[GoldDigger]

I am looking for an inexpensive GPS for my 1800 GW. I want one with bluetooth capable and able to connect everything through headset. Want to answer via screen but talk and listen via headset. Is there anything inexpensive out there? I don't want a Zummo.

 

[crownfire]

I'm not much help with the bluetooth thing. (I tell my wife it isn't possible to connect to the phone on the bike. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) All I use the gps for is a rolling map and I have a simple Garmin 76Cx and use a Ram mount. But I may succumb eventually and want to hear what others say.

It will be a beautiful day for a ride in Mississippi. Our chapter will be at Chautauqua Lake Park in Crystal Springs for lunch today. Just riding around south of Jackson.

 

[GoldDigger]

Understand, I do have the Navi system on my '08 model but I am wanting one that has bluetooth capibility where I can plug in to hear my gps in the headset and also answer and talk through my headset. Surely there is a model out there beside the Zumo's which is out of my price range.

 

[Two Wheel Wing]

I have a Garmin NUVI 660 that I use on the bike and in the cage. Its not waterproof, but I carry ziplock bags to cover it in the rain. Like most GPS units it can suffer from screen washout in bright sunlight. It has bluetooth and syncs with my phone. It also transmits voice through the FM radio, so I can listen to the commands and hear when someone calls through my headset. The unit picks up my voice so I can talk while driving. I don't do that too much but you can if you want. Not the best sound quality for the person on the other end, but it works.

I paid about $165 about 2 years ago as a referb and it's had to be repaired once for a new battery. I bought a Square Trade warranty for about $25 so it was fixed for nothing. Don't know if Garmin still makes that specific model, but they do have others with the same options.

 

[GoldDigger]

Thanks, I will look into it.

 

[trourke]

I have an orginal TomTom Rider. It has bluetooth but I don't use it. It was exspensive when I bought it years ago but I do like it. Its waterproof so if its raining its still in the mount doing its job and I signed up for a year and a half of map updates for $60.

 

[Buzzy]

I just researched this same thing to death and I finally decided on the Garmin Nuvi 765T. It is almost identical in every way to the Zumo 660 but is not weather proof and cost a fraction of the price!

Garmin has several models with Bluetooth but there are only 3 current production models with the added feature of playing MP3's.
Those models are Garmin Nuvi 755T, 765T and 775T.

The difference between those models are this....
Garmin Nuvi 755T has MP3 function
Garmin Nuvi 765T HAS Bluetooth and MP3
Garmin Nuvi 775T Has Bluetooth, MP3 and built in XM radio

All other features and functions are the same with all three.

And if you go compare the Nuvi 765T with the Zumo 660, it is feature for feature identical in every way except the Zumo is weather proof and cost $700.

I just bought the Garmin Nuvi 765T for $149 on Amazon.com, it will be here in a couple days along with the RAM mount for it for $12 also found on Amazon.

It also has Lifetime Traffic updates and FM transceiver/Transmitter and reviews show it works very well with all cell phones VIA Bluetooth.

If you don't need the MP3 feature, there are several current Garmin models with Bluetooth, 21 to be exact. But for me, I need MP3 to reduce clutter, this will replace my ZUNE player and add GPS all in one unit.

 

[Buzzy]

Oh and a word of warning. Steer clear of the sleek new NuView Garmin units!
Read the reviews on those things, they are connected to Google all the time and when you get near a restaurant, ect that is advertising with Google, you get pop-up ads!
They also use a feature called "Traffic Trends" Basically it learns how you drive and picks a route for you based on what it thinks you want instead of taking you from point A to point B is the shortest distance or time.
I have heard that on some units this feature is almost impossible to turn off.

Stick with the Nuvi 765 or 775 if you want a motorcycle friendly GPS.

 

[GoldDigger]

Thanks Buzzy, I knew someone had done the footwork. Appreciate the time you put into it.

 

[GoldDigger]

Buzzy, does the bluetooth have a connection for AUX so I can hear the cel through my headset and also talk through the headset? I notice that it says it has a built in mic. I don't want to talk through it on the bike...too much wind noise.

 

[motocopter]

I just bought the Garmin Nuvi 765T for $149 on Amazon.com, it will be here in a couple days along with the RAM mount for it for $12 also found on Amazon.

Nice review of these models. Have you decided on how you will wire the power and return lines to your Wing? Something other than an accessory power outlet? I believe the Zumo 550 has an integration harness for power and connection to the aux audio connector.

 

[Buzzy]

Nice review of these models. Have you decided on how you will wire the power and return lines to your Wing? Something other than an accessory power outlet? I believe the Zumo 550 has an integration harness for power and connection to the aux audio connector.

For right now it will be powered VIA the 12V outlet. I currently have power chargers for the ZUNE and Cell phone ran neatly down the handle bar and tucked in to the fairing then in to the pocket where the 12V is. My audio cable is ran the same way but is long enough to be plugged into whichever unit I need at the time.

 

[motocopter]

For right now it will be powered VIA the 12V outlet. I currently have power chargers for the ZUNE and Cell phone ran neatly down the handle bar and tucked in to the fairing then in to the pocket where the 12V is. My audio cable is ran the same way but is long enough to be plugged into whichever unit I need at the time.

Have you seen this sort of weather protection?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360229120198&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[Buzzy]

Nice review of these models. Have you decided on how you will wire the power and return lines to your Wing? Something other than an accessory power outlet? I believe the Zumo 550 has an integration harness for power and connection to the aux audio connector.

Here is a picture of the mounts I use currently for the android and Zune. Notice the wires coming from the bars.
The mount I have coming for the Garmin looks very similar to the "SlipGrip" you see in the picture.

Matter of fact, here is a link to the GPS and The Mount.
Garmin Nuvi 765T
RAM Mount for Garmin 700 series

 

[Buzzy]

Have you seen this sort of weather protection?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360229120198&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Personally, if it's not a real Emergency, I don't ride in the rain. But even times where I had no choice but to ride thru a rainstorm for a few miles, I have had plenty of time to pop the electronics off the mounts and stuff them in the side pocket before it get's too bad.

And I do not leave electronics on the bike unattended. So personally for me, "Rainproof" is just a nice added feature that I really would not get to use that much.

This is why I could not see shelling out $700 for the Zumo 660. It is almost identical to the Nuvi 765 but has the added benefit of being waterproof and they market it as "Bike Friendly" whatever that is suppose to mean. I just don't anything worth the premium they charge for it.

So to answer your question, yes I think I remember coming across that but didn't pay too much attention to it.

 

[Kimswang]

Consider an iPhone with the Motion-X app.. Put it in the waterproof cover designed for mountain bikes and with an FM modulator you will have the complete package. I just did it and it works awesome...

 

[motocopter]

Matter of fact, here is a link to the GPS and The Mount.
Garmin Nuvi 765T

I ordered the GPS today and the weather-proof mount and cover. I'm like you and don't like to ride in the rain nor will we start a ride in the rain. However, we do plan to ride Yellowstone Park and Colorado this summer and feel the cover may be needed.

Thanks for the link, Buzzy.

 

[Buzzy]

I ordered the GPS today and the weather-proof mount and cover. I'm like you and don't like to ride in the rain nor will we start a ride in the rain. However, we do plan to ride Yellowstone Park and Colorado this summer and feel the cover may be needed.

Thanks for the link, Buzzy.

Where are you going to mount it? That case is for a 1" to 1.25" handlebar. You are going to need something 1" to 1.25" to mount it on.

 

[motocopter]

Where are you going to mount it? That case is for a 1" to 1.25" handlebar. You are going to need something 1" to 1.25" to mount it on.

I want my GPS mid-way up the bar and that mount looks like it might open up to accomodate. It'll be tethered just in case. Have to see once it all gets here.

Right now, we are using a Nuvi 200 (from the Frontier) propped up against the left fairing speaker with some velcro.

 

[Buzzy]

The Garmin nuvi 500 and 550 claim to be waterproof. price starts at under $200

Here is another word of warning then.

Both the Garmin Nuvi 500 and 550 are 3.5" screens, about 25% smaller than the 4.3" screens.

Biggest concern though is the fact that both these units were introduced in 2008 and will come shipped with pre 2008 maps. If you buy online, you will still have to pay Garmin for map updates to get you to 2011 maps at the cost of up to $75 depending on the units model. I know on some units Garmin has a "map Guarantee" that you will get a one time map update for a brand new unit but I think that applies to units bought from Garmin or one of it's certified dealers. Just buying a 3 year old unit from Amazon, Ebay, ect may not qualify to get this and it may not even apply to these units.

And these units are marketed towards off road activities such as camping, hiking, ect. They include topographical map information on the maps.
What does this mean? It means that little 3.5" screen that should be displaying street information such as street names, exit #'s , ect, will instead display mostly topographical map information such as Terran, elevation, ect.

These units while being waterproof may be great for someone who spends a lot of time off road and still helps you get there on the road? They will be less helpful when driving on pavement due to the lack of information on the map.
You can't have it all. If they were to put all the information from a "Street GPS" and add all the topographical information, the screen would be so "Busy" you wouldn't be able to read it while riding.

The reason why they are still so expensive is because they are "Specialized" units just like the Zumo's. You pay a premium for the ruggedness of them even though the components inside are identical to it's more fragile sister units that are not specialized.