GPSes

Two Wheel Touring LLC

Ride Well... And Well Equipped.

Global Positioning Systems

What is all this GPS stuff about, anyway?

Garmin, possibly the most prolific manufacturer of GPS receivers has a great page on the topic. Click here for their information.

In a nutshell, a GPS system that a consumer buys is really a receiver that can listen to a set of 24 satellites orbiting Earth. This system of satellites tells the device precisely where it is, in some cases to within 3 meters of accuracy.

Perhaps the best part is that there is NO SUBSCRIPTION FEE to use the GPS system. Once you have your GPS receiver, you're set.

When the GPS' location information is placed on top of mapping software, the GPS system knows where it is in relationship to things of interest. If the GPS receiver has "auto routing" capabilities (just about all of them out there today do - certainly all of the ones that we sell do), it can tell you how to get from where it is to where you want to be. Most GPS receivers can record where you've been, your average speed, you fastest speed, how much time you spent stopped vs. in motion, and many many more interesting bits of information. You can download this "track" information from your GPS receiver into your computer.

If equipped with the right mapping software, you can plan routes on your computer and download them into your GPS. When on your trip, simply tell your GPS "follow the route" and the GPS will guide you along the way. Equipped with such software, the GPS will also know about where to find many "points of interest" such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, etc. Ever see your low fuel indicator come on while your far from home in unfamiliar territory? Ask the GPS for the nearest gas station, and you could be well on your way. Halfway through an all-day ride, have you ever realized that you should call ahead to a hotel to make reservations? Some of the more advanced GPSes will know the phone numbers of their "Points of interest" and can use your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone to place a call for you. (We don't recommend using that feature while you're riding your bike, mind you, but if you're pulled over at a rest stop this can be a neat convenience.)

What should I look for in a GPS receiver?

GPS receiver selection is largely a matter of personal choice. However, we think there are some things to consider when looking at GPS receivers:

	How big is the screen? On a vibrating bike, the bigger the image is, the easier it will be to see what it's telling you.
	What is its power source? For long extended trips, you should be able to power it from a 12V DC source. If you don't have a way to do that on your bike (and you're not interested in figuring out how to run a power wire for your bike), you should be certain that the batteries will last long enough. Some units do not have a power source of their own (don't have batteries) and require you to plug the unit into the bike for power. Such a unit would not work off the bike.
	Is it waterproof? Sooner or later, you'll get caught in the rain. All of the GPSes that we sell are waterproof to IPX7 standards, which means they can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This has proven to be sufficient to handle the downpours through which I've ridden over the years.
	What kind of data cards does it use? Some of the older units had no way to expand memory. Nearly all can be expanded now. Some units require a proprietary Garmin data card, and some can use more industry standard SD cards.
	How many "waypoints" and "routes" can you store? To a certain extent, the more the merrier. However, we believe that all of the receivers we sell offer more than enough for typical use.

In addition to these pretty fundamental issues to consider, there are a few "nice to have" features that you might consider:

	Does it have an electronic compass, or does it only know which way you're going based on satellite signal reception?
	Does it have a barometric altimeter? (OK - even I have to admit that for motorcycling purposes, this one might not be that useful. Heck, if the receiver can latch on to 4 satellite signals, it should be able to determine altitude from those signals.)
	Can you remove the built-in antenna and replace it with a longer one, or one placed elsewhere? This isn't so useful on a motorcycle, but if you're going to also use your GPS in your car, the GPS might not get the clearest signal wherever you might put it. Adding an external antenna (usually clipped to a window or magnetized to the roof of your car) will provide a better signal. It's more necessary in some cars than it is in others.
	Can it pull down weather information from WM WX sources? This is a subscription service that the GPS receivers can use to spot bad weather ahead.
	Can it pull down traffic information? This is a subscription service that the GPS receivers can use to spot traffic snarls and route you around them.
	Can it "speak" to you, so you don't have to continuously watch the screen for the next direction?
	Does it have a means to plug in your headset? (Some units have a headphone jack that should work very well in combination with the headsets for our CB units. Some units are Bluetooth enabled and should work well with a Bluetooth enabled headset/helmet.)
	Does it have a 3D map view?
	Will it work with your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone?
	Can it play MP3 tunes/audio books?
	Are its maps pre-loaded?
	Does it have left-hand controls? (You wont be taking your right hand off the throttle.)

What kinds of GPS receivers are there?

We sell Garmin GPSes. We've used 'em for a few years and really think they're great stuff. Other companies make fine GPSes too, though Garmin is probably still the largest name in the road-worthy GPS game. Even within the Garmin line, though, there are far too many to list here. We've chosen a few that we think are well suited to motorcycling/scooting and have grouped them into three categories.

Trail GPSes

Garmin makes a number of GPSes that were originally designed for use in outdoor "sportsman" type activities - hunting, hiking, camping, etc. These all are designed to be hand-held, have a fairly small vertical screen, and are AA battery operated. They are generally less expensive than units in the other categories and (when equipped with the proper mapping software) still have many of the important features for riding. Click here for our list of Trail GPSes.

Marine/Chart Plotter GPSes

These receivers were originally designed to be used in boats, and are made in such a way that you can add external sonar devices. They have the largest screens and are oriented horizontally. (The big screen is the reason these are attractive for riding; it's certainly why Ian's had a 276c on his Silver Wing.) Some have preloaded waterway maps as well as street maps. The rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are rated up to 15 hours, so most folks should be able to get a good day's ride in without having to power the unit from the bike. If you are looking for a GPS that would work as well on your fishing boat as it does on your bike and car, this is where to look.

Automotive/Riding

These were designed with street use in mind from the start. They are arranged horizontally and have preloaded street maps. The Automotive/Riding units are full of features designed for the motorcyclist; click here for our selection of these GPSes..

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