Which SatNav?

Mr_Toad

I have a question while we're on the subject of Sat Navs.

I have two TomTom units, one in each car but I am looking at getting one for my motorbike. Both TomTom and Garmin make bike Sat Navs and the general consensus is that the Garmin is the better of the two but I'm not sure why as they both look very similar on paper.

What's holding me back is that some years ago I needed the ability to navigate to an OS Grid location and at the time only Garmin did this so I bought a Garmin Nuvi.

Generally it was OK, however, there were for me serious issues.

TomTom would say 'in 200yds turn left.............turn left' and I did.

Garmin would say 'in 200yds turn left..........turn left' and I did then Garmin would say 'turn around' because the final turn left was too soon, especially in town.

If the streets were close together the Garmin would give the turn instruction too soon the TomTom was spot on.

I use the voice instructions more than the map, with the Garmin I had to glance at the map to see that in fact it didn't actually mean the road I was approaching but the next one.

It was the same on roundabouts, when the TomTom said take the exit it was always the one you were approaching with the Garmin it wasn't and forgetting to glance at the map and check meant that I took the wrong exit, a real pain at times especially if you can't turn round for miles!

This was a long time ago and I'm hoping that Garmin have sorted it out but I don't actually know anyone with a Garmin that I can try and I wonder if this is the reason?

getmore4less

Got Here Drive+ on my windows phone with worldwide maps.

Satnav(s) now in a drawer.

Great for car and walkabouts.

Moto2

Mr_Toad wrote: »

I have a question while we're on the subject of Sat Navs.

I have two TomTom units, one in each car but I am looking at getting one for my motorbike. Both TomTom and Garmin make bike Sat Navs and the general consensus is that the Garmin is the better of the two but I'm not sure why as they both look very similar on paper.

What's holding me back is that some years ago I needed the ability to navigate to an OS Grid location and at the time only Garmin did this so I bought a Garmin Nuvi.

Generally it was OK, however, there were for me serious issues.

TomTom would say 'in 200yds turn left.............turn left' and I did.

Garmin would say 'in 200yds turn left..........turn left' and I did then Garmin would say 'turn around' because the final turn left was too soon, especially in town.

If the streets were close together the Garmin would give the turn instruction too soon the TomTom was spot on.

I use the voice instructions more than the map, with the Garmin I had to glance at the map to see that in fact it didn't actually mean the road I was approaching but the next one.

It was the same on roundabouts, when the TomTom said take the exit it was always the one you were approaching with the Garmin it wasn't and forgetting to glance at the map and check meant that I took the wrong exit, a real pain at times especially if you can't turn round for miles!

This was a long time ago and I'm hoping that Garmin have sorted it out but I don't actually know anyone with a Garmin that I can try and I wonder if this is the reason?

I have a Garmin Zumo 590 and a Tomtom 400
I don't use the voice commands and prefer to mount them in my eye-line and glance at the map, so can't help with the accuracy of the voice guidance.
Which is best will probably depend on what you want to do with it and what you're used to.
Planning exact routes would favour the Tomtom IMO as the Garmin wants to re-route too much.
If you want a media player, the Garmin would be the choice as the only one that has it.
Tomtom does not do custom POIs and show them on the map (other than search and navigate to them) so using a 3rd party speed cam database is not possible. The Garmin is fine with it.
I find Tomtom traffic very good indeed (don't have it on the bike but use it most days in my car) but haven't tried the Garmin offering.

Mr_Toad

Thanks,

from what I've read on the bike forums and what you say it looks like the Garmin Zumo is the one to go for.

From what you tell me it would seem the main reason is that once someone finds a nice ride out they can edit the route using the Garmin Express PC/Mac software and add in custom POIs like cafes, pubs and views etc. which they then share with others who want them.

I'm not at all interested in a media player or hands free calling for my mobile, when I'm on the back it's time to relax, think and enjoy the ride, no music necessary and definitely no phone!

I'm not bothered about traffic info as I don't commute or do meetings, I'm retired so ride purely for pleasure.

I have never considered one on previous bikes but I was out a couple weeks ago, I had to go to Birmingham for a small part for the boat, and I went there and back on the bike in a straight-ish line through the Peak district on the back roads. A far more pleasant ride than a boring trip down the A38! :eek:

I had a stop a few times and check the map on my phone to make sure I hadn't wandered too far off the plot. I thought then that a GPS would be ideal for getting lost but in the right direction, if that makes sense.

Like you I shan't be using the voice guidance on the bike but I will probably use it in one of the cars as well and retire the older of the two TomTom units.

Moto2

Mr_Toad wrote: »

From what you tell me it would seem the main reason is that once someone finds a nice ride out they can edit the route using the Garmin Express PC/Mac software and add in custom POIs like cafes, pubs and views etc. which they then share with others who want them.

It's really more likely to be used riding predefined routes that are uploaded to the unit, although they both store a 'breadcrumb' track route that can be shared or stored
They both have software for producing routes, Tomtom has the awful MyDrive Connect and Garmin has the even worse Basecamp.
Something like My-Route-app is much better for either. but anything that can produce .gpx files will work with both.

The POI issue with Tomtom is that you can't have a custom POI set and have them displayed on the map page, and therefore tell you when you're near them etc.

[Deleted User]

Moto2 wrote: »

and prefer to mount them in my eye-line and glance at the map, so can't help with the accuracy of the voice guidance.

I have a Garmin 55 LMT, and I find the voice guidance pretty reliable.

There is one route I've followed, where it says "Turn right into ******* road", when the turn is in fact just a sharp bend in the road, but other than that, it's pretty accurate.