Motorcycle GPS

[Hammered]

I like the Youtube post I found on hacking the Mio C320 to add text to speech. And its all done from the Mio site, no 3rd party wares to mess with stuff. Check it out here. Directions for doing it are at the bottom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcvIJfosYRY

 

[duaneage]

I have software that lets me add voices to tomtom. The site was taken down but I grabbed the app before it went bye bye.

 

[bwringer]

There's a photo floating around of a touch-screen GPS on a motorcycle covered with a condom.

It actually makes a lot of sense from an engineering standpoint...




Over on http://advrider.com , there's a whole section of the forum devoted to GPS geekery. I'd highly recommend looking in over there.

 

[jmanz6]

Yeah, my Navigon is hacked using some app to hack the Mio. It was free and it seems to work so I figured why not. I did it just to do it.

 

[Hammered]

I dont see why something as simple as a zip top baggie or as bwringer stated, a condom wouldnt be the best way to go. Easy to pack both and its out and on in a flash. Id go without all the avilable lubes and the like if using the trogan approach though.

 

[Guest]

Easy to pack both and its out and on in a flash. Id go without all the avilable lubes and the like if using the trogan approach though.

It probably works well enough mounted behind a windshield....on naked bikes, heavy rain would probably obscure the condom enough to leave you wondering whether you were coming or going.

I have a Mio Knight Rider in my car, with text to speech, but wonder if it would be any good on a bike....I imagine with wind/bike sound, and a full face helmet, it still wouldn't be loud enough. Bluetooth GPS's might work well, coupled with earbud earphones.:-k

Tony.

 

[dpep]

You can buy sheets of laminate at an office supply store and apply them to the GPS to keep the water out.

 

[Nathan Daube]

Magellan Update

Magellan Update

Hey gang I just got the newest update for the Roadmate 2000. Its a great upgrade if you have a roadmate 2000.

 

[Steve]

On my Wing, I have a Garmin 2610 mounted on a RAM mount that attaches to the clutch mount. Unit is waterproof, so no problems with that. It can be connected to my intercom system so I can hear it in the helmet, but I have not yet purchased the interface.

On my wife's 850L, she is currently running my older GPS V, which is also waterproof. It is mounted on a platform that I had installed for the CB radio that I had mounted temporaraily. Since the arrival of the handlebar-mounted J&M CB, the platform now mounts the XM satellite radio (Roady2), the GPS and the thermometer/clock/voltmeter. Because of the limited memory in the V that forces us to reload a new set of maps every day on a trip, we might be picking up another 2610 for her. With a 2GB CF card, we can load the entire US and Canada.

I like the older GPS units, even though they tend to be larger. Even the 27xx and 28xx series Garmins have lost features that dumb them down to a level that I don't appreciate, even though they will speak the name of the road where you are supposed to turn. That little feature does not even come close to compensating for the loss of features like showing altitude, easily moved info tabs and transparent backgrounds for those tabs. You can get factory-refurbished units for about $150 and they carry a full one-year warranty, just like a new one. By shopping carefully, you might even find one that has maps as recent as last year's. New maps are $75, and there is a 20% discount if you are an AMA member. :dancing:

.

 

[pntrdave]

I'm wondering if the condoms are such a great idea?? You're finally home from an all day or all weekend ride, and your wife finds an empty condom wrapper in your pocket. Is she going to believe you when you say "Oh I used that on my GPS":lol:

 

[haggis905]

Magellan Roadmate 1200

Magellan Roadmate 1200

Amazon is selling the Magellan Roadmate 1200 (factory refurb) for $49 Not a bad price...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCEMV2...ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=dealt124018-20&linkCode=asn

 

[Nealswheels]

I have the Garmin Quest 2 with a motorcycle mount off of ebay rather cheap. Works rather well a little small display and a little hard to read in bright daylight. For the money I really cant complain.
Here is a pic mounted on the 82 GS850L

 

[Florida Guy]

Amazon is selling the Magellan Roadmate 1200 (factory refurb) for $49 Not a bad price...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DCEMV2...ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=dealt124018-20&linkCode=asn

Here we are 3 months later, and it is now $65

 

[tas850g]

Hey Neal,

Are there anymore mounts like that out there??? Do you have any contact info or model info. for the mount you are using? I'm trying to do the same thing. I don't have a fairing so i'm thinking the handle bars would be the next best option??? I have a Nuvi 200W.

 

[Pete Logan]

I bought a Navigon 2100 for use on the motorcycle for $69. I was even able to hack it and use the Windows Mobile that it runs for the map software.

How did you do that, please ?

 

[Nathan Daube]

RAM Mounts

RAM Mounts

I purchased a RAM Mount for my Magellan Roadmate 2000, and its great. Anyone looking for a good quality mount should check them out.

Nate

 

[jiashahood]

I saw the new Strike Genius in action at the Gold Coast show last month. Looks to be the goods. Software has been customised for the bike so it is easy to operate. Not sure on the price point yet. Anyone heard?

 

[almarconi]

Ram mount and Garmin Street Pilot 2720. I haven't been able to get lost using it so it works for me.

 

[Busafied]

Ram mount and Garmin Street Pilot 2720. I haven't been able to get lost using it so it works for me.

I wound up buying another setup, which just happened to be a 2720 & Ram mount.
I like the setup very much.

 

[GS1000G Shopper]

I really like this thread. I have GPS navigators in almost everything I drive, and love 'em. I was going to start one with my recent research into the topic, but will add-on here instead.

In a nutshell, I'm looking to get the following functions on my next bike:
1) GPS with Bluetooth (BT) audio to be received in my helmet (actually had looked into voice command, but determined it was not feasible)
2) MP3 file player, audio in helmet as above
3) FM radio, audio in helmet as above
4) Handsfree phone via BT (very low priority for me- I hate cellphones, only have one since the wife *occasionally* has to pick me up when one of my project vehicles experiences a failure)

I won't get into the BT helmet issue, suffice it to say I will have stereo speakers via BT Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP, lets you stream stereo audio via BT) and a microphone.

After doing a lot of research and manual reading, here is what I've come up with:

If you want a decent GPS based system, the Garmin 765T is good. It has a 4.3" screen, A2DP, as well as FM audio output and will play MP3 files. It does not have an FM radio, so I excluded it.

Next was the Samsung Q1 "Ultra Mobile PC" or UMPC. This is a 7" diagonal (most GPS units are 3.5 to 4.3") touchscreen PC. I found one on ebay for around $200. It has a Windows OS, and BT A2DP. It can link via BT several devices. It does not have GPS built in or an FM radio- main drawback. This is an actual mini-computer and could be used while off the bike via the built-in Wifi or a 3G setup. The screen size is similar to tha of a modern double din car stereo.

An alternative would be the more modern (and expensive) Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android (there are 2 versions of this, the older Internet Media Tablet and the one I mentioned, you want the newer one). It also has A2DP and GPS is built-in as well as an FM radio application. The screen is 4.8", so it would be a good size for most tourers. I may still get one of these if the price is right. They are around $350 refurbished. You also have to cough up $40 to activate the GPS (lifetime price). I've read some bad reviews about the Archos GPS as far as performance. It runs the Andoid OS (1.6), so it has some upgrade options.

A very expensive option is a "ruggedized" tablet PC that is weatherproof. Panasonic makes one, and it is about $2700. These are probably too big for bike use.

Going the Samsung route, I need to add an external BT GPS receiver and software ($60 or so for Garmin mobile with BT receiver) and an FM radio. The latter can be done via one of the USB ports for around $20, or via the BT headset that can be added to most helmets.

With a custom mount on the bars or possibly the fairing, I'll have good access to the screen and can input/view data fairly easily. I'm thinking of a plate type system with velcro so the unit could be quickly removed in case of rain. The external GPS can reside out of the elements inside the fairing or in the trunk. The only item remaining once the PC is gone would be the power cord, and with a cigar outlet in the fairing, this could go also.

I will be documenting this upgrade with some photos once I find a bike. Not my first time for putting the cart before the horse.