Bike Sat Navs - Tom Tom
Discussion
I'm looking to upgrade the Sat nav on my bike.
It came with a Garmin/Ducati 4 inch screen factory item that I'm not impressed with. I need a bigger screen (I've got old eyes and cant read half the info on the screen
) and it takes forever to calculate routes.
Don't want to use my phone, Id forget to take it off when parked and it'll get nicked, or if I drop the bike I'll damage it.
Have a Tom Tom in the car and I like that a lot. So I'm thinking about getting the Rider model.
I want to tour Europe, and I want a decent screen size, plus I'd like a mounting system that can be locked onto the handle bar and I can move the unit onto my other bike if I want.
So, any suggestions or advise on what model or what kit to buy, they sell a few different (premium, World, lifetime maps etc).
Cheers
It came with a Garmin/Ducati 4 inch screen factory item that I'm not impressed with. I need a bigger screen (I've got old eyes and cant read half the info on the screen
) and it takes forever to calculate routes. Don't want to use my phone, Id forget to take it off when parked and it'll get nicked, or if I drop the bike I'll damage it.
Have a Tom Tom in the car and I like that a lot. So I'm thinking about getting the Rider model.
I want to tour Europe, and I want a decent screen size, plus I'd like a mounting system that can be locked onto the handle bar and I can move the unit onto my other bike if I want.
So, any suggestions or advise on what model or what kit to buy, they sell a few different (premium, World, lifetime maps etc).
Cheers
I bought the premium, along with a second mount and security lock for a second bike and overall I'm very happy with the unit.
The way i do it, i do all the planning on a desktop via the mydrive website/account, which is tethered to the sat nav and then it just syncs.
One thing i would mention though, is don't bother trying to connect it to your phone, and don't consider its phone integration in your purchase decision.
It markets itself as a sort of phone handler for your bike, but its useless at that, doesn't connect via bluetooth reliably. Then there is the traffic, which requires the data connection on your phone. I find it works fine when in the garage connected by wifi, but mobile data, it just fails.
I spoke to tomtom about this and they didn't come to a solution, seems others have the same problems on the web. Android BTW.
Regardless, as a stand alone bike sat nav i find it great and would recommend it. Had a Garmin before and i just couldn't get on with it, and the basecamp garmin software was a nightmare to use if you are trying to plan a more complicated route than simple point to point.
Good luck!
The way i do it, i do all the planning on a desktop via the mydrive website/account, which is tethered to the sat nav and then it just syncs.
One thing i would mention though, is don't bother trying to connect it to your phone, and don't consider its phone integration in your purchase decision.
It markets itself as a sort of phone handler for your bike, but its useless at that, doesn't connect via bluetooth reliably. Then there is the traffic, which requires the data connection on your phone. I find it works fine when in the garage connected by wifi, but mobile data, it just fails.
I spoke to tomtom about this and they didn't come to a solution, seems others have the same problems on the web. Android BTW.
Regardless, as a stand alone bike sat nav i find it great and would recommend it. Had a Garmin before and i just couldn't get on with it, and the basecamp garmin software was a nightmare to use if you are trying to plan a more complicated route than simple point to point.
Good luck!
Edited by StreetDragster on Friday 6th January 07:21
everything that has been said above - espcially the phone issue just use it as a stand alone sat nav and that's all
on my second. the first was four years old and the screen failed in heavy rain so bought the same again tom tom
occasionally i have to use a Garmin and i don't like it just not as intuitive as tom tom
on my second. the first was four years old and the screen failed in heavy rain so bought the same again tom tom
occasionally i have to use a Garmin and i don't like it just not as intuitive as tom tom
I've been using a TomTom Rider 400-something for a few years. Does the job and I like not having to use my phone as a satnav. It's getting a little long in the tooth now, the processor must be fairly week (though I'm sure it was decent for its era) so keep thinking about getting a new one. Haven't bothered yet, however, as it still works just fine.
I run a Tom-tom Rider 450. I plan routes using MyRouteApp then download them to the Tomtom. Not having to have the Tom-tom in any sort of case mikes life a lot easier regardless of the weather or the riding requirements. It's a lot of money for a bike specific device but, for me, it's just about worth it.
I also run Waze on my phone alongside the Tom-tom. The Tom-tom is much better at route planning but the warnings provided by Waze are very beneficial.
I also run Waze on my phone alongside the Tom-tom. The Tom-tom is much better at route planning but the warnings provided by Waze are very beneficial.
If you use an iPhone to provide the network connection for a TomTom you need to let the TomTom start up then turn on Personal Hotspot on the iPhone. TomTom will then find the available connection and traffic info will work. If Personal Hotspot is already on before TomTom starts it will fail to find the connection.
pcn1 said:
Silly question time.... there's no reason why the Tom Tom Rider cant be also dash mounted and used in a car too ?
That way I'm splitting the cost over 2 bikes and 2 cars !
No reason to not use in a car though some of the features are disabled on the Rider but available in the car versions. That way I'm splitting the cost over 2 bikes and 2 cars !
pcn1 said:
Silly question time.... there's no reason why the Tom Tom Rider cant be also dash mounted and used in a car too ?
That way I'm splitting the cost over 2 bikes and 2 cars !
Nope, if you buy the premium kit, it comes with a car screen mount and power lead too. I've used mine in the car loads of times.That way I'm splitting the cost over 2 bikes and 2 cars !
I'd recommend buying the one you're most familiar with - both Tom Tom and Garmin Zumo are excellent sat navs.
The Zumo XT uses the Garmin Drive app to access traffic info so you don't need to share your internet connection. It also downloads routes using the drive app from the phone running either MyRoute App or a browser to My Route App. It also has a lot of points of interest and Trip Adviser app to help finding hotels and attractions etc.
Best thing about it compared to my old devices is it's got a very bright screen, easy to see in sunlight, it recalculates quickly which is useful in a city and it's so easy to plan a route in the device without needing to use any other app or web site. You can enter a destination then add shaping points to create an interesting route (as well as adventurous routing) in 10 mins.
It also integrates very well with my iPhone and Packtalk intercom.
The Zumo XT uses the Garmin Drive app to access traffic info so you don't need to share your internet connection. It also downloads routes using the drive app from the phone running either MyRoute App or a browser to My Route App. It also has a lot of points of interest and Trip Adviser app to help finding hotels and attractions etc.
Best thing about it compared to my old devices is it's got a very bright screen, easy to see in sunlight, it recalculates quickly which is useful in a city and it's so easy to plan a route in the device without needing to use any other app or web site. You can enter a destination then add shaping points to create an interesting route (as well as adventurous routing) in 10 mins.
It also integrates very well with my iPhone and Packtalk intercom.
I recently had to buy a new Tom Tom rider as like the earlier poster, my screen died on my old one due to water ingress (after say 5-6 years). I love them, but might try and improve the waterproofing on the new one (e.g. a tiny amount of butyl putty around the screen, a bit of tape over the screw holes).
Use in the car too.
Use in the car too.
airsafari87 said:
Stepping in here as I am looking to get a similar satnav myself.
But I see that sportsbikeshop currently have the Tom Tom 550 World on sale for £292 at the moment, down from £400.
Tom Tom 550 user here for 2 years. Does everything I need it too, plus when I dropped it and cracked the screen Tom Tom replaced the whole unit for €80 as they couldn’t repair. Very happy customer But I see that sportsbikeshop currently have the Tom Tom 550 World on sale for £292 at the moment, down from £400.
That's a shame. Makes it a bit smaller than my car Tom Tom, and just a tiny bit bigger than the Garmin I have.
My current satnav is mounted just at the same distance that I have to wear VDU glasses at work and home to read clearly
I'll have to go and see one in the flesh at a bike shop before I decide.
My current satnav is mounted just at the same distance that I have to wear VDU glasses at work and home to read clearly
I'll have to go and see one in the flesh at a bike shop before I decide.
I was stuck between the Rider and Zumo XT. Ended up going with the Garmin and very happy with it. Looks great, directions are easy to follow and good route planning. I like being able to send a destination to it from the app on my phone. Saves fiddling about typing on it.
Works very well with Cardo intercom too for voice directions and playing music via phone.
Works very well with Cardo intercom too for voice directions and playing music via phone.
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