BMW Nav

[sky_sailor]

Looked at a BMW GPS. Okay, we all know they're made by Garmin. I love the Garmin. But. Here's where I'm coming from. I have a very cheap GIVI on my 'zuke. It's a model for cars, not weatherproof, but I stick a zip-lock bag over it, or stuff it in my tank bag if it rains. Do your find the 900$ or so for the BMW unit worthwhile? Very limited budget here...so be gentle.
Update...I'll be picking up my "new" '07 in about 6 weeks!

[mogu83]

Wow! GPS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?

[sky_sailor]

Wow! GPS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?

ROTFLMAO!!! Touché


Funny thing is, I'd opt for a good nav system before ABS. But then, I don't have to contend with LA traffic.

[rockbottom]

If there had been GPS in the '60s, Captain America and Billy might not have gotten shot.

[Lost Rider]

Do your find the 900$ or so for the BMW unit worthwhile? Very limited budget here...so be gentle.
Update...I'll be picking up my "new" '07 in about 6 weeks!

Congrats!
going to be a slow 6 weeks i bet....

My girlfriend is getting her new bike this week, it's been a slow two weeks for us!




NO, I wouldn't buy the BMW Nav if your budget is limited. Even if it wasn't.

It a rebranded Zumo 665 with some extra buttons.


Only you know what you actually need in a GPS, but the Zumo 660 and 665 are the newest version of bike GPS's from Garmin. The older 5-series Zumo's can be had pretty cheap on the used market, and the biggest difference is the ability to do off road tracks versus the new ones. ( there's other things too, but that's what matters to me, as I need to use off road tracks)
I use a Garmin 660.
Since you're riding a 12R I doubt you'll be needing off road tracks, but if loading routes, waypoints, or tracks is important then forget about the 5-series Zumo's and look at the 660.
Unless you want XM radio, then you want the zumo 665.

If you're on a really tight budget, but want a good GPS (without the ability to load tracks) look into a used StreetPilot 2820. I had one and it's a great little unit.... and easily found on ebay for a few hundred dollars. But the you might need the bike mounts, and maybe to update the map, and that could run you another $150.


Take a look over here on ADV GPS threads, you can find plenty of answers about GPS for bikes.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=37



good luck with your wait!

[sky_sailor]

ChiTown....I'd go get it tomorrow, if it weren't for all the bloody snow! I'm counting on the ground hog's call!
I'll probably just jury rig my GIVI to start with. That's NUVI?

[mogu83]

Real Answer;
I used to carry two Garmin 330s one on the bike and one in the saddle bag, cost less than $100 each. I was happy with the performance and did the same thing with the ziplock bag. One day I hit a downpour in an inconvenient spot - scratch one 330 Garmin.

Found a few extra bucks in the retirement fund and went for a Zumo 550, basically the same as the 330 except its water proof has an MP3 player and bluetooth. Haven't used the bluetooth put have used the MP3 player, surprisingly it's not the distraction I thought it would be. Cost about $500 and as far as I can see it's just as good as the BMW unit.

So now I have ABS,GPS,300+ watts of forward facing lights,LEDs to the rear and sides,$1500 Shocks,$850 fairing, electric jacket and gloves, and other stuff. No farkles mind you it's all necessary.
All of that to duplicate the feeling I got on that $125 BSA B33 I rode when I was 18, or maybe it's just what's needed to keep an old man in the saddle.

[sky_sailor]

Ideal for me would be cheap, waterproof and idiot proof. Nothing fancy. All on road. Feed it the address, and it takes me there.

[Lost Rider]

Ideal for me would be cheap, waterproof and idiot proof. Nothing fancy. All on road. Feed it the address, and it takes me there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-StreetPilot- ... 069wt_1141



or without bluetooth


http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-StreetPilot- ... 500wt_1156

[gezerbike]

Ideal for me would be cheap, waterproof and idiot proof. Nothing fancy. All on road. Feed it the address, and it takes me there.

These things can really get confusing, what with all the different models and features. I've had several Garmin 2610's....sold my first one and stepped up to a Garmin Nuvi 760, then realized the older 2610 was just better for the bike, so I found another new one online and bought it. My Nuvi for the most part now just sits in a drawer. The model Joe referenced above are the second generation of the 2610. There were 2 used 2610's for sale yesterday on ADVRider for around $ 90 each.....a steal.

[ka5ysy]

Check out the Garmin 276/376 /478 on ebay or wherever. These are now-discontinued models that were sold as marine chart plotters, but have a highway and offroad mode. The nice thing about these are that, beside being totally weather sealed, they are better road navigators than the Streetpilots, and are easily updated as to maps, and can upload and download waypoints and track plots. The 37x and 47x series (color screens) can add XM weather and radio with an outboard antenna puck which is actually the XM receiver. Since they are discontinued, there are great deals on these, and there are available motorcycle mounts from several sources. The 47x series has a large internal memory for maps that avoids the necessity of having to purchase the expensive memory cards that Garmin is the sole source for.

[ka5ysy]

Wow! GPS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?

It's called PROGRESS.... Fuel injection, ABS, GPS, Cellphones, Satellite radio ...


Yea... take us back to tube tires, drum brakes, carbs, paper maps, hand crank phones and phone booths and AM radios with tubes...


NOT !

[websterize]

I bought a zumo 660 a week before the Nav IV came out, and I returned the 660. Same head unit with different software and case color.

What I disliked most about the 660 was trying to use its touchscreen with a gloved hand while under way — it was too distracting. I tried to buy only the Nav IV mount, which has large, easy to use controller buttons, but you have to buy the head unit, too. So I bought the Nav IV from Chicago BMW (20-percent discount. Or you can get them for a lot less than $900 if you shop around.) Wouldn't have mattered if you could buy only the Nav IV holder. Before returning the 660, I plugged it into the Nav IV mount and the mount buttons didn't work. Garmin/BMW locked out the standard 660.

I like the Nav IV better because, if you have to have a GPS, those buttons really do mitigate having to take your eyes off the road.

[mogu83]

Wow! GPS! How did all you "girls' survive since the '60's without it?

It's called PROGRESS.... Fuel injection, ABS, GPS, Cellphones, Satellite radio ...
Yea... take us back to tube tires, drum brakes, carbs, paper maps, hand crank phones and phone booths and AM radios with tubes... :doubt:NOT !

It was just a little joke - directed at Sky-sailor, and I think he GOT it. He must have the same sense of humor that I have.

[deilenberger]

I like the Nav IV better because, if you have to have a GPS, those buttons really do mitigate having to take your eyes off the road.

Same reason I replaced my 2720 with a Navigator-III from BMW. The extra buttons are REALLY a safety feature IMHO.

[sky_sailor]

I did once, find an address in Montreal by ordering a pizza, and following the delivery guy.
Lyle

[Lost Rider]

Or, if you have an iPhone, the 99¢ MotionX Drive app works great on the BMW R1200R...

[websterize]

And I learned last night that the Nav IV mount buttons illuminate in low light — easily worth an additional $200.

[Kieran R1200R]

I bought a Ztecknic bar mount and there water proof wallet that takes a GPS. Both items cost me $118 with shipping.
I bought a $139 4.6'' screen car GPS with FM radio, mp3, blutooth, touch screen, 3.5mm head phone jack, and will play video and stills through it's screen from HD card. What's that all up, $257 is that good?