The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

 For my money, the Garmin. Most bike GPS systems cost a little more than you're looking to spend.

I've been using the Garmin Zumo 450 for a year or so, and it has made life so wonderful on long trips.

How I make my GPS work is I use the suction cup mounting to the back of the windshield. I made a little visor out of a black plastic folder to block sun and glare that velcros right around the unit so you can see it during the bright days. I bought a Car power oulet with an inline fuse and wired it right to the battery. Works like a charm!

The best place I found to get a GPS is tiger direct.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=2372&name=GPS-Navigation

I have this one and love it -- $79.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4486427&Sku=M775-0110%20RB

IF you wanna be cheap-- $59.99 refurbished but would work just fine

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4240755&CatId=2372

For 100.00 I have heard this one is good

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3588997&CatId=2372

I have a Garmin Zumo 550 for a little over two years and it works GREAT.  Not sure if that model is still made but they have a Zumo 650 now with MSN Direct which provides you traffic and near live weather information including radar.  My wifes Garmin has the MSN Direct service which has worked great for us in the states and Canada.  MSN Direct is a subscription service.

The zumo line is made for motorcycles and includes mounts for both motorcycles and autos.

I have a stereo bluetooth headset in the helmet and can listen to MP3 files loaded on a 8 GB SD card in the Zumo.

The only thing I did not like is the included mount is for the right side and not the left.  It is a $15 peice to mount the GPS on the left.

IMHO you will need a motorcycle specific GPS. Generally speaking, normal GPS systems are simply not built to survive the conditions motorcycling will subject it to. Additionally they are not conducive to the needs of a motorcyclists. I'll give you some examples on what to look for:

• Can the GPS be operated with gloved hands
• Can the screen be viewed in direct sunlight
• Is it waterproof
• Is a powered motorcycle mount available and does it look secure (my 1st gen TomTom would dismount if I hit a hard bump)

 I was reading reviews on MC gps units a week or two ago and the Zumo is the one riders like the most. Tom Tom seems to have pissed most people off. I'd like to get a Zumo but they are a bit spendy. I was using a bluetooth garmin unit that sent data to my PDA with the garmin sortware loaded. I liked the whole idea and it worked mounted to my bars with the problems listed above (not handy with gloves, not waterproof, affected pretty badly at times by glare). The upside was massive menory and all the trip planning softare as if it was loaded on a laptop. Waterproof is an issue occasionally but I only get caught in the rain, not plan for riding in it. On my several week rides, if it rained, I put it in my pocket or put a bag over it.  I wish the Zumo wasn't so damned expensive, I think I'd like it.  For a couple of hundred bucks, you're not likely to get anything very good designed specifically for a bike.

 The main feature that will determine price is whether you want the ability to do custom routes or not.  If you don't care, then you can get one really cheap.  If you want custom routing ability, then it's going to cost.  Me... I'll never have one without custom routing.

It's out of the price range you specified, but I like the Honda system I got.  It even has a Goldwing wrapped around it.

I picked one up this past spring. It's a Garmin Street Pilot 2720, which had been discontinued but replaced

with a 2820. I got mine through Amazon for $115.00, which included everything plus 1 year factory warranty.

It's a little big, and I wired it directly (no battery in unit).

The units are waterproof and functional for riding. I mounted mine center of the bars, blocks the tach and speedo

some but normal mode on the GPS gives speed anyhow.

NJWarrior, what mount are you using to mount to the bars?

Mr Noize II:

NJWarrior, what mount are you using to mount to the bars?

I'm using the ecaddy deluxe

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=594692&store=Main&catId=&productId=p594693&leafCatId=&mmyId=

I got it from Denniskirk. I didn't really like those big arm bracket types.

I really like my Garmin 550 but it is above your budget. It's so good, I would say it's worth saving up the extra$$$. I used to use a $300 Garmin Rhino 350 ( I think) which worked OK but has a really small screen since it's meant for hiking.

Check out the Garmin Nuvi 350 on EBay.  Its a discontinued unit but still available on-line for cheap $.   It has everything you need, bluetooth, MP3, etc. and a decent sized screen.  Also check out www.ram-mounts.com for  a wide variety of bar mounts for just about everything, incl GPS.  Or, put it in your jacket pocket with some earbuds, catch the tunes and listen for the voice instructions to navigate.  I've had one for over a year, on a Ram mount hardwired to my ignition switch.  Works like a charm.  The only downside is its not waterproof.  So I just pop it off the mount and put it in my pocket and go.  Did the whole package for under $100.

I have the garmin Nuvi 550.  I used it on my trip to socal and back, and it proved a great investment.  I'd keep losing my Bro in law, on his HD, so I'd call him, pulg ind the where he was at, and go find him.  Also loved being in a stange town, and select a restraunt that I want, and it takes me there.   Low on gas, just select gas stations, select one that's in the direction you are traveling, and there you are.  Ya like it, won't leave home without it.  Plus giving you the correct speed that you are traveling........