Best GPS for non-Nav wings

[Garu]

Looking for recommendations on portable GPS units for non-Nav bikes.

[Andy Cote]

Welcome to the forum.

I have used other brands but have settled on Garmin ZUMO.

Do you want to integrate the audio into your Honda System, have the GPS talk directly to the headset via Bluetooth or just disregard the GPS audio? I have tried a couple things and have settled on the Garmin 395 with the audio jack connected to the bike using the Hollsco GPS input device sold on this site. I then have the bike's system connected to the headset via Bluetooth (Freewire and SRL). The SRL will connect to both the Freewire and a GPS but I didn't like the audio quality using that method. For the little I listen to the GPS, I could have lived with it but had the Hollsco device and wanted to try it and determined I like it better with the Honda controls for mute/volume.

[Garu]

Not overly concerned about the audio, good graphics and screen size is more important. I use my audio input for SeriusXm, so not sure if l can hook up to the bike anyway.

[Andy Cote]

The Hollsco unit adds an audio in jack to the intercom circuit so you don't need to listen to the GPS full time. If you have the right GPS, you can upload music files so one device into the AUX side would work. Sometimes you can link the GPS to the SIRIUS radio and share a single audio input.

But nothing says you must listen to the directions. I still like the Garmin. It has good support, good reception, good updates and water resistant. I have mine mounted on the dash. Pics here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=63546

[wingpilot08]

I've been relying on my IPhone mostly...the Nav on my 2008 has old maps that can only be upgraded to 2010 maps I believe at a cost of $99..plus the Nav on the bike really sucks.

[WingAdmin]

I had used a TomTom for maaany (10+) years, but I finally got rid of it as well as my Sirius/XM radio in favor of a cell phone. I bought a (waterproof!) used Samsung off eBay and activated it on my existing cell account as an additional line for $15/month. It now runs everything: music (I can run the Sirius/XM app!) navigation, everything. The maps are always up-to-date because they are live from Google Maps. I pre-download maps on Google Maps in case I happen to go anywhere that there is no cell coverage. I also have a couple thousand MP3's loaded on the phone so it will still play music if I have no cell coverage. I've used this method now for a few years, and it has worked perfectly for me.

And...now that I can work it while wearing gloves, it's even better:



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[Snowmoer]

Another Garmin ZUMO fan The one I got in 2008 is still going strong with current maps. I have used it for well over 100K miles. It is waterproof, dust proof, and made to take the shocks of being on a bike. Great screen resolution and can be used with gloves. You can also get a locking motorcycle mount and power supplies. Easy to upgrade the maps and to plan out a multi day trip on your computer to pull up your route each day. These are made for motorcycle use. It even came with a mount so I could use it in my truck.

If you just want something to go from point A to B, then anything will work including a phone. Just keep a bunch of plastic bags around to keep them dry if it rains. If you want to plan out routes on backroads with stops along the way and multi day trips, the ZUMO is the way to go. It is well worth the money.

[Garu]

Thanks for the suggestions, tried the cell phone, works well but l would like a dedicated GPS. What model Zumo are you guys using?

[oilboy1162]

Had a Zumo 595 but switched to the new XT. New screen is bright and clear, unlike the older matte type screen. Note it is bluetooth only, no audio out cables to hook into onboard speakers, which is fine for me since I've added a Freewire and went with Sena 20s headsets.

[Snowmoer]

Thanks for the suggestions, tried the cell phone, works well but l would like a dedicated GPS. What model Zumo are you guys using?

The one I use has not been made for years. Just look at the different Zumo units and see what one has the features you are looking for.

GPS City usually has the best prices that I have found.

https://www.gpscity.com/motorcycle-gps

Tourtech has high quality locking mounts. I have have one on my old Zumo

https://touratech-usa.com/Motorcycle-GP ... nd-Devices

[alwrmcusn]

I've used Garmin auto units for many years. Currently use a Drive 65 LMT. Larger screen, not as bright as the Zumo but I still am able to read it well.

[keithg64]

I had the zumo 590 for about a year and really like it because of the size and everything Bluetooth to my headset. Bought it used. I have since bought a zumo xt and like the clarity of the screen and size also.

[joeincalif]

I use a Garmin NUVI . I have 2 different ones. One is an older with FM modulator, (I think that is what it is called) you can use an open F< station on your radio to have the GPS sound come into you bike speakers/headset. the other one is a NUVI 50 LM. Both work great and a lot cheaper than the motorcycle specific ones.

[Nicksacco]

Hi All,

I am using a Garmin Nuvi 2597 and it works just fine.
I can switch it to my other bikes as needed.
It has a design which requires a special charge cord (when charging only) so it doesn't go into Garmin update mode.
Something about one of the USB pins.
Anyway, recently I went inside and installed an output jack with an internal cut off to the speaker so I could run it thru my bluetooth system. That way I can hear the turn by turn as needed.
Check this out: https://www.m-p-c.com/GPS_Bluetooth_Audio.htm
I did mine a little differently which was to install a jack into the Nuvi and not a wire with a plug.

[Wingman40]

Anyone have a GPS on the older goldwings like a 1980's 1100? Pics would be great also. Thanks in advance!!!! Great topic btw!

[2008retiredplb]

I for one would not recommend any Garmin GPS. I have had three Garmin GPS units, 2 Zumo 550's and a Zumo 660. Everyone of those I found very hard to update the unit with both system software update and map updates. Don't know if it has something to do with the fact that I am using an iMac and do not have any Microsoft programs on it.

As for the mapping program Basecamp it is next to worthless and a lot of others that try to use it say the same thing. I build a route on my iMac and when I download it to my Zumo, it recalculates the route even if I have the "recalculate route" un-checked on the unit. So all the time I took to make up this route is wasted.

Both of the Zumo 550's quit working and the first one totally went bad as it would not even turn on. Talked with Garmin support and they said to send it in and they would check it out. They sent me a new one that worked for a while and then it started to have problems with the screen it would split and show the top half on the bottom and the bottom half on the top. Their directions for using an iMac look like you need to be an electrical engineer to understand them. even the videos are hard to follow.

I then purchased my Zumo 660 and it worked for a while until the system software needed to be updated. Ever since that I have had nothing but trouble getting anything updated, system or maps. Garmin told me that the unit was an older unit and that they did not support that unit any longer. This was like within a year of purchasing it.

I have followed the directions for using a iMac to update to the letter and still no luck. I recently tried to update both the system and the maps. After 5 tries I have given up and just hope it will get me home when I am out on I ride. Every time I turn it on it would say "your maps are out of date and you need to update them to the newest" I did that at least 5 times and it was still telling me they are out of date. When I turn the zumo on it shows both the old maps and the new maps, CN North America NT 2017.20 & CN North America NT 2022.20 maps. Why would you need both maps on the unit? There are no directions to remove the old maps, or the new maps would replace the old maps, when you update them to the new maps. When I downloaded the maps to my new 28GB SD card it shows the map update but when I try to put in an address it was allowing me to put in the house number of the street but would not allow me to put in the street name and would take me back to the house number.

I have totally given up on Garmin and will use my iPhone in the future. With the cost of the Zumo units I would think Garmin would have better directions and not so hard to follow. So much of the problems are the fact that they use Microsoft programs for all there units and they don't work that well when using apple programs. On a scale of 1 being best and 10 being worst I would rate Garmin at 9 or 10. Would rate Basecamp at 12.

[dtrider]

I've been using the Garmin Zumo 550 for several years now with no problems. I even use their Basecamp software to plan my routes and it works great for me. The 550 isn't supported anymore so there won't be any more software updates for it, but I haven't had any issues with updating the maps.

When we are on a long-haul on the interstate to get to where the ride really starts my wife and I like to listen to audio books to kill the time, and the 550 includes an Audible book player. However Audible recently changed their file format such that the older Player in the GPS won't recognize the files, so now I have to convert the Audible .aax files to MP3 format to use with the MP3 player in the GPS. Haven't listened to a full book in that format yet, but the short test listens that I've done seem to be OK.

Because this 550 is getting kind of old I've thought about replacing it with a newer unit, but one of the other things that I like about the 550 is that it also has an integrated XM radio and it looks like the newer models don't include the XM. Guess I'll keep milking this one along as long as possible.
/dwight

[hvyrtft]

For those of you using your phones for Nav on your bikes I've done a bit of digging and confirmed that newer ones (iPhone & Android both) encounter vibration damage with the camera stabilization and/or auto focus components in many cases. This includes with using some of the more popular RAM Mounts even with the vibration dampeners.

I know I was disappointed when I learned this but wanted to share with the group to save you having to fix or replace a newer phone because of it. I think for many of us in this forum it might be less likely but for myself I'm looking to probably buy a new Garmin for my bike Nav needs so thank you for everyone that has shared their experience with the different models.

[Dirtrack650]

On my 83, I use a suction cup phone mount on my false tank with my old Samsung phone running Maps and or a speedo app. The phone does not need a SIM card for maps or the speedo app to work. Apps that run constantly drain the battery so I've wired in a charging cable. Only problem is above 90° the old phone has shut down due to over heating.

[WingAdmin]

For those of you using your phones for Nav on your bikes I've done a bit of digging and confirmed that newer ones (iPhone & Android both) encounter vibration damage with the camera stabilization and/or auto focus components in many cases. This includes with using some of the more popular RAM Mounts even with the vibration dampeners.

I know I was disappointed when I learned this but wanted to share with the group to save you having to fix or replace a newer phone because of it. I think for many of us in this forum it might be less likely but for myself I'm looking to probably buy a new Garmin for my bike Nav needs so thank you for everyone that has shared their experience with the different models.

Interesting, I never thought of that. I do use a phone for navigation on my bike now, but I bought an older Samsung S7 used on eBay whose sole purpose in life is to be mounted on my motorcycle. The camera in it never gets used, so I don't care if it ever gets damaged. I have Google Maps download all the maps in advance so it will work for navigation even without any data signal.

[BJB]

Welcome to the forum.

I have used other brands but have settled on Garmin ZUMO.

Do you want to integrate the audio into your Honda System, have the GPS talk directly to the headset via Bluetooth or just disregard the GPS audio? I have tried a couple things and have settled on the Garmin 395 with the audio jack connected to the bike using the Hollsco GPS input device sold on this site. I then have the bike's system connected to the headset via Bluetooth (Freewire and SRL). The SRL will connect to both the Freewire and a GPS but I didn't like the audio quality using that method. For the little I listen to the GPS, I could have lived with it but had the Hollsco device and wanted to try it and determined I like it better with the Honda controls for mute/volume.

+1 for the Zumo although figuring out the setup as noted above needs some homework.

I have a similar setup and the Zumo works for me. I have the 595LM and also the SRL and freewire. Quick question, and not off topic as the OP will run into this. I currently pair my phone to the GPS and the GPS and freewire to the SRL. As you noted, the audio quality out of the GPS is not great via bluetooth. However I can get my phone music and phone calls onto the zumo this way and the GPS interrupts my phone music. And the phone music quality is stereo and not bad.

Do you listen to music from your phone and if so, how do you get the GPS to break-in? I listen to XM via the bike system, an MP player, or phone music. You can even have some basic phone music control via the GPS if you go bluetooth.

Don't want to go off topic or hijack the thread but this is definitely part of the choice and the discussion for the OP.

Edit. Note that if your XM is external like me you can use an input on the freewire for your XM..

Thanks,
BJB

[dtrider]

Personally I don't want the GPS to interrupt. My wife does enough of that....

But the Zumo is also my XM receiver, my Audible player, and my MP3 player. I have the audio-out from the Zumo connected to the Aux In on the bike. I then have the audio out from the driver's headset connector feeding in to a Sena SM-10 dual bluetooth transmitter. The SM10 is then paired to both my and my wife's Sena 20S headsets. This way we can both listen to the same book or music. I don't use the bluetooth on the Zumo at all, but we both have our phone's paired with with our own headsets with the Media Audio setting on the phone turned off for that connection. Otherwise the phone and the SM-10 keep fighting for control of the audio. I can still make phone calls, and if a call comes that connection takes priority over the audio from the SM-10. True I can't control the phone from the Zumo screen with this setup, but for me that is less important than being able to share the audio.

/dwight

[BJB]

Personally I don't want the GPS to interrupt. My wife does enough of that....

But the Zumo is also my XM receiver, my Audible player, and my MP3 player. I have the audio-out from the Zumo connected to the Aux In on the bike. I then have the audio out from the driver's headset connector feeding in to a Sena SM-10 dual bluetooth transmitter. The SM10 is then paired to both my and my wife's Sena 20S headsets. This way we can both listen to the same book or music. I don't use the bluetooth on the Zumo at all, but we both have our phone's paired with with our own headsets with the Media Audio setting on the phone turned off for that connection. Otherwise the phone and the SM-10 keep fighting for control of the audio. I can still make phone calls, and if a call comes that connection takes priority over the audio from the SM-10. True I can't control the phone from the Zumo screen with this setup, but for me that is less important than being able to share the audio.

/dwight

OK, that was hilarious. I needed a laugh! I ride solo so want those cheerful GPS interruptions on long trips.

That is great having XM on your Zumo. Wish they had kept it. Makes perfect sense how you set it up. If I had xm on the zumo I would do the same.

BJB

[Andy Cote]

+1 for the Zumo although figuring out the setup as noted above needs some homework.

I have a similar setup and the Zumo works for me. I have the 595LM and also the SRL and freewire. Quick question, and not off topic as the OP will run into this. I currently pair my phone to the GPS and the GPS and freewire to the SRL. As you noted, the audio quality out of the GPS is not great via bluetooth. However I can get my phone music and phone calls onto the zumo this way and the GPS interrupts my phone music. And the phone music quality is stereo and not bad.

Do you listen to music from your phone and if so, how do you get the GPS to break-in? I listen to XM via the bike system, an MP player, or phone music. You can even have some basic phone music control via the GPS if you go bluetooth.

Don't want to go off topic or hijack the thread but this is definitely part of the choice and the discussion for the OP.

Edit. Note that if your XM is external like me you can use an input on the freewire for your XM..

Thanks,
BJB

IIRC, your GPS does noy have an audio out jack so my solution may not work for you. I tried a couple setups. The SRL will pair to two phones and a GPS. The Freewire will send and receive between the SRL and the Honda five pin jack and also has a separate input jack to add another audio source (GPS, XM, RADAR detector). I had a Hollsco unit from my GL1500. I also have a CellSet box from the GL1500 that I haven't even tried yet on the new bike.

I probably could have made any of the options work. But the buttons on the SRL were frustrating me (big fingers and gloves and cheat sheet of what does what). The voice commands of the SRL were also unreliable but I'm getting the hang of it. I really wanted a quick mute, easy volume changes and relatively easy skip/replay music track ability. I use the CB maybe three times a year, usually traffic issues, and would be annoyed if I couldn't use it when I wanted.

So, for me, the music needs to come thru the Honda system using iPod, thumb drive or separate phone (I'm using the thumb drive). The SRL needs the Freewire as phone 1 to make the CB work along with all the other Honda audio system. I use my phone only as a phone and connect to SRL as phone 2 and talk fine with that. I have the GARMIN running with the map all the time but I rarely program a specific destination. When I do though, by using the Hollsco and inserting it in to the intercom, it mutes the normal Honda audio like a passenger voice would. I can also turn the intercom off until I get near my destination or where there is heavy traffic and I don't want to look at the screen.

BTW, Basecamp is anything but a simple, intuitive program. Ed Conde has a nice lesson plan on how to make it work for you. Look him up via https://www.newenglandriders.org/

[BJB]

+1 for the Zumo although figuring out the setup as noted above needs some homework.

I have a similar setup and the Zumo works for me. I have the 595LM and also the SRL and freewire. Quick question, and not off topic as the OP will run into this. I currently pair my phone to the GPS and the GPS and freewire to the SRL. As you noted, the audio quality out of the GPS is not great via bluetooth. However I can get my phone music and phone calls onto the zumo this way and the GPS interrupts my phone music. And the phone music quality is stereo and not bad.

Do you listen to music from your phone and if so, how do you get the GPS to break-in? I listen to XM via the bike system, an MP player, or phone music. You can even have some basic phone music control via the GPS if you go bluetooth.

Don't want to go off topic or hijack the thread but this is definitely part of the choice and the discussion for the OP.

Edit. Note that if your XM is external like me you can use an input on the freewire for your XM..

Thanks,
BJB

IIRC, your GPS does noy have an audio out jack so my solution may not work for you. I tried a couple setups. The SRL will pair to two phones and a GPS. The Freewire will send and receive between the SRL and the Honda five pin jack and also has a separate input jack to add another audio source (GPS, XM, RADAR detector). I had a Hollsco unit from my GL1500. I also have a CellSet box from the GL1500 that I haven't even tried yet on the new bike.

I probably could have made any of the options work. But the buttons on the SRL were frustrating me (big fingers and gloves and cheat sheet of what does what). The voice commands of the SRL were also unreliable but I'm getting the hang of it. I really wanted a quick mute, easy volume changes and relatively easy skip/replay music track ability. I use the CB maybe three times a year, usually traffic issues, and would be annoyed if I couldn't use it when I wanted.

So, for me, the music needs to come thru the Honda system using iPod, thumb drive or separate phone (I'm using the thumb drive). The SRL needs the Freewire as phone 1 to make the CB work along with all the other Honda audio system. I use my phone only as a phone and connect to SRL as phone 2 and talk fine with that. I have the GARMIN running with the map all the time but I rarely program a specific destination. When I do though, by using the Hollsco and inserting it in to the intercom, it mutes the normal Honda audio like a passenger voice would. I can also turn the intercom off until I get near my destination or where there is heavy traffic and I don't want to look at the screen.

BTW, Basecamp is anything but a simple, intuitive program. Ed Conde has a nice lesson plan on how to make it work for you. Look him up via https://www.newenglandriders.org/

Great input (see what I did there?) ! FWIW the 595 does have an audio out and all kinds of other ins and outs in an umbilical cord of cables from the mount.
BJB