TomTom Rider.....Any Good??

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:57 pm

Anyone fitted this?... Is it any good? Best priced I have seen is Comet £299 post free. I would appreciate any comments

Cheers

Stuart

Neil178 · Post by **Neil178** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:10 pm

My word, that is a good price. Were they not £600 on launch?

BockingBandit · Post by **BockingBandit** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:37 pm

Stuart, .. a couple of our 'Distance Bikes' are using Tom Tom Rider and swear by it,.. mind you,.. they 'swear' at anything. Only problem they seem to have is being directed into Main Post offices if they enter a dogey PostCode, .. other than leaving them on the bike and getting them nicked that is. Personally,. I dont use one, .. I find that I meet some of the worlds most interesting people when I get lost,.. although my 'Controllers' might not share my enthusiasm for such interaction. £299 seems a good price. I asume you can get European Maping for them.

Geoff

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:45 pm

Geoff,

No that price is the UK version with just the UK mapping.... other maps available as options... but this is normal on the rider version.

YouTube · Post by **Paul** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:09 pm

Snave,

If you just want to get from A to B, and you're not overly fussed which route you take, it's a good device. I have a Garmin Quest, which scores over the Tom Tom by having an application you can load on your PC to plan and fine tune your routes. When I'm off to France for instance, I tell it to find my destination and autocalculate the route. I can then fine tune that to go down interesting looking roads or detour via other places on route. That's easier to do on a map on your big PC screen than on a 3 inch GPS screen. If I have a day of just following my nose, I can also download a track of the path I actually took, as recorded by the Quest, to see where I have been.

There's often a debate on here about whether it's better to use maps or GPS. Well, I use a map to select an interesting route, then program my GPS to help me follow it accurately. That is the best way to use the technology when touring. Other times I just want to find an address with no fuss, and I let the GPS pick a route for me.

Hope this helps.

Paul

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:17 pm

Cheers Paul.... that is a good comparison and sound advice... thank you.

Sorry to hear your news bye the way..... I glad you are OK.

One of the questions I believe no-one has answered yet is your gear on contents insurance. Well I made a claim and was paid no prblems... they simply gave me 80% of current value as clearly it was "used" . Obviously the assessor if they use one will want to use all powers to reduce your claim.... so beware.

Thanks for the info on the GPS

stuart

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:56 pm

The TomTom has serious issues with their bike mount, I believe (they fall off)

But, for motorcycling - I have to give the following advice:

Garmin = professional

TomTom = Girlie

The Garmin units allow you to plan your route on your PC - and let's be honest - we do look for "interesting" roads, not the shortest or the quickest.

Leave the TomTom to taxi drivers and girls, get a Garmin - the "Binford 9000" of GPS

Al

Dog Tyred · Post by **Dog Tyred** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:00 am

Blackal wrote:
Leave the TomTom to taxi drivers and girls, get a Garmin - the "Binford 9000" of GPS

Al

I think we know which side of the fence you fall down on

'Binford 9000' Eh?

Greg

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:00 am

Was it that obvious??

There is a heap of info on the UK GS-ers site:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=46

but most of it is relating to Garmin units (wonder why?)

What is apparent is the Garmin service, even after warranty expiration, lost software discs etc.

Don't leave home without it

Al

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:14 am

Never mind the brand.... althougn I agree with you the Rider is rather basic, what about where you mount them... most systems rely on a handlebar based mount.... any good suggestions on fitment for the S?

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:19 am

Ahah!

Now you mention it - I mount mine on a replacement clutch cover which has an integral RAM ball. It allows you to keep the GPS clear of tank bags and the like, and in the case of the quest - brings it usefully closer to your eye.

I'll get a pic later today if I can't dind one on the web.

Someone did venture that it affects high-speed stability, but I've not noticed it.

Al

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:27 am

Thanks AL... that would be brilliant. I am also looking at the Garmin quest which got RIDE seal of approval. Look forward to the piccie

cheers

Stuart

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:29 am

Right - found the little tinker.

http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/RA ... od=RAM-PP2

RCB-RESCVR-L+SMALL
RCB-RESCVR-R+SMALL

Replacement BMW Reservoir Cover for R1100S, all R1150 models, K1200LT, K1200RS, K1200GT. Available for Clutch (L) or Brake (R). Includes RAM-SMALL.

Mine was $86 plus postage.

See what you think. It might be available direct in UK - I don't know.

Al

snavetrauts · Post by **snavetrauts** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:35 am

Al... you are a star.. what a brilliant site. I will explore but it seems to cover most GPS units. Brilliant and many thanks. I will keep you and all posted.

cheers stuart

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:03 am

Right - here you go (hopefully clear enough)

Shows bare mount in place of BMW clutch cover.

Quest on short stalk

'nuther of the Quest

Quest from rider's view (you will still see the warning lights)

2610 from the side

2610 from rider's view

Al