Reasons that people still buy and use standalone GPSes
1 - People who don't have unlimited data plans (there are a few)
2 - areas that have absolutely no cell service (some mountain pass areas)
3 - Traveling to another country without a SIM or being charged a crap-ton of data roaming
4 - not wanting to be on Google's records of when/where you are
5 - having a second screen dedicated to navigation
There are probably more, but these are the ones I just pulled out of the air
These units are actually pretty good, if you travel a lot by bike. They are water proof, so you can leave them on the bike all the time.
Yes, the phone can also serve for navigation, but you would need accessories to make it waterproof. Plus the vibration from the bike would probably damage the phone after a bit.
Using your phone with the Peak Design case and motorcycle mount is an excellent way to avoid damaging the cameras. I've been using my iPhone 14 Pro on my dual-sport for more than a year now and it's been fine. My bike vibrates a lot.
With the price for the case and the mount, you might as well just buy this and leave it on your bike permanently. Cost about the same.
Any reason this standalone garmin unit would be a better option?
I had been using my phone, but no the vibration can mess up the cameras.
I've got one of the android auto/carplay ones, and I think there are two downsides - the wireless AA/CP feature will kill the battery on your phone, so you'll need to plug it in somewhere (powerbank in the pocket or something else), and the screen is capacitive, so it'll trigger in the rain. The zumo will have an old school resistive screen which will work with any gloves, and won't get triggered in the rain.
For those proposing old phones - you can probably get a samsung galaxy s8, mount, and charging solution for sub-$100 that will do pretty well as a gps.
I have had one of these hardwired on my motorcycle for a few years now. I feel like they put these on sale when the built in battery is at the end of its life. Mine will work for just a few minutes on battery power then shuts off. Works perfect on my motorcycle with power supplied by bike
Really a nice GPS, the screen is always visible unlike my phone. You can load GPX tracks to follow which is what i use mine for the most. I make a track on my computer, load it onto the Zumo and follow it on the bike.
[QUOTE=corvato;166475770]Reasons that people still buy and use standalone GPSes
1 - People who don't have unlimited data plans (there are a few)
2 - areas that have absolutely no cell service (some mountain pass areas)
3 - Traveling to another country without a SIM or being charged a crap-ton of data roaming
4 - not wanting to be on Google's records of when/where you are
5 - having a second screen dedicated to navigation
For a car application I run an old iPad mini, connected to an external Bluetooth gps with downloaded maps. Data only needed initially for the map region.
You proved his point wonderfully about not riding a motorcycle.
The idea of voice control at 70mph on a motorcycle is hilarious. Oh sure, they have noise-reducing microphones for moto com systems, but only someone who has never used one (let alone several) would suggest that would "fix" things.
You proved his point wonderfully about not riding a motorcycle.
The idea of voice control at 70mph on a motorcycle is hilarious. Oh sure, they have noise-reducing microphones for moto com systems, but only someone who has never used one (let alone several) would suggest that would "fix" things.
I am one of those idiots who values their head and noise inside the helmet has never been an issue. But to each their own.
BTW, most motocom stuff is complete overpriced trash sort of like this product. Tiktokers with 10 subs have better mics than most of these.
I want to add one more that i think is relevant.
If you get in a wreck, your phone will still be on your person as opposed to being flung 150 ft away.
If you are pretty banged up or immobilized, this can be a life saver.
Unless you have my luck and your phone goes flying from your front pocket. To this day I have no idea how that happened. I lowsided into a ditch going 80-85 and my phone ended up about 50ft from where I ended up with the bike…
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1 - People who don't have unlimited data plans (there are a few)
2 - areas that have absolutely no cell service (some mountain pass areas)
3 - Traveling to another country without a SIM or being charged a crap-ton of data roaming
4 - not wanting to be on Google's records of when/where you are
5 - having a second screen dedicated to navigation
There are probably more, but these are the ones I just pulled out of the air
Yes, the phone can also serve for navigation, but you would need accessories to make it waterproof. Plus the vibration from the bike would probably damage the phone after a bit.
https://youtu.be/vNCvE03pGoM?si=
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With the price for the case and the mount, you might as well just buy this and leave it on your bike permanently. Cost about the same.
Any reason this standalone garmin unit would be a better option?
I had been using my phone, but no the vibration can mess up the cameras.
For those proposing old phones - you can probably get a samsung galaxy s8, mount, and charging solution for sub-$100 that will do pretty well as a gps.
Really a nice GPS, the screen is always visible unlike my phone. You can load GPX tracks to follow which is what i use mine for the most. I make a track on my computer, load it onto the Zumo and follow it on the bike.
1 - People who don't have unlimited data plans (there are a few)
2 - areas that have absolutely no cell service (some mountain pass areas)
3 - Traveling to another country without a SIM or being charged a crap-ton of data roaming
4 - not wanting to be on Google's records of when/where you are
5 - having a second screen dedicated to navigation
1
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The idea of voice control at 70mph on a motorcycle is hilarious. Oh sure, they have noise-reducing microphones for moto com systems, but only someone who has never used one (let alone several) would suggest that would "fix" things.
The idea of voice control at 70mph on a motorcycle is hilarious. Oh sure, they have noise-reducing microphones for moto com systems, but only someone who has never used one (let alone several) would suggest that would "fix" things.
I am one of those idiots who values their head and noise inside the helmet has never been an issue. But to each their own.
BTW, most motocom stuff is complete overpriced trash sort of like this product. Tiktokers with 10 subs have better mics than most of these.
If you get in a wreck, your phone will still be on your person as opposed to being flung 150 ft away.
If you are pretty banged up or immobilized, this can be a life saver.
Unless you have my luck and your phone goes flying from your front pocket. To this day I have no idea how that happened. I lowsided into a ditch going 80-85 and my phone ended up about 50ft from where I ended up with the bike…