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