| A GPS system for your motorcycle can turn | | | | Does the Battery Life of Your Motorcycle GPS |
| your journeys, into adventures. Opening up a | | | | Suit Your Needs? |
| whole new experience, you can find amazing | | | | With the freedom to ride just about anywhere |
| places to explore by planning your trips at home, | | | | with a GPS; battery life is an important |
| and downloading your routes to your GPS device. | | | | component to consider. Most GPS units use 2, 4, |
| New landscapes, destinations, and road trips await; | | | | or 6 'AA' batteries, which can last up to 6 hours. |
| with the security and confidence of never getting | | | | GPS units with integrated rechargeable batteries |
| lost again. | | | | are the ideal choice if you occasionally lose track |
| A GPS system for your motorcycle can also help | | | | of time. With GPS systems like the TomTom |
| to make your journeys as comfortable, and | | | | RIDER, you can charge your battery at home, |
| stress-free as possible. If you fancy a break, or | | | | while planning your next route, or continuously |
| you're running out of petrol, your GPS can help. | | | | keep topped up with power, by charging your |
| More importantly, your GPS unit can guide you | | | | GPS directly from your bikes battery. |
| back to safety when you get lost, or accidentally | | | | How Resistant Is Your Motorcycle GPS To |
| take the wrong turning. With voice guided | | | | Vibration & Hard Ware? |
| directions, and software brimming with points of | | | | With the freedom to ride just about anywhere |
| interest (POI), such as petrol stations, restaurants, | | | | and not get lost, it is guaranteed your GPS will get |
| service stations, and hotels; your GPS can | | | | a great deal of use (and reverberation). So, it is |
| guarantee you a journey of uninterrupted | | | | important to consider how durable your GPS is, in |
| enjoyment. | | | | withstanding such conditions. |
| Sound like the perfect toy? Well, with GPS | | | | GPS devices designed exclusively for Motorcycles, |
| systems becoming mainstream, and new features | | | | like the TomTom RIDER have been designed with |
| and models endlessly hitting the shelves, it can be | | | | this in mind. Not only weather proof, its tough |
| a hard task deciphering which GPS device best | | | | outer case and rugged shock proof mount has |
| suits your needs. | | | | been designed to absorb any external friction. |
| To help you out, it's worth considering the | | | | Although most GPS devices come with a mount, |
| following points before you go ahead and | | | | it is an absolute must that you use a vibration |
| purchase your first GPS for your motorcycle. | | | | isolated mount if your GPS will be used regularly |
| What Type of GPS Do You Need For Your | | | | on your motorcycle. The RAM mount by NPI, |
| Motorcycle? | | | | which is fast becoming the industry standard, |
| Are Its Reception Capabilities Suitable For Your | | | | manufacture anti-vibration ball and socket |
| Needs? | | | | mounting systems allowing you to mount |
| Does the Battery Life Of Your GPS Suit Your | | | | practically anything, anywhere with vibration |
| Needs? | | | | protection and durability. This would be an ideal |
| How Resistant Is Your GPS To Vibration & | | | | addition to the Garmin Quest 2 GPS if you were |
| Hard Ware? | | | | purchasing this portable GPS for a lot of use on |
| Do You Want 2-Way-Communication? | | | | your motorcycle. |
| How Easy Is Your GPS To Update? | | | | Do You Want Your Motorcycle GPS To Have |
| How Easy Is Your GPS To Update? | | | | 2-Way Communication? |
| What Price Is Suitable? | | | | Some of the most recent GPS systems to be |
| What Type of GPS Do You Need For Your | | | | launched for motorcycles have taken 2-way |
| Motorcycle? | | | | communication to a whole new level. |
| There are 3 types of GPS units for motorbikes; | | | | If you own a GPRS Bluetooth enabled mobile |
| portable outdoor units, GPS units designed | | | | phone, it is worth knowing that many Sat Nav's, |
| specifically for your motorcycle/ scooter, and | | | | like the TomTom RIDER, have incorporated a |
| GPS/PDA hybrids. | | | | Bluetooth receiver, amongst their many features. |
| If you also enjoy outdoor activities such as | | | | With the ability to connect your phone via |
| mountain biking, rambling, or even camping; a | | | | Bluetooth, and receive incoming phone calls |
| portable GPS that can be taken anywhere with | | | | through your GPS and Bluetooth headset, you |
| you would be ideal. As well as navigating your | | | | need never have to take your gloves and helmet |
| off-road persuits, versatile Sat Nav's, like the | | | | off to answer your phone again. |
| Garmin Quest 2, operate in any vehicle. As well as | | | | You could even use your Bluetooth enabled |
| motorcycling, you can take it in your car, on your | | | | phones' wireless Internet, and with certain models |
| boat, or even on a plane with you. | | | | of GPS, receive real time information on traffic |
| GPS devices designed exclusively for motorcycles | | | | conditions. |
| can offer you some very impressive features. | | | | Enjoy riding in groups? It is worth knowing there |
| Especially designed with you, the motorcyclist, in | | | | are some recent hand held units that can offer |
| mind, units like the TomTom RIDER have tough, | | | | built in radios that will not only allow you to |
| weather-proof casing, touch-screen options for | | | | communicate with other members of your group, |
| gloves, and anti-glare screens. One of the latest | | | | but will also display everyone's location on your |
| features introduced by TomTom for effective | | | | screen. |
| communication, is a system which transmits your | | | | How Easy Is Your Motorcycle GPS To Update? |
| spoken instructions via a built-in Bluetooth audio | | | | With Roads constantly changing, the ability to |
| system, using a headset that sits inside your | | | | update your device easily, and at a reasonable |
| helmet. | | | | cost, are very important factors to consider |
| The final type of GPS device that may appeal to | | | | when selecting your GPS. |
| you is the PDA/GPS hybrid. Although these | | | | It is important to realize that each type of GPS |
| devices have been designed primarily with | | | | will be updated in a different way, and so you |
| portability in mind, most come with the added | | | | need to choose which process is better for you. |
| bonus of having a large screen. So, like the | | | | Those which are attached to a PDA, like the Mio |
| hand-held outdoor GPS units, this type of GPS | | | | A201 for example, are usually updated via a PC, |
| would be ideal for those of you who enjoy a | | | | whereas dedicated in-vehicle units tend to be |
| range of outdoor activities. With an integrated | | | | updated via a CD. These have to be purchased |
| PDA on top of this, GPS/ PDA devices, like the | | | | from the road map data supplier. |
| Mio A201 for example, can be handy for work | | | | Some specific software vendors have solutions |
| and play. With features like Microsoft Outlook, | | | | for preparing maps which can be downloaded to |
| Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, you will be able to | | | | your GPS unit. Most notably, TomTom operate |
| catch up on work anytime, anyplace. If you | | | | the TomTom PLUS service. |
| prefer to listen to music on the move, play | | | | The Choice: Budget Considerations |
| games, or store digital photos, a GPS device like | | | | In essence, your choice can be reasonably simple: |
| this one is an ideal choice | | | | Buy the most expensive GPS that you can |
| Does the Reception Capabilities of Your | | | | afford, that suits your needs. |
| Motorcycle GPS Meet Your Needs? | | | | It is important, using my pointers above, to |
| When selecting a GPS for your motorcycle, it is | | | | decide which features are most important to you. |
| worth thinking about how accurate you want | | | | If you want an up-to-the-minute GPS for your |
| your satellite signals to be, in pinpointing your | | | | motorcycle; with features like real-time, on |
| position. | | | | demand traffic information, hands-free calling, turn |
| A lot of GPS units available today have an | | | | by turn voice instructions via bluetooth headsets, |
| accuracy of approximately 6-8 meters. However, | | | | alerts for speed camera locations, plus thousands |
| many of the newer GPS models are designed | | | | of useful points of interest, GPS sytems like the |
| with a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) | | | | TomTom RIDER start from approximately |
| capability, resulting in accuracies of 3-4 meters | | | | £550 inc. VAT. |
| 95% of the time. The Garmin Quest 2 for | | | | If, however, you are looking for more of a toy |
| example, has a flip up external antenna equipped | | | | to play with, and a GPS that will simply get you |
| with a 12-channel WAAS GPS receiver; supplying | | | | from A to B, then a hand held device could be a |
| position accuracy of up to 9 feet. | | | | better choice. With a range of features, like simple |
| If you enjoy riding in dense woodlands and urban | | | | voice guidance, compass mode, MP3 player, and |
| areas, it is worth noting that GPS devices | | | | essentially portability, GPS devices like the Mio 268 |
| incorporating the new SiRF Star III Chip Set, are | | | | and the Garmin Quest 2 are ideal for |
| units to look out for. This high performance, low | | | | motorcycles, and a range of outdoor activities. |
| power consumption chipset has superior sensitivity | | | | The Mio 268, and hand held GPS units with similar |
| in high foliage surroundings. It is also worth noting | | | | features, start from approximately £250 |
| that GPS units with external powered antennas | | | | inc. VAT. |
| are great in maintaining a signal in deep woodlands. | | | | |