How To Choose Your Motorcycle GPS System

A GPS system for your motorcycle can turn yourexternal antenna equipped with a 12-channel WAAS
journeys, into adventures. Opening up a whole newGPS receiver; supplying position accuracy of up to 9
experience, you can find amazing places to explore byfeet.If you enjoy riding in dense woodlands and urban
planning your trips at home, and downloading yourareas, it is worth noting that GPS devices incorporating
routes to your GPS device. New landscapes,the new SiRF Star III Chip Set, are units to look out for.
destinations, and road trips await; with the security andThis high performance, low power consumption chipset
confidence of never getting lost again.A GPS systemhas superior sensitivity in high foliage surroundings. It is
for your motorcycle can also help to make youralso worth noting that GPS units with external
journeys as comfortable, and stress-free as possible. Ifpowered antennas are great in maintaining a signal in
you fancy a break, or you're running out of petrol, yourdeep woodlands.Does the Battery Life of Your
GPS can help. More importantly, your GPS unit canMotorcycle GPS Suit Your Needs?With the freedom
guide you back to safety when you get lost, orto ride just about anywhere with a GPS; battery life is
accidentally take the wrong turning. With voice guidedan important component to consider. Most GPS units
directions, and software brimming with points ofuse 2, 4, or 6 'AA' batteries, which can last up to 6
interest (POI), such as petrol stations, restaurants,hours. GPS units with integrated rechargeable batteries
service stations, and hotels; your GPS can guaranteeare the ideal choice if you occasionally lose track of
you a journey of uninterrupted enjoyment.Sound liketime. With GPS systems like the TomTom RIDER, you
the perfect toy? Well, with GPS systems becomingcan charge your battery at home, while planning your
mainstream, and new features and models endlesslynext route, or continuously keep topped up with power,
hitting the shelves, it can be a hard task decipheringby charging your GPS directly from your bikes
which GPS device best suits your needs.To help youbattery.How Resistant Is Your Motorcycle GPS To
out, it's worth considering the following points beforeVibration & Hard Ware?With the freedom to ride just
you go ahead and purchase your first GPS for yourabout anywhere and not get lost, it is guaranteed your
motorcycle.What Type of GPS Do You Need ForGPS will get a great deal of use (and reverberation).
Your Motorcycle?So, it is important to consider how durable your GPS is,
Are Its Reception Capabilities Suitable For Yourin withstanding such conditions.GPS devices designed
Needs?exclusively for Motorcycles, like the TomTom RIDER
Does the Battery Life Of Your GPS Suit Yourhave been designed with this in mind. Not only weather
Needs?proof, its tough outer case and rugged shock proof
How Resistant Is Your GPS To Vibration & Hardmount has been designed to absorb any external
Ware?friction.Although most GPS devices come with a
Do You Want 2-Way-Communication?mount, it is an absolute must that you use a vibration
How Easy Is Your GPS To Update?isolated mount if your GPS will be used regularly on
How Easy Is Your GPS To Update?your motorcycle. The RAM mount by NPI, which is
What Price Is Suitable?What Type of GPS Do Youfast becoming the industry standard, manufacture
Need For Your Motorcycle?There are 3 types ofanti-vibration ball and socket mounting systems
GPS units for motorbikes; portable outdoor units, GPSallowing you to mount practically anything, anywhere
units designed specifically for your motorcycle/with vibration protection and durability. This would be an
scooter, and GPS/PDA hybrids.If you also enjoyideal addition to the Garmin Quest 2 GPS if you were
outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rambling, orpurchasing this portable GPS for a lot of use on your
even camping; a portable GPS that can be takenmotorcycle.Do You Want Your Motorcycle GPS To
anywhere with you would be ideal. As well asHave 2-Way Communication?Some of the most
navigating your off-road persuits, versatile Sat Nav's,recent GPS systems to be launched for motorcycles
like the Garmin Quest 2, operate in any vehicle. As wellhave taken 2-way communication to a whole new
as motorcycling, you can take it in your car, on yourlevel.If you own a GPRS Bluetooth enabled mobile
boat, or even on a plane with you.GPS devicesphone, it is worth knowing that many Sat Nav's, like the
designed exclusively for motorcycles can offer youTomTom RIDER, have incorporated a Bluetooth
some very impressive features. Especially designedreceiver, amongst their many features. With the ability
with you, the motorcyclist, in mind, units like theto connect your phone via Bluetooth, and receive
TomTom RIDER have tough, weather-proof casing,incoming phone calls through your GPS and Bluetooth
touch-screen options for gloves, and anti-glare screens.headset, you need never have to take your gloves
One of the latest features introduced by TomTom forand helmet off to answer your phone again.You could
effective communication, is a system which transmitseven use your Bluetooth enabled phones' wireless
your spoken instructions via a built-in Bluetooth audioInternet, and with certain models of GPS, receive real
system, using a headset that sits inside yourtime information on traffic conditions.Enjoy riding in
helmet.The final type of GPS device that may appealgroups? It is worth knowing there are some recent
to you is the PDA/GPS hybrid. Although these deviceshand held units that can offer built in radios that will not
have been designed primarily with portability in mind,only allow you to communicate with other members of
most come with the added bonus of having a largeyour group, but will also display everyone's location on
screen. So, like the hand-held outdoor GPS units, thisyour screen.How Easy Is Your Motorcycle GPS To
type of GPS would be ideal for those of you whoUpdate? With Roads constantly changing, the ability to
enjoy a range of outdoor activities. With an integratedupdate your device easily, and at a reasonable cost,
PDA on top of this, GPS/ PDA devices, like the Mioare very important factors to consider when selecting
A201 for example, can be handy for work and play.your GPS.It is important to realize that each type of
With features like Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, andGPS will be updated in a different way, and so you
Powerpoint, you will be able to catch up on workneed to choose which process is better for you.Those
anytime, anyplace. If you prefer to listen to music onwhich are attached to a PDA, like the Mio A201 for
the move, play games, or store digital photos, a GPSexample, are usually updated via a PC, whereas
device like this one is an ideal choiceDoes thededicated in-vehicle units tend to be updated via a CD.
Reception Capabilities of Your Motorcycle GPS MeetThese have to be purchased from the road map data
Your Needs?When selecting a GPS for yoursupplier.Some specific software vendors have
motorcycle, it is worth thinking about how accuratesolutions for preparing maps which can be
you want your satellite signals to be, in pinpointing yourdownloaded to your GPS unit. Most notably, TomTom
position.A lot of GPS units available today have anoperate the TomTom PLUS service.The Choice:
accuracy of approximately 6-8 meters. However,Budget ConsiderationsIn essence, your choice can be
many of the newer GPS models are designed with areasonably simple: Buy the most expensive GPS that
WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability,you can afford, that suits your needs.It is important,
resulting in accuracies of 3-4 meters 95% of the time.using my pointers above, to decide which features are
The Garmin Quest 2 for example, has a flip upmost important to you.