Gps

dmyers · 12-30-2013, 04:12 PM

Which is better
Garmin nuvi 50 or tomtom 1500

Monkeyman · 12-30-2013, 04:49 PM

I'm not familiar with either specific model but I've got a Garmin (nuvi 760) and it works very well.

redjay · 12-30-2013, 05:19 PM

I have a Garmin and it does the job. Never had a TomTom

**HwyRider** · 12-30-2013, 05:28 PM

I have a TomTom via 1535TM and have good luck with it. It's not made for a bike but you can figure out a way to mount pretty much anything on a bike.

dmyers · 12-30-2013, 06:02 PM

the reason i'm asking is I was in walmart today and they had a display with either for $50.00
That seemed like a pretty good deal
I think the garmin costs you money down the roar to update the maps where the tomtom is free,, so,,,,,

smokey · 12-30-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmyers

the reason i'm asking is I was in walmart today and they had a display with either for $50.00
That seemed like a pretty good deal
I think the garmin costs you money down the roar to update the maps where the tomtom is free,, so,,,,,

I think you just answered your own question.

dmyers · 12-30-2013, 07:14 PM

How about performance Is the tomtom pretty good
I used the gps in my stereo on my nomad for 2 years and it worked great
I would be willing to bet it was not your top of the line system though

**glwilson** · 12-30-2013, 08:49 PM

Keep in mind Don, that a $50 GPS is going to have its limits. Not sure the depth you plan on using your GPS, but if you plan on doing detailed route planning and etc, the least expensive models have their limits.

If you just wanted to see where you are and headed, without a lot of route planning detail, then a less expensive model would be fine.

Another consideration is whether is it weather-proof. I had one previously that was not. All was fine until one day at the VBA National Rally in Maggie Valley we were deep in the mountains and one-hell of a rain storm hit. There was no way I could keep the GPS dry. It eventually stopped working -- at a time when we could have really used it. (Exceptional circumstances though...)

I have a Nuvi 660 and it does allow me to download complicated routes, which is something I often ride and requires the ability to do this. There simply are far too many roads and turns to remember or to use a paper map.

Lastly, you'll get a kick out of this. I just bought a new '14 HD Ultra Limited. One of HD's selling-points is the new "infotainment features" which includes an in-dash GPS with a huge screen. I will not be able to use the GPS because it only allows 9 waypoints per mapping.

I have more than twenty waypoints just getting to the beginning of my routes, let alone what these routes have (which are dozens of waypoints).

Like I said, the GPS is useless to me, other than having a big pretty screen to look at. I will still be mounting my Nuvi to the handlebars for my routing. I plan on sending HD a picture of it and thanking them for putting a piece of crap GPS on the bike.

cactusjack · 12-30-2013, 09:15 PM

As with most things you get what you pay for. I just spent $500 on a new Garmin Zumo 350 for my bike. I was willing to pay that because it's designed for motorcycle use, it's weatherproof and it has lifetime map updates. A $50 unit is going to have very limited features.

blowndodge · 12-30-2013, 09:20 PM

Cheap Bastard!!

**Top Cat** · 12-30-2013, 09:42 PM

What Greg said.

I have a Garmin Zumo 550 and could not see using anything less.

dmyers · 12-30-2013, 09:52 PM

Well thanks for all the advice.
Being a cheap bastard I am not throwing $500.00 at a GPS
I do understand what yall are saying about the better units and I would definitely like to have a bike friendly one. So I may do a little more looking.
But I don't really need one with all those whistles and bells just need one that will get me from point A to point B. I am more of a, I wonder where this road goes kinda rider. I can go get totally lost then just ask the GPS to get me out of this mess. And it always does

**glwilson** · 12-30-2013, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmyers

Well thanks for all the advice.
Being a cheap bastard I am not throwing $500.00 at a GPS
I do understand what yall are saying about the better units and I would definitely like to have a bike friendly one. So I may do a little more looking.
But I don't really need one with all those whistles and bells just need one that will get me from point A to point B. I am more of a, I wonder where this road goes kinda rider. I can go get totally lost then just ask the GPS to get me out of this mess. And it always does

At $50 you can can hardly lose if that is all you need. I would prefer the Garmin over the Tom Tom. I have had both at one time or another.

**HwyRider** · 12-30-2013, 10:09 PM

The TomTom 1500 is an older version of the TomTom that I have.

The only down side to TomTom is the amount of mounts that are available. There are many more available for the Garmin.

**Top Cat** · 12-30-2013, 10:17 PM

No matter what GPS you buy if you punch in a destination and hit go, it will take you there but sometimes it will take you on roads you do not want to go on.
That is why we say it is nice to be able to program in a route on the computer and transfer it to the GPS.

12-30-2013, 04:12 PM	#1
dmyers Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: springfield Mo Posts: 1,310	Gps Which is better Garmin nuvi 50 or tomtom 1500 __________________ Don Myers 2012 green vaquero custom bars V&H pro pipe FI2000 custom intake work in progress Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-30-2013, 04:49 PM	#2
Monkeyman Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 6,289	I'm not familiar with either specific model but I've got a Garmin (nuvi 760) and it works very well. __________________ Christopher "Monkeyman" Gray ---------------------------- Widows Sons "Overseers" Patriot Guard Rider USArmy 1987-1990 2021 Can Am Spyder RT 2018 Can Am Spyder RT Limited - SOLD 2014 Nomad - SOLD 2012 Victory Vision - SOLD 2007 Black Nomad - SOLD VMC #9367 VBA #1860
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12-30-2013, 05:28 PM	#4
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	I have a TomTom via 1535TM and have good luck with it. It's not made for a bike but you can figure out a way to mount pretty much anything on a bike. __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium
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12-30-2013, 06:02 PM	#5
dmyers Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: springfield Mo Posts: 1,310	the reason i'm asking is I was in walmart today and they had a display with either for $50.00 That seemed like a pretty good deal I think the garmin costs you money down the roar to update the maps where the tomtom is free,, so,,,,, __________________ Don Myers 2012 green vaquero custom bars V&H pro pipe FI2000 custom intake work in progress Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-30-2013, 07:14 PM	#7
dmyers Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: springfield Mo Posts: 1,310	How about performance Is the tomtom pretty good I used the gps in my stereo on my nomad for 2 years and it worked great I would be willing to bet it was not your top of the line system though __________________ Don Myers 2012 green vaquero custom bars V&H pro pipe FI2000 custom intake work in progress
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12-30-2013, 05:19 PM	#3
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,942	I have a Garmin and it does the job. Never had a TomTom
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12-30-2013, 08:49 PM	#8
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Keep in mind Don, that a $50 GPS is going to have its limits. Not sure the depth you plan on using your GPS, but if you plan on doing detailed route planning and etc, the least expensive models have their limits. If you just wanted to see where you are and headed, without a lot of route planning detail, then a less expensive model would be fine. Another consideration is whether is it weather-proof. I had one previously that was not. All was fine until one day at the VBA National Rally in Maggie Valley we were deep in the mountains and one-hell of a rain storm hit. There was no way I could keep the GPS dry. It eventually stopped working -- at a time when we could have really used it. (Exceptional circumstances though...) I have a Nuvi 660 and it does allow me to download complicated routes, which is something I often ride and requires the ability to do this. There simply are far too many roads and turns to remember or to use a paper map. Lastly, you'll get a kick out of this. I just bought a new '14 HD Ultra Limited. One of HD's selling-points is the new "infotainment features" which includes an in-dash GPS with a huge screen. I will not be able to use the GPS because it only allows 9 waypoints per mapping. I have more than twenty waypoints just getting to the beginning of my routes, let alone what these routes have (which are dozens of waypoints). Like I said, the GPS is useless to me, other than having a big pretty screen to look at. I will still be mounting my Nuvi to the handlebars for my routing. I plan on sending HD a picture of it and thanking them for putting a piece of crap GPS on the bike. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417 Last edited by glwilson; 12-30-2013 at 08:53 PM.
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12-30-2013, 09:15 PM	#9
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	As with most things you get what you pay for. I just spent $500 on a new Garmin Zumo 350 for my bike. I was willing to pay that because it's designed for motorcycle use, it's weatherproof and it has lifetime map updates. A $50 unit is going to have very limited features. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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12-30-2013, 09:20 PM	#10
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Cheap Bastard!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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12-30-2013, 09:42 PM	#11
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	What Greg said. I have a Garmin Zumo 550 and could not see using anything less. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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12-30-2013, 09:52 PM	#12
dmyers Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: springfield Mo Posts: 1,310	Well thanks for all the advice. Being a cheap bastard I am not throwing $500.00 at a GPS I do understand what yall are saying about the better units and I would definitely like to have a bike friendly one. So I may do a little more looking. But I don't really need one with all those whistles and bells just need one that will get me from point A to point B. I am more of a, I wonder where this road goes kinda rider. I can go get totally lost then just ask the GPS to get me out of this mess. And it always does __________________ Don Myers 2012 green vaquero custom bars V&H pro pipe FI2000 custom intake work in progress
	0

12-30-2013, 10:09 PM	#14
HwyRider Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 4,629	The TomTom 1500 is an older version of the TomTom that I have. The only down side to TomTom is the amount of mounts that are available. There are many more available for the Garmin. __________________ VBA # 02424 VROC # 35971 2010 Nomad 1700 Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Titanium
	0

12-30-2013, 10:17 PM	#15
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	No matter what GPS you buy if you punch in a destination and hit go, it will take you there but sometimes it will take you on roads you do not want to go on. That is why we say it is nice to be able to program in a route on the computer and transfer it to the GPS. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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