Terra PowerSports offers a full line-up of the latest in ICON motorcycle apparel and helmets at the most competitive prices on the market. Terra PowerSports is proud to announce the sale of ICON’s newly released Spring 2008 ICON motorcycle street gear and apparel collection.
2008 Icon Motorcycle Helmets
The 2008 Icon helmets include all new Domain 2, Alliance, and Airframe full face motorcycle helmets . The Domain 2 and Airframe helmets come standard with the all new ICON Proshields. The all new Icon Domain2 Mechanica helmet features a sleek chrome look, as well as all the bells and whistles of the original ICON Domain helmet, but ups the ante by including the new ICON Proshield.
Icon Proshields are designed to attach to the Icon motorcycle helmet and provide an undistorted line of sight. The Icon Proshield is also equipped with a quick change ratcheting system for easy removal or replacement and like all Icon Prosheilds, the newest edition meets or exceeds Vehicle Safety Commission Regulations.
2008 Icon Gear and Apparel
The 2008 Icon apparel and gear includes all new Icon motorcycle jackets, pants and gloves. The new ICON Automag Leather Overpant showcases an entirely new direction for ICON racing pants. While ICON motorcycle street gear aims to protect riders in the event of a crash, ICON also strives to live by the moto ‘from the streets – for the streets’. The first ever leather motorcycle pant made by ICON, the new Automag leather pants are made from premium grade leather, yet still maintain the street style ICON is most recognized for. ICON Automag leather pants feature full length zippers built into the legs as well as adjustable and removable knee armor and the lining of the leather motorcycle pants can easily be removed and washed.
Designed as a complement to the Automag Leather Overpants are the Icon Automag Hero Leather Jackets. This new ICON leather motorcycle jacket is also made from premium grade leather chassis and features added rubber badging along with the classic flex shoulders and CE armor found in ICON motorcycle jackets from seasons past.
While the ICON Field Armor Vest is not part of the new Spring collection of motorcycle gear, it does complete the upper torso coverage for the urban motorcycle rider. Featuring impact dispersing molded foam, reinforced rubber chest armor and impact absorbing articulated back plastic, this ICON vest is designed to provide serious protection and will fit under most motorcycle jackets.
All ICON motorcycle gear is made for the serious street rider and is designed especially for the harsh environment of the city streets. ICON motorcycle gear offers unmatched protection and sets riders apart from the rest of the motorcycle racing crowd with its distinct style. Made for the street, the new Spring ICON motorcycle collection exceeds quality standards and offers some of the most unique designs anywhere.
ICON motorcycle helmets, jackets, pants and more are available online at Terra PowerSports. Explore the motorcycle racing and street gear links below and shop with the confidence. If you find a lower price on any motorcycle gear offered from Terra PowerSports, let us know and we’ll match the competitions’ advertised price.
Icon Motorcycle Gear and Apparel Collection: E Ray
You have seen them, the people with the really shiny and great looking bike. You have always wondered how you can get a great looking bike kike that. The answer is simple, Chrome.
When you decide that you want your own motorcycle, you may not have the funds to go with a chrome body or even any chrome motorcycle parts as all. That's ok, because now you can add them to that drab looking bike.
A great option for adding chrome motorcycle parts to your ride is to take some of the accent pieces on your bike and simply buy them in a chrome finish. This will be an easy way to get a great looking bike without having to put out a tone of money in the end. You can add that great looking shine to the motorcycle and have it done in a weekend, if you want to. So it really is an easy thing to add.
If you are into really having a chrome finish on your motorcycle parts, then you may need to think about having the parts dipped. This can be done once the motorcycle has been stripped and the parts are ready to go. This may not be as easy as it sounds but if you are willing to take the time to work on it, you will have a great looking finish on your motorcycle.
Having your motorcycle parts dipped in the chrome finish is really a great way to get your bike to have that great shine. You should be careful because you may end up spending more money then you thought you would in the end. It will add up fast because of the cost of the chrome finish on your motorcycle parts so be careful when you go this route.
Putting chrome on your bike can be a hard thing to do but with the right motorcycle parts and the right chrome finish, it will look great. You will have a great and interesting ride when you go out for the first time because of the change in your bikes apparent and maybe even the way that you are probably driving it. You may get a new sense of pride from your bikes new look and that will change the way the you will end up driving it around the area that you live in or on your long trip.
Chrome Motorcycle Parts For Your Bike : Victor Epand
The Global Positioning System (GPS) consists of a number of satellites which are used to track the position of an object, person or item to which a GPS receiver is attached to.
GPS devices are the new face of navigation technology, since they have all the relevant geographical information of the world neatly fed into their data systems. The information is readily available for reference when they are displayed on a GPS device.
Motorcycle GPS units are gadgets that are attached to motorcycles and cross-country riders to trace where they are and where they are going. The motorcycle GPS devices are like microcomputers with internet, since you can even download maps of various places while you are out discovering.
Advantages of Motorcycle GPS Devices
Motorcycle GPS units have a number of uses besides navigation. The units can help in tracking colleagues when you are out on an adventure or on a scouting experience. They are also used as an antitheft system whereby a bike that is stolen and which has the GPS system is able to be tracked. It even helps in tracing accidents deep in forests, sand or ice.
They act as guides and in case you are lost they can retrace the route you followed. They even calculate the distance to your destination and the amount of fuel you use to get there. This is an amazing gadget to use, since it has an easily designed power system where it has a battery which is easily rechargeable. Many motorcycle GPS systems are Bluetooth enabled and thus they can receive information from long distances without necessarily being wired. This means you can even use your cell phone with a motorcycle GPS.
The motorcycle GPS systems can easily be fed new data, like the nearest government offices or other places of public interest like hospitals and cash machines. Some motorcycle GPS come equipped with music players and games to make you enjoy outdoor adventures even more.
Most GPS systems are very are affordable. They can range from $100 to over $300 and their prices rise in proportion to their functions and features. Typically, the cheaper models are usually handheld devices that are attached to the motorcycle using specific mounts or devices used for mountain biking. The more expensive models are specifically designed for motorcycles and are vibration resistant.
The Garmin Zumo 550 and TomTom Rider
There are two original types of motorcycle GPS units, which are the Garmin Zumo 550 and the TomTom rider. Both are resistant to vibration which means they are very robust and will not be effected by the reverberation from your bike. They have a touch screen which you can use, even with your gloves on. They are also able to give voice commands through a special wireless Bluetooth earpiece that fits inside the helmet.
Motorcycle GPS devices make riding in the saddle an even more exciting and worthwhile experience. It is advisable that all bikers whether scouts, researchers or racers should get these GPS systems, since discovering new locations and journeys is an experience like no other.
Motorcycle GPS Devices - Make Riding in the Saddle an Adventure : Richard Neesal
Everybody loves to have a stylish and fast vehicle to impress others and to enjoy a smooth ride. Honda CBR is one of the most well-liked motorcycles in the whole world because of its powerful engine, light weight and exceptional performance. You can now customize your motorcycle by using a variety of different CBR motorcycle parts of your choice including lights, mirrors, intake system, exhaust system, pedals and pegs, handlebars, levers, fuel system and fenders. These parts are manufactured by the reliable aftermarket motorcycle parts industry and they keep on introducing newer technologies and accessories which are suitable for almost all CBR models.
The most common Honda CBR models for which a whole collection of custom designed parts is available include CBR 600 F4i, CBR 600RR, CBR1000RR. All these models are known for their high performance and attractive design. However, many people want to convert their bike into a machine that truly expresses their inner style and taste. For that purpose they install new custom designed parts such as high quality fenders, colorful lights and convenient luggage bags to make their motorcycle more useful and attractive. Another reason why motorcycle owners buy new parts is that sometimes the stock or factory installed parts do not perform well or wear out quickly due to weather or other conditions.
Some CBR motorcycle parts are designed to improve performance of the engine, while others are only meant for making the vehicle more stylish and eye-catching. There are some other parts as well that are manufactured to provide both these advantages, such as custom exhaust systems. You can either buy complete kits or individual parts to customize your bike the way you like. There are many reliable manufacturers that provide good quality stuff to their customers including comfortable seats, throttle tubes, grips, high-tech sound systems, filter kits, carburetor accessories and kits, and many more.
Custom parts are manufactured for specific motorcycle models for maximum performance and output. Some people also like to buy useful accessories for their bikes to enjoy a more comfortable and easy journey. These accessories come very handy when one has to go on long routes. You can choose from a wide variety of options available in this category, such as helmets, security system, footwear, protective gear, goggles, covers, bags and luggage, and stickers. These accessories are designed to give you a complete and thorough experience of a motorcycle ride.
While buying CBR motorcycle parts you should keep in mind your requirements and budget. You can either modify your vehicle step by step or in one go by completely customizing it. For that purpose you will need to buy custom parts in areas like electrical, engine, exhaust, fuel, windshields, and control. The electrical unit is composed of parts like batteries, gauges and indicators, taillights, spark plugs, turn signals, and starters. All these parts can be easily installed without much trouble. Similarly, the engine unit consists of clutch plates, oil filters, and cables. Some parts might not be available for Honda CBR models because they are designed for only specific motorcycle models.
CBR motorcycle parts in the category of control unit include handlebars, levers, mirrors, grips, throttles, bar ends and rear seats. All these parts are designed to make the ride more pleasurable and safe. Mirrors are required for proper viewing and handlebars are needed for a strong grip and easy maneuvering on difficult or rough terrains. You can find custom-made clutch levers and brake levers for your Honda CBR made of high quality and durable materials, such as aluminum. A wide variety of bar ends is also available for CBR bikes for a more secure journey.
Customizable Honda Cbr Motorcycle Parts for Your Vehicle : Imran ali
The Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Gps. Motorcycle Navigation at It's Finest
Motorcycle GPS is like auto GPS. It's fast becoming an essential accessory for any biker who likes long rides without getting lost.
Because it's not quite as easy to navigate on a motorbike. You can't just hand the map over your shoulder to your girlfriend behind and ask her to tell you where to turn. Navigating on a motorcycle involves stopping. You need to take the map out, work out where you're going and put it away. While you're stopped.
Not so good when it's raining, for example, or on the side of a busy road, or even just when you're in a real hurry.
A good motorcycle GPS unit can take all that away and make motorcycle navigation a breeze. And the Garmin Zumo 55o is a good motorcycle GPS unit. A very good motorcycle GPS unit.
Why? Well first up is it's design. It's not an auto GPS device that's adapted for use on a motorcycle. It's designed specifically with the motorcyclist in mind. For example it has a simple user friendly touch screen with large icons so it can be operated on the ride with gloves on. And with the left hand.
And unlike someone using a car GPS, a motorcycle GPS unit has some other requirements for bikers as well. For example you're trying to read the screen in the sun, so it's usually harder to read.
Not the Garmin Zumo 550 motorcycle GPS. It's designed to be readable from the saddle even in bright sunlight, so the motorcyclist doesn't need to do contortions to read it. And it's UV friendly so the sun won't break it down. And it's waterproof so the rain won't kill it. And it's fuel resistant too.
After all you don't want your bike GPS to break down from something like the effects of the sun do you?
Another issue specific to motorcycle riders is the mount. In the past a good mount was quite in issue, and many motorbike riders had to adapt some type of car GPS mount to mount the motorcycle GPS unit on the handlebars, or anywhere.
But the Garmin Zumo 550 comes with it's own motorcycle mount for the handlebars. And it's vibration resistant too, an issue for bikers but not for car drivers. It's got integrated speakers so you can listen to your directions via bluetooth technology so you don't even need to look down.
City navigator maps are loaded from the start so all your maps are already right there. There's a comprehensive database of points of interest like motels, fuel stops, restaurants and more, and you can even load your own points of interest, or maps.
with an XM subscription and an antenna you can even get real time traffic and weather and radio, so you can avoid all those pesky traffic jams. Traffic jam ahead? Push a button and your Zumo will calculate a new route for you without even needing to get off your bike.
Use your phone via the 550, and you don't even need to take off your gloves or helmet. And you get the voice commands right to your helmet too. Need to turn left soon? Just wait for the command. And why not upload your favorite music and listen to that while you ride as well?
A good motorcycle GPS unit like the Garmin Zumo 550 will allow you to plan your rides, store your best rides and even share them with your friends. If you've found motorcycle navigation a drag in the past, invest in a great motorcycle GPS unit and motorbike navigation becomes a breeze.
The Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Gps. Motorcycle Navigation at It's Finest by Peter Clark
Seeing new sights and letting your face feel the wind, with nothing between you and the road except for your motorcycle - it's a vacation dream for many Americans. A scenic motorcycle trip is a true American experience for many bikers, and can lead to the vacation of a lifetime, but where should you start?
Motorcycle Trip Preparation
Preparation is the key to any successful motorcycle trip. Before you embark, always prepare and plan for emergencies. Many smaller routes or back roads lack roadside services or foodservice amenities. Should you encounter mechanical issues or bad weather, it's best to know where the nearest town is.
These days, many motorcycle riders use a GPS (global positioning system) unit to pinpoint their location, plan their route and identify upcoming gas stations or food service locations. A variety of manufacturers have GPS models with easy to operate controls, mounting hardware and durable weatherproof casing, made specifically for motorcycles. Some motorcycle GPS models even offer wireless Bluetooth® phone technology, as well as satellite radio with real-time weather and traffic information. If you wear a Bluetooth-enabled motorcycle helmet, you can talk on the phone hands-free, while keeping your eyes on the scenic road.
In addition, get your bike checked-up to make sure it is ready for your motorcycle trip. Don't forget to charge the battery, check the tires for proper inflation, lube the chain, and drain and refill the fuel from the carburetor. Make sure everything is working properly. If you have a touring bike, you might even want to consider adding either soft or hard saddle luggage bags for your road trip. And most importantly, make sure you are protected with good motorcycle insurance coverage.
Next is choosing your motorcycle trip. If you haven't already ridden them, consider a major historic U.S. highway for your motorcycle trip. The list below includes destinations throughout the country, and may take one day or many, depending on your vacation time and interests.
East Cost Motorcycle Trips
Spanning the entire Eastern Coast of the United States, US Route 1 starts in the north at Fort Kent, Maine (near the U.S. & Canadian border), and runs all the way to Key West, Fla. From the rustic salt water maritime coast in the North, to the tropical weather of the sun-drenched beaches in the South, Route 1 offers wide variety of scenic American skylines. Often times it runs parallel to the modern Interstate 95, but then veers further west through rural parts of South Carolina and Georgia midway through its historic 2377 miles.
If you need a break during this long trip, or would prefer to only ride one way instead of round trip, consider putting your motorcycle on the Auto Train (the only Amtrak train that accepts vehicles) between Lorton, Va. (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Fla. (near Orlando, Fla.). Taking the Auto Train allows you to travel in air-conditioned comfort, while your bike is safely stored in a special train car. From either Auto Train station, you can jump on Route 1 and continue your journey while limiting extra miles on your bike and relaxing for the evening.
West Coast Motorcycle Trips
The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most scenic historic highways in the world. It covers the states of Washington, Oregon and California and changes highway route numbers (most often Route 1 or 101) along the way.
In California, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) covers breathtaking views heading north from Los Angeles. Often called the "breadbasket of America," the PCH passes between fields of harvested crops and scenic Pacific Ocean vistas. The route passes through idyllic Half Moon Bay and over the famed Golden Gate Bridge after continuing north through the majestic city of San Francisco.
Following the California coast, the route passes through Sonoma and Mendocino counties - the state's famed wine country. Then the PCH continues north through Redwood country and sweeps back along the Pacific Coast.
Crossing the border into Oregon, the PCH hugs the state's Western coast and offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Much of the drive is past state parks and protected lands. At the northwest corner of Oregon, the PCH crosses the four-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia River into Washington.
The PCH follows Route 101 along the coast to the city of Aberdeen before heading east toward Washington State's capital, Olympia. This is the official northern U.S. endpoint of the Pacific Coast Highway. At a total of 1,540 miles, this is truly a multi-day trip, even for the experienced motorcycle rider.
Central U.S. Motorcycle Trips
As the famous 1946 song says, you can "Get Your Kicks on Route 66." The historic route 66 through America's heartland covers eight U.S. states, from Illinois to California. Built more than 80 years ago, much of the route has been overshadowed by more modern four-lane highways.
Spanning more than 2000 miles, Route 66 became the greatest connection corridor from the Midwest to California. As U.S. highway travel grew in the 1940s and 1950s, family vacationers, salesmen and truck drivers increasingly used the road to travel the most direct route between the East Coast and West Coast.
Thirty years after Route 66 was inaugurated, President Eisenhower enacted the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 providing for huge investment in modern U.S. highways. This highway modernization signaled the end of popularity for the winding rural flavor of Route 66. The locally owned motorcourts, full service gas stations and homespun diners were bypassed by Interstate Highway 40.
Route 66 still exists today, and offers a more rustic Americana version than it previously did. If you want to see U.S. back roads and rural heartland scenery, then Route 66 is a great historic highway to travel.
Of course, before you travel these scenic, historic U.S. highways, you'll want to make sure you're protected with good motorcycle insurance coverage. For more information about motorcycle insurance, including motorcycle insurance discounts, visit Nationwide.com.
Enjoy the Ride: Motorcycle Trips on Historic U.S. Highways by Melanie Broemsen
You are racing down the highway from Oregon to Washington and end up taking a wrong turn. What do you do? If you BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS on you then you don't have to do much because the GPS will take care of almost except driving the bike. One of the good things about the BMW Garmin Zumo is that it can be mounted on a bike as well as on your BMW special edition super car!
It all started one fine day when BMW introduced a helping device for drivers that could show the road map. Of course this didn't mean that people could drive in their sleep - it simply meant that even if you tried hard, you wouldn't get lost. BMW first came out with their original Motorrad Navigator GPS that caused a downfall in sales of paper maps to BMW riders. Since then several generations of the Navigator has been launched including the Navigator II, Navigator II Plus and Navigator III GPS systems.
The Navigator GPS system revolutionized a market that catered to the long distance riders. Using the Navigator especially the BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system, riders were able to drive on longer routes without having to stop for directions. This was no mean achievement! One of the highlight of the Navigator GPS systems was that it had a water-resistant casing and could be easily mounted on a unique mounting cradle, which enhanced the overall portability as well as its operation.
The benchmark for motorcycle and long distance route finders was actually laid by the advanced BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system. Rugged and compact, this is a GPS system that is considered to be one of the best ever manufactured by BMW Garmin and it was loaded with high end navigational functions and features, ready to use maps and a big enough display screen.
Some of the key features of the new BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS include:
A slick full black body design that looked good and felt good too
The glove-friendly touch screen made it easier for bikers to use it
Left hand controls have been designed for motorcyclists
A special programming lock can limit re-programming during driving
BMW Dealer database
BMW specific software
TMC - Traffic Receiver included with 3-month subscription
Mounting base plate compatible with BMW mounting brackets
Custom BMW caps included in three sets of designs
Water resistant and shockproof
Replaceable lithium ion rechargeable battery for use off the bike up to 5 hours (included)
Vibration-tested and built with fuel-resistant plastics to withstand the elements
Bluetooth wireless technology for phone communication
Compass feature equivalent to Navigator III
MP-3 Player for storing music
High brightness, sunlight-readable, and UV-resistant display screen
The new BMW Garmin Zumo motorcycle navigator GPS system has been specially engineered by Garmin for BMW and it has certain proprietary features, which are unavailable on the standard Garmin Zumo systems and this includes the 3-year warranty.
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A GPS system for your motorcycle can turn your journeys, into adventures. Opening up a whole new experience, you can find amazing places to explore by planning your trips at home, and downloading your routes to your GPS device. New landscapes, destinations, and road trips await; with the security and confidence of never getting lost again.
A GPS system for your motorcycle can also help to make your journeys as comfortable, and stress-free as possible. If you fancy a break, or you're running out of petrol, your GPS can help. More importantly, your GPS unit can guide you back to safety when you get lost, or accidentally take the wrong turning. With voice guided directions, and software brimming with points of interest (POI), such as petrol stations, restaurants, service stations, and hotels; your GPS can guarantee you a journey of uninterrupted enjoyment.
Sound like the perfect toy? Well, with GPS systems becoming mainstream, and new features and models endlessly hitting the shelves, it can be a hard task deciphering which GPS device best suits your needs.
To help you out, it's worth considering the following points before you go ahead and purchase your first GPS for your motorcycle.
What Type of GPS Do You Need For Your Motorcycle?
Are Its Reception Capabilities Suitable For Your Needs?
Does the Battery Life Of Your GPS Suit Your Needs?
How Resistant Is Your GPS To Vibration & Hard Ware?
Do You Want 2-Way-Communication?
How Easy Is Your GPS To Update?
How Easy Is Your GPS To Update?
What Price Is Suitable?
What Type of GPS Do You Need For Your Motorcycle?
There are 3 types of GPS units for motorbikes; portable outdoor units, GPS units designed specifically for your motorcycle/ scooter, and GPS/PDA hybrids.
If you also enjoy outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rambling, or even camping; a portable GPS that can be taken anywhere with you would be ideal. As well as navigating your off-road persuits, versatile Sat Nav's, like the Garmin Quest 2, operate in any vehicle. As well as motorcycling, you can take it in your car, on your boat, or even on a plane with you.
GPS devices designed exclusively for motorcycles can offer you some very impressive features. Especially designed with you, the motorcyclist, in mind, units like the TomTom RIDER have tough, weather-proof casing, touch-screen options for gloves, and anti-glare screens. One of the latest features introduced by TomTom for effective communication, is a system which transmits your spoken instructions via a built-in Bluetooth audio system, using a headset that sits inside your helmet.
The final type of GPS device that may appeal to you is the PDA/GPS hybrid. Although these devices have been designed primarily with portability in mind, most come with the added bonus of having a large screen. So, like the hand-held outdoor GPS units, this type of GPS would be ideal for those of you who enjoy a range of outdoor activities. With an integrated PDA on top of this, GPS/ PDA devices, like the Mio A201 for example, can be handy for work and play. With features like Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, you will be able to catch up on work anytime, anyplace. If you prefer to listen to music on the move, play games, or store digital photos, a GPS device like this one is an ideal choice
Does the Reception Capabilities of Your Motorcycle GPS Meet Your Needs?
When selecting a GPS for your motorcycle, it is worth thinking about how accurate you want your satellite signals to be, in pinpointing your position.
A lot of GPS units available today have an accuracy of approximately 6-8 meters. However, many of the newer GPS models are designed with a WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability, resulting in accuracies of 3-4 meters 95% of the time. The Garmin Quest 2 for example, has a flip up external antenna equipped with a 12-channel WAAS GPS receiver; supplying position accuracy of up to 9 feet.
If you enjoy riding in dense woodlands and urban areas, it is worth noting that GPS devices incorporating the new SiRF Star III Chip Set, are units to look out for. This high performance, low power consumption chipset has superior sensitivity in high foliage surroundings. It is also worth noting that GPS units with external powered antennas are great in maintaining a signal in deep woodlands.
Does the Battery Life of Your Motorcycle GPS Suit Your Needs?
With the freedom to ride just about anywhere with a GPS; battery life is an important component to consider. Most GPS units use 2, 4, or 6 'AA' batteries, which can last up to 6 hours. GPS units with integrated rechargeable batteries are the ideal choice if you occasionally lose track of time. With GPS systems like the TomTom RIDER, you can charge your battery at home, while planning your next route, or continuously keep topped up with power, by charging your GPS directly from your bikes battery.
How Resistant Is Your Motorcycle GPS To Vibration & Hard Ware?
With the freedom to ride just about anywhere and not get lost, it is guaranteed your GPS will get a great deal of use (and reverberation). So, it is important to consider how durable your GPS is, in withstanding such conditions.
GPS devices designed exclusively for Motorcycles, like the TomTom RIDER have been designed with this in mind. Not only weather proof, its tough outer case and rugged shock proof mount has been designed to absorb any external friction.
Although most GPS devices come with a mount, it is an absolute must that you use a vibration isolated mount if your GPS will be used regularly on your motorcycle. The RAM mount by NPI, which is fast becoming the industry standard, manufacture anti-vibration ball and socket mounting systems allowing you to mount practically anything, anywhere with vibration protection and durability. This would be an ideal addition to the Garmin Quest 2 GPS if you were purchasing this portable GPS for a lot of use on your motorcycle.
Do You Want Your Motorcycle GPS To Have 2-Way Communication?
Some of the most recent GPS systems to be launched for motorcycles have taken 2-way communication to a whole new level.
If you own a GPRS Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, it is worth knowing that many Sat Nav's, like the TomTom RIDER, have incorporated a Bluetooth receiver, amongst their many features. With the ability to connect your phone via Bluetooth, and receive incoming phone calls through your GPS and Bluetooth headset, you need never have to take your gloves and helmet off to answer your phone again.
You could even use your Bluetooth enabled phones' wireless Internet, and with certain models of GPS, receive real time information on traffic conditions.
Enjoy riding in groups? It is worth knowing there are some recent hand held units that can offer built in radios that will not only allow you to communicate with other members of your group, but will also display everyone's location on your screen.
How Easy Is Your Motorcycle GPS To Update?
With Roads constantly changing, the ability to update your device easily, and at a reasonable cost, are very important factors to consider when selecting your GPS.
It is important to realize that each type of GPS will be updated in a different way, and so you need to choose which process is better for you.
Those which are attached to a PDA, like the Mio A201 for example, are usually updated via a PC, whereas dedicated in-vehicle units tend to be updated via a CD. These have to be purchased from the road map data supplier.
Some specific software vendors have solutions for preparing maps which can be downloaded to your GPS unit. Most notably, TomTom operate the TomTom PLUS service.
The Choice: Budget Considerations
In essence, your choice can be reasonably simple: Buy the most expensive GPS that you can afford, that suits your needs.
It is important, using my pointers above, to decide which features are most important to you. If you want an up-to-the-minute GPS for your motorcycle; with features like real-time, on demand traffic information, hands-free calling, turn by turn voice instructions via bluetooth headsets, alerts for speed camera locations, plus thousands of useful points of interest, GPS sytems like the TomTom RIDER start from approximately £550 inc. VAT.
If, however, you are looking for more of a toy to play with, and a GPS that will simply get you from A to B, then a hand held device could be a better choice. With a range of features, like simple voice guidance, compass mode, MP3 player, and essentially portability, GPS devices like the Mio 268 and the Garmin Quest 2 are ideal for motorcycles, and a range of outdoor activities. The Mio 268, and hand held GPS units with similar features, start from approximately £250 inc. VAT.
To browse a variety of discount GPS Sytems For Your Motorcycle, or Accessories & Software For Your Motorcycle GPS Systems, visit http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk.