08

[Jim Mastrantonio]

Is it a good deal. It is not on sale now but will be soon they say.I'm not sure if it is Etrex Legend $160.70 or Etrex Legend+ H $149.99 I don't know a thing a about gps.s will be using it on dirt roads and streets do I need to spend more money. I will use it Oregon most of the time [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Spike55]

All depends (as usual) on if you are looking forward or back. I have the cheap-o blue eTrex Legend and it is great for recording everywhere I travelled (roads, speed, direction, altitude, time, etc). That is what I call 'looking back'. Looking forward is hard to do safely. The screen is a black & white LCD and only 1" x 2". Using it on the fly is OK as long as you keep it at a macro level. You really have to zoom in to finally have small dirt roads pop up into view but then you're kind of in too far to see much ahead. Also I only have 8 MB of memory and that only gets you out of the state but that's it. A bigger screen, touch-sensitive multi-color with a schrol function, wired into the bike's electric through a detactable harness, and a battery back-up would be nicer to use while you're going 50+ mph. All of that comes with a price though. Don R00, A6F --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Mastrantonio wrote:

> > Is it a good deal. It is not on sale now but will be soon they

say.I'm not sure if it is Etrex Legend $160.70 or Etrex Legend+ H $149.99 I don't know a thing a about gps.s will be using it on dirt roads and streets do I need to spend more money. I will use it Oregon most of the time

> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Greg May]

I agree with Don, I have an E-Trex as well, great for hiking, hunting and mounting to your bike and getting you back to where you have already been. it does have a lot of neat functions, top speed, average speed, etc. I also have a TomTom for my 4 wheeled modes of transport which takes you anywhere you want to go and talks to you and corrects you if you take a wrong turn. Although i don't have it the Maps software for the E-Trex I believe costs around $80 if I remember right plus the $130 or so I paid for the E-trex and another $30 for the handlebar mounting bracket add up to more then I paid for the TomTom on sale, $150 for a text to speach version, of course I'm sure that the TomTom would never have survived what the E-Trex has. For what I use the E-Trex for it was very useful and if it dies I will no doubt buy another like it but as Don stated it serves a different purpose then something like a TomTom... have a great day......Greg

--- On Mon, 2/9/09, Spike55 wrote: From: Spike55 Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Received: Monday, February 9, 2009, 10:57 PM All depends (as usual) on if you are looking forward or back. I have the cheap-o blue eTrex Legend and it is great for recording everywhere I travelled (roads, speed, direction, altitude, time, etc). That is what I call 'looking back'. Looking forward is hard to do safely. The screen is a black & white LCD and only 1" x 2". Using it on the fly is OK as long as you keep it at a macro level. You really have to zoom in to finally have small dirt roads pop up into view but then you're kind of in too far to see much ahead. Also I only have 8 MB of memory and that only gets you out of the state but that's it. A bigger screen, touch-sensitive multi-color with a schrol function, wired into the bike's electric through a detactable harness, and a battery back-up would be nicer to use while you're going 50+ mph. All of that comes with a price though. Don R00, A6F --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Jim Mastrantonio wrote: > > Is it a good deal. It is not on sale now but will be soon they say.I'm not sure if it is Etrex Legend $160.70 or Etrex Legend+ H $149.99 I don't know a thing a about gps.s will be using it on dirt roads and streets do I need to spend more money. I will use it Oregon most of the time > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > __________________________________________________________________ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Spike55]

I mentioned the need for hardwiring the GPS unit into the bike's system. I have the Garmin handlebar mount for my eTrex Legend. I have also added rubber padding between it and the handlebar cross member but the road / bike's vibration eventually causes the batteries to diconnect for a split-second and it shuts off. Many times, I've lost miles and miles of history before noticing. This does not happen if the eTrex is riding in the front pocket of my Wolfman tank bag but I can't easily look at the screen when it is laying in there without taking a hand off the grip. Once this disconnect condition has happened, it starts to happen more frequently. I've taken the batteries out and bent the eTrex's tabs and changed each battery's position in the holder, and I've added tabs of aluminum foil at each end of the battery. It eventually happens again and again. I eventually purchased an aftermarket 12VDC convertor to power the eTrex but this too is problematic. That blue eTrex has an odd power / data transfer connection which looks like 4 brass buttons in a row. I think that the newer eTrex units use a USB connection. This 4-button connection sucks when it comes to motorcycles. I have to use a rubber band around the GPS unit to keep it connected. If that connection is broken by any misalignment going down the road, the eTrex shuts off in 30 seconds (countdown message on the screen). As I stated above, it'll work all day if I lay it in the tank bag's front pocket but then it is lose and can 'jump out' if you are in the rough stuff. I always keep a landyard on it and have secured to the handlbars. This has proven to a very good idea when I don't have the eTrex on the handlebar because of the potential that the rough road will disconnect the batteries but the rough road 'throws' the unit around enough to toss it out of the tank bag pocket. This has happened several times, and I would not have found it miles later in the backwoods. Landyard was a good idea. Well, I could go on for a while longer why the eTrex Legend (blue) isn't a good GPS for the bike but I'll stop. I have a replacement for my original that shortered out in the rain (supposed to be waterproof) and it acts the same way the first one did, so motorcycling with it is a bad application. Some roadbike buddies have the Zumis and refurbished StreetPilots and like them but they are a lot more expensive and I don't know how they would hold up in rough dirt roads situations. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Greg May wrote: > > I agree with Don, I have an E-Trex as well, great for hiking, hunting and mounting to your bike and getting you back to where you have already been. it does have a lot of neat functions, top speed, average speed, etc. I also have a TomTom for my 4 wheeled modes of transport which takes you anywhere you want to go and talks to you and corrects you if you take a wrong turn. > Although i don't have it the Maps software for the E-Trex I believe costs around $80 if I remember right plus the $130 or so I paid for the E-trex and another $30 for the handlebar mounting bracket add up to more then I paid for the TomTom on sale, $150 for a text to speach version, of course I'm sure that the TomTom would never have survived what the E-Trex has. > For what I use the E-Trex for it was very useful and if it dies I will no doubt buy another like it but as Don stated it serves a different purpose then something like a TomTom... have a great day......Greg > > > --- On Mon, 2/9/09, Spike55 wrote: > > From: Spike55 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Received: Monday, February 9, 2009, 10:57 PM > > > > > > > All depends (as usual) on if you are looking forward or back. I have > the cheap-o blue eTrex Legend and it is great for recording everywhere > I travelled (roads, speed, direction, altitude, time, etc). That is > what I call 'looking back'. Looking forward is hard to do safely. The > screen is a black & white LCD and only 1" x 2". Using it on the fly is > OK as long as you keep it at a macro level. You really have to zoom in > to finally have small dirt roads pop up into view but then you're kind > of in too far to see much ahead. Also I only have 8 MB of memory and > that only gets you out of the state but that's it. > > A bigger screen, touch-sensitive multi-color with a schrol function, > wired into the bike's electric through a detactable harness, and a > battery back-up would be nicer to use while you're going 50+ mph. All > of that comes with a price though. > > Don R00, A6F > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Jim Mastrantonio > wrote: > > > > Is it a good deal. It is not on sale now but will be soon they > say.I'm not sure if it is Etrex Legend $160.70 or Etrex Legend+ H > $149.99 I don't know a thing a about gps.s will be using it on dirt > roads and streets do I need to spend more money. I will use it Oregon > most of the time > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________________ > Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[David Bell]

I had the same problem (batteries vibrating and disconecting) with my old GPS Garmin MkV. I suspect it's common. Hard wiring eliminates the problem. db ________________________________ From: Spike55 To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 6:16:22 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? I mentioned the need for hardwiring the GPS unit into the bike's system. I have the Garmin handlebar mount for my eTrex Legend. I have also added rubber padding between it and the handlebar cross member but the road / bike's vibration eventually causes the batteries to diconnect for a split-second and it shuts off. Many times, I've lost miles and miles of history before noticing. This does not happen if the eTrex is riding in the front pocket of my Wolfman tank bag but I can't easily look at the screen when it is laying in there without taking a hand off the grip. Once this disconnect condition has happened, it starts to happen more frequently. I've taken the batteries out and bent the eTrex's tabs and changed each battery's position in the holder, and I've added tabs of aluminum foil at each end of the battery. It eventually happens again and again. I eventually purchased an aftermarket 12VDC convertor to power the eTrex but this too is problematic. That blue eTrex has an odd power / data transfer connection which looks like 4 brass buttons in a row. I think that the newer eTrex units use a USB connection. This 4-button connection sucks when it comes to motorcycles. I have to use a rubber band around the GPS unit to keep it connected. If that connection is broken by any misalignment going down the road, the eTrex shuts off in 30 seconds (countdown message on the screen). As I stated above, it'll work all day if I lay it in the tank bag's front pocket but then it is lose and can 'jump out' if you are in the rough stuff. I always keep a landyard on it and have secured to the handlbars. This has proven to a very good idea when I don't have the eTrex on the handlebar because of the potential that the rough road will disconnect the batteries but the rough road 'throws' the unit around enough to toss it out of the tank bag pocket. This has happened several times, and I would not have found it miles later in the backwoods. Landyard was a good idea. Well, I could go on for a while longer why the eTrex Legend (blue) isn't a good GPS for the bike but I'll stop. I have a replacement for my original that shortered out in the rain (supposed to be waterproof) and it acts the same way the first one did, so motorcycling with it is a bad application. Some roadbike buddies have the Zumis and refurbished StreetPilots and like them but they are a lot more expensive and I don't know how they would hold up in rough dirt roads situations. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Greg May wrote: > > I agree with Don, I have an E-Trex as well, great for hiking, hunting and mounting to your bike and getting you back to where you have already been. it does have a lot of neat functions, top speed, average speed, etc. I also have a TomTom for my 4 wheeled modes of transport which takes you anywhere you want to go and talks to you and corrects you if you take a wrong turn. > Although i don't have it the Maps software for the E-Trex I believe costs around $80 if I remember right plus the $130 or so I paid for the E-trex and another $30 for the handlebar mounting bracket add up to more then I paid for the TomTom on sale, $150 for a text to speach version, of course I'm sure that the TomTom would never have survived what the E-Trex has. > For what I use the E-Trex for it was very useful and if it dies I will no doubt buy another like it but as Don stated it serves a different purpose then something like a TomTom... have a great day......Greg > > > --- On Mon, 2/9/09, Spike55 wrote: > > From: Spike55 > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com > Received: Monday, February 9, 2009, 10:57 PM > > > > > > > All depends (as usual) on if you are looking forward or back. I have > the cheap-o blue eTrex Legend and it is great for recording everywhere > I travelled (roads, speed, direction, altitude, time, etc). That is > what I call 'looking back'. Looking forward is hard to do safely. The > screen is a black & white LCD and only 1" x 2". Using it on the fly is > OK as long as you keep it at a macro level. You really have to zoom in > to finally have small dirt roads pop up into view but then you're kind > of in too far to see much ahead. Also I only have 8 MB of memory and > that only gets you out of the state but that's it. > > A bigger screen, touch-sensitive multi-color with a schrol function, > wired into the bike's electric through a detactable harness, and a > battery back-up would be nicer to use while you're going 50+ mph. All > of that comes with a price though. > > Don R00, A6F > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Jim Mastrantonio > wrote: > > > > Is it a good deal. It is not on sale now but will be soon they > say.I'm not sure if it is Etrex Legend $160.70 or Etrex Legend+ H > $149.99 I don't know a thing a about gps.s will be using it on dirt > roads and streets do I need to spend more money. I will use it Oregon > most of the time > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _ > Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta messenger. yahoo.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ron Magen]

1a. Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? Posted by: "Spike55" spike55_bmw@... spike55_bmw Date: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:16 am ((PST)) I mentioned the need for hardwiring the GPS unit into the bike's system. I have the Garmin handlebar mount for my eTrex Legend. I have also added rubber padding between it and the handlebar cross member but the road / bike's vibration eventually causes the batteries to diconnect for a split-second and it shuts off. While I have just gotten a KLR, and haven't done any riding yet, I do have experience with Navigation. Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT a Luddite - however I AM a 'Chart & Compass' kind of guy. While I do own a hand-held GPS, for in-shore {rivers, lakes, within about 25 miles off-shore} Navigation, those are my tools. In anticipation of some land 'adventuring' I have just purchased a decent Lensatic compass, and am getting a listing of USGS, and Corps of Engineers, maps. Process would be the same as afloat . . . know your starting point . . . then dead reckoning for a stretch. Stop and take a 'sight' to confirm location -if on road- 'Estimated Position' if off-road {with a USGS map as a Datum - this could be very accurate}. Then proceed. With the inherent vibration of a 'Big Single', I can't see how anyone could clearly see the small screen on the typical GPS unit while at speed. Or it could be that I'm just an 'Old Geezer'. Regards, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop

[Spike55]

Ron: The 'big single' KLR is relatively smooth compared to the old BSA singles on the 60s, so you can easily see things 'at a glance' but safety dictates that you don't stare 'below the horizon' (kind of like meeting a women for the first time). I too am a map & compass guy and have taught it / used it for 25 yrs with Boy Scouts but backpacking and motorcycing are at different speeds. A big color touch screen GPS would be the 'cat's a**' for motorcycling. Many times, I'm on 'Two Sisters Rd', '5 Mile Rd', or '7 Mile Rd', which are are only short faint lines on a quadrangle map. When 'on the fly', it is better to have that situational awarness provided by a dynamic GPS map in front of you versus having to stop, pull out a map in the rain, then go some more, stop, etc when in a new area / roads (I'm a pea-brain). Yes, you can eventually move quickly in areas that you have learned but 'the thrill is gone'. The alternative is that you aren't in a particular hurry to get to any distination and you can poke around and any road will do - don't need a GPS for that. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Magen" wrote: > > 1a. Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? > Posted by: "Spike55" spike55_bmw@... spike55_bmw > Date: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:16 am ((PST)) > > I mentioned the need for hardwiring the GPS unit into the bike's > system. I have the Garmin handlebar mount for my eTrex Legend. I > have also added rubber padding between it and the handlebar cross > member but the road / bike's vibration eventually causes the > batteries to diconnect for a split-second and it shuts off. > > > While I have just gotten a KLR, and haven't done any riding yet, I do have > experience with Navigation. > > Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT a Luddite - however I AM a 'Chart & Compass' > kind of guy. While I do own a hand-held GPS, for in-shore {rivers, lakes, > within about 25 miles off-shore} Navigation, those are my tools. In > anticipation of some land 'adventuring' I have just purchased a decent > Lensatic compass, and am getting a listing of USGS, and Corps of Engineers, > maps. > > Process would be the same as afloat . . . know your starting point . . . > then dead reckoning for a stretch. Stop and take a 'sight' to confirm > location -if on road- 'Estimated Position' if off-road {with a USGS map as a > Datum - this could be very accurate}. Then proceed. > > With the inherent vibration of a 'Big Single', I can't see how anyone could > clearly see the small screen on the typical GPS unit while at speed. Or it > could be that I'm just an 'Old Geezer'. > > Regards, > Ron Magen > Backyard Boatshop >

[Jim Douglas]

Spike55 wrote:

> > Ron: > The 'big single' KLR is relatively smooth compared to the old BSA > singles on the 60s, so you can easily see things 'at a glance' but > safety dictates that you don't stare 'below the horizon' (kind of > like meeting a women for the first time). > > I too am a map & compass guy and have taught it / used it for 25 yrs > with Boy Scouts but backpacking and motorcycing are at different > speeds. A big color touch screen GPS would be the 'cat's a**' for > motorcycling. Many times, I'm on 'Two Sisters Rd', '5 Mile Rd', > or '7 Mile Rd', which are are only short faint lines on a quadrangle > map. When 'on the fly', it is better to have that situational > awarness provided by a dynamic GPS map in front of you versus having > to stop, pull out a map in the rain, then go some more, stop, etc > when in a new area / roads (I'm a pea-brain). Yes, you can > eventually move quickly in areas that you have learned but 'the > thrill is gone'. The alternative is that you aren't in a particular > hurry to get to any distination and you can poke around and any road > will do - don't need a GPS for that. > > Don R100, A6F > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , "Ron Magen" wrote: > > > > 1a. Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? > > Posted by: "Spike55" spike55_bmw@... spike55_bmw > > Date: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:16 am ((PST)) > > > > I mentioned the need for hardwiring the GPS unit into the bike's > > system. I have the Garmin handlebar mount for my eTrex Legend. I > > have also added rubber padding between it and the handlebar cross > > member but the road / bike's vibration eventually causes the > > batteries to diconnect for a split-second and it shuts off. > > > > > > While I have just gotten a KLR, and haven't done any riding yet, I > do have > > experience with Navigation. > > > > Don't get me wrong - I'm NOT a Luddite - however I AM a 'Chart & > Compass' > > kind of guy. While I do own a hand-held GPS, for in-shore {rivers, > lakes, > > within about 25 miles off-shore} Navigation, those are my tools. In > > anticipation of some land 'adventuring' I have just purchased a > decent > > Lensatic compass, and am getting a listing of USGS, and Corps of > Engineers, > > maps. > > > > Process would be the same as afloat . . . know your starting > point . . . > > then dead reckoning for a stretch. Stop and take a 'sight' to > confirm > > location -if on road- 'Estimated Position' if off-road {with a USGS > map as a > > Datum - this could be very accurate}. Then proceed. > > > > With the inherent vibration of a 'Big Single', I can't see how > anyone could > > clearly see the small screen on the typical GPS unit while at > speed. Or it > > could be that I'm just an 'Old Geezer'. > > > > Regards, > > Ron Magen > > Backyard Boatshop > > > >

I spent a extra (2) hours around Hot Springs with a GPS, that POS, was tricking me! and it was an older model that didn't talk and stuff, but somehow I had looped around exactly back to where I was, and finally stopped got off the bike and opened up the frigging map! Of course I had read it incorectly looking down every one in a while at 70MPH dodging HUGE trucks with big trees on them!

[Ron Magen]

Tim, a} I haven't really ridden the bike yet - other then a short 'test hop'. b} The bike is a 2003 with about 4k on the clock. From the shape {IMMACULATE !!} and the history I have - the valves have most likely {99 percent probability} been done. and c} How BIG is the screen ?? Ron

----- Original Message ----- From: tomatocity To: Ron Magen Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 17:32 Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: GPS Extrex legend at Bi Mart $99.00 ? Hi Ron and ALL, Don't forget the valve adjustments. . . . It is surprising how much better a KLR runs after the valves ahve been adjusted. GPS - let me clarify that I only have experience with the zumo 550 and it was designed for motorcycles. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[CA Stu]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Ron Magen" wrote:

> > With the inherent vibration of a 'Big Single', I can't see how

anyone could

> clearly see the small screen on the typical GPS unit while at speed.

Or it

> could be that I'm just an 'Old Geezer'. > > Regards, > Ron Magen > Backyard Boatshop >

Non-issue. I bought an eMap and a RAM mount system from Cycoactive.com in 2000. After over 60k miles on various motorcycles (at least 10k of that on dirt), usage in a boat (easy to find your way back across a lake safely in the dark using the "Trackback"), 4 wheel drive, and in various autos, it still works well. I had my GPS "Hardened" by Cycoactive, which basically involved strategic deposits of silicon to quell the vibration and protect the guts of the unit. After talking to Tom Myers at the last Long Beach motorcycle show, it is my understanding that is no longer necessary with the newer models. Motorcycle GPS is fantastic. Makes for easy route planning and on the fly navigation, but like everyone else has said, don't make the mistake of trusting your GPS more than your eyes and common sense. It took me freezing my nuts off, riding a mile or so of snowed in frontage road parallel to the 5 freeway to realize that maybe my GPS routed me that way to save 100 yards, but it really wasn't the best route. Thanks CA Stu