ok, so I was thinking again .

[8LEGS]

I was going to get a garmin zumo 550. I like the idea of getting directions on the scala rider q2. I see JC whitney has the zumo 450 on sale. Is it possible to hook up a FM transmitter to the 450 and hear it through FM on the q2? If it is possible I'll go ahead and get the 450. I'm not using a phone with the q2, only using to hear gps and tunes.

 

[sleepman]

I would guess that you could plug an fm transmittor into the 450 and that it would broadcast the directions that way to the Scala Q2. But let me warn you that the FM radio on the Scala is not very high quality and doesn't work that well with transmittors.

 

[8LEGS]

Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'll get the 550. I just can't justify the $$$$. TomTom rider 2 isn't bad, but it doesn't speak street names. I'll keep looking, have plenty of time; getting 7 inches of snow tonight, so, I won't be getting lost on the Spyder. LOL.

 

[sleepman]

Ride out the winter and then buy. I expect there to be a price drop coming for the 550 since Garmin just came out with the 650.

 

[bjt]

While speaking street names is nice, I wouldn't let that be a deal breaker. Most of the time, being told to "turn left in 200 feet" or "turn right in 500 feet" are good enough directions. Besides, sometimes there aren't street signs at intersections so knowing that you "turn left on Oak street" may not be a great help.

 

[ataDude]

And, I wouldn't totally rule out the non-weather resistant Nuvi if $$$ are an issue. I have a 660 which, at the time, was big bucks. A couple of the guys I ride with have the cheaper Nuvi models.

If it rains, you either take it off or put a baggie over it. No big deal.

.

 

[bjt]

And, I wouldn't totally rule out the non-weather resistant Nuvi if $$$ are an issue. I have a 660 which, at the time, was big bucks. A couple of the guys I ride with have the cheaper Nuvi models.

If it rains, you either take it off or put a baggie over it. No big deal.

.

:agree:
dltang has the Lowrance XOG and I think we only paid $170 for it. Seems to work as good as my Zumo 450 at about 1/3 the price.

 

[8LEGS]

:agree:
dltang has the Lowrance XOG and I think we only paid $170 for it. Seems to work as good as my Zumo 450 at about 1/3 the price.

I'll check it out online tonight. I have always used Garmins, but am open to almost anything. How does dltang have it mounted on her spyder, I was thinking she had posted it before but couldn't find it.

 

[ataDude]

I'll check it out online tonight. I have always used Garmins, but am open to almost anything. How does dltang have it mounted on her spyder, I was thinking she had posted it before but couldn't find it.

Here's how I did mine (Version 1):
Clicky: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=37710&postcount=7



.

 

[8LEGS]

Thank goodness I have a few months to decide on this. I've been looking at different set-ups. I do like the setup dltang has, the GPS is very affordable, now I'm wondering about not going bluetooth but going with a wired system. My only concern is the wires getting in the way.???

Anyone want to chime in on how they are set-up?

Also, I was reading about the helmet set-up. I'm using an HJC Symax II, I just read on web bike world that the symax is difficult to mount a headset to because of the chinbar. I could get a different helmet if I have to.

 

[dltang]

I'll check it out online tonight. I have always used Garmins, but am open to almost anything. How does dltang have it mounted on her spyder, I was thinking she had posted it before but couldn't find it.

You might not believe this, but I use the suction cup on the dash, one side or the other. It stayed in place all the way to Gatlinburg and back. I loaded my music on the SD card and put that in the Lowrance and I was good to go. It is hooked up through our CB from J&M. The music plays unless I am hearing directions and if Brian talks to me, that takes precedence over everything. I like it. It is easy on, easy off and lightweight.

 

[bjt]

I'll check it out online tonight. I have always used Garmins, but am open to almost anything. How does dltang have it mounted on her spyder, I was thinking she had posted it before but couldn't find it.

The XOG came with a pretty substantial suction cup base for mounting on a car windshield. She stuck that to the Spyder display right over the dial speedometer leaving the digital tach / speedo visible. Much to my surprise, it stayed put in that location the entire trip from Michigan to Tenessee and back without any problems. I searched the forums for a possible picture of how she mounted it but couldn't find anything.

The one main negative that we've noticed with the XOG is that it can take a while, sometimes up to 10 minutes, to get the initial satellite lock (cold start). My Zumo 450 can aquire the satellites (cold start) in 3 - 5 minutes and came with a RAM handlebar mount. The XOG was a little bit more complicated than the Zumo but I think thats because the Zumo interface was "dumbed down" to be easy to use out of the box and to not have so many options to be fiddling with while tooling down the road. In other words, it seems that the XOG has more features but I'm not really sure if they make that GPS any more useful or not.

Bottom line, if I had to make a GPS decison all over again, I would probably take the XOG over the Zumo 450 mostly based on cost for a good performing GPS.

 

[bjt]

Also, I was reading about the helmet set-up. I'm using an HJC Symax II, I just read on web bike world that the symax is difficult to mount a headset to because of the chinbar. I could get a different helmet if I have to.

I think for modular helmets, you get a headset made for 3/4 helmets, with the mike on a boom bar.

Also, I know at one time, lamonster was just using ear buds from his GPS or XM radio to hear his tunes. Maybe he could give more insight into that (inexpensive) setup. Going to something like we have probably adds a minimum of $250 in headsets, communication equipment, power supply, etc.

 

[8LEGS]

That sounds like the way to go. I have no need for a CB, can the GPS be hooked up to just a headset? if so, how, and where does someone run the wires? And what is a good one to get. I currently have a gps, a garmin c550, but do not want to put that on the spyder. Looks like I may end up getting the XOG. Also, any pics would be great if you have time. No big rush.

 

[bdspyder]

If you have any pics, that would be awesome. What part was the suction cup on? Sounds like a great setup. I like to wear half helmets and wonder if I could use some kind of blue tooth speaker in the ear and hook it up to a garmin nuvi for gps and music on there sd card.
what do ya think:dontknow:

 

[wyliec]

If you have any pics, that would be awesome. What part was the suction cup on? Sounds like a great setup. I like to wear half helmets and wonder if I could use some kind of blue tooth speaker in the ear and hook it up to a garmin nuvi for gps and music on there sd card.
what do ya think:dontknow:

I could be wrong; but, when looking at a gps, unless it states the bluetooth has A2DP technology it won't work with a bluetooth enabled headset. I checked the garmin site and there were no nuvi's with A2DP. The only garmin's with A2DP are the zumo 550 and the new zumo 660.

 

[NancysToy]

Another unit you may wish to consider is the Magellan Crossover. Very similar to the Lowrance XOG. I am considering buying one. I have liked the Magellans in the past. There is a good comparison article here Lowrance vs Magellan. As to listening, We use hard-wired comm systems, and an iPod, GPS, or phone (or a combination) can just be plugged in to them. We have the Starcom1 units , and have been very happy. They do make a headset for open face (and modular) helmets.
-Scotty

 

[Lowflyingowl]

I have the Garmin 550 and an HJC Symax modular helmet with Cardo Teamset. There is no problem at all with mounting the Cardo, which is the same mounting system for both Teamset and Q2, to the HJC.

I was using earbuds wired to get tunes from the Garmin -- there is ajack on the garmin and I just ran the wire under the helmet. However, Motorcycle Su[perstore has a new Cardo accessory that allows a direct plug-in from the Garmin ( or whatever other music source you have) to the Q2 or Teamset. I'll probably pick one up next month since this looks like it may work better.

Eihter the Q2 or Teamset works fine for GPS directions via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the Bluetooth version doesnt support stereo tunes so no XM or tunes that way == which is why I used the wire.

 

[bdspyder]

thanks for the info everybody:clap:

 

[zzneonzz]

I have the zumo 450 but i don't have the audio hooked up at all. I have the kewlmetal console and GPS mount. I also have audio via my ipod and a chatterbox that i think works great. I have thought about getting a blue tooth transmitter that just plugs into the headphone jack of the zumo but don't think i really want it yelling at me all the time lol.