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GPS - any thoughts on.........

  • Thread starter Nosher
  • Start date
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Nosher

Guest
...upgrading my EMap.

I have been looking at a Navman 630 Satalitie Navigation GPS - but would this be anygood for a motorcycle (mount etc)?

Or are there any other types out there any better?

Any advice would be most welcome - I am looking for the ones that 'talk' to you......

T.I.A.
 
R

R2B2

Guest
I've been reading up on these lately. Seems the one to have is the Garmin 2610 (or any in the 26** series).

The 2610 has a processor eight times faster than the Streetpilot III, or the Quest. Can be used on the bike (ie - waterproof), there are a range of mounts available, and it talks.

BUT, it is expensive! Cheapest I've seen so far is ?565

The 2620 has a hard drive that stores the entire map set for UK and most of Europe but is about ?700.

Having said all that, the SP III is still a very respected bit of kit.

HTH
 
D

D-nerd

Guest
Hi Nosher, both units are the same size, have the same buttons etc, the 2620 has a 2.2gig micro drive fitted (similar to your pc hard drive, but much smaller), this is loaded with all of europe as specified on the Garmin site. this i took out of the box, fixed & wired to the bike and was off, no messing about with pc,cards & downloading(have enough stress without anymore)
The 2610 comes with a cd of europe which you install on your pc, then chose/plan your route & download that to the flash card, which fits your 2610, you can not get all of europe on one flash card-512mb, which would mean you will require more than one card to cover the same area as the 2620. but then why would you want to download all of Holland,Finland etc if your going to Germany.... One word of warning the 2620 micro drive DOES not like the vibration of a Harley/Buell, had no prob on me Bird... Highly recommend the 2620, recalculation of a missed turning is within 2/3 seconds, but you will not miss a turn as voice & screen commands are excellent, if linked to your Autocom. Go to your local BMW bike dealer and ask for a demo on their Gps, which is a Garmin 2620 with a BM badge and their own cradle with an extra set of buttons (not sure why.... maybe justifing the extra ?500 price tag)

Hope this is helpful

Happy Routing

David
 
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Nosher

Guest
D-nerd said:
Hi Nosher, both units are the same size, have the same buttons etc, the 2620 has a 2.2gig micro drive fitted (similar to your pc hard drive, but much smaller), this is loaded with all of europe as specified on the Garmin site. this i took out of the box, fixed & wired to the bike and was off, no messing about with pc,cards & downloading(have enough stress without anymore)
The 2610 comes with a cd of europe which you install on your pc, then chose/plan your route & download that to the flash card, which fits your 2610, you can not get all of europe on one flash card-512mb, which would mean you will require more than one card to cover the same area as the 2620. but then why would you want to download all of Holland,Finland etc if your going to Germany.... One word of warning the 2620 micro drive DOES not like the vibration of a Harley/Buell, had no prob on me Bird... Highly recommend the 2620, recalculation of a missed turning is within 2/3 seconds, but you will not miss a turn as voice & screen commands are excellent, if linked to your Autocom. Go to your local BMW bike dealer and ask for a demo on their Gps, which is a Garmin 2620 with a BM badge and their own cradle with an extra set of buttons (not sure why.... maybe justifing the extra ?500 price tag)

Hope this is helpful

Happy Routing

David
Click to expand...

Very helpful :beer: - sounds like the 2620 is the one for me - now I gotta find it cheep :lol:
 
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Nosher

Guest
Looking on the net for the prices of the 2610, it is much cheaper to order from the US (very nice exchange rate at the moment) - BUT what is the deal on tax?

Will I get done for an addtional levy or something?

Any advice here would be most welcome!
 
D

D-nerd

Guest
Hi Nosher, not sure whether tax is an issue... if your buying the 2620, make sure its loaded with Europe & not North America, same goes with 2610, make sure its supplied with Europe CD...

2620 = ?704

2610 = ?554
 
R

R2B2

Guest
I think an important issue with buying from the states (OR privately, for that matter) is that although you may well get the Europe CD's, the preinstalled basemap is likely to be North America, which is no good at all to you. You MUST buy a machine that has factory installed Europe basemaps for use in Europe. I know that sounds like stating the obvious, but I have heard about people buying machines cheaply only to find out afterwards that they are North America basemap versions. Dont be one them!!

(From what I understand, the installed basemap is general terrain, motorways etc, and the CD then "tops up" with all the fine detail. That's why they release new versions of cd's, - because of new roads, numbers, junctions etc. They are currently on Europe v6).
 
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Nosher

Guest
Rob P XX said:
I think an important issue with buying from the states (OR privately, for that matter) is that although you may well get the Europe CD's, the preinstalled basemap is likely to be North America, which is no good at all to you. You MUST buy a machine that has factory installed Europe basemaps for use in Europe. I know that sounds like stating the obvious, but I have heard about people buying machines cheaply only to find out afterwards that they are North America basemap versions. Dont be one them!!

(From what I understand, the installed basemap is general terrain, motorways etc, and the CD then "tops up" with all the fine detail. That's why they release new versions of cd's, - because of new roads, numbers, junctions etc. They are currently on Europe v6).
Click to expand...

Rob,

You are spot on mate - I phoned a shop in the US and he repeated (almost) verbatum what you have typed above!

Looks like I may have to ching out for the UK one.....

Thanks anyway! :beer:
 
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redcalibra

Guest
GPS

Garmin 2610 at www.Digiwoo.com, ?448 no vat with english vat no, holland firm but service second to none. mine arrived in 3 days.IMO its the best compromise as you can buy a compact flash card of any size to suit your needs for the amount of maps required. A 2gb card will enable you to load all maps completely, the 2620 has 2.2 " hard drive so is not as future proof if they change future mapping. The unit is brilliant and the mounting easy on the bird, mountings all add extra cost though, about ?100 0n top.Cable, ram mounts,etc
 
N

Nosher

Guest
redcalibra said:
Garmin 2610 at www.Digiwoo.com, ?448 no vat with english vat no, holland firm but service second to none. mine arrived in 3 days.IMO its the best compromise as you can buy a compact flash card of any size to suit your needs for the amount of maps required. A 2gb card will enable you to load all maps completely, the 2620 has 2.2 " hard drive so is not as future proof if they change future mapping. The unit is brilliant and the mounting easy on the bird, mountings all add extra cost though, about ?100 0n top.Cable, ram mounts,etc
Click to expand...

Can you post some pics of your setup?

Was the ciggie lighter easy to wire in (what other extras did you get?) etc...

I am virtually sold on the 2610 (cheeper) and had also spotted the unit on digi-wotsit.

TIA :beer:
 
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redcalibra

Guest
2610

Hi Nosher
You don't use the ciggie power lead for the bike, you will have to buy the bike bare end cable from garmin, as the unit does not have a sound output it is incorprated in the cable itself, ?24.00 form www.gpsw.co.uk, also you will need a ram cradle and diamond ram mount, then to mount on the bike itself I got a mount made by andy taylor. inc a long rod threaded at on end to take a nut and washer, this passes right through the hole in the middle of the top yoke nut.On top of this is screwed a ram ball, attached to this is ram clamp about 4" long. the unit and cradle is clamped to this. Sounds complicated but it is'nt really and the system is very secure, vibe free and in the correct position without obscuring clocks.you can get all this stuff from the link above and I am sure Andy's mate would possibly make you one.
If this lot hasn't put you off contact me at steve@thecruse.fslife.co.uk and I'll help from there.
 
S

Stuey

Guest
Hi Chaps,

Just to point out that rather than using a long bolt or threaded rod passing right down through the steering tube, if you remove the horn and its bracket you can place a nut in a socket and pass it up the tube from underneath onto the end of a bolt right up inside the fancy nut in the centre of the top yoke.

Stu
 
S

Stuey

Guest
thems way to expensive, go to RAM mounts and buy the seperate components for ?35 tops.

Stu
 
J

Jacal

Guest
g0551p For anyone that may be contemplating buying a Garmin 2610, Maplins have them for sale at ?499, if you use thier voucher system.

Must be the cheapest in Europe for those of us who aint VAT reg'd, or maybe you know different?
 
S

stevie_s

Guest
How big are these units compared to the Garmin V and which is better?
I was looking at a PDA but think it may be too difficult to mount.
 
R

R2B2

Guest
Jacal said:
Maplins have them for sale at ?499, if you use thier voucher system.

Must be the cheapest in Europe...
Click to expand...

That's the cheapest I've seen so far. How does their voucher system work..?
 
J

Jacal

Guest
w;;v
Don't know owt about the Garmin V. My first GPS was the Streetpilot 111, last year, it toke me and 3 mates from France (Normandy) to Paris then into Germany along the castle road to Prague, without a hicup

The 2610 was out then but typical prices of ?800 - ?900, was out off my league, 'Hells Bells' I've bought cheaper bikes.

When the price dropped I returned the SP111 to Costco for a full refund and bought the 2610 (I've still got the TT lockable mount)

I don't know about other GPS units so can't advise but the SP111 and if you can afford it the 2610 are the dogs danglies.....Treat your self, you won't regret it.

Sorry Rob....Must have crossed posted :xm :}

To use thier voucher system all you have to do is subscribe to thier Newsletter or sumert :dunno: it's on the site and you get ?50 off the GPS...... :beer:
 
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