Garmin 376c / 2730 Group Buy

[PremierCycle]

Hello Everyone!

We are putting together a group purchase for the Garmin 376c, the 2730 is currently not set to be released until the second week of January and we have a waiting list on those :)

We are offering the 376c at a price of $769.00.

All accessories will be 25% off retail price.

No minimum requirements for the group buy, this is a holiday special we are offering to the 3 online forums we support.

Anyone interested in the 2730, please drop me an email or PM for further information.

Those interested in the 376c, please drop us an email and we will contact you for contact / billing information.

We carry a full line of RAM and Lobster mounts to secure your electronics to your bike.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks and Happy Holidays

Eric


Premier Cycle Products
support@premiercycleproducts.com
www.premiercycleproducts.com

[bcst1300]

With a full load of maps, XM radio, mp player. I am very interested in the 2730 for my bike and car.
I just wonder if the 376 with a 512 memory card (I think that is the biggest it will take) and xm radio is a fair compromise. Don't know about the external antennae.
The 2730 could reduce the dash demands by an MP3 player . Downside is the need to take it out to the bike to route plan as it has no battery.

Is 512 of memory enough to cover a big eastern US tour? Pretty sure it would cover a big western US tour. I presume that since the full US / Canada mapset is around 2 meg then a 376 is limited to about 1/4 without having to pack more memory cards or the computer.

I can get a 2730 for roughly 1150 Canadian plus %7 GST but would the US price be low enough to cover Tax and Duty?

lots to contemplate.

[Rob Hephner]

The 2730 has the same antenna as the 376.

As far as the battery goes I have been testing the unit and it lasts for about 4 hours, beyond that you would want a power connection.

The mapping and coverage are the same the only difference is the interface. (Buttons versus touch screen)

Not having the 512-card I do not have an answer as to how much it covers but I will have it soon and will be able to answer that question.

[NormanPCN]

I have 256MB in my 276C and it holds the western US from west coast to New Mexico<->Montana. It is the eastern US that eats up the RAM.

My 276C battery lasts over 16 hours if the backlight is OFF. If at half power it is good for your day ride. Don't know about full power. When running off the battery I had the backlight on full and on 15 second timeout. When you press a button the backlight comes on and when you approach route turns the backlight comes on. You only need the backlight in certain lighting situations. The 376C will have a higher power draw verses the 276C when using the XM.

[bcst1300]

The 2730 has the same antenna as the 376.

As far as the battery goes I have been testing the unit and it lasts for about 4 hours, beyond that you would want a power connection.

The mapping and coverage are the same the only difference is the interface. (Buttons versus touch screen)

Not having the 512-card I do not have an answer as to how much it covers but I will have it soon and will be able to answer that question.


They both have the same external XM antenna but the gps antenna on the 2730 is internal and external on the 376c

Correct me if I am wrong but the 2730 has all the US and Canada maps loaded.
the 376 only has a base map and you must load the maps of the areas you want to go. To take all the maps with you you would have to take about 4 X 512 memory cards or a computer.

When comparing the 276 and the 2610 I believe you had to load maps on both, and the 276 was a little easier to read in daylight. They were a lot closer in base spec.

What kind of external memory is on the 2730? SD or Garmin? The few Garmins that take SD can take 2 Gig cards but the biggest Garmin is now 512 with the intro of the 376

[Rob Hephner]

They both have the same external XM antenna but the gps antenna on the 2730 is internal and external on the 376c

If by external you mean attached you are correct. It folds up from behind.

[PremierCycle]

There really is no need for additional memory on the 2730 unit, I currently run the 2720 and must admit that it is the best GPS unit I have had in my car in a long time. Between all the waypoints we have entered and routes saved on the GPS, I cannot see needing additional memory. We have about 100 waypoints and maybe 3 dozen or so routes in the system.

By having all the maps pre-loaded on the internal memory, Garmin has struck a home run in my book.

I personally run the 276c and 376c on my bike and use a 512mb card, I load up the entire west coast including all of California (that alone is enough to fill a smaller card) and still have room available, just depends on how detailed you get in the mapping for each state.

From what I understood in speaking with Garmin at SEMA, they learned their lesson with the 2610 / 2620 GPS units and hard-drive based GPS units are in the history books.

As for motorcycle GPS units? Go with the 376c, the unit was originally designed for boating and the display will becomes easier to read as more sunlight beams on it.. Granted it doesnt have touch screen like the 2720 / 2730, but for an all around general purpose GPS that will easily handle the elements of motorcycling, the 376c is the way to go. If you dont have any desire to use the XM weather satellite technology, the 276c is a great choice and will save you a couple of hundred dollars too.


Eric

[Rob Hephner]

I can actually answer this.

The XM chipset is contained in the antenna and therefore has the ESN for subscription. Now, that being said the operating software for that antenna is contained in the GPS unit, so you need both parts to make it work.

The reason this was done is so that Garmin only need to have the proper connection and software set to add XM to units is the future.

The 376 and the 2730 come with the antenna but the 7200 and 7500 have it as an option. The antenna is the same for all of the units. I think you will find future units designed with the capability as well.

This application actually came from what XM did with home receivers first, where the software in embedded in the main unit but the chipset is contained in an antenna that can be added later. It saves overall in manufacturing cost.

I am willing to bet that the 2730 and 376 are in part subsidized by XM to get the product moving. Maybe in the future both units could be offered without the antenna but I am willing to bet neither Garmin or XM really want that.

[Rob Hephner]

It does sound as if it will work, and in about 20 days I can even test it for ya. ;)

I know that the 376 can log and guide at the same time, not sure if you need two units. What is your logic for both, is it a question of memory?

[Rob Hephner]

Ah, OK I can understand a backup. :)

I will get you a definitive answer as soon as I can.

[BruceP]

Well I put in a request for a 376C unit. Hopefully they will reply with a list of options as I will also need a memory card by the looks of things. I have a street pilot now with a ram mount so hopefully the mount will work for the new unit. I purchased optional maps so we will see if they will work with the 376C but they probably need upgrading for changes in the roads. Anyone know delivery times?

[Medicine Bear]

Well I put in a request for a 376C unit. I have a street pilot now with a ram mount so hopefully the mount will work for the new unit.

If the mount is different, Motorcycle Larry has the bracket and choice of arm for the 376C for $23.98 and that doesn't count the 10% discount he's currently running. Here's a link:

http://motorcyclelarry.com/RAM_BALL_INDEX.aspx

Fred :03biker:

[ligito]

I don't listen to music on the bike, would the Garmin 2720 be a better choice than the 2730, or 2610?