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GPS rec?

boostracer

boostracer

Boostracer
Joined
Oct 22, 2013
Location
Rodeo,Ca
Moto(s)
'13 KTM 500 EXC
Name
Douglas
Haven't been on here in a while. I'd like your guys advice on a GPS for my dual sport '13 KTM 500 EXC. I'd like to be able to load routes for dual sport rides. My automotive Nuvi 3790 won't handle it.
 
Cost not a factor? Garmin montana.
But I have used my 60csx happily for the last 6 years.
I am upgrading to a montana soon.
 
I used my phone as my GPS for my 3500 mile trip, in which most of it was spent in 100+ degree weather. The phone overheated often. Wouldn't recommend that route (as convenient as it is).
 
phones = glossy reflective screens, no good.
He is looking for dual sport GPS, so ruggedness is a top priority, also topo maps needed for trails, ability to do tracks and routes, etc. a phone is OK for road guidance, not offroad, even with some apps that are available I wouldn't put my phone out there on a DS.

60csx has Ok functionality, I use the garminn 24k topo which is the best offroad map you will find. the unit is OK for following and laying down tracks, but it takes too long to scroll and zoom with higher levels of detail especially compared to the more powerful Montana, which has a larger touchscreen as well. I was happy with the 60csx until I tried my friends Montana. Much better display, touchscreen rules, instant scrolling and zooming. The only bummer I saw was I can have multiple tracks loaded and his had to select one track to view. It may have been user error or unfamiliarity on his part but that was a bummer.
 
With the Zumo line becoming much more "street" oriented, the Montana has become somewhat the standard for off-road and adventure riding. I use mine on my 500EXC for "no roads" navigation and on my 990ADV for more dual-sport type riding. Just completed a 3 week trip to Prudhoe Bay and back and the Montana worked great.

One thing the Montana has over the more hand-held oriented units is the availability of a proper locking powered cradle rather than the use of a USB cable for power. USB connectors can tend to vibrate themselves to failure when used off road.

GPS City sells a package with everything you need...

Motorcycle Bundle
 
Would you recommend the Montana for street riding? I'm looking into one of these units, but not sure what to go for. Even thought about a car unit with a case or something similar, but no one seems to be happy with that.
 
vagabondmatt said:
You might find this ongoing discussion interesting and helpful....this is the direction I am planning on going: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=945386
Click to expand...

Checked out the thread, interesting, thanks. I should explain, I'm a dinosaur, lucky to have a flip phone! Anyway, doesn't the smartphone have to have a signal? The GPS units use satellite, correct? On our last ds ride my buddy's smartphone didn't have a signal one of the times we needed it.
 
rangelol said:
Would you recommend the Montana for street riding? I'm looking into one of these units, but not sure what to go for. Even thought about a car unit with a case or something similar, but no one seems to be happy with that.
Click to expand...

The Montana works great for me on the street - it has a display mode that mimics a Garmin Nuvi device, but if all you're doing is street riding then something from the Zumo line may be a better choice in terms of usability and street-oriented features like 3D city views, lane guidance, bluetooth connectivity, XM, traffic, and such. One thing I liked about my 550 Zumo was that it was aware of whether it was in the moto cradle or the car cradle and would remember its settings between the two - like screen brightness and night mode. Also, when in the moto cradle it used "glove friendly" inputs with bigger on-screen buttons.

The Montana is popular with the dual-sport/adventure crowd because the interface is super configurable, it holds more waypoints and routes than the Zumo models, and is more capable for off-road navigation.
 
boostracer said:
Checked out the thread, interesting, thanks. I should explain, I'm a dinosaur, lucky to have a flip phone! Anyway, doesn't the smartphone have to have a signal? The GPS units use satellite, correct? On our last ds ride my buddy's smartphone didn't have a signal one of the times we needed it.
Click to expand...

I suspect your buddy didn't have the maps cashed on his phone (IE a local copy of the data on the phone). So when the data connection is not available the map isn't there. However fear not because even google maps now allows cashing (see here). However I prefer OruxMaps or OsmAnd for android or Motion X on iOS. A GPS signal is almost alway available as long as you can see the sky.
 
600 no camera 3gb internal storage,
650 camera 3gb,
650t camera, 3.5gb and 100k topo preinstalled.

there is also the new Garmin Monterra which does run on Android, reviews are mixed as most complaints are about the older version Android they used.

I am about to buy either a 600 or 650 from REI online as the membership reward is $53. I will get the cradle and accessories from GPS city
 
Last edited:
boostracer said:
I'd like to be able to load routes for dual sport rides. My automotive Nuvi 3790 won't handle it.
Click to expand...

Are you sure about your Nuvi not being able to handle this? I have a Nuvi 1450 that I use all the time for dual sport rides, and I can create routes on my computer and download them to the Nuvi without any problems.
 
johnkol said:
Are you sure about your Nuvi not being able to handle this? I have a Nuvi 1450 that I use all the time for dual sport rides, and I can create routes on my computer and download them to the Nuvi without any problems.
Click to expand...

Yes, tried it on last two DS rides. Talked to Garmin at length last time, it doesn't have enough room for the data points it needs. They must've cut down the number on the 3790. Sounds like older or other ones had more.
 
More help/advice

Ok guys, I need some more help. I'd like to get a Montana 600, so what specifically do I order? Keeping in mind main use dual sporting. What mount, that part's kinda confusing. Also does it come with mapping that will show the roads/trails, etc.? This next question is kinda stupid I guess, but since I have a 3790lmt, any chance I can use it's lifetime mapping to update the 600? So what do I need to put that thing on my motorcycle & be able to load supplied routes & have it show the trails, etc.?
Thanks
 
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