klr navigation gps and map and compass

[Jeff Saline]

Ron, Other interested listers, I've got a little experience with maps and compass and also GPS navigation. Probably not an expert but I can get by pretty well. My take on using a GPS on the KLR is positive as it makes my life easier but it isn't fool proof by any means. I also use maps, often with the GPS and they aren't fool proof either. : ) I find the maps for the Black Hills where I ride when home are pretty good. The Forest Service Travel Advisory Map (free) really helps you figure out where you are and are not allowed to use motorized vehicles. Augmenting the maps with the GPS, or augmenting the GPS with the maps works well. The GPS shows me exactly where I am all the time. The maps allow me to see the overall picture and helps with route selection. If I had to make a decision to use only map and compass or GPS it would be a tough choice. I think I'd lean towards the GPS since mine has a built in compass and altimeter. The maps on my GPS are as good as the ones I can normally get for longer rides. And I enjoy planning routes on my computer using mapping programs. There aren't many areas in the states where you can just ride wherever you want. The Black Hills is still a travel anywhere unless prohibited area but that is expected to change later this year. The future will be travel nowhere unless allowed. I've been on rides where if I didn't have the GPS I would have had no idea where I was. Landmarks available for navigational purposes were few and far between. The GPS told me exactly where I was and I found that helpful. For those wondering... I started with a Garmin eTrex Legend and after a year upgraded to a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx. The 76CSx has a huge memory and removable disk so I can store as many maps as I'd like. I can also store tracks from all my rides without running out of memory. The Legend only has 8 meg of memory and is ok for local one day rides but that's about it. The screen on the 76CSx is larger than the Legend but both are really kind of small. I find it best to stop when I want to do a detailed consultation of the screen. I do hardwire my GPS to my KLR and don't have issues with it shutting off or vibrating apart. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT . ____________________________________________________________ Click to learn how to become a world famous writer or poet. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2MhePnnjta5yWW7GqZNpe5FoXuC1AWucx1bweXC8Vp6t0Uk/