K11 Owners Group

RAL88 · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:47 am Post subject: TomTom Rider or Garmin 2820 ???

I am looking at getting a new GPS with Bluetooth and I am looking at the TT Rider and Garmin 2820. Does anyone have any experience with these and can give me some feedback. I have been on some of the other forums but wanted to see what you all here have to say.

Drake, still happy with your Rider?

Scott, I know you have a 2820. How do you like?

Thanks,

Rich
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Technician · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

I've had a 2820 for the past year and use a Blueant Interphone headset. The Garmin has seen me round Europe safely for two tours without any problems. You may experience the loss of reception in some well built up areas but that is a problem with all GPS systems. I've found the 2820 to be very accurate and responsive with a very easy to use menu. I personaly have always favoured Garmin products as they have been around longer than most of the others and that the military have always used either Garmin or Magellan units. The fact that the BMW Navigator is just a rebadged Garmin unit is also a good indicator.
I've never used a Tom Tom but have a few friends who have come to me to make repairs to mounts and cases, I've also got a couple of mates who have both makes and say that they prefer the Garmin on the bike. There is always the Zumo which also has Bluetooth.
_________________
Fat Ba***d with a K1100LTse
Squire D18 trailer
Garmin Zumo 660
"Run it round the block to see if the wheels fall off!!!!"

RAL88 · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:26 am Post subject:

Thanks Technician for the input. I would love to get a zumo 550 but it's cost prohibitive. The Rider and 2820 that I am looking at are quite a bit less.

Rich
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 10:32 am Post subject:

Hey there Rich,
I have been very happy with my Garmin.
My only purpose with using the bluetooth on the bike is for a visual indication of a phone call when I'm out riding and I'm "on call" for work.
I don't have a bluetooth headset so I would have to use the Garmin supplied microphone for the phone link to stay connected. Maybe in my next helmet. Confused

I haven't used the feature yet, but it you have a poi with a phone number you can call it without extra dialing.
I can load it with some of my mp3 music and connect it to my Chatterbox unit so I have my own tunes.

It's not battery powered so I have to use a power pac(supplied with it) in the house. I purchaced the motorcycle mount kit to use on the bike. This lets me use the standard vehicle plug in the car.

The mapsource software is good. I can make my own routes/waypoints and upload them for later. But most others should do this as well.

I agree with you that the Zumo was a little more expensive than needed to be.
I considered a unit without bluetooth, but it's an up and coming technology that isn't going away so what the hey, ey?
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:09 am Post subject:

I'm very happy with the TT Rider 1st edition, especially once I found a way to have it log tracks. And the price was right. About $100 for a refurb'd unit from China off ebay and about $50/bike for mounting hardware and power cable.

It does have Bluetooth capability as well with phone integration/dialing but I don't want or need that. You can also subscribe to traffic/ weather and other stuff which doesn't matter to me.

The touchscreen seems to work fine even with thick gloves on,

The first edition does not play tunes, not sure about the more recent Rider but I use an MP3 player and earbuds so that's not an issue for me.

The only thing that's a little frustrating is that if it knows it's mounted on a MC (by being in the MC cradle) and you are moving, it really limits the menu options. I can take it out of the cradle while riding and then it thinks I'm in a car but that's a bit of a PITA but doable if there's no traffic around.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

drmalacarne · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject:

Last september I bought a TT Rider 2 while traveling in CAlifornia.
I use it for 11 days mounted on a Gold Wing, and the RAM mounting system was fine. Always with good support and easy to put on/off the GPS.
It has a Bluetooh with a CARDO helmet unit, and all for U$670,00 in BestBuy store.
It's very accurate ad the maps are well done.
Don't have MP3 player or pictures viewer.
The safety system that enters while riding is a good thing, in my opinion, sisce it prevents the rider to get distracted and could cause a bad accident.
Now, to use it in Brazil, I thing the south american maps could be better.
I have heard that the Garmin maps for the South America are better.
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

drmalacarne · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

Drake.
Thanks for the information about the document reader and MP3 to the Rider 2.
I have interest in use that in my R2, but I'm not very smart in programing these electronic gadgets,,,,
Could you send me some detailing steps to put the document reader and the MP3 reader in my Rider 2?
Thanks.,
Guilherme.
_________________
1994 K1100LT SE n° 0267
1998 HD Heritage Springer 95th anniversary
Yes, a Hog and a Beemer can live together!

RAL88 · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject:

RJTrucker · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: Garmin 2720

For years I used the Garmin 2620 which was said not to be good on a MC cause of the hard drive in it. Well after many years and miles it finally went. Due to the price of the 2820 or the 550 I went on E-bay and got 2 new Garmin 2720s. One for my bike and one for the wifes bike. I got 2 for less then the cost of one 2820. It also fits the same mount I had on my bike from the 2620. No bluetooth but I dont even listen to the radio on my LT much less talk on the phone. Motorcycles were invented so you can get away from people. Why let them into your helmet.

Ron
_________________
Ron
1993 K11LT
1985 K100RS with over 100K on it
1985 K100RS Luftmiester Turbo Work in progress (any help is appreciated)
1974 R90/6

RAL88 · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

I agree Ron. I don't want it for the phone. I, like you ride the bike to get a way from that but I do like to listen to NPR and my MP3s.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Garmin 2720

RAL88 · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

Hey Scott,

I misunderstood. I thought that the pack was battery powered not the AC-DC plug in. The advantage I could see with a battery powered pack that plugs into the gps would be if you stopped for lunch and wanted to play with the gps while you were eating. I'll have to look into what might be out there.

I have a work phone also 24/7. I put it in my pocket on vibrate (ok, no jokes) so I can tell when a call comes in.

Thanks,

Rich
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

I've tried the vibrate in the pocket, didn't work well. Sad

As far as a remote power, if you had an extra power cord from a mc mount kit you could connect up a 12v bat pac of some kind to power it like your thinking.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)