GPS Recommendations?

[mickarch]

So, I'm planning a nice long ride from Detroit to Houston and back and would like to get a good GPS unit to map out the trip.  I've been looking at the Garmin Zumo's, 550 and 660, and also see that some folks are using the StreetPilot 2820.  It looks like I can get either Zumo for about the same cost, or save about $100 and get the StreetPilot (which I understand to be discontinued).

Does anybody have any recommendations on what would be the gps of choice?  My main concerns are: the ability to create my own routes on my computer, user friendliness on the bike with gloves on, ease of screen readability, weatherproofness...  All the basic stuff.  I'm not really interested in bluetooth or xm at the moment, but maybe some day.

So, what say you all?

Thanks,
Mickey

btw, anybody have any route recommendations?

[racerman_27410]

you may not be intersted in those features right now but they are nice to have.


Zumo 550 here and i like its ease of use.

.if you can get the 660 for the same price as the 550 then that should be telling you the 550 is better 

KOokaloo!

[fjrpierre]

I've been using a Nuvi 550 for over a year now. It's waterproof (21 days of rain on my last trip thank you!) and you can actually use it while moving using your glove. It's on sale right now at Costco (Canada ) for about $200; don't know about in US. It's got everything I needed for a little 12,000k trip across NA last year. Did everything from program my own routes to download rally routes. Like anything else there is a learning curve but once you get it down it's surprising what you can do with it. Screen lighting was ok; next trip I might build a little shade to use in direct sun from back. Get the power hookup and its good to go, although it also has a replaceable battery if necessay.

It's cheap and useful I think.

(and having said that go to this thread and scroll down to bramfranks comments on the NUvi and similar GPS generally; he is a geru in the field)

http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=127468&hl=

[mickarch]

Wow, $200 in canada!  That's much less expensive than I've been finding online so far, it's $599 on the US costco site which is about the same as I've found it elsewhere. Wonder if I go to Windsor, if they'll accept a us membership?  From what I'm reading here and reviews elsewhere, it seems like the 550 is the way to go.  I just can't seem to figure out what might be better about the 660 besides the bigger screen Sounds like nothing...

[mickarch]

Ahh, after following the link, I see that it's the Nuvi 550, not the Zumo 550 for $200.  Now, that makes sense.

[rktmanfj]

I have the StreetPilot 2820, and like it a lot.

Still looking for the XM antenna for a reasonable price though.

Randy T
Indy

[mst3kguy]

i have the zumo 550 and have been very happy with it.

frank, when did you get yours?

you may not be intersted in those features right now but they are nice to have.


Zumo 550 here and i like its ease of use.

.if you can get the 660 for the same price as the 550 then that should be telling you the 550 is better 

KOokaloo!

[racerman_27410]

i have the zumo 550 and have been very happy with it.

frank, when did you get yours?

last fall before my trip out west.... my old 2610 finally gave up the ghost at the cradle mounting point.

i love riding without wires

Eric and i bought the chatterbox xbi2 stereo blue tooth comms and they worked pretty good. Stereo dongle from the zumo headphone port gets me both directions and tunes and phone...... although i will say there is something not quite right with taking a phone call on the motorcycle.

did i mention i love riding without wires?

Kookaloo!

[the fan]

I want the set up Norbert had at the spring rally a few years ago. His seemed to have a great sense of humor...