Tom Tom RIDER GPS

[Bones]

http://www.tomtom.com/products/product.php?ID=207&Language=4

Anyone have one of these? Looks pretty slick.

[jeffmiller]

Stick with a Garmin that is waterproof....2610....2620....27XX

[EdsST]

Doesn't get a very good review at
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/tomtom-rider/

[Blrfl]

NOT Waterproof!

Er, the Rider is waterproof. I'm still not buying one, though...

--Mark

[Ken]

The reviews that I've read have been less than stellar, particularly the software's ability (or lack thereof) to plot custom routes. For the money, I'd stick with Garmin.

[Bones]

Er, the Rider is waterproof.

TomTom says water resistant. Garmin says impervious to leakage when submerged 1 meter for so many minutes. I'm guessing those are different standards.

Stopped at Circuit City as I was driving by one yesterday. They had a 26xx and a 27xx (non-fuctional, apparently, as the maps were of Kansas) and a Tom Tom but not the Rider. I ask about the Rider and the typically clueless sales guy tells me it's silly becuase no one uses GPS on a bike anyway. :eek:

You learn something new every day...unless you're a CC sales guy!?

[Blrfl]

TomTom says water resistant. Garmin says impervious to leakage when submerged 1 meter for so many minutes.

Garmin used to say that, but among the current automotive models, only the Quest and Quest 2 have IPX7 explicitly listed in the specs. The 2700s (and the previous 2600s) just say "Case: Rugged; fully gasketed." So maybe those models aren't as impervious to water as previously thought. (And I'll be the first to admit that I thought those models met IPX7.)

A number of retailers (including Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ACRBT6/002-3807343-1849665?v=glance&n=172282)) list IPX7 in their product descriptions for the Rider, so if it's true then I have no idea why TomTom isn't crowing about it on their web site. Maybe it's a European minimalist marketing thing or the EU has some strange rule about actually discussing the specs in spec sheets. (Wouldn't surprise me; they have rules about the radius range a banana must fall into. Otherwise you can't call it a banana.)

In any case, I doubt the ST meets that standard, so a fuly-submerged, bike-mounted unit isn't going to a whole lot of good anyway. :)

--Mark

[Bones]

Garmin's site includes this:

An IPX7 designation means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

An IPX8 designation is for continuous underwater use.

Anyway, the Tom Tom Rider does not appear to meet this standard..only "Water resistant and rugged" according to their website.

I'm thinking if I go for GPS I'd go for Garmin if only for the support available through this ST board. I surely can't count on Circuit City Sales Dude for anything since no one uses GPS on a bike anyway!

[Blrfl]

I surely can't count on Circuit City Sales Dude for anything since no one uses GPS on a bike anyway!

Do let us know how long A CCSD can stay submerged...

Leo: So what it boils down to for Garmin, TomTom and Lowrance is that you want the right answer, you pretty much have to scour everything they have. Guess that's what happens when marketing writes the glossies and someone else writes the manuals...

--Mark

[billxp]

I vote for the Quest II. I have it and love it.
Sure the screen is smaller than the 26xx and theres no touch screen but its easy to read in direct sunlight and small enough to fit in my back pocket. Not to mention it has its own battery so that you could also use it when walking or hiking.

Just my .02

[Ken]

I vote for the Quest II. I have it and love it.
Sure the screen is smaller than the 26xx and theres no touch screen but its easy to read in direct sunlight and small enough to fit in my back pocket. Not to mention it has its own battery so that you could also use it when walking or hiking.

Just my .02
+1

I have the original Quest and love it for these same reasons. It has less onboard memory too, but enough to do 1/3 of the US (give or take) which is MORE than enough for my rides (no Iron Butt guy here). :p:

[billxp]

+1

I have the original Quest and love it for these same reasons. It has less onboard memory too, but enough to do 1/3 of the US (give or take) which is MORE than enough for my rides (no Iron Butt guy here). :p:
The Quest II has all the maps preloaded. It comes standard with more installed memory. They may also be shipping it with the City Select NT DVD now. When I purchased mine it did not come with it. I called Garmin and they did ship me a copy no charge.

[jeffmiller]

If you want an example, go diving with an Omega diving watch on one wrist, and a Bulova on the other.....

I have a suspicion that WATER PROOF and WATER RESISTANT are very different metrics.

So....er....I'd not put anything for that price on a bike that wasn't WATERPROOF.

[griffog]

Crikey, you lot don't have a very good impression of TomnTom then?

FWIW I've used Garmin and TomTom extensively and wouldn't swap my RIDER for a Garmin, I would suggest you don't dismiss it so readily.