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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Ok guys got another question for you. Being new to the whole GPS thing. I was wondering if any of you have a recommendation of a good GPS unit. Looking for one full featured but easy to use. Help me.
 

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I use a garmin 5 which is a map one, I also have a garmin 2, I started out with a magellan 315 and actually found it easier to use/ understand than the garmin at first, but its all in what you get use to I guess. I have the roads and recreation area maps down loaded into the 5, I really like the map gps, I use it in my truck or car or on my gold wing for the road and on my XRL or the Grizzly for the woods. I mounted a 1/2 inch lenth of round stock between the windshield supports and put the tourtech mount there to hold the unit in place, and it also sits right in front of me for easy viewing.
 

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here's a pic. of it mounted this is a 2 but the 5 is the same physical size it just has 19mb of down loadable memory for maps from map source.
 

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Thanks for the info Dannyk. Right now I am torn between the Etex Legend, Vista, or the 5. Like the idea of the use of the elevation option on the Vista but that and the amount of mem seems to be the only real advantages to it. I too would also like to use it while on the highway then also put it to good use on the trail. BTW like your mounting sys you have made up.
 

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The 5 delux kit comes with streets already loaded in it, it will give you turn by turn instructions when you use the go to, works real nice on the road, used it last year to find a motel in eastern colorado when out that way on the wing. In our area we have lots of seasonal county roads that aren't marked with signs but are on the map and show up on the GPS so you know where you are at when you happen to cross one in the woods or are running along it. I bought the topo maps cd also, but am not very impressed with it, doesn't give you the county road designation, just says road, but has more of the small lakes with names etc. wish I could have both loaded at the same time but it wipes one off when you load maps from a differn't cd
Forgot to mention, mine is hooked up direct to the battery so you don't have to worry about running out of juice, the double a's stay fresh for any off machine use that way. I leave it on for the entire ride then down load the tracks into my map programs on the putor for future use. I have all my bikes set up that way, the XRL dual sport and the wing, the power point in the car is hot all the time so I just use the cigarette lighter cord and wired a hot one in the truck just for that purpose.
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Well dannyk thanks for the advice, went out yesterday and bought the 5 delux. Now I just have to play with it and learn how to use it, also figure out how I am going to mount it to the Grizz. Thanks again for the advice.
 

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I guess I'm a little late to reply here, but I will anyway...

I've had several GPSes... started with an old eTrex Summit back in 2000, which I didn't much like. Then got the new (at the time) eTrex Vista. Much nicer. Ended up being much too small for my liking, so I got the GPSMan 76S. I ultimately sold the Vista a few months ago, with the intention of getting the new color GPSMap 76CS. Then I saw one in person and didn't care for it as much. The color screen doesn't show up well in low light unless you turn on the backlight.

Now the plan is to keep the 76S and later on pick up the new 276C. It has a huge display, is color, and will look sharp mounted on my Grizzly. :)

The 5 that you guys have is a great little unit... you made a good choice! I prefer the mapping models because I run the TopoWest topographical maps in mine. They don't have all the trails, but for trips, I'll plan them ahead using my Maptech software.

Rob
 

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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Now correct me if im wrong here but does the Topo maps just mainly serve the purpose of giving eveltion changes and terrian changes to how steep it is.

My wife wants to use it for derections in the truck but my main concern is out on the trail with the Grizz. Trying to decide for next years vaction if we are going to go to West Virginia or maybe Moab Utah and don't want to get lost at either one we decide to do. Also would like to make some good places on the trail.

Thanks for all the help so far from the both of you!
 

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The maps help you figure out where you are. They won't autoroute you if that's what you're asking. To find your way, you'll want to read the map, or to really do it right, you plan your trip ahead of time and create a route or series of waypoints that you upload ito the GPS ahead of time.

I would recommend Moab, Utah. What time of the year are you planning to go? I'm trying to organize a small group to go in mid-May if possible. I was there in May '03 and am dying to go again and do the tougher trails that we missed last time. Even my gf is stoked about the trip.

Rob
 

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
Right now we have a small trip planned to upper WI in Sept and I have alredy been playing with Mapping our trip out.

As far as in what time of year we go, it is kind of all up to where we go and the best times to go. Wife is wanting to go to Moab a little more than WV as long as we be carful on the trails as not for me to push her to hard on the hardder trails. For me would love to go only thing is that it is a **** of a long drive from IL and it looks like the most I can squeeze out of my 2 weeks vaction at one is 6 working days off.

Not real sure on how the Hatfield McCoy trails are either? As in what would be more fun. I do know so far we both enjoy a mix of slow going rock crawling thing but also like to have some easy to relax off and on.
 

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Lessee... Mapquest shows 1338 miles or 20.5 hours from where you live, to Moab. For me, it's about 12 hours. Still a drive, but at least it can be done in one day. If you two can take turns driving, you could do the same...

I don't know anything about Hatfield/McCoy other than it's an ATV trail system, and that in itself turns me off. The only "trail system" I would want to ride is the Paiute Trail, which is even farther from you than Moab. At least it's big enough -- about 1500 miles worth of trails.

Moab has tons of trails... many are very easy, many are intermediate, and some are very challenging. There's a great mix for all riding preferences. Having been there, I can give you some recommendations.

When I went in '03, it was myself and then two couples. They gave me permission to map out a complete itinerary for the time we were there. I read a Moab trails book cover to cover several times, poured over maps and figured out the best way to piece in as many trails as possible.

Then we were about to depart and one of the guys goes, "oh guess what? My parents are going to join us for the last two days... can they borrow one of your extra quads?" So my itinerary got shot to **** because of that and I only got three good riding days in out of six, and only two of those days were with the group -- one day I went by myself because the rest all went rafting. What a joke.

So anyway, I know a lot of trails that you and your wife will enjoy, and I also know which trails she may want to NOT go on, unless she's okay with riding them until it gets tough, and then let you get her machine over it.

My girlfriend is the type who prefers the challenging stuff. We were gonna go in Sept, but I pushed it back to May to get her more riding experience first, because she's very adamant about doing the tough trails with me.

The two best times of the year for Moab are mid May and mid Sept. The rest of the time it's either too hot, too cold, or too rainy.

Rob
 

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extremegrizz look at the tourtech RAM mount, it attaches to the handlebar and has a ball at both ends to allow for differn't mounting angles came to just over 40 bucks with shipping, just bought one for my dual sport will take a pic. of it mounted. Don't have to make brackets etc. for it to fit that way.
wish you were closer, I could show you the topo, and the roads and rec. CDs along with the streets mapping that comes with the delux kit so if you wanted to purchase one you would get the right one for your needs. go to my profile there is another pic. of it from another angle, can only post one pic. here at a time.
 

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
Rob..
As far as Moab me and my wife are leaning to it. The way it looks though it would be around mid Sept of next year. The way we broke it down is if I can get 6 days off(did this year)We can have around 5 days of ridding. Sounds like it would be a blast, when I find out more I will start a new thread and if you are interesed let me know. Do you guys camp or do hotel? We have camped a few times and found it better to have a hot shower and bed instead of a tent. Just my 2 cents though.

Dannyk..
If it is not too much trouble to take a pic I would be vary interested in seeing it.

Guess I was to slow at hitting the reply button. Thanks for the pics.
 

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Hey, if Sept '05 is your time, then maybe we will have the means to meet you out there. There's no guarantee we'll make it in May '05 anyway.

The last time there, we camped, but I have an RV, so it was easier. This time, though, we may be staying at somebody's house. My gf's stepdad's son-in-law owns a vacation home there, and we may be able to stay there for free. That'll make the whole trip a lot cheaper because it'll mean about 3-4 mpg better fuel economy on the drive out and back by not having to bring my camper, AND save a bunch of money in hotel/campground fees.

BTW, there's only one campground in Moab that you can ride the ATVs out of, and that's Arch View Campground. It's well to the north, but there are a number of cool trails (all in the Easy to Intermediate range) that you can ride to. Othewise you'll have to trailer. There's plenty of parking at the various trailheads, though.

We should start a Moab, Utah thread. :)

Rob
 

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
Hey Dannyk that mount on the bike is different than the one you have on the Grizz right? Any advantages to either one?

Rob Moab thread being started :)
 

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Yes the one on the griz is a vibration dampening one, comes from Germany, was about $80.00, that was the first one I bought for the thumper, when I bought the griz I was going to sell the thumper so I moved the mount to the griz. I didn't have any bites on the bike so I am riding it still and I missed the gps on whatever I rode in the woods especially for exploring new areas so I ordered the ram mount. It is according to the manufacture and other people who use them offers some dampening of vibration for the gps.I actually ride the bike more as it gives me 50 mpg as to the griz at 20 mpg, but when we get a group together for a ride its the griz and also on overnight camping trips, kinda hard to carry all the stuff on the bike. Also hunting season is just around the corner so the griz will get used more and as winter sets in I will ride all winter if I can. Only 45 days til the snow can start falling here.
GO TO CYCOACTIVE .COM AND LOOK AT THEIR WEB PAGE, LOOK AT TOURING MOTORCYCLES AND YOU WILL FIND BOTH KINDS OF MOUNTS THAT I HAVE, USED IN DIFFERNT CONFIGUREATIONS THIS SHOULD HELP YOU IN DETERMINING WHAT KIND YOU WOULD LIKE.
 

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My friend and I just recently purchased several of the Rhino 120 GPS. They serve as a GPS but also as a radio, and you can use them to locate another unit after the initail set-up to find some one if they go misssing or get hurt. I had this happen to me a few years ago, and I wish we had had them back then.

Later,
Dan
 
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