+jotne Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Garmin has announced the "zūmo", a GPS to be used with motorcyle. http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo/ Press release Quote Link to comment
Rhialto Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Very nice looking GPSr! Would be a great addon on my Volusia. It has its own website with video, etc. http://www.garmin.com/zumo It is no specified if it use a SiRF chip. Weird. I wonder if you can change the icon for something else than a motorcycle? I like the fact it is touch screen and even bluetooth. This must be a good but expensive candidate for outdoor GC too. P.S. Since I live in Canada I cannot participate to win a free one. :-( Most of you can so don't wait! Quote Link to comment
yeeoldcacher Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 The unit sounds very nice for motorcycle use. The information on Garmin's website does say that it uses the Sirf chipset. Zumo Quote Link to comment
+White Sage Posted July 19, 2006 Share Posted July 19, 2006 Wow, looks very cool. I have mixed feelings about a handlebar mounted GPS for motorcycle use though. We riders need as few distractions as possible so we can focus on the road and those crazy 'cagers'. Trying to follow turn by turn directions on a moto could get you into trouble, don't you think? I plan to take mine along on trips to use if I get lost or want to explore unfamiliar territory, but I'll stop and get it out of my tank bag for that. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I have mixed feelings about a handlebar mounted GPS for motorcycle use though. We riders need as few distractions as possible so we can focus on the road and those crazy 'cagers'. Trying to follow turn by turn directions on a moto could get you into trouble, don't you think? I see where you're coming from, but I disagree. If I had to figure out which way to go on my own while riding, I'd be far more distracted than the few moments it takes to glance at my GPS. As an example, I rode out to a fellow cacher's house who lives in the NYC area. He gave me his coords. I followed my GPS right to his door. Easy. If I had to follow a map or written directions, I would have been far more distracted than the occasional "Turn Left" beeps I followed. Jamie Quote Link to comment
+White Sage Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I see where you're coming from, but I disagree. If I had to figure out which way to go on my own while riding, I'd be far more distracted than the few moments it takes to glance at my GPS. As an example, I rode out to a fellow cacher's house who lives in the NYC area. He gave me his coords. I followed my GPS right to his door. Easy. If I had to follow a map or written directions, I would have been far more distracted than the occasional "Turn Left" beeps I followed. Jamie Hmm, cool. I didn't think of it that way. BTW- How do you hear the beeps through your helmet? Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 (edited) Hmm, cool. I didn't think of it that way. BTW- How do you hear the beeps through your helmet? I don't hear the beeps through my helmet. The Explorist I use(d) changes to full backlight for an upcoming turn. It's bright enough that it usually catches my eye even in daylight, and it can't be missed at night. Some other more featured GPSs (like the zumo) have wired or bluetooth connections to your helmet audio system (if you have one, which I don't). I said "beeps" to make it more generic... My new Quest has a motorcycle cable which has an earphone jack to hear the voice directions built into the power plug--although I'm not yet using it. Oh.. and when I say "I disagree," I hope you understand that I'm not saying that I think you're wrong. I'm simply stating that for me, I'd be more distracted trying to find my way than I am using the GPS. I'm terrible with direction and streets and remembering how to get somewhere, so the GPS helps me more than it hurts. For other people, this is the opposite. You might be one of those. Jamie Edited July 20, 2006 by Jamie Z Quote Link to comment
+White Sage Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Oh.. and when I say "I disagree," I hope you understand that I'm not saying that I think you're wrong. I'm simply stating that for me, I'd be more distracted trying to find my way than I am using the GPS. I'm terrible with direction and streets and remembering how to get somewhere, so the GPS helps me more than it hurts. For other people, this is the opposite. You might be one of those. Cool. I didn't take it that way. Yeah, for some reason I don't see myself ever using a mounted gps on my bike (watch me eat my words someday). I took a trip to Big Sur recently and simply printed out my route from mapquest. Every time I stopped for a break (about every 100 miles or so) I just memorized the next leg of my trip. The reason I want a GPS is so I'm not limited to what I've printed out, and can explore more without worrying about getting lost, or running out of gas in the middle of the desert or something. I don't find myself going on too many urban-goose-chases on my bike. What kind of bike do you ride? I have an '03 Suzuki SV650. Quote Link to comment
+GOT GPS? Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 I think it is different for different people, that some can handle a GPS on a bike handlebar, or dashboard, and even have the radio turned ON. Lately though, I prefer to have the radio turned OFF, and not have a GPS to distract me, so I can concentrate on the road ahead. I have a small Ford Escort, and some road debris can be hazardous to me, but really bad for a motorcyclist. Any bumps or road debris can be a disaster, if you even look away from the road ahead for more than a second. I think a GPS with Voice is okay, and the GPS to be on the Speedometer Screen to see how fast your going. Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 What kind of bike do you ride? '91 ST1100. Jamie Quote Link to comment
+Centex Trekker Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 Cool. I didn't take it that way. Yeah, for some reason I don't see myself ever using a mounted gps on my bike (watch me eat my words someday). I took a trip to Big Sur recently and simply printed out my route from mapquest. Every time I stopped for a break (about every 100 miles or so) I just memorized the next leg of my trip. The reason I want a GPS is so I'm not limited to what I've printed out, and can explore more without worrying about getting lost, or running out of gas in the middle of the desert or something. I don't find myself going on too many urban-goose-chases on my bike. What kind of bike do you ride? I have an '03 Suzuki SV650. That's what I did back in 1986 when I rode a '81 HD Sturgis from the top of Denmark to 70 Km. south of Rome, Italy. All I had a road atlas. The only time I was ever "lost" was near Heidelberg, Germany and that was only because I couldn't find the entrance back to the Autobahn. Quote Link to comment
Rhialto Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 I'm surprised they say the battery will only last 3 hours. That's not really good for GC. I was thinking this unit as the best do it all even if a little expensive (it's new but also come with complete NA routes and ram mount fixture). Quote Link to comment
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