OT- ish tomtom rider

It's time to replace my current sat nav system (ancient pocket PC running
tomtom 3, not got enough power to run tomtom 5, and old tech gps card that
takes 20 minutes to lock onto the sats most times)

So i was thinking of getting one of the new pocket pc's with the built in
gps modules, but then i plan to ride the bikes a lot more over the next
years, parking the camper in once place abroad and riding around to see
waht's about,

So the tomtom rider gps system seems a better bet,

Anyone got one got any good and bad points, i'm used to the tomtom way of
things, so would like to stay with tomtom unless one of the other systems is
much better, i'm not interested in any of the live thingies, if there's
stationary traffic ahead then tough shit, i'll wait it out (or do what i did
last year and punt it out of my way weather forecasts big deal, if it's
raining when i wake up, i stay in bed

I guess 50% of the use of the gps thing would be in the camper, so for the
rider i'd need one of the car mount kits, wheres the best place for one and
what prices am i looking at,

I'd also use it on the virago and the scooter, the kit comes with mounts for
handlebars... virago sorted, mirror mount for the scoot.
obviousely i'd need more than one of the power transfer thingies the rider
connects into when in the mount.. any cheap sources?

And finaly a Q about the bluetoof dongle it works with, all i read was it
clips to your jacket, and you plug a headset in, what is the plug and socket
configuration between the headset and helmet bits?

i'm asking that as i already have a speaker and mic in my helmet (prolly
left from when the hospital shoved a camera down me japs eye... erm
anyhoo, that uses a standard 3.5mm stereo walkman sype connector, which i
use with the rider to pillion intercom, and also with the rider to rider
radio's i recently got for when sam takes her cbt, so having the same
connector would be very handy,

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Hairy Arse belched forth and ejected the
following:

I've got one. Good points are NavTeq mapping, it's quick and does
everything it says on the tin. There aren't really any bad points unless
you own a sportsbike in which case it's a bit bulky to put behind the
screen.

You get these free for a month and the traffic's very useful if you use
it in a car - you also get the camera updates combind with trafic for
around 50 euros a year which is way cheaper than a stand-alone camera
gps jobbie.

I got mine in Halords for 25 quid.

You can buy the power cable seperately - look at the TT website for
accessories. Also, you'll need another kit anyway because the power clip
part of the kit will only fit one application at a time.

It doesn't have to clip to your jacket. That's a good way of losing it,
imho. Better put it in a pocket.

The TTR uses 2.5

 

good - piss easy to use for getting from where you are to somewhere
else.

bad - can't plan a route on a pc and upload it. Setting up an
itinerary is a pita.
sound is ONLY via the earpiece. You can't route it through the car
speakers as there is no audio outlet on the tomtom rider unit. only
bluetooth. bluetooth unit batttery time is less than an afternoon.

tomtom web site. They weren't available until relatively recently
(summat to do with shipping from forn parts) but mine eventuallly
arrived last month.

tomtom mounts seem ok for many bikes, but I got a ram mount on
recommendation from here. Much better. Solid mounting, no vibration,
easy adjustment (which you'll need if you're moving the unit from
vehicle to vehicle.)

not a standard stereo lead. (Won't work with my autocom anyway)
Looking at the tomtom lead it has two rubber dividers on the 3.5mm
jack plug, giving 3 separated connectors iyswim. The autocom lead has
one, and therefore two connectors.

the rider headset is a simple single earbud. It is fine for car use,
but utterly pants for riding with. The vaunted phone interface that
allows your phone to talk through the tomtom unit to you via bluetooth
is utterly utterly pants.

tuff. see above.

 

That's odd. It lasts absolutely ages for me. In fact it's never
actually run flat but I charge it about every 5th journey just in case.
It certainly lasted the approximately 10 hours it took to get to
scotland earlier in the year. Maybe you've got a duff one.

Yeah, it's a 3 pole plug. There might be a convertor out there
somewhere.

I don't use the ear bud thing on the bike but the pad which you velcro
to the inside of your lid. Never tried the phone thing.

 

Hmmm, the whole blootoof thing is putting me off, can't really see why they
had to use that... ok the phone interface but for me if the phone rings
whilst i'm riding, they can bugger off and try later,

I'd much prefer a direct connection, i.e. plug the earpiece cable into the
unit... or actually i'd just make up a lead to connect the tomtom to the
intercom i use as it has an audio input for walkmans.

3 pole sounds like a stereo plug, BUT i can see tomtom doing something ass
backwards so make you use their own brand of connectors,
Still, a few seconds with the soldering iron will make up an adaprtor if
needed,

But now i'm wondering if the rider is all it's cracked upto be, wonder if
any of the other tomtom units are shower proof, i'm not one for riding in
the rain unless i really really have to,

Or maybe it's time to investigate non tomtom gps systems, i'm only using
tomtom now as it's what came with the pda i bought, so that's what i learnt
to use, but i guess at the end of the day they all do pretty much the same
thing.

 

I haven't had any problems with mine and it's been properly rained on.
HVB

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, prawn belched forth and ejected the following:

"NavTeq mapping"

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, leo belched forth and ejected the following:

Err.. make a bluetooth speaker. Even I can do it.

Bluetooth battery time lasts me longer than a week even if I leave it
switched on.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Hairy Arse belched forth and ejected the
following:

To keep it waterproof, you muppet.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Whinging Courier belched forth and ejected the
following:

Bad form but the fact you can make and receive phonecalls withing your
helmet is a boon, imho.

Oh, you can send texts, too, but obviously you won't do this when you're
riding ;-)

 

Hmmm.
Thanks to you and WC. I'll take it back then.
Cheers.

 

Which is a massive omission for kit aimed at bikers who like to take
take the way less travelled. I see the a Garmin 2610 is being massively
discounted (under £200) at the moment even though many consider it
better than its newer dumb-downed brethen like the 2720. You really do
need to have a close look at both before deciding. User reprots on the
Rider I have seen have not been very positive.

 

I think i'm coming to that conclusion, tomtom just havent got the rider
right,

I really would like a gps with no blootoof as it's just another set of
batteries to die and feck it up,
The 'it's got to be waterproof' thing dosent wash with me for the reason for
no direct connection, i have some radio's that have a rubber cover that
keeps the headset socket waterproof when not in use, and the genuine
headset's plug has a gasket on the base that keeps the connection waterproof
when it's plugged in.

Or how hard would it have been to bring the audio out on the back connectors
(couple more needed) then you can put a waterproof line socket anywhere on
the bike, like the riding schools use for their trainers radio systems that
they mount on the bike permanantly,

Sooo, now it's time to look at the Garmin versions....

 

If you are going to order a 2610 and want a motorcycle kit then get your
order in quick. A chap from the UK distributor of the RAM mounts[1] says
they are getting in short supply and he's unlikely to get another shipment
this side of Xmas.

Have a look at the 2610 bundle here:
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod3267.html

[1] RAM mount is much better than the Garmin one

 

[2] And the Touratech cradle is better than the RAM cradle (at a price)
and can be used with the RAM mounts.