--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Sampson"
wrote:
> anyone use this Streetpilot III on dual sport rides? I'd like to
get
> it as a replacement for my GPS V; mostly for the larger screen and
> extra data capacity.
>
> Rob-----------forgetting the size-----I am not a fan of the
> Streetpilot three at all------it doesn't store or save track logs---
this
> one lack of feature rules it out for me.
>
> You are overlooking a much better unit which is what I have
been
> using for the last 3 years--------the Garmin 176 and 176C (color)---
-the
> screen size is about the same as the Street Pilot but the GPS is
much
> more compact and much lighter---The streetpilot holds 500 waypoints-
the
> 176 holds 3,000. The 176 will store 50 routes and 20 saved track
logs.
> The streetpilot is not a good choice for backroading or
> dualsporting---the 176 out performs in many ways.
>
> However the 176 does not auro route---------But a dualsporter,
> backroader or adventure traveler has no use for auto routing. That's
> what you do in the car----auto route------straight line fast route--
get
> it over with as soon as possible so you can get back on your dual
sport
I've never owned or used a GPS before now, so I'm certainly no
voice of experience. I did have the same concern as you, however,
when it comes to damage, exposure to the elements, vibration, and so
on--especially for a relatively expensive unit. I was really close
to buying a 176 as mentioned by Mark. This is probably the best unit
out there for actually running mounted on the bike. Get one of those
$150 Cycoactive vibration control mounts and hardwire it to the bike,
and you'd be set for just about anything. I'm new to GPS, but not to
KLR off road adventures. I didn't really need a unit and an
expensive mount to actually guide me on my trail excursions. I
actually enjoy using a relatively simple map like the ones usually
provided by park services and local sources. I'd have gone broke by
now buying all the USGS topo maps for the areas I've been. Even with
the topo map, you'd occasionally find trails that weren't on the map
or not be able to determine which turnoff you might have missed.
I've always wanted to know "EXACTLY" where I was on the occasion when
I'd hit a confusing area. I wanted a GPS to assure me that I was on
course or tell me that I'd taken a wrong turn. Those of you who do
it, know the kind of dead-end trails and unmarked intersections that
you run into in some off road situations. Often you end up wasting
valuable time that you did not have on a long day's ride by making
one of these wrong moves. Southeastern Utah has had about as many of
these as any location I've traveled in. This is the beauty of a map
style GPS like Mark and Stu have mentioned. The e-map that Stu
mentioned is hard to find now, but both of these units have a card-
slot that allows you to put maps on the cards and then into the GPS.
With the proper maps, the GPS will always show you exactly where you
are without having to figure lats and longs or have a topo map. As
you move the GPS puts your position on the map in real time. These
units with the cards seem the way to go. I did something a little
weird, at least weird by most GPS user standards. I bought a Garmin
iQue 3600. Yikes, a PDA based GPS? Yep...I did say weird. I got a
12V powersource cord for it and an external antenna. And the nice
thing is that it uses SD data cards. I got a couple of 256MB cards
with it (I think you can go up to 1.0G on these cards). This thing
is slightly bigger than deck of playing cards but has a relatively
huge color screen. I've loaded the entire southwestern USGS topo
maps from Garmin's U.S. Topo CD onto one of the cards with room to
spare for my upcoming trip. I have the unit in a rack bag on the
bike where it's nicely protected. It's connected to the bike's 12V
power and the external antenna constantly picks up a GPS signal. The
unit runs anytime the unit is turned on or when you have an external
antenna plugged in--the screen doesn't even have to be on. For
riders using a GPS to navigate for an event like Stu mentioned, this
system would be useless. But for being out-of-harm's-way, and be
constatly available when needed, it gets the job done in a pretty
cool way. The unit has a ton of other features such as voice
directed routing and such when you're in your car, and of course it
has a full function PDA, Palm, or whatever you want to call it. If
you absolutely want an on-bike mounted GPS, then I'd go with Mark's
176map recommendation. Spend the money on a good vibration contol
mount. If you like any of the issues that the 3600 can provide, then
do some research on the GPSNOW.com site for lots of good Garmin
info. Whichever way you go, I'd suggest getting a data card model.
That feature gives you lots of neat options for urban or off road use.
Thad Carey
A15 (GI Joe using a GPS to find Barbie)
I use a 176C but have considered getting one
just for those rare occasions I need a GPS off the bike. And the price
is pretty good.
Mark Sampson
www.bigdogadventures.com