Wednesday 15 July 2009

Flexible Motorcycle GPS Systems for the Open Road

By Daniel Stouffer

The motorcycle epitomizes the freedom of the road. Choose a motorcycle GPS system and enhance that freedom many fold. Traditionally, motorcycle riders do not enjoy as much flexibility as their car-based counterparts. Let's face it, there is more room within a car for driver and navigator aids and as the environment is somewhat closed it is often easier to interact with your gadgetry.

There are a variety of different motorcycle GPS systems on the market and your selection will be dictated by your needs. For example, if you use your motorcycle in your job as a courier you should not select items which are designed for portability in the outdoors. Those who like to go off into the unknown will like a unit that can be carried on your person as you venture off onto the nature trail. Still further solutions exist incorporating hybrid models with PDA functionality.

If pinpoint accuracy is important to you, select a motorcycle GPS system using the latest technology. For example, the Garmin Quest 2 can supply you with position accuracy up to 9 feet. If you ride within heavily forested parts of the country often, you might want to consider a unit with an external power antenna and powered by one of the latest sensitive chipsets.

Sometimes you want to keep your motorcycle GPS system mounted permanently to your machine. Some of the latest developments should be of great interest to you. The TomTom Rider features a specially designed antiglare screen and also allows you to interact with the touch screen even when wearing gloves. Latest innovations allow you to hear the spoken instructions through a headset fitted within your helmet by using the built-in Bluetooth audio system to transmit from your unit.

Battery power can be an important consideration when you are selecting motorcycle GPS systems. Regular batteries may only last a certain amount of time and you should consider upgrading to rechargeable products.

Most of the latest motorcycle GPS systems have been designed specifically for this environment. They are weatherproof, have tough outer casings and linings and come complete with a shockproof mount which is designed to absorb the wear and tear of our bumpy streets and roads. Remember that the motorcycle is not as cushioned as the regular family car, so you should look for a vibration monitoring system at all times.

Traveling with groups is fun when riding and you can explore the possibilities for two-way communication these days. Did you also know that a system exists which can display the location of other riders in your group on your screen?

When you are ready to select motorcycle GPS systems make sure that you accurately assess your particular needs. You can choose interesting features such as real-time and on-demand traffic information, in helmet voice, hands-free phone, but you should always find out how easy the device is to update, as well, of course, as its overall cost.

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