I got the 2460 LMT for $199 from Costco. It does support the migration of routes created on basecamp or mapsource to GPS.
Below is the reply i got from Garmin Support:
Message:
Please let me know which models of Garmin nuvi supports using routes transferred from basecamp/mapsource?
Answer:
nuvi 2200, 2300, 2400, 2405, 2505, 3400, 3500, or 3700 series, LIVE 1695, LIVE 2300 series, or a deal device
nuvi 465, 500, 700, 705, 800, 805, 1400, 1690, or 5000 series, or a zumo
I had trouble with this same thing. There doesn't seem to be an simple solution. My GPS will import a route as individual waypoints and is stupidly confusing.
If you go with a Garmin, Basecamp seems the best software option, and after some quick googling, I found the post below in regards to models that support routes.
If there's a simple, easy way to do this, I'd love to know as well.
http://forums.gpsreview.net/discussion/25243/looking-for-auto-navigation-gps-with-custom-routing-2455lmt/p1
only interested in pre planned ride directions.
I have not tried many units myself, but I think daytime visibility is the number one limiter. Motorcycle-specific units appear to have a stronger backlight that allows them to be seen better in strong sunlight, though not without some effort in full sun where I can't see phone screens or my car's Garmin nuvi 300. I can see my Tom Tom Rider 2013 edition ($350 or so at Amazon, including mount to a RAM 1" ball) in full sun as long as no direct reflections from things on the bike, like the plastic window on the tank bag, cast a direct reflection on the screen, so positioning is important.
I don't know if the $600+ units like BMW and Zumo are any better. I'd like to think so but, then again, they may be just overpriced. It would be interesting to hear if anyone has compared the cheapos with the expensive ones.
The Tom Tom Rider comes with a program called "Tyre for Travel" that allows you to define a route by waypoints. It operates as a shell on Google Maps and can import Garmin, Google Earth and BMW files, and export to Google Earth and other formats, which is great to do a fly-through to check the planned route. The program takes some getting used to but it works once you get some practice. It is developed and maintained by a guy in the Netherlands with frequent updates and bug fixes. It is definitely a one-man operation. Look for some you-tube videos.
I thought I had made a mistake when I bought it, but after a few trials and a first trip I am satisfied with it. Definitely does what you are asking for. My opinion is just a data point; Keep researching until you find what works for you and post back if you have any question about my setup. Safe riding.
I am in the middle of finding my next GPS and was looking at the Tom Tom- the only thing I know for sure is that there on- line presence and descriptions are terrible. That aside, I wonder if I could ask a couple of questions:
1) Does it play MP3 (or any music) files?
2) Does it connect to a cell phone via Bluetooth?
3) Does it have an audio output jack?
Thanks,
Brian
Not that you asked about the Garmin, but the 765 does all that.
...No MP3 capability directly from the GPS. It may be possible to play from the phone. Never tried it.
1) Does it play MP3 (or any music) files?
2) Does it connect to a cell phone via Bluetooth?
3) Does it have an audio output jack?
...
I use my iPhone with the Garmin app... I just couldn't justify a stand-alone unit, when I already have a device capable of GPS (and music playback). That said, I only use it via audio when I'm on the bike... iPhone+sunlight=heat/shutdown (yes, that qualifies as a "con"). I used it on a ride to Yellowstone a couple summers ago... and it only tried to take me down a field in Eastern Oregon once.
In case anyone was wondering, the Garmin app was $50, and downloads the maps to the phone... so it's not receiving cell data the way some of the other phone-based apps do. I think they offer it for Android. GPS also takes a lot of juice, so the phone stays plugged in while in operation.
I use my iPhone with the Garmin app... I just couldn't justify a stand-alone unit, when I already have a device capable of GPS (and music playback). That said, I only use it via audio when I'm on the bike... iPhone+sunlight=heat/shutdown (yes, that qualifies as a "con"). I used it on a ride to Yellowstone a couple summers ago... and it only tried to take me down a field in Eastern Oregon once.
In case anyone was wondering, the Garmin app was $50, and downloads the maps to the phone... so it's not receiving cell data the way some of the other phone-based apps do. I think they offer it for Android. GPS also takes a lot of juice, so the phone stays plugged in while in operation.
Well I burned up some battery power searching around and narrowed the search down to the Garmin Nuvi 2597 and Garmin Nuvi 2557. I looks like these both do everything I need with the slight lean going to the 2597 with it having bluetooth that would work nice with the Sena Im planning on down the road. Price seems reasonable at 172 on amazon.
As for the length of the Ram mount arm seems like most are using the 2 or 3 inch length one correct? Seems like the 6 inch lenth arm would be a little over kill.
Thanks for everyones input!
The 2597 or 2557 will probably not work with your Sena. They will only connect to a phone as a hands-free device. You have to have a GPS that is designed to work that way, and in the Garmin line it's pretty much the Zumos and the 765.
This is one of the things that really turns me off about Garmin: They refuse to make a single GPS that does everything a person might need. Instead, they make dozens of models that do specific things, forcing people to buy multiple units (one for hiking, one for the car, one for the bike, etc). I understand why they do this, but in this day and age where they are competing with Smartphones and apps, they're shooting themselves in the foot. I probably won't buy another high-end Garmin.
I played around with this for a bit today and figured out a relatively simple way of making this work. I'm using a Garmin Nuvi 2555LMT that I got off of Woot.com for around $80 a couple of months ago and the Garmin Basecamp software I downloaded for free from the Garmin site.
I created multi-day trip after playing with Basecamp for a couple of days. Once that was set, I plugged in the Nuvi and exported each day's route to the memory card on the GPS. Simple enough.
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You can see the entire mult-day route here.
Here's how it looks on the GPS.
A route for one of the days.
Hopefully this will help or at least answer some questions? Feel free to PM me if you want.