: 23
From: Acton, CA
I've had two different Nuvi's on my bikes over the last several years. My original Nuvi 260w I gave to my daughter over a year ago and she is still using it.
I now use a Nuvi 1490LMT on my bike and I have never had any issues with either of the two Nuvi's. The display has been fine, routing has been trouble free, and I can download from the Harley Ride Planner or Streets & Trips. When not in use on my bike, the 1490LMT does double duty in my truck. No complaints, and very economical.
I have it mounted with velcro on a chrome techmount mount. They both have been through 100+ degree temps, cold, light rain, and have hung tough through the years.
I now use a Nuvi 1490LMT on my bike and I have never had any issues with either of the two Nuvi's. The display has been fine, routing has been trouble free, and I can download from the Harley Ride Planner or Streets & Trips. When not in use on my bike, the 1490LMT does double duty in my truck. No complaints, and very economical.
I have it mounted with velcro on a chrome techmount mount. They both have been through 100+ degree temps, cold, light rain, and have hung tough through the years.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake, VA
I too had the digitizer fail on my 450 and replaced it with an ebay model (digitizer and LCD combo) although not as bright as the original it worked until it was retired due to the buttons cracking and was afraid of water intrusion. I called Garmin and talked them into trading me "up" to a 550 for $150 as they were out of 450's. I chose the 550 as I purchased the car mount and like the fact that the Zumo's have the ability to store 50 routes. Give Garmin a ring and try to BS your way into the 550. They did it for me as I have a bunch of their units. A GPS48, etrex, Nuvi 500, Zumo 450, and Nuvi 1450LMT...
My first GPS for the bike was the Nuvi 500. It is waterproof but is hard to see as the display is a different color and the cig power adapter is a pain in the azz. It is my backup unit and use it in the cage.
My first GPS for the bike was the Nuvi 500. It is waterproof but is hard to see as the display is a different color and the cig power adapter is a pain in the azz. It is my backup unit and use it in the cage.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 66
From: Hartford, AL
Before I bought the 660, I got a Garmin 1300 LTM which was OK. I don't fully trust a GPS to naviage me and armed with a map it did an OK job. Screen was not real big, keyboard impossible to use with gloves and difficult with regular fingers. Figure a pencil eraser used as a stylus works good, but that is difficult to use when on a bike with gloves on. I used it with the suction cup on the inside of the windshield and it held well except when it was cold, 30 degrees. I had it tethered so it didn't crash to the road. I put the 1300 in the car.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
I looked at the 220 but it doesn't have an MP3 player, which is something I've grown to like.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Originally Posted by Shooter5074
+1
Once you know the little secrets to plotting perfect waypoints, it works great.
Plotted a backroad 2700 mile trip this summer and it didn't miss a single turn. And didn't touch a single "superslab"
Once you know the little secrets to plotting perfect waypoints, it works great.
Plotted a backroad 2700 mile trip this summer and it didn't miss a single turn. And didn't touch a single "superslab"
As for waypoint structuring, I've found that the Zumo 450 uses waypoints as well, and when you export routes from Mapsource it converts them to GPX format. Thus, if you don't establish viapoints, which are waypoints placed at intersections and maybe other specific map points, the Zumo may interpret the exported route different from what you plotted in MS.
As for the HD Ride Planner, I haven't had good luck with it at all. Every route I've submitted got screwed up in one way or the other. The last one I tried to export for a friend to view truncated the route, showing only half of it. It worked fine in the Zumo or in MS.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 7, 2012 at 11:35 AM.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Originally Posted by Caberto
I now use a Nuvi 1490LMT on my bike and I have never had any issues with either of the two Nuvi's. The display has been fine....
I called Garmin and talked them into trading me "up" to a 550 for $150 as they were out of 450's. I chose the 550 as I purchased the car mount and like the fact that the Zumo's have the ability to store 50 routes. Give Garmin a ring and try to BS your way into the 550. They did it for me as I have a bunch of their units. A GPS48, etrex, Nuvi 500, Zumo 450, and Nuvi 1450LMT...
My first GPS for the bike was the Nuvi 500. It is waterproof but is hard to see as the display is a different color and the cig power adapter is a pain in the azz. It is my backup unit and use it in the cage.
Last edited by iclick; Nov 7, 2012 at 12:12 PM.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
I saw this and really hesitated to open it thinking, OMG, another idiotic GPS question but glad you have been down the Zumo road. I am however sorry to hear about your unit going bad. Especially since my Zumo 660 is just over a year old and a couple days ago I bought the lifetime map update.
IDK how long you have had your unit but I suspect at least 5 or 6 years? I know its no comfort and hope mine lasts longer but if I had to buy another one it would prolly be a Zumo. I WOULD NOT be looking at a refurbished unit. Been down that road on another GPS and was like pulling teeth to get it fixed but Garmin did ultimately replace it.
Best of luck and I am curious what you will end up doing. I rely on mine too much for too many things to be without it.
IDK how long you have had your unit but I suspect at least 5 or 6 years? I know its no comfort and hope mine lasts longer but if I had to buy another one it would prolly be a Zumo. I WOULD NOT be looking at a refurbished unit. Been down that road on another GPS and was like pulling teeth to get it fixed but Garmin did ultimately replace it.
Best of luck and I am curious what you will end up doing. I rely on mine too much for too many things to be without it.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 416
Likes: 3
To your concern about being able to see the GPS screen, there are anti-glare screens for GPS models, like this one: http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/anti...shade-for-gps/
To the notes about the cost and replacement... just another reason why you don't need to spend $600 on a GPS, the Nuvi series and even the TomToms are so affordable. AND, as long as you've got a decent mount (such as http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/CTGY/nuvi.html) you should be able to enjoy your GPS for a long time.
To the notes about the cost and replacement... just another reason why you don't need to spend $600 on a GPS, the Nuvi series and even the TomToms are so affordable. AND, as long as you've got a decent mount (such as http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/CTGY/nuvi.html) you should be able to enjoy your GPS for a long time.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 573
Likes: 7
From: Florida
I use the Tom Tom GPS
As said before you can buy another for cheep when needed
Here is a very cheep alternative for a mount !
Easy on and off , don't shake .
No fugly hardware left behind when not in use
And you can afford to buy another when you upgrade to a newer model
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TomTom-One-X...item5adb7bec06
As said before you can buy another for cheep when needed
Here is a very cheep alternative for a mount !
Easy on and off , don't shake .
No fugly hardware left behind when not in use
And you can afford to buy another when you upgrade to a newer model
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TomTom-One-X...item5adb7bec06