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Anyone using a TomTom Rider 2 GPS? Or any GPS? Wondering how good any of them work, or are they just another humbug...

Tales o' the GPS trail...

I bought a cheap ($75?) Tom Tom at Cabelas for my wife's car. As it has the heart of a computer inside, she's pretty much afraid to use it. Oh well...

It was wrong & got us mighty lost in Charleston, SC.

It made my day finding a guy selling a Craigslist pickup tail gate in Pine Bush, NY. If it hadn't been for the GPS, I might still be circling the woods of NY, running on empty for cuss words.

The one I have picks primary routes based upon it's memory full of posted MPH, which believe it or not, isn't always the quickest way (at least for those who on occasion may exceed the posted MPH.) For instance, I went to pickup a Field Controls power vent at Springfield, MA. The GPS wanted to run NW CT (routes 7 > 90 > 91) to Springfield via the Mass Pike, but it's actually quicker to slip across 44 > 318 > 219 > 20 > 91 by BDL. Then it wanted an early exit for the vent supplier's yard. I ignored the GPS and took the exit the supplier told me about, which seemed a mighty quick way to go. The GPS "sees" you've ignored it's advice, and re-routes itself as you drive along. It then brought me in there slick as can be.

A buddy with a late model Gold Wing nav unit lead us on an "avoid highways" route that was a biker's dream.

I suppose the moral of the story is to review the trip on a good map, and take the GPS with a grain of salt? I wouldn't doubt that the expensive models do better than what we've got. Don't know. The technology of GPS for the consumer at $XX a shot blows me away, but then again I'm still in awe of pod players, even though I've had one 3 or 4 years now.

GARMIN NUVI is what we have . Bought one for my son a couple of years ago and it works great. Just bought my wife a GARMIN NUVI as well . You can pick different routes, places, eateries etc. Well worth it

I use a tom tom for all of my road trips , a buddy of mine bought one , and out of the box it left him stranded in nomans land just be VERY SURE that you make VERY SURE that befor you go out on a venture that you update the device via computer and Tom Toms web site dont get standed and ride around the back roads of anywhere because your GPS says that there is a road where theres none , update , update , update , and you will be very happy with it

I drove about 300,000 miles for work in the last five years with no GPS. Bought one this Spring (Garmin NUVI 755T) and once I started using it, it became indespensible. I installed a power supply on the bike and made a bracket for it as well. I hear instructions/music via headphones. I use it daily in the car, but only on 1 hr or longer trips with the bike (or new areas).

It's not foolproof, that's for sure, but nicer than Mapquest printouts, etc.

I have a navman which works well although you have to keep the maps up to date. I don't think they are 100% but a great guide.

i have a cheap (sp) magelin that has never failed me, sometimes it dosnt know that a new road is there or an old rd isnt but it always gets me there and i am sure i could update it. i like useing it after getting totaly lost and then ask it to get me home,(nothing like just getting on the bike and getting lost)and in my work, i use it to find customers. it has always got me there. i think when it comes to this GPS thing, that a person really needs to investigate and research before buying because of the many differences.

I have a tom tom 930, use it on the bike ,the truck,rental cars. Ive used it in the US (Washington,Florida) the UK(Scotland and England )about 95% accurate.marked out gas stations ,ATMs it also warned me of alot of speed cams in the UK and reminded me to stay on the left . plays MP3s,FM TX. works great in the mountains here when theres no FM signals ,my Yamis got a stereo and me loves the mountain roads . well worth the money in my opinion ,never had a problem operating the screen with gloves on either .

This story was in my local paper today....


Dec 28, 8:02 PM EST


Couple stranded 3 days after GPS leads them astray

By JEFF BARNARD
Associated Press Writer




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GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- A Nevada couple letting their SUV's navigation system guide them through the high desert of Eastern Oregon got stuck in snow for three days when the GPS unit sent them down a remote forest road.

On Sunday, atmospheric conditions apparently changed enough for their GPS-enabled cell phone to get a weak signal and relay coordinates to a dispatcher, Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger said.

"GPS almost did 'em in and GPS saved 'em," Evinger said. "It will give you options to pick the shortest route. You certainly get the shortest route. But it may not be a safe route."

Evinger said the couple got stranded Christmas Day and a Lake County deputy found them in the Winema-Fremont National Forest outside the small town of Silver Lake on Sunday afternoon and pulled their four-wheel-drive Toyota Sequoia out of the snow with a winch.

John Rhoads, 65, and his wife, Starry Bush-Rhoads, 67, made it home safely to Reno, Nev.

"It will be (a Christmas) we remember the rest of our lives," Starry Bush-Rhoads said in a telephone interview from her home. "They said if they didn't find us 'til this time next spring, we wouldn't be happy."

The couple was well-equipped for winter travel, carrying food, water and warm clothes, the sheriff said.

"Their statement was, being prepared saved their life," he said.

The couple had been in Portland and followed their GPS as it directed them south on U.S. Highway 97 to Oregon Highway 31, which goes through Silver Lake and Lakeview before connecting with U.S. Highway 395 to Reno, Evinger said.

In the town of Silver Lake, the unit told them to turn right on Forest Service Road 28, and they followed that and some spur roads nearly 35 miles before getting stuck in about 1 1/2 feet of snow near Thompson Reservoir, the sheriff said.

"For some reason, they finally got a weak signal after 2 1/2 days," Evinger said. "They called in. They alternated between two different cell phone numbers."

A GPS-enabled phone is able to send its coordinates to 911, and eventually one of the couple's phones sent its location to the dispatcher's console, the sheriff said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy

I bought an IPhone 3 months ago and the first application (called an app or piece of software) I bought was a gps made br "Sygic". I had a good look at the Tom2 but it didn't have as good reviews.

Not that this is the first time I've used gps on my bike but this one cost $80Aud and works as well as tom2 or any other I've used btw. In fact my experience has shown they are all pretty good but always have a map as backup if you have no idea of the area your in. Yes they can Make mistakes but if for some reason you do miss a turn or it tells you to go off course, they always rerecalibrate you back on course.

You will always get the nay Sayers looking to bag out this or that with their examples but the reality is they are reliable provided the maps are continually updated as has been rightly mentioned already.

As far as the "watch the road" happy soles, provided you have them above the bars they can actually make a trip out in the boon docks safer cos you cas see in advance how tight a curve in the road is that's coming up.

I could rave on (what do you mean could staffo?) but in collaboration with the iPhone, gps is a brilliant tool but as we all know, I.T. Stuff isn't infalible and with a bit of common dog (sense) you'll be there before you know it.

It even tells you how far out your speedo is. For $80 it's not too shabby.

Btw, I typed this on my iPhone using wifi as I'm watching the cricket. Just love this stuff.

garmin zumo 450 me f n yow.
garmin doesn't make the 450 anymore. the 550 is the unit now. pricey? you betcha. quality? yes. A rain storm in new england destroyed my cell phone which was stowed in my jacket pocket under rain gear. (I think using said phone under an overpass with vehicles wizzing past at warp speeds might have killed it) while the zumo faced the rain at 70mph+ speeds. Can a twobuck tomtom do that? When garmin says water proof they mean it.

We rode from Pottsville PA to Hartford CT without getting on a highway. Valuable traveling companion gps units are.

Al, I just watched a news clip on GMA about the folks that relied soley on their GPS. The Rhodes are live on TV. dumbasses

Even newer.......665

Announced at CES today.

This motorcycle-friendly navigation unit is also confirmed, as is its XM radio compatibility and A2DP wireless for streaming tunes and directions right into your lid. At a $999 MSRP, though, I'd almost rather get lost.

Yikes - $1000

http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo665

Point taken Moe on what would be the better pick. I don't deny the relative merits of a dedicated gps for bikes by any stretch for all the reasons however I too have ridden through torrential rain with a phone for hours (Newcastle Floods were happening at the time) and given I was behind a screen I didn't have any issues about having mine ruined.

You do say you used it in an underpass which may have killed it which sounds morw plausible though.

I just like the simplicity of the Iphone and living on the driest continent in the world (apparently) sort of makes it generally a simple option for me for all it's merits.

In saying all this, it's the unsaid which tells the real story which is why when riding a distance last week I found out the Iphone needs finger touch. Not gloved finger touch you bubble headed booby

Normally that would be fine but I kept getting this window saying, haven't got mob phone reception now, and needing to press part of the screen to get rid of it cos I couldn't see the underlying gps screen otherwise. Not real flash with gloves on cos you can't get rid of it.

Minor details

I'll need to contact Apple on that one

So yep, when I've got more toys that I know what to do with a garmin sounds great. . Regardless, yes, having a gps is good value I agree.

Thank you, everyone. I've ordered a Garmin 550 from Amazon at $238.45, and a bar mount. Plus, I suppose I will need to add an accessory plug to power it. Naoow, if I could get a day above 32 to see if I still remember how to ride....