Know-it-all GPS units.

[FredRydr]

The Gear thread on GPS units that do everything stirred the grey matter.

So what happened to all the mystery, discovery and chosen hardship that motorcycle riding had given us? The most memorable things in life are the unexpected, but now we know (precisely) where we are, where the roads are, what the weather fronts are doing, and even where the cars are on the other side of the mountain.

When my Quest2 unit announces in my ear "Lost satellite reception," I sometimes think to myself "Good thing, too!"

Fred

[kbasa]

It's kinda cool to be out in the middle of nowhere and ask the GPS to find us a Mexican restaurant. Our 2610 has sent to some pretty cool places to eat that we wouldn't have otherwise found. :ha

[Emoto]

You needn't keep your GPS turned on all the time, ya know. :D

[username]

fred - a GPS is an option. you can turn it on or off.

you have warning hazard lights on your bike, do you ride with them turned on all the time?

;)

:D

i love my GPS. i ride out random texas county roads, and i get pretty lost. then i tell it to route my butt home in time for lunch.

[Emoto]

you have warning hazard lights on your bike, do you ride with them turned on all the time?

YOU CAN TURN THOSE OFF?????????????? :jawdrop






























:ha

[Stuff2C]

When my Quest2 unit announces in my ear "Lost satellite reception," I sometimes think to myself "Good thing, too!" Fred

I have never had mine plugged in so I can hear it. It's a glorified map for me. Plugging it in so I could hear it would be like having a pain in the ass passenger on board (yes dear ;) ). One of the reasons I rarely ever have the passenger seat on my GS.

[FredRydr]

I have never had mine plugged in so I can hear it.
I lied. I confess that it is only in the car that I hear it. I have wiring for helmet speakers, but I removed it when I stopped using a two-way radio two years ago. The audio cord dangles unused from the GPS wiring.

Does it appear that I am regressing? Soon I will have a motorcycle with a magneto.

Meanwhile, I am going for a test-ride of a K1200GT in a few minutes. I'm such a hypocrite.

Fred
'02 R1150R

[Stuff2C]

I lied. I confess that it is only in the car that I hear it. I have wiring for helmet speakers, but I removed it when I stopped using a two-way radio two years ago. The audio cord dangles unused from the GPS wiring.

Does it appear that I am regressing? Soon I will have a motorcycle with a magneto.

Meanwhile, I am going for a test-ride of a K1200GT in a few minutes. I'm such a hypocrite.

Fred
'02 R1150R

B4 you make the big move...http://www.ibmwr.org/market/adlist.php?cat=abs

[jmerlino]

One of my biggest problems pre-gps was getting lost. When I'm out riding, I feel like I have a license - nay, a mandate - to explore. But sometimes when you go exploring, it's tough to find your way home. Now it's an hour to dinner time, it's getting dark, I don't know where I am, and I need to get home without a lot of fooling around. I can use my pre-GPS method of riding in one direction until I hit a major road - but that can take a long time, depending on where you are - or I can punch "Route Home" on the 2610. Much easier.

Also, I'm with Dave on the restaurant thing. On my recent 11 day ride, I used the 2610 all the time to find restaurants and hotels. When you're looking for a hotel room in the rain at 3 AM in a place you don't know, you don't want to fool around. Garmin says, "Holiday Inn Express 7.4 miles SE?" Sounds like a plan. Same thing with gas.

I guess what I'm saying is, I've never felt that my ability to discover new places was compromised by having a GPS, but getting home, or food, or gas or a place for the night is now infinitely easier.

[Burnszilla]

The GPS also gives you opportunities to explore roads that you didn't know were there.

[Stuff2C]

When you're looking for a hotel room in the rain at 3 AM in a place you don't know,


You F'd up :bottle

[Boingo]

When using the “shortest route” feature, I have found some pretty sweet roads that I would have never found on my own. Sometimes I like to pick some middle of nowhere destination, short route it and see what I run into.

The ETA feature is also very handy for those of us whom riding time is a limited and precious commodity. Provided you don’t need to stop, it is usually accurate within a minute or two.

[Burnszilla]

It would be nice if Garmin had 'Preferred Roads' as a customizable choice. The way Microsoft Streets & Trips allows you choose local roads and stay away from interstates.

[PacWestGS]

I like the 'Avoid Highways' option in routing, and I like to sit at home on the laptop and find roads (shortest distance) then download them to the GPS and go exploring.

It's also nice to know when you're in BFE that when the yellow low fuel light comes on you can say find gas within 40-50 miles and it takes you there. :D

Doc

[username]

It would be nice if Garmin had 'Preferred Roads' as a customizable choice. The way Microsoft Streets & Trips allows you choose local roads and stay away from interstates.

on my 2610, when it asks my routing preference, i tell it "custom." i've got highways set to zero, and it goes out of it's way to avoid them. i've tested it around the hill country, and it does a good job of picking fun, small roads. of course, that's mostly what's out there, but i'm still happy with it.

[Burnszilla]

on my 2610, when it asks my routing preference, i tell it "custom." i've got highways set to zero, and it goes out of it's way to avoid them. i've tested it around the hill country, and it does a good job of picking fun, small roads. of course, that's mostly what's out there, but i'm still happy with it.
Perhaps I should read my 2720 manual. :brow

[Burnszilla]

Setting up Avoidances... Custom Avoids. Cool!

[PacWestGS]

Setting up Avoidances... Custom Avoids. Cool!

If you really want to irritate people set it up to 'Auto-Route' for "Walking/Bicycle" "Shortest Distance". :laugh

Just tell everyone, if you don't like the way I'm driving 'Get Off the Sidewalk' :evil :ha

[jmerlino]

You F'd up :bottle
Perhaps. Perhaps not. The point is, the "F-up" is a lot less severe with the Garmin on hand.

[BradfordBenn]

The other thing I like about the GPS is being able to mark places I have been. So if I am out wandering around and having fun, and I come upon a place the wife might like or something I want to come back to later, well mark the spot and put in a description....

[Bokrijder]

The GPS also gives you opportunities to explore roads that you didn't know were there.

Case in point, last year I had to make three consecutive five hour trips to a destination which I had no previous knowledge of. Gps mapped three different routes. Routes over hill and dale, so to speak. If one selects shortest route, some interesting roads pop up. One can be hours from home and the machine will prompt a small unmarked back road. Roads that one would normally ride past, thinking that they might be a long drive to an unseen farm. (I've done that and met more than one ugly dog)
No voice prompt please, I'm busy enjoying the scenery.

Motard

[PacWestGS]

No voice prompt please, I'm busy enjoying the scenery.

Motard


Yep, the last thing I want to hear is "Make a U-Turn" over and over again. :banghead

That is as annoying as "Your Door is A-Jar" (No it's not it's a door and it's open) :laugh :laugh :laugh

[RTRandy]

I'm glad I have it. On long trips, you don't have to stop and get out the maps when you come to some small town or fork to figure out where to turn. Even with no sound, the view will suddenly change to a giant curved arrow or it will go nuts and keep telling you in bold type to make a U-turn when you miss a road. I still travel with maps and go over them the night before or at breakfast to finalize where I want to be. The GPS just helps keeps track of everything.

If you know you're going to eat lunch at a marked way point, you can glance to see that you'll be there in an hour and twelve minutes and thirty two seconds or something like 72.54 miles to go. It really helps when the stomach is growling. It's nice to know you're 2.2 hours to your motel near the end of your day.

I like setting the zoom so when a town is like 4 miles away, you can see it on the GPS and watch it come closer while you can barely make it out on the horizon.

[BobMielke]

Like all things mechanical or electronic a GPS unit is a tool. When I moved to Oregon nearly a month ago I couldn't find my way home 3 blocks from my apartment. Because of my gps and its software I could quicky find a Fred Meyers (big carry it all store), a gas station, a bank & the location of my new employer, Intel. I've used my Garmin e-Map for years as the road captain of a CMA chapter. When I get the sign for an unexpected potty break I can find the closest place quickly.

My hobby is getting lost. I love to do so when alone, when I have a full tank of gas & lots of time to explore. It's the best way to learn a new area. Because a gps unit is a tool I choose when I will use it or when I want to get lost.

[12bswayed]

Hey Burnzilla...how did you mount your gps on your K bike?

Laurie

[12bswayed]

I meant where not how...still early for me!

[Burnszilla]

Is there a way to automatically have all gas stations visible on the garmin gps rather than searching for them?

[Emoto]

Is there a way to automatically have all gas stations visible on the garmin gps rather than searching for them?

I think these options may differ from model to model, but there are settings for the level of detail to be displayed on the map. I believe you can have such things displayed, although you may have to display all points, and not gas stations only.

[rkgsz3]

I've run a Garmin IIIplus since they were introduced ('96 maybe?). Ran the "I've Been Everywhere" tour with it and found little towns that, in some cases, don't even 'officially' exist any more. I have saved every waypoint I've ever created on my trips and it is great entertainment to call up the old routes to remind me of some spots I'd forgotten all about.