| An essential part of touring is knowing where you're | | | | you have it wired into your bike's electrical system so |
| going - and if you're not the type to trust your | | | | that it draws power while you're on the road? Is the |
| instincts when you're on unfamiliar ground, some kind | | | | GPS accurate enough? Can it be updated? |
| of navigational aid should be a vital part of your | | | | They're all good questions - and they'll all need |
| equipment. There's nothing worse than getting lost in | | | | answering before you fork over your pay check. |
| the middle of nowhere! | | | | Good battery life is essential - on a long trip (six |
| The days having your entire touring group pulling to a | | | | hours or more), you'll need to consider a unit that has |
| halt to gather around a cumbersome folding map are | | | | exceptional battery life. What could be worse than |
| long gone - and it's satellite navigation, also called | | | | getting six hours from home, relying on the GPS for |
| global position system (GPS) units that have taken | | | | directions, only to have the batteries die when you |
| over. They're lightweight, easy to use and you can | | | | need them the most? If you decide on a cheaper |
| have it right there in front of you as you ride. Too | | | | unit with lesser battery life, the lesson here is simple: |
| easy! | | | | carry spare batteries! Most handheld GPS units run on |
| As with most things in life, there is a range of | | | | 4, 6 or 8 'AA' size batteries, so they're easy to |
| options when it comes to GPS units. From the | | | | source and carry. |
| bare-bones basic to top-shelf with all the bells and | | | | To avoid the issue of battery life, consider having |
| whistles. But what will you really need? | | | | the GPS hard-wired into your bike's electrical system. |
| Three Styles of GPS | | | | For the most part, GPS units draw very little current, |
| There are three types of GPS that are suitable for | | | | and because the battery is being recharged by the |
| use on a motorcycle. For starters, there are the basic | | | | alternator while the bike is running, your battery |
| hand-held types used by hikers. These offer an | | | | power will not be compromised. |
| easy-to-use interface, and can be linked up to a | | | | As for accuracy, most road cruisers won't need to |
| laptop computer to help you plan your trip. They can | | | | have a super-accurate GPS. Most units on the market |
| also be used while boating and off-roading, if that's | | | | at the moment offer accuracy up to 26 feet. The |
| what you're into. | | | | more accurate models (which use a system called |
| The downsides to a hiker-style GPS are that the | | | | Wide Area Augmentation System) are good for |
| features and menus can be tricky, and you'll need to | | | | accuracy within a 9-foot radius. |
| sort out a mounting system if you want to keep one | | | | The final, and perhaps most important factor for |
| eye on the map and the other on the road. | | | | many riders, is price. How much do you want to |
| Next up are the motorcycle-specific devices, such as | | | | spend on a GPS, and how do you get the best bang |
| the TomTom RIDER. The RIDER has been designed | | | | for your buck? |
| with motorcyclists in mind - it comes with a | | | | Starter models, such as the Magellan Roadmate are |
| specialized mounting that the unit clips into when you | | | | available from $250. For the better models you can |
| need it, and has large touch-screen controls, ideal for | | | | pay anything up to $1400. Widely regarded as the |
| plotting your way around, even with thick winter | | | | best value for money for motorcyclists is the |
| gloves on. The housing has been designed to handle | | | | TomTom RIDER, which retails around $700. It's got |
| the rigors of life on two wheels, and is | | | | all the features riders need, including door-to-door |
| weather-proof. | | | | address route plotting anywhere in the United States |
| The RIDER also has a cool headset attachment, | | | | - it's a winner. |
| which rests inside your helmet and can relay spoken | | | | Things to Remember: |
| commands to the unit via Bluetooth, so you won't | | | | A GPS system is only as good as the maps it has |
| even need to take your hands of the bars - just tell | | | | loaded into its memory - an out of date map on the |
| the GPS you want to head "Home" and it'll plot you a | | | | GPS is as bad as an outdated folding map. Make sure |
| route and lead you there. | | | | you keep your GPS maps as up to date as possible. |
| The third type of GPS unit that motorcyclists tend to | | | | GPS units don't work well undercover. They rely on |
| use are the GPS / PDA hybrids, such as a Blackberry | | | | being in line-of-sight contact with satellites outside |
| with GPS software loaded on. The upsides are that it | | | | earth's atmosphere, and anything - including trees - |
| doubles as a communications device, has a large | | | | can interfere with the signal. If you spend a lot of |
| screen and is highly portable. The downsides... well, | | | | time on roads that run through forested areas, it's |
| let's just say that if you're out cruising on a | | | | worth considering one of the new SiRF Star III |
| weekday, you probably don't want the office to be | | | | Chipset models. They offer superior coverage in |
| able to email you! | | | | leafy areas. |
| Other Factors to Bear in Mind | | | | Security for GPS units is an issue - because of their |
| Once you've decided what kind of GPS you want to | | | | portability, they're very easy to steal. Make sure |
| look at, there are more factors that you'll need to | | | | yours has a secure place to rest when you stop for |
| consider before making a purchase. Such as, how | | | | lunch. |
| good is the battery life on the model you want? Can | | | | |