I don't know about the roads choices down there but I have to say that having a GPS has very much enhanced the amount of riding I have done and made it much more fun.


It lets me notice roads I never would have been aware of in the past; take routes well off the regular ways of going to point "b" from "a", made commuting much more fun as I have much more choices of roads to take; plan incredibly long, detailed routes that I would never had considered doing with a map and at the same time let me totally ignore my well-planned route if I feel like it and never worry about finding my way home or to wherever I want to go.

..Tom

__________________
Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 54,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report

I'm in the USA ( in car with family ) for a while and the GPS I had last year wanted to play up so I bought another one .It too has played up !!!! talkes to you then sometimes dose not or dose the best impersonation of my wife giving direction !! turn left in 1/8 of a mile as you drive past the turn !! At least it was only $99 for a 5 inch screen Magellan . My Iphone 5 worked in San Fran and my sons Iphone 4S did not ,well it was about 4 blocks behind!!

I have 4 GPS all have stuffed up played up impersonated my blonde wife etc.

Mate Loves his Zummo but he has sent it back about 3 times and it stoped working in the USA .

The conculsion is get a cheap one and keep a second one or phone handy ,and of course a map . I have found that on the bike a ziplock bag and a rubber band help keep a GPS dry ,you should also consider making a sun shade as they are hard to read .

__________________
Graham Downunder

The "hard to read" is the killer for me.

I have a very small (very cheap) GPS that I sit in my pocket and use with earplugs to get verbal directions - when I use one at all, which is not often.
Useful in cities - useful getting home when lost - otherwise, not so good.

Pete

They are still out there on the web. 2012 OZ maps and cheaper than ever.
Recon the 660 would be easier to see when riding tho

Wife has had a cheap little Navman 30 in her car for going on 3 years and never missed a beat.Maps are bit old so it will be replaced with a Garmin Nuvi 40 (with life time maps)before my next ute trip to Sydney.If the roads/streets change as often down there as they do in Brisbane it will be invaluable.

I have a Strike unit. They are supposedly Australian designed.

I'm very happy with it, they are robust as I can attest as mine has been treated horribly.
Maps and navigation options are also quite good.

I leave the mounting nub on the bar so I can remove or ad as convenient. The lead has a weather proof cap so it doesn't cause any issues leaving it dangling.

The screen is a tad small but not difficult to read. Works fine with gloves on or off.

They are expensive but I have no regrets.

The 660 does not have the off road capabilities of the 550 that was the whole point. If you are going to buy a 660 you may as well buy any GPS. Do some erase arch about the different models.

zumo 350LM sells for mid to late 600s and includes lifetime update of navigator maps which i find includes surprising amounts of unpaved roads.

__________________
Finally a bike like Strom i could have as a concubine and my wife doesnt object!

I have topo loaded on my 660 and 665, also did on the 550.

__________________
-Tom (DL650AL2) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

This message and images are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. http://creativecommons.org

Whats the difference in the off road capabilities KIWI ?
I cant find a off road comparison to check them out.

scource some maps & put them in the peaklife your girlfriend got you, or check out brash imports melb navngo gps, same unit, best value m/bike gps i could find, so far cant fault it. youve got nothing to lose, youve already got it.