Sat Nav Recommendations

[shaggs147]

Hi Chaps n Debs,

It looks like I'll be venturing solo into Europe on the bike for the first time later this year, so was thinking of getting a proper sat nav instead of using the phone in a waterproof case.
The phone sat nav has served me well over the years in the UK, but I find that the battery still discharges over a period of time even when plugged into a charger, and its also a pain trying to plan a specific route.
I was thinking of getting a Zumo 390 with lifetime maps and curvy roads feature, although its a little pricey. Is Garmin the way to go these days, is Tom Tom just as good, or are there any other options that I might've missed?

Cheers,
Mark

[Zebedee]

I have a Garmin 660 and a 500 so you decide yup can be pricey but well worth it if ya ask me :)


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Zeb

[STX1300man]

Garmin everytime over TomTom for me.

The 350 or 390 probably meet most people's needs. Do you really need the extra 'Apps' for MP3 playback or photo viewer, calculator etc., or the ability to make phone calls on the move?

I'm still using a trusty StreetPilot 2720.

[O.C.]

Garmin 660 for me   

[shaggs147]

Haven't checked out all the specs between the garmin sat navs yet, but do like my music on long journeys. As long as its easy to use with gloves on, will connect to my Sena SMH10 to hear guidance and music, will allow the upload of planned routes, and has lifetime maps I'm happy.
Looks like its narrowed down to a zumo at least anyway!

Thanks for the input - does anyone have one with all those features?

[O.C.]

Haven't checked out all the specs between the garmin sat navs yet, but do like my music on long journeys. As long as its easy to use with gloves on, will connect to my Sena SMH10 to hear guidance and music, will allow the upload of planned routes, and has lifetime maps I'm happy.
Looks like its narrowed down to a zumo at least anyway!

Thanks for the input - does anyone have one with all those features?

Yes and I also use SMH10   

[O.C.]

Yes and I also use SMH10 ~ I don't have the L.M option but its the same device   

[Rusty]

Garmin 660 ... no other choice. 

[Zebedee]

Garmin 660 ... no other choice. 

+1


Sent from my iPhone by mini Elves.

Zeb

[Charlie747]

  I like TomTom

[bacaruda]

Haven't checked out all the specs between the garmin sat navs yet, but do like my music on long journeys. As long as its easy to use with gloves on, will connect to my Sena SMH10 to hear guidance and music, will allow the upload of planned routes, and has lifetime maps I'm happy.
Looks like its narrowed down to a zumo at least anyway!

Thanks for the input - does anyone have one with all those features?

my combo is a Zumo 350, samsung S4 active and Sena SMH-5 FM. works like a charm. Got phone and music from my phone. guidance and speed camera warning from the zumo and FM-radio from the SMH5-FM. Tried it on my recsent trip to UK and the function was almost seamless. The only problem was all your damn roundabouts.... music got interupted every 200 yards by " In the rundabout, take the second left" Baaah! Works great in Sweden, we only have one road with no crossings.

[Kwikasfuki]

Rusty very generously gave me his zumo 660 with the bike. I've not really used it until we went to the Belfry. Now I wouldn't be without it.
I have music to my sena smh10 and the phone to the Zumo. Works nicely.

[Burchy]

Used Tomtom Rider 2 to get me to Barcelona and back and it was inch perfect.  2 hotels were well out of the way and if guided me there without a hitch.

The Scala headset lasted for days without a charge-up and the "Find the nearest Petrol station" was very useful when the trip is showing 320KMs since the last fill up!

[shaggs147]

Thanks for the input everyone, will be looking out for a zumo, maybe a 660 I think

[Hans]

I do not know the prices in the UK, but in terms of prices, I will always choose the TomTom Rider 2013 (v5) - ie. just because of the price difference. Garmin costs approx. twice as much as TomTom. Secondly, I think that TomTom has a much better user interface (GUI) and its ability to recalculate routes are unsurpassed. Winding roads is also something that TomTom Rider just doing better than Garmin.

A few years ago, the Garmin *was* a better product. However, TomTom has learned from their mistakes and today's edition is very durable. The lifetime of the maps,  user share, maps changes/updates locally, IQ routes and much more.

Price and quality often go together - this does not apply to Garmin vs. TomTom Rider!

Just my 2 cents