If you own a motorcycle, a GPS system can transform your rides into exciting experiences. Discover incredible locations to explore by plotting out your journey in advance and transferring the information to your GPS device. Travel to new places with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can always find your way back.
Traveling on your motorcycle can be made more relaxing and enjoyable with the help of a GPS device. Your GPS can save the day if you’re feeling tired or low on gas. In the event that you lose your way or take a wrong turn, your GPS device will lead you safely back to your original destination. Your GPS can make sure you have a great trip by providing voice-guided instructions and a database full of POIs like gas stations, restaurants, service stations, and hotels.
Seem like the best plaything ever? Given the proliferation of GPS systems and the seemingly continuous flood of new features and models, it can be challenging to zero in on the GPS unit that is best suited to your individual needs.
Before you go out and get your first motorbike GPS, it’s important to think about the following considerations.
What Motorcycle-Specific GPS Should You Get?
Do You Think Its Reception Is Adequate?
Is Your GPS’s Battery Life Adequate?
How Durable Is Your GPS Against Shock and Impact?
Do You Desire Mutual Understanding?
How simple is it to upgrade your GPS?
How simple is it to upgrade your GPS?
At What Cost Should I Buy It?
What Motorcycle-Specific GPS Should You Get?
Motorcycle GPS devices can be broken down into three categories: handheld, motorcycle-specific, and hybrid GPS/personal digital assistant.
A GPS that is small enough to fit in your pocket would be perfect for you if you like to go mountain biking, hiking, or camping. Versatile Sat Navs, like the Garmin Quest 2, can be used in any car as well as on the trail. In addition to riding a motorcycle, you can also transport it by car, boat, or airplane.
Motorcycle-specific GPS gadgets can provide a wealth of useful functions. Motorcycle riders will appreciate features like the TomTom RIDER’s anti-glare display, glove-friendly touch screen, and rugged, water- and dust-resistant housing. TomTom’s newest communication feature is a Bluetooth headset that can be mounted inside the rider’s helmet and used to convey voice commands to the device.
Finally, a PDA/GPS hybrid may be the best option for you if you’re looking for a GPS gadget. These gadgets may be small and lightweight because of their focus on portability, but they also typically feature a sizable display. Like portable outdoor GPS systems, this kind would be useful for a wide variety of outdoor pursuits. Devices like the Mio A201 that combine a GPS navigator with a personal digital assistant are useful in both professional and personal settings. Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint allow you to complete assignments from any location. A GPS device like this one is great if you enjoy listening to music, playing games, or storing digital images while you’re on the go.
Does Your Motorcycle GPS Have Sufficient Reception?
You should give some thought to how precisely you need your satellite signals to pinpoint your location before purchasing a GPS for your motorcycle.
The majority of currently available GPS systems can pinpoint your location within 6-8 meters. Accuracy of 3–4 meters is achieved 95% of the time with several of the newest GPS models because of their WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capabilities. For instance, the Garmin Quest 2’s 12-channel WAAS GPS receiver and flip-up external antenna allow for location accuracy of up to 9 feet.
You should keep an eye out for GPS devices with the new SiRF Star III Chip Set if you want to ride in urban or forested regions. This low-power, high-performance chipset excels in environments with lots of greenery. Keep in mind that GPS devices with externally powered antennae are fantastic at keeping a signal even in dense forests.
Can You Get Enough to Use Out of Your Motorcycle GPS’s Battery Life?
Given that a GPS enables you to ride virtually any place, battery life is crucial. The ‘AA’ batteries used in most GPS devices come in sizes that can power them for 2, 4, or 6 hours. If you’re prone to forgetting the time now and then, a GPS with an in-built rechargeable battery is the way to go. You can keep your battery fully charged at all times with GPS devices like the TomTom RIDER by charging it from your bike’s battery while you plan your next journey.
How Vibration And Hardware Proof Is Your Motorcycle GPS?
Your GPS will receive a lot of use (and attention) if you can go pretty much everywhere you want to ride without worrying about getting lost. Consequently, you should think about how well your GPS holds up under stress.
Motorcycle-specific GPS systems, such as the TomTom RIDER, were developed with this goal in mind. It can withstand the elements without damage, and its exterior casing and shock mount are both sturdy enough to withstand significant impact without breaking.
If you plan on using your GPS on your motorcycle frequently, you should get a vibration-isolated mount even though most GPS units already come with a mount. RAM mount by NPI, quickly becoming the standard in the industry, produces anti-vibration ball and socket mounting systems that can be used to securely fasten just about anything. This is a must-have if you plan on using your Garmin Quest 2 GPS a lot while riding your motorcycle.
Is Two-Way Talking on Your Motorcycle GPS a Priority?
Two-way communication has reached new heights with the release of the next generation of GPS devices for motorcycles.
Many Sat Navs, including the TomTom RIDER, now include a Bluetooth receiver, which is useful if you have a GPRS Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. You may receive calls without ever removing your gloves or helmet thanks to Bluetooth technology that allows your phone to be connected to a headset.
Bluetooth-enabled phones also allow for wireless Internet access and, in the case of some GPS devices, the receipt of real-time traffic updates.
Like to take group rides? It’s helpful to know that certain modern handheld devices come with in-built radios that not only let you talk to other people in your group but also show where they are on the map.
How simple is it to upgrade your motorcycle’s GPS?
Given the incessant evolution of roadways, it’s crucial that your GPS is both user-friendly and capable of receiving updates quickly and affordably.
Remember that different GPS models will require different methods of updating, and pick the one that works best for you.
Attached PDAs, such as the Mio A201, are typically updated through a personal computer, whereas in-car dedicated systems are typically updated through a compact disc. These can be acquired using the road map data provider.
You can get ready-to-download maps from certain software manufacturers and transfer them to your GPS device. TomTom, in particular, runs the popular TomTom PLUS service.
The Trade-Off: Cost Analysis
The decision comes down to one simple factor: how much you are willing to spend on a GPS device that meets your demands.
Using my advice above, you need to prioritize the characteristics that are most important to you. GPS systems like the TomTom RIDER start at around £550 inc. VAT come loaded with state-of-the-art features like real-time, on-demand traffic information, hands-free calling, turn-by-turn voice instructions via Bluetooth headsets, alerts for speed camera locations, and thousands of helpful points of interest.
On the other hand, a handheld gadget may be more your speed if you’re just looking for something fun to play with and a basic GPS to get you from point A to point B. Motorcycle riders and enthusiasts of other outdoor pursuits can benefit from GPS devices like the Mio 268 and the Garmin Quest 2, both of which offer a variety of functions, including simple voice guiding, compass mode, an MP3 player, and, of course, portability. The Mio 268 and other handheld GPS systems of a similar ilk start at around £250 (inc. VAT).
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