GPS - Need Help on Purchase

[E_Page]

I just ordered a Garmin Street Pilot 2720 on a closeout price of $119 ($127 w/ shipping) from http://www.fotoconnection.com/.

I've never dealt with them before, but at the price, it was hard to pass up.

I'll post after I receive it and let you know how it goes.




edit - I just checked ebay and saw this isn't such an outstanding deal if this is a refurb. The site I bought from indicated new. We'll see.

[leadfoot]

If you decide you might want the Zumo 550, and are in the military or either know someone associated with the military who can help you, you can get one through AAFE's for $709. I know they can be had a little cheaper, but free shipping to your door, no tax....and I registered for a Star Card and my first purchase day was 10% off of everything. Best of all, the wife was on their website the eve before Thanksgiving and they offered everything bought that night for 20% off. I did some rough math, and figured I was getting it for around $450.

Can you say BUY IT NOW?

[Serazin]

"If" you are also an AMA member, you can get a huge discount directly from Garmin.

example:

zūmo?« 550
Part Number: 010-00567-00
Suggested Retail Price: $ 964.27 USD
Your price: $ 674.99 USD
You save: $ 289.28 USD (30.00%)
Normally ships in 1 - 3 business days

[AKBEEMER]

Anyone with experience and mounting ideas with the 450 on an RT.

[R100RS]

So, this thread is a bit stale, but I haven't had a chance to use my GPS on the bike for any period of time until recently...

I got a Garmin Nuvi 750. This is NOT waterproof/vibration resistant/etc. It is designed specifically for cars. I use it inside the map pocket of my tankbag and it works great. It's not the easiest to see down there (I have the sound piped into earphones for turn-by-turn directions), but it works just fine and you can use the touch screen through the soft clear window.

The Nuvi 700 series lets you use multiple waypoints on your route, so you can plot out your complete route ahead of time (using as many waypoints as you need to force it onto the roads you want to use). It does have an "avoid highways" but I've found that doesn't work too well (often results in WAY too long of routes for me), IMO.

It works awesome in the car, providing a nice large screen, easy to understand text-to-speech directions, and a good supply of points of interest.

The 750 doesn't have any frills like bluetooth, traffic, etc, but you can get it for around $200 right now at Costco, or around $300 most places, I think.

[mikeb921]

E_Page, how did your 2720 purchase work out? Was it "new" or refurbished?

Ride Safe
Rideoften

[Rpbump]

Just bought a ZUMO 450 at the NAS JAX Navy Exchange. $359.99 I will use this device for a few months before commenting on the pros/cons.
Ride Safe

[ENFOMAN]

I have found that the clear vinyl bags that are often found sold containing shower curtains and the like make an excellent bag for any gps unit in any but the worst weather. just find the right size. I found one to cover my megallan 3100 that contained a shoe polish kit in a dollar store by chance. perfect fit. protects very well and is mounted near my handlebars for better viewing rather being distracted looking down too far off the road to to tank bag.

Bob

[markgoodrich]

Anyone with experience and mounting ideas with the 450 on an RT.

Two suggestions: a Migsel mount puts the unit (I actually use a different Garmin, (476c) but the mounting idea is the same) right above the instruments, in your line of sight. Some people complain about vibration, but I've used it for 24,000 miles and have yet to get lost. I mounted the XM puck on top of the unit with Dual Lock...stays put, and shades the screen.

Or, some Lexan and Dual Lock will secure it between your handlebars for about $6. The clickable thumbnail photos below show how I made the Lexan mount, with a Roady attached using Velcro. I'm certain I could mount my Garmin there using Dual Lock, and it would be rock solid. The Roady has been replaced with a larger Skyfi2, about the same size as a GPS unit.

A Lexan sheet, about ten by ten inches, is available at Lowe's, etc, and can be cut and rounded off easily.

Any questions, please PM rather than ask here hoping I'll see it.






Here's a photo of the GPS on the Migsel:

[Semper_Fi]

"If" you are also an AMA member, you can get a huge discount directly from Garmin.

example:

zūmo?« 550
Part Number: 010-00567-00
Suggested Retail Price: $ 964.27 USD
Your price: $ 674.99 USD
You save: $ 289.28 USD (30.00%)
Normally ships in 1 - 3 business days

If you are not an AMA memeber you can also get similar pricing from GPSDISCOUNT.com

here is the link

http://www.gpsdiscount.com/products/index.html?p=989

They also have refurbs sometimes for under $600 - check the site out for details

Not affiliated with them but was very happy with the purchase and service.

[Semper_Fi]

Anyone with experience and mounting ideas with the 450 on an RT.

Kevin - this is how i mounted my 550

The mount is from Gadgetguy, www.gadgetguy.net

I have been using his mounts on both my GW and RT - excellent build quality and bullet proof

This is how it looks and it is totally out of the way and does not block forward vision at all

[Lee]

Check Costco website. I just purchased Zumo 450 for $349.99.

The GPS is also covered under Costco's return with no questions policy. You will need to purchase the car mount for the 450.

How much does a car power cord and mount cost for the Zumo 450?

[Rpbump]

I have seen car 12VDC adapters for less than $10 and wall 120vac adapters for less than $20 on the internet. These were for the ZUMO 450 and many other Garmin GPS units. Ride Safe

[E_Page]

Mike,

I can't say yet. It hasn't arrived and I'm beginning to get a bit concerned about it.

I'll post when I know what's up with that.


Edit: I checked my bank account and see that no charges were taken out relative to this purchase, so I guess I'm back to square one.

[GRANTMACEACHERN]

I was just browsing the U.S. Garmin site and noticed they no longer have the Zumo 450 on their website. Only the 550 shows up on the Motorcycle section. Maybe there will be better deals on the 450 out there.....