Experience with motorcycle GPS

[spydercanopus]

I'm looking to get a GPS for my bike. I want to explore without getting lost. Anyone have some experience with them? What should I look for or avoid?

[Johnj]

I love being lost.

[spydercanopus]

I guess such a thing isn't so popular. Perhaps it's too distracting from the ride to be a safe add-on.

Getting lost, here I come.

[Johnj]

Sorry for being so flip. I research the roads I'm going to be riding. I also carry a Garmin GPS when I'm on the road, but not a motorcycle unit as I use it when I stop. Now that I have a smartphone I'm going to try to use that.

I do like to get lost.

[storysunfolding]

I used to use a street pilot then I switched to a garmin nuvi... I want to say 550? One of the nuvi's in the 500 range is waterproof. It's essentially the zumo but without the crazy price. I mounted it with a ram mount and gave it dedicated power from the bike.

[jstark47]

My wife has a Zumo 550 and she's complained it can be hard to see the screen sometimes in bright sunlight. So I'd say buy the unit with the biggest, brightest screen you can find.

[storysunfolding]

They also sell aftermarket sunshades that work great for a GPS. Glare is definitely one of my biggest problems.

[flw]

I have a Garmin Zumo 220, I got it last Christmas.

I like it. It can be used in my car, bike and when I go overnight to downtown Chicago I like to walk around. Its nice to be sure I can get back to my hotel without getting lost or having to use a taxi.

It fits in my pocket and is easier to carry around than large maps. Now I do like maps at home for planing the general way I wish to go. Buy when out, I prefer a gps.

My Zumo is nice because it works in many different modes. Riding, driving and walking.

Mine was new and onsale for $299 plus about $10 for shipping. The larger screens are less pocketable due to the screen size. On my bike I can tilt the unit in any direction, if the sun is a issue.

Just my thoughts and experience so far.

[pchast]

Whats so wrong about getting lost. I'll go for a ride and maybe keep a general direction. If its time to head home, I'll pull over and take a break. The gps comes out of the pocket to tell me where I am and how to head home. I don't need another distraction when I'm enjoying the ride and sightseeing.