Modern Vespa

I am in the market for a GPS system for use with my GTS. I have a Mac, so software that comes with the unit should be Mac friendly. I understand that Tomtom Rider 2 is quite new and is supposed to be a good unit that is Mac friendly. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about a good GPS unit for use with our scooters. What particular features should one be looking for and what downfalls should one be cautious about avoiding. I would like a unit that is weather proof as well so I guess that limits me a bit to the motorcycle centered units. Any help would be appreciated.

One thing that I would like to be able to do is have the GPS unit connected to my headset in my helmet, it is NOT a bluetooth headset so the GPS unit should have a connector to allow this. I know the Tomtom Rider 2 has bluetooth connectivity but I can't find out anywhere if I would be able to connect it via wire to my headset.

Zumo 550 hands down.
The tomtom has some cute options and features, but the zumo is simply a better unit. Better build quality, better all around performance... all of this is of course in my opinion, but I also still have a zumo 550 that survived a freeway speed sized crash, and then continued to get me across the rest of the country. Garmin's "road trip" program works quite well for what it is, and even though there are lame little bugs in it like screen redraw issues or little icon weirdness's's, whatever... it works really well for showing routes/loading routes, getting data to and from the zumo. I used the blue ant interphone and it worked quite well via bluetooth with the 550. you can also use a wired headset.

I highly recommend the 550, because obviously I am in love with mine...

+1 on the Zumo, and as Joel said it can take a licken and keep on ticken

Does the Zumo work with Mac, though? I thought the Garmin products didn't - happy to be proven wrong on this.

Yes this is my question as well. I have a Mac and I was told that the Garmin products don't work with the Mac OSX.

You can also check out Garmin's new cycling series of mapping GPS units. They are made small enough to easily be mounted on a handlebar and judging by what they were designed for are probably tough enough for constant outdoor use like on a scooter. I guess it really depends on what you need it for.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=10884

Try this link

http://www8.garmin.com/macosx

I have gone to the dark side, but serval riders on the cannonball used zumo(s) with the Mac.

Garmin does in fact now support the Mac. Their previously beta Bobcat software has now been released as a real software product called Road Trip, and is bundled with "City Navigator NT North America for Mac" software. This has all the maps and the map viewer in Mac format bundled on a DVD. I have this DVD sitting on my desk right now, and I can attest that it does work properly.

The caveat here is that much of the current stock of Zumos in the pipeline have the older Windows-only software bundled, and so getting the maps onto your Mac with that older software becomes a hassle of converting it on the PC (if you even have one) and transferring the data to the Mac for use there. I ended up buying the City Navigator NT software for Mac as soon as it came out (just last month) and taking the financial hit. Eventually, I'm sure the Zumo package will be updated to include the Mac software along with the Windows software.

I use a hand-sized/hiker's GPS on my scooter (a Magellan Meridian). I can't really recommend it as a direction/navigator tool. In map mode the screen is too small to use while riding (read dangerous). My primary use of it is as a speedometer/compass.

Regards
Harvey

There is a download page on the garmin site.
That is where I got bobcat in the first place, now updated to road trip.
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4332

Not difficult at all. The fact of the matter is that you dont really wind up "doing anything" with your computer mac or PC with the zumo, besides POI loading, and route up/downloads. Bobcat/road trip is fun though for figuring out routes to try and then blasting them into your zumo.
Just get a zumo..

Can I use RoadTrip if I have a different Garmin (Street Pilot c580) GPS? My wife uses it in her car, but I throw it in mine from time to time, and I think it'd be cool to be able to either upload routes from my computer before I leave or download "where I've been" when I get back home...

Download it. use it. enjoy.

I have a tomtom GO 300 im looking to mount On mt GT, I will let everyone know how it goes. Its old so if it breaks...oh well :p

Someone in my club suggested the Garmin Rhino 530HCx as a good idea. This unit combines the GTS with a two way radio which is something I do use on a regular basis for our group rides to allow communications between the ride captain and tail gunner. Is anyone familiar with that unit? I wonder if the GTS component of it is as good as the Zumo's. It is a bit less expensive but it would allow me to use the one connector I have with my headset on the GPS/radio and not have to get a new headset with an extra connector in it.

edit: I just looked at the specs., I don't think I'd be able to read anything on the display while riding, it is smaller than the standard displays on most motorcycle GPS units. I'm starting to lean towards the Zumo 550.

Ok, I just googled the Zumo just to see what all the hubub was about.

Nine hundred and something dollars?!?

Seriously?

Maybe I'm just a broke ass and don't get it. It would be cool to have, but there are alot of upgrades I could make to my scoot before I spend an extra thousand by the time you add in tax, etc.

I purchased the zumo 450 from Amazon $380 if I'm not mistaken. No blurtooth but I use a single earbud. Works great. Mounted on windscreen bracket and wired into alarm socket.

According to a review on Amazon.com, it's just a glorified speedometer unless you spend another $100 on a "City Navigator Map Card".

"What Garmin is vague about is that to get turn-by-turn directions, you have to buy their City Navigator Map card for another $100."

Read that review in its entirety along with other lackluster reviews here:
http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000VRFXC2/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I have a Garmin 260 that I use in my Ford Explorer. My Vespa Speedometer/Odometer quit working a few weeks ago so I attached the Garmin to the head adjacent to the instrument cluster with Velcro. This gives me a readout on speed and distance until I can get the Vespa instrument working again. The only drawback is the limited operating time available on the internal Garmin battery. I need to cut into the Vespa elictrical system for power. Presently I have to charge the internal battery every night in my car.

You could probably hook it up via USB and charge it through your computer.