[CTRider]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The auto units that have comparable features to the MC units are also comparably priced.

The Garmin units below $400-$500 will not allow pre-programmed routes to be uploaded, and they didn't used to allow more than one "via" point. Some of the newer ones allow for up to 5 via points, which may or may not be enough to allow you to program the route that you really want... depending on how many returns to the interstate your route involves.

You can still preprogram points of interest on the cheaper units and go from one to the other. If you plan those points for areas where you figure to stop for fuel or food, it's not a big deal when you save $300.

Setting avoidances to "avoid highways" is not always the way to go... one rider was riding from Dallas to Atlanta, and he wanted to take the "scenic route" so he set "avoid highways"... the GPS tried to take him from Dallas to Atlanta on the frontage road

Now that's a bad GPS.

My $100 Nuvi 200 has like 8 avoidance settings, that when combined in various ways, produce excellent motorcycle routes. Plus, you have options for shorter, faster, etc to further refine it.

My unit also has a "detour" button that, while intended to get you out of a construction zone, closed road or traffic jam, can recalculate a new route immediately on a nearby road if you don't like the route you're on. I can actually use that to pick my preferred way out of town if the unit doesn't automatically select it.

Finally, with the self-correction every GPS has, leaving a route is no big deal when it's not what you want. The unit will replan the route for you.

The cheaper units are great for getting you from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

I wouldn't say that. They can do that, but will also plan the best route based on your preferences. That can take longer than zipping along the interstate.

If you don't take the time to set up the unit properly for your needs, you aren't going to be happy. The key is to try those various settings to see what routes the unit selects, then set what works.

Honestly, what most cheaper units do is perfectly fine for most people.

Most now have internal MP3 players, but when you combine their limitations with the need to get off the road and secure the unit at the first sign of bad weather really hurts their usefulness, plus the Garmin Zumo series includes a RAM mount to securely mount the unit to the bike with a setscrew on the release so it cannot fall out of it's cradle. That's a $40-$70 value right there.

For the price of any Zumo at all, I can combine a cheaper unit with a really good MP3 player of my choice rather than having a unit that does both.

The Nuvi 200 has a $20 optional handlebar mount that works quite well and a $.03 sandwich bag over it protects it from water, yet still allows me to operate it, hear it and view the screen. I've been over some very rough roads with it, and it has never come close to popping off the mount. Plus, it it bothers someone, they can spend a few dollars more and get a set of self-stick anchors from Radio Shack and some picture-hanging wire that will allow you to safety wire it to the bike.

On the Zumo series, you can also tell it what your fuel range is, and when you get within, IIRC, 30 miles of the set range, it displays a "low fuel" warning. Clear that and a gas pump icon appears on the screen in the bottom right corner. Tap the fuel pump and it will give you a list of the nearest gas stations in it's database.

While that sounds nice, I have a tripometer supplied by Honda for free and when I see I'm getting close, I can hit a button on the GPS (well, 2 actually) to show me the nearest fuel stops.

I'm not trying to attack you or anything, Rich. I just feel that too many people spend $400 when $150 or less would do the job. This is especially important for those that only go on long trips a few times a year.

Are there compromises? Sure. But some are willing to make those so we have money to spend on things that do offer real, tangible value.