Cheap (Asian) GPS

[Overbyte]

Hello All,

OK, I am cheap. I admit it.
I see advertised on EBAY, waterproof (motorcycle) GPS units for a little over $100.
There are several models, all look generally the same.
Since most of them are made there anyway, it's worth consideration.
I am wondering if anyone had experience with them?
Usability, durability, map updates, etc.
I eagerly await your collective wisdom.

Thanks in advance,
Overbyte

[AZgl1800]

never have seen one,

I always buy a Garmin Refurbished at half price or less.

[virgilmobile]

So that's the answer to why it takes me so long to get there...I always just made 3 right hand turns and ended up back home.

[themainviking]

Also not having seen one, as I also buy Garmin, or Magellan, but not Magellan so much any more since they started breaking down two days after the end of the warranty. Or at least is seems like it. If the chinese made El Cheapo's have an RCA sound outlet that can plug into the bike, I would consider one. If it cannot plug into the auxilary sound plug, it would be pretty much useless to me. That would be my main consideration. Second consideration would be memory and upgradeability. If it has 4+ gigs of storage, and can be upgraded, I would definitely pop for one at the price point stated. Like you mentioned, most of these things are made in China anyway, with the caveat that the most common ones are made to a design spec given to them by the Brand Name holder.

I should mention that I have purchased an inexpensive off brand (probably Chinese) GPS in the past, and it turned out to be totally unsuitable, and indeed would not even turn on and off without difficulty. I agree with the refurbished Garmin units at just more than half the MSRP. I have a seven inch screened one for my RV that I really like. It replaced a seven inch Magellan that software glitched while upgrading, no more than a month out of warranty, that Magellan refused to even look at. It seems to be at the point where even warranty is not a good reason to buy, as nobody honors it.

[AZgl1800]

I love my Garmin 2797 GPS on my bike, it is mounted dead center between the hand grips, just below the gauges using RAM mount accessories.

[firey1]

I have been using a cheap generic motorbike gps from eBay last 3 years never had a problem with it

[thrasherg]

On the two wheeled Texan WEB site someone else asked a similar question, they all seemed to get good reviews, only have one map update per year and need some special software to create routes but they seem to work very well. Everyone mentioned that the 5” version is better than the 4” version and seems to find the satellites faster. As others suggested I just purchase factory reconditioned Garmin units, still not as cheap as the Chinese units but have been very reliable and whilst I hate basecamp it does work..

Gary

[Rednaxs60]

I have been using a cheap generic motorbike gps from eBay last 3 years never had a problem with it

You wouldn't happen to have a picture of your unit and how you get the maps for it.

[Overbyte]

Thanks Firey1 and Thrasherg, that is most useful information I have received so far.
Overbyte

[firey1]

This is it off eBay waterproof and comes pre loaded maps for your location
The other gps you can see at bottom is for the dual cameras system