Affordable Motorcycle GPS options - Looking for input

[MalcolmReynolds]

Well I have been meaning since last year to put a GPS on the bike. I took one look at the price of the Garmin and Tom Tom motorcycle specific GPS and that halted those plans in my tracks.

I personally perfer a dedicated GPS. My Garmin in my car does a decent job and is frankly just easier to deal with than my phone.

What do you guys think? I saw on ADVrider some MT5001 chinese affordable GPS, but reviews seem to be sparse and some mixed reports on how well they work. So I would love some feedback on affordable GPS solutions for the bike. Thanks.

[GregC]

I don’t think there’s a clear winner in this discussion. Dedicated motorcycle GPS are easier to use, glove friendly, weather resistant, etc., but are ridiculously expensive for what they are (IMO).

I’ve used a Garmin Zumo, sold it and used my iPhone, bought an iPad mini and used that, sold that and now I’m back to a Zumo.

As far as iPhone apps, I like Co-Pilot. However it cannot share routes in any easy way, and you can’t plan a route on a laptop and transfer to the app. Glove friendly also matters - even with “iPhone friendly” gloves the iPhone screens are hard to use while riding.

So the cheapest method is a smartphone (if you have one already, or by buying a cheap older one) and an app. But there are drawbacks. A Zumo is much more convenient, but there’s a large premium to pay for that convenience.

[GgarryP]

I've been using my cell and Google Maps. It's working fine. And the price is right.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Alias]

I've used a Garmin 52LM. Works well enough except in bright sunlight and it's not waterproof. Used it last year on a long trip. Great for finding gas, food and motels.

A motorcycle specific GPS would be nice, but as mentioned......$$$

[dduelin]

The way I use nav there isn’t a suitable solution other than a dedicated motorcycle GPS. I have held the cost down by buying used ones from friends or factory refurbished ones that are good as new but one generation old.

[ld_rider]

I would love some feedback on affordable GPS solutions for the bike.

I have a Garmin Zumo 590LM with TPMS and love it. Super fast CPU for recalculating, nice big screen, very robust, a really nice unit.

As Dave posted, check out used or refurbs...I wouldn't bother with a Chinese knockoff or trying to cobble up an automotive unit to work on the bike. I would just use my phone instead and save up some $$ for the real deal.

[Lee Dodge]

I picked up a used Montana and like it a lot for my uses. To me, the Zumo's have a lot stuff built in that I will never use. They also drop all the minor road detail as soon as you start to zoom out. Those are the roads I want to see.

[StratTuner]

I use a Kyocera Hydro Air model cell phone as GPS.
It's waterproof and costs about $33 at Walmart.

It's loaded with "TomTom GO" software (free). Live traffic costs about $20 a year.
It has no 3G/4G chip in it, so it can't make phone calls, but the WiFi works so I can update the navigation software when I'm connected over WiFi. It carries a full map internally, so navigation works even when I have NO network access.
(GPS always works... at least until the war starts.)

It is "tethered" to my cell phone (Galaxy S4) so that it has internet access while I ride for traffic routing (while 3G/4G signal is available)

For the money, it's an excellent solution.

It's powered by cable connected to a car "power" port mounted inside the Frunk. It charges while I ride, and I can turn the power to both devices ON/OFF with a toggle switch without stopping or disconnecting the wires. (see toggle switches in lower left corner of the photo.)

I use RAM mounts and make my own cradle for it.
The hand made visors keep the sun off both devices so I can see them better.
(see pictures below).

You could also use it to play music at the same time it was handling GPS navigation.

[lue42]

I use an old iPhone 5s and primarily use Co-Pilot or Google Maps. I really like Co-Pilot's safety view - easy to read and all the information I need.
I used an old anti-glare monitor film that I found at work and cut to size inside the case. I also made the plastic sunshield but it doesn't really work well for most sun directions.
I use Spotify with downloaded playlists on it as well so my turn by turn directions work well while playing music. I have the audio going through my Sena 20s
Power is fed into the frunk to my switched AC Outlet. It is in a rugged but not waterproof cheap case.

It is all connected to a very sturdy bicycle phone mount (which I got years ago in Winners so I don't know where to get one) which is clamped onto a round bar I mounted to the top of the MadStad brackets. And no, it is not in the way at all... I see right over it all just fine and it is really nice to have the GPS in the general field of view without taking my eyes off the road too much.



FYI, that bar is this:
KUNGSFORS Rail - IKEA
You pop the bolts out of one end, cut to length and push them back it. I hammered the end afterwards to re-crimp it as best as I could. A little sanding and flat spray-paint and done.

[StratTuner]

Lue42, wow! love how it's mounted high like that.