GPS units with routing capabilities???

[bigDstars]

Hey people; I want a GPS that has the ability to download routes to it. I currently have a cheapish Garmin 205W, and I don't think it has this ability. I want to create routes on the computer (Software recommendations?????) and transfer to the GPS.

I saw a decent newer Garmin at Super Target the other day that had a "route" option that mine does not have.. (It was $140)... I'm thinking this probably has the ability to do what I want.. I prefer Garmin just because I am used to them...

Thanks for any input..

[tailchaser]

it's hard to tell from the marketing materials which units support what you want... your best bet is to pick up a unit that is LMT (lifetime maps and traffic). This will let you install the Garmin Mapsource software on your PC and then create maps that you can load to the unit. BUT, you must find a unit that supports routes, and THEN figure out how the hell to get it to load them. My 755 will do it, but it's a pain. My Montana will do it and do so easily, but it's expensive (I wind up with my GPS toys through bartering with a friend) and doesn't include lifetime maps. The nuvi 14xx series SHOULD all support custom routes and their are some bargains out there.

Here's some info on creating routes: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=413519

Do NOT under any circumstances view the entry page for that web site or you will go buy a dual-sport motorcycle, quit your job and find yourself covered in dirt. Not necessarily in that order.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Garmin Mapsource is the program I use as well as Microsoft Streets and Trips. IMO Streets and Trips is a little more user friendly where Mapsource takes a little more skill to use effectivly.

Streets and Trips doesn't have a format that is directly compatible to Garmin units but it's not a biggie.

[Titus]

For TomTom units, look for ones with "Itinerary Planning" feature. It comes with an app called TomTom Home that allows you to plan out a multi-stop trip on your computer and then download it to the GPS. My Real Estate Agent uses it... if he is showing you 10 houses in one trip, he can program in all 10 addresses, and the TomTom calculates out the quickest route that hits each address.

[Rob®]

Second Titus, but I'd try to steer clear of TomTom in general...you said you preferred Garmin anyway, so good there.

I do know that you can hack the cheaper TomToms to get the features of the more expensive ones. At least I did to the TomTom ONE I got for myself from Walmart for like $80 a few years ago. I haven't bothered trying with the one I got the wifey like 2 years ago, but I am pretty sure hers has all the features available (hence why I got her that one to begin with). Anyway, I have that itinerary planner thing on mine, despite it not originally supposed to be on the unit I have. (I also hacked it so I can change the pointer to a picture of my car, which you aren't supposed to be able to do on that model either). It works well if you have addresses/POIs in mind; if you just want to cruise, you need to know addresses/POIs that it can take you to along the roads you want, otherwise you have to do some homework online first. At least from my experience anyway.

[bigDstars]

Thank you guys for the info; JeepinBanditRider got me interested in the routes when I saw one of his earlier posts with a loop that had about 40 waypoints and a pic of the loop... No way could I do that with my current GPS and not stopping about every point to reference the map.....

And I do want a dual sport motorcycle now too....

[jeepinbanditrider]

I picked up my 97 DR350SE for 1400 dollars. Had a buddy haul me down to Houston in his Lexus then road 274 miles back to the house on the DR........in the rain............at night.............in camoflauge goretex..................with it missing an idle mixture screw which fell out somewhere around the 100 mile mark.

I forgot my motorcycle rain gear when I left the house so had to grab my issue goretex out of my locker at work before we left. After the idle screw fell out it wouldn't idle worth a damn and you couldn't ride it with the engine spinning anything less than 3000 RPM lol. It was still fun though.

Made me appreciate my FJR1300 even more though :P