Does anyone here have a recommendation for GPS options?

I am looking for a model that supports setting routes on the PC and downloads them to the GPS before the ride.

I have a Magellan Roadmate 1412. It works fine, but it's not an MC GPS, so it's not weather resitstant. It also is a pain to create routes over specific roads. You have to find an address or intersection on your route to set as a waypoint. Otherwise, it will just route you over standard roads. Boring.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Tom Tom Rider 2! It's made for the bike, but you can put it in a cage too! Weather proof, Blue Tooth enabled and voice commands. It comes with a RAM Mount and long life battery, if you don't have a DC plug, you might want to add one for the really long rides or to recharge it.

It's not the cheapest, but it's really good!

My uncle works for one of the chip manufacturer's for GPS technology. He said Magellan uses a slow algortithim to compute your location and they have a bad habit of telling you "turn now" about 2 seconds after you pass the turn. He said TomTom and Garmin don't have that problem. Sony uses whosever location chip they can get the cheapest so maintaining the software on the unit is a pain depending on what chip happens to be in your unit.

All that being said, I was really impressed with his TomTom. I can't speak for its "weatherproof-ness" tho.

Only the Tom Tom Rider is weather "Resistant"

Darn wrote:
Only the Tom Tom Rider is weather "Resistant"

but it only has a 3.5" screen. On a bike I would want the screen as big as possible. Soon I'm sure they'll come out with a 4.5

You can buy weather proof cases with a clear soft plastic window to put the GPS in. It has a mount it clips in to. GPS buttons can be pushed through the soft plastic.

You didn't specify a price point, so I'm going to recommend the Garmin Zumo 550 (they also have a 500 and a 400 I think)

It does the nav as well as audio and handfree cell phone usage...here is a review---I've never heard of these people, but the review has good pictures:

http://www.gpsinformation.org/zumo/zumo.html

It will also let you upload routes as you desire.

I own 2 Garmin 260W and love them. They are fairly cheap ($170) have a 4.3" screen, text to speech. Easy to use and very accurate (IMO)
I have not mounted on my bike cause I like riding where ever. I do put one in my saddlebag though.

Steven

I have the TomTome Rider 2 GPS which is made for motorcycles. One thing to note is, although it says that it's bluetooth compatable--it only works with a few bluetooth enabled phones. The problem that this poses is, unless your phone works with TomTom's bluetooth, you're not going to be able to use 1/2 of the cool features that it offers. After spending $500.00, I learned that the hard way. My second problem is, the screen is really tiny and while riding, at times difficult seeing where you're going. You can change the screen to different colors but I haven't found the color that will allow me to glance down at the monitor during the day and see where I'm going. Finally, forwhatever reason, the darn thing keeps switching between meters and feet. So at times, you'll hear the announcement, make a right turn in 50 meters.

Otherwise, it's a good unit and has cool features. I like the feature where I can program a set speed. If I go above that speed, I'll get a loud ring in my ear.

gareva1 wrote:
You didn't specify a price point, so I'm going to recommend the Garmin Zumo 550 (they also have a 500 and a 400 I think)

It does the nav as well as audio and handfree cell phone usage...here is a review---I've never heard of these people, but the review has good pictures:

http://www.gpsinformation.org/zumo/zumo.html

It will also let you upload routes as you desire.

Sweet GPS, I might have to reconcider my Tom Tom Rider??? Do you know how much?