Garmin GPS that will import routes

ak85lp · Nov 24, 2016

I have a couple of older Nuvi Gamin GPS but I can't import a route into them. It's been awhile, but I have installed Tyre to Travel and I have created some basic test routes. However the instructions I found before to import them into my GPS will not work as one of the menu options was not on my Nuvi GPS (can't find the info on what menu option it was). I realize this is vague but getting the right GPS is the first step!

Does anyone have a model list that I can work with to find one here in Canada?

Thanks

Ashley · Nov 24, 2016

This is a little old but may help. http://gpstracklog.com/compare/garmin-nuvi-comparison-chart

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

tjhiggin · Nov 25, 2016

It's not a Garmin, but my TomTom Rider works great with Tyre To Travel, and also with My-Route (a newer software app from the Tyre folks).

SteveST1300 · Nov 25, 2016

I have a Nuvi I think its a 765 maybe 755 and I can load routes to it.

drrod · Nov 25, 2016

If you scroll down a few posts in this thread, there is some info

http://forums.gpsreview.net/discussion/comment/171553/#171553

ak85lp · Nov 25, 2016

CPR4Life said:
I have a Garmin Zumo 660 and I like it just fine. I bought a factory reconditioned model for a pretty good price.

Thanks but that one is listed as for motorcycles and the price is over $400 CDN here

ak85lp · Nov 25, 2016

Thanks for both links too, that will give me something to narrow them down with..exactly what I was looking for!

drrod · Nov 25, 2016

If you look around (eg. eBay), you can find some older, out of production, models of GPS that are relatively reasonable in price.
TomTom 920 - easily accepts routes, has a built in MP3 palyer, Bluetooth both ways (ie. you can link it to your headset to hear commands, music, etc) and comes with Euro maps as well as NA.
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.Xtomtom+920.TRS0&_nkw=tomtom+920&_sacat=0

Garmin Nuvi 765 - similar to the TT920 but no Euro maps
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_odkw=tomtom+920&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR9.TRC0.A0.H0.Xgarmin+765.TRS0&_nkw=garmin+765&_sacat=0

Uncle Phil · Nov 25, 2016

And if you're interested, here's another option. ;-)

https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?146980-Setting-up-a-Chinavasion-5-quot-Gen2-GPS&highlight=

Gizmo · Nov 26, 2016

Not all Nuvi GPS models allow you to import routes. I've got several Nuvi 765 units and that is one of the models that does allow. Basically you connect it to your PC with a USB cable and using Windows Explorer copy the GPX file to the appropriate folder on the GPS unit. But that functionality is to available on all Nuvi units. Check the model number and then use the Garmin site to see if your unit has that feature.

ReSTored · Nov 26, 2016

Gizmo said:
Check the model number and then use the Garmin site to see if your unit has that feature.

Maybe it's just me but I find the Garmin site very obtuse and confusing on specifications or identifiers of units that permit downloading of custom routes.

I've had a 1490T (dropped it and cracked case) and now have a 255LMT. Both purchased at Tiger Direct for $100 each as refurb units and both can accept GPX custom routes. IMHO the 1490T functionlity was better, if you can find one out there. Both units had RAM mounts attached to adapter plate on clutch master cylinder. Power connection plug will loosen over time and I've addressed this by using an elastic to keep plug in place, low tech, but it works.

No doubt a Zumo provides better functionality, but cost is very high.

TourNut · Nov 26, 2016

Wife bought a Garmin Nuvi 295W , refurbished unit for me , I used it once on a trip , now it won't even turn on again . not impressed ...........

jonz · Nov 26, 2016

I'm a little confused. Just to make sure we're talking about the same thing, do you know the difference between a track and a route? If you make a route in either Mapsource or Basecamp (both available for free as well as OSM maps though you do have to pay for the Garmin maps), I'm pretty sure you can import that into any Garmin that does routes. However, a track is different and most of the street oriented Garmin units have limited (if any) ability to import tracks (a track file is a *.gpx ). The Garmin 60, 78, *7* series of marine plotters, the Montana, Monterra, and the new 276Cx all handle tracks. And more I can't remember.

MidLife · Nov 27, 2016

jonz said:
...a track file is a *.gpx ....

Route is *.gpx as well, isnt'it?

jonz · Nov 27, 2016

MidLife said:
Route is *.gpx as well, isnt'it?

No, it's not. Go to http://advrider.com/index.php?forums/mapping-navigation.37/ , page down to the 'stickied' threads that talk about tracks and routing.

drrod · Nov 27, 2016

Not sure, but I think OP was just interested in building a route from A to B but taking the long way. ie. dictate the roads used. This is a route and it can be saved in .gpx format (others as well) when you use software like Tyre to build it. The real question is....can you hook the GPS up to a computer and transfer a plan (route/track), that you created yourself, to the machine. Not very many of the newer, automotive GPS units have this capability. There are some, but not many; especially the relatively inexpensive ones you see at Costco. With most of them, you tell them what our destination is and they either calculate the quickest or shortest and that is it.

You can make a route virtually the same as a track if you put in enough waypoints when you are building it (within the limits of the number of waypoints allowed).

The value of"tracks" over "routes" is that tracks can allow you to take roads that do not show up on a lot of maps. However, in order for a track to be created, the route has to be run first and the GPS will keep "track" of where you went utilizing many points. You can then utilize that track (load it back into a GPS, share with others, etc) to take you back along the exact same route. This is valuable for off road riding since many of the small trails do not show up on maps used by most routing software. eg. Tyre utilizes Google maps and as good as they are, you will not find a lot of small trails on it.

At least this is the way I comprehend it. Discussing GPS and utilization can quickly become an "oil/tire" thread.

Here is an illustration of what I mean. I will use Google maps to illustratre: I want to go to Great Falls, MT from Calgary, AB
This is a route that most of the newer auto GPS will give you. It will only let you enter where you want to go and then it will give you a couple of options.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Calgary,+AB/Great+Falls,+MT,+United+States/@49.2448177,-115.0056181,7z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!2m2!1d-114.0708459!2d51.0486151!1m5!1m1!1s0x5342378d658cb83b:0xd6de56b18e5945a8!2m2!1d-111.2833449!2d47.4941836?hl=en

Now, if I want to go a route that I want to go, I create a route by entering in multiple waypoints and it will give me a route that I want to ride.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Calgary,+AB/Longview,+AB/Pincher+Creek,+AB/Choteau,+MT,+United+States/Great+Falls,+MT,+United+States/@49.3943475,-116.053097,7z/data=!4m52!4m51!1m15!1m1!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!2m2!1d-114.0708459!2d51.0486151!3m4!1m2!1d-114.58905!2d50.9326409!3s0x53711ad66469c00d:0x4c88c6b4fc866eb7!3m4!1m2!1d-114.4632708!2d50.8048435!3s0x537107a4557b9abb:0x14b69051c631adae!1m5!1m1!1s0x5371b6fb5386db01:0x58895d27f2349637!2m2!1d-114.2333875!2d50.5313416!1m10!1m1!1s0x536f0a654fcc4e27:0xb161e144ca4fb420!2m2!1d-113.9502548!2d49.4863458!3m4!1m2!1d-113.2708305!2d48.5568718!3s0x536894f72b0164e7:0xd3018ee89fb4d05f!1m10!1m1!1s0x53428194bf213c65:0xb2dd5ca9a3382b06!2m2!1d-112.1836301!2d47.8124531!3m4!1m2!1d-112.0481611!2d47.0652064!3s0x5343231103010979:0x3ee2daeb5b068d98!1m5!1m1!1s0x5342378d658cb83b:0xd6de56b18e5945a8!2m2!1d-111.2833449!2d47.4941836!3e0?hl=en

This is what we want to create and then load into the GPS unit (with Garmin, it is usually as a .gpx file)
Google maps is limited in the number of waypoints and manipulations that you can do, but other programs (eg. Tyre) are a lot more flexible and allow you to to create a route down to very minute detail.

Rod

jonz · Nov 28, 2016

My Garmin routes (created in Mapsource) are stored as a .gdb file. Interestingly, when you share a .gdb file with another Garmin owner with a different GPS, the route may well be different. I discovered this one time in the middle of the Sierra Madre mountains where the same .gdb file (a route) had been loaded into 3 different Garmin models and the mileage to the next gas was significantly different in all the GPS's. To be safe, we turned off the route to get gas at an intermediate point as running out in that part of the world was a BAD idea. As far as I know, all Garmin GPS units can accept a route created in either Mapsource or Basecamp.

When a .gpx file is shared to different GPS models, it will show up the same. Almost all dual sport rides use the .gpx file format for that reason and as drrod pointed out, those tracks may follow roads/trails not in the mapping database. Many of the street oriented GPS units can not accept a .gpx file - the ones I listed before can handle .gpx files. That's why it's important to understand the difference and to know what your GPS can handle.

ak85lp · Nov 28, 2016

jonz said:
I'm a little confused. Just to make sure we're talking about the same thing, do you know the difference between a track and a route? If you make a route in either Mapsource or Basecamp (both available for free as well as OSM maps though you do have to pay for the Garmin maps), I'm pretty sure you can import that into any Garmin that does routes. However, a track is different and most of the street oriented Garmin units have limited (if any) ability to import tracks (a track file is a *.gpx ). The Garmin 60, 78, *7* series of marine plotters, the Montana, Monterra, and the new 276Cx all handle tracks. And more I can't remember.

Yes I am looking for a GPS that has the ability to import routes. I have a Garmin Nuvi 40LM that does not have that capability.

ak85lp · Nov 28, 2016

drrod said:
Not sure, but I think OP was just interested in building a route from A to B but taking the long way. ie. dictate the roads used. This is a route and it can be saved in .gpx format (others as well) when you use software like Tyre to build it. The real question is....can you hook the GPS up to a computer and transfer a plan (route/track), that you created yourself, to the machine. Not very many of the newer, automotive GPS units have this capability. There are some, but not many; especially the relatively inexpensive ones you see at Costco. With most of them, you tell them what our destination is and they either calculate the quickest or shortest and that is it.

You can make a route virtually the same as a track if you put in enough waypoints when you are building it (within the limits of the number of waypoints allowed).

The value of"tracks" over "routes" is that tracks can allow you to take roads that do not show up on a lot of maps. However, in order for a track to be created, the route has to be run first and the GPS will keep "track" of where you went utilizing many points. You can then utilize that track (load it back into a GPS, share with others, etc) to take you back along the exact same route. This is valuable for off road riding since many of the small trails do not show up on maps used by most routing software. eg. Tyre utilizes Google maps and as good as they are, you will not find a lot of small trails on it.

At least this is the way I comprehend it. Discussing GPS and utilization can quickly become an "oil/tire" thread.

Here is an illustration of what I mean. I will use Google maps to illustratre: I want to go to Great Falls, MT from Calgary, AB
This is a route that most of the newer auto GPS will give you. It will only let you enter where you want to go and then it will give you a couple of options.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Calgary,+AB/Great+Falls,+MT,+United+States/@49.2448177,-115.0056181,7z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!2m2!1d-114.0708459!2d51.0486151!1m5!1m1!1s0x5342378d658cb83b:0xd6de56b18e5945a8!2m2!1d-111.2833449!2d47.4941836?hl=en

Now, if I want to go a route that I want to go, I create a route by entering in multiple waypoints and it will give me a route that I want to ride.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Calgary,+AB/Longview,+AB/Pincher+Creek,+AB/Choteau,+MT,+United+States/Great+Falls,+MT,+United+States/@49.3943475,-116.053097,7z/data=!4m52!4m51!1m15!1m1!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!2m2!1d-114.0708459!2d51.0486151!3m4!1m2!1d-114.58905!2d50.9326409!3s0x53711ad66469c00d:0x4c88c6b4fc866eb7!3m4!1m2!1d-114.4632708!2d50.8048435!3s0x537107a4557b9abb:0x14b69051c631adae!1m5!1m1!1s0x5371b6fb5386db01:0x58895d27f2349637!2m2!1d-114.2333875!2d50.5313416!1m10!1m1!1s0x536f0a654fcc4e27:0xb161e144ca4fb420!2m2!1d-113.9502548!2d49.4863458!3m4!1m2!1d-113.2708305!2d48.5568718!3s0x536894f72b0164e7:0xd3018ee89fb4d05f!1m10!1m1!1s0x53428194bf213c65:0xb2dd5ca9a3382b06!2m2!1d-112.1836301!2d47.8124531!3m4!1m2!1d-112.0481611!2d47.0652064!3s0x5343231103010979:0x3ee2daeb5b068d98!1m5!1m1!1s0x5342378d658cb83b:0xd6de56b18e5945a8!2m2!1d-111.2833449!2d47.4941836!3e0?hl=en

This is what we want to create and then load into the GPS unit (with Garmin, it is usually as a .gpx file)
Google maps is limited in the number of waypoints and manipulations that you can do, but other programs (eg. Tyre) are a lot more flexible and allow you to to create a route down to very minute detail.

Rod

You are correct drrod, the ability to create my own route and import into a GPS that will handle that is what I am looking for. Your 2nd map has custom waypoints that can all be entered individually into my current GPS, but I can't create that same route and import it to my Nuvi40LM

Uncle Phil · Nov 28, 2016

Here's the one I use which is waterproof, glove friendly, and uses Google Maps KML files as the route files -

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-5-TFT-Touch-Screen-Waterproof-Bluetooth-Motorcycle-Car-GPS-Navigator-Map-/301789290108?hash=item46440b1e7c:g:h7kAAOSw~bFWOYzD

Looks like $127 USD on EBay .. but it ain't a Garmin. ;-)

Garmin GPS that will import routes

ak85lp

(Paul)

Ashley

tjhiggin

R.I.P. - 2022/06/11

SteveST1300

drrod

ak85lp

(Paul)

ak85lp

(Paul)

drrod

Uncle Phil

Gizmo

Dean

ReSTored

TourNut

jonz

MidLife

jonz

drrod

jonz

ak85lp

(Paul)

ak85lp

(Paul)

Uncle Phil