Navigator 2

[mcdarbyfeast]

I currently have a Garmin 3+ which has given almost 5 years of reiable service but, am contemplating a new GPS unit, in particular the BMW Navigator 2 (mainly because I can add it to the finance on the new bike!)

I will be using it mostly in the UK and Europe.

I have a couple of questions. Is this model worth the huge amount of cash BMW are asking for it? Are the extra features useful and easy to use? Are there any other units that have a similar spec but, cheaper.



[This message has been edited by mcdarbyfeast (edited 24 September 2004).]

[gazzr]

Hi Darbyfeast,

Still getting up to speed on the GPS systems at the moment but I have heard that the BMW unit is overpriced and you can by the (Garmin) unit much cheaper elsewhere. Check out www.gpsw.co.uk for prices and specs. They are based near Heathrow so might be worth a ride out to see what they have. Also www.garmin.com has some good information about models/specs etc.

PanEuropean recommended a good BMW site to me that has a good thread on GPS. Well worth reading

www.ukgser.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=46

Hope this helps
gazzr

[mcdarbyfeast]

Many thanks for the info. I work at Heathrow so I can take look.

Bob.

[Simon Harby]

It might be worth looking at the street pilot three... plus world map source CD.. although there are much more uptodate versions.

The street pilot three has an excellent screen and is easy to read on the move.
Also, if your not too proud you can buy a Honda handle bar bag instead of the rip off touratech mounting block. Hondas bag costs about 20 quid.. If you do get it you need to cut a GPS size holein the top!! It works well and absorbs heavy off-road vibrations ad the gps stay put! however... It doesnt look great tho...but does work..

[mcdarbyfeast]

Yes, being easy to read on the move is one of the reasons I'm considering a change from the 3+. The screen and consequently the figures are a little too small to just quickly glance at. The buttons are also very small to operate, especially with winter gloves on.

[Simon Harby]

I'm not familiar with the 3+, but the street pilot three's buttons are OK but the zoom buttons are a bit small. Also there is a facility to remove the compass and speed indicator and then the map is shown to its fullest vis. Which makes it easier to read and shows more info, and finally easier to move the cursor over, without waiting for the map to re-build...

PS was it you who replied to my question about Ohlins??

[mcdarbyfeast]

Hi, The 3+ has the same feature ie; being able to remove the speed etc from the screen to increase the map area, but the screen is very small to start with on this model so this only gives a minimal advantage. The fact that the display is black and white (although it's more various shades of grey and green than black and white) means that the definition is not as good as it could be.

Yes it was me who replied to your Ohlins thread. Maybe I've just been unlucky as there are lot of satisfied Ohlins customers.

[Simon Harby]

HI Bob,

Just for reference Garmin sold me my street pilot at cost as they were moving onto a newer version... it might be worth dropping them a line and see if they have any stock left of the SP3.

I might save a couple of hundred quid...