navi suggestions

[james]

am rather grossly underwhelmed and frustrated by the flaky gps on my pos iphone. the phone, in its current state, is just not up to the task of navi. tired of this and thinking of getting a real navi as i was unwilling to fork over an extra 30 man to toyota 6 years ago when i bought my car. it hasn't been until recently i've really had much use for one.

so when i was at costco, i was quite tempted by a navi produced by garmin, being sold for a little over 1 man. haven't read reviews yet but would be interested in hearing firsthand opinions and suggestions. japanese or engrish models are fine.

[Coligny]

They got new navy systems that have a forward camera and put arrows on the forward pichsure to show you exaclty where to turn. I think it's carrozeria.

There seems to be plenty other embeded function like next car safety distance warning, redlight monitoring... A bit pricey though...

Check yer local JM's or Yellow Hat...

It looks awesome...

[james]

A bit pricey though...

Check yer local JM's or Yellow Hat...

It looks awesome...

yeah, unfortunately, funds are really tight and i was just looking for the portable type rather than converting my dashboard to the helm of the starship enterprise..

[Coligny]

If you have an old PSP, Maplus and the PSP GPS works too...

I have been using this for 3 years... (had to Jailbreak the PSP to use the software from memorydisk instead of their shit-tastic optical disc, but aside from this it's all good... and in Toyohashi it's not exactly uncommon as a situation... I have seen more than I can count people witht he same setup on their dash... which is a bit of a testimony on the failure of the PSP game-wyse...)

http://maplus-navi.jp/maplus3

I don't know how it compares to the other dirt cheap GPS (from Kahma for example)

[BTDT]

The Garmin is good but will not have up-to-date maps for at least another year or so and the new maps will run you around \12000 ~ \15000. Kanji impaired foreigners on bikes in Japan seem to prefer a Garmin, it seems.
Stay away from Panasonic, their ability to update traffic info is lacking as are their algorithms for calculating the ETA.
Carrozzeria is your all around best bet, but you`re good with anything but a Panosonic, at least in my book.
Finally, I WILL buy a Garmin for my Harley when they come out with updated maps. (I live outside of Osaka and it seems that just about any major thoroughfare completed in the greater Kansai area in the last 10 years is not on the older maps.) Incidentally, my iPhone GPS has been quite satisfactory in Japan and the US. I`ll get the Garmin because there are a few extra bells and whistles that I want.

[james]

The Garmin is good but will not have up-to-date maps for at least another year or so and the new maps will run you around \12000 ~ \15000. Kanji impaired foreigners on bikes in Japan seem to prefer a Garmin, it seems.
Stay away from Panasonic, their ability to update traffic info is lacking as are their algorithms for calculating the ETA.
Carrozzeria is your all around best bet, but you`re good with anything but a Panosonic, at least in my book.
Finally, I WILL buy a Garmin for my Harley when they come out with updated maps. (I live outside of Osaka and it seems that just about any major thoroughfare completed in the greater Kansai area in the last 10 years is not on the older maps.) Incidentally, my iPhone GPS has been quite satisfactory in Japan and the US. I`ll get the Garmin because there are a few extra bells and whistles that I want.

cool, thanks for the suggestions will stay away from panasonic and maybe wait for the garmin maps to be updated or check out what carrozzeria has.

[matsuki]

If you have an android smartphone or tablet, google navigation works great and it's free...the best part is updates not requiring you to do anything. They didn't give the iPhone it yet, so I've heard.

[BigInJapan]

If you have an android smartphone or tablet, google navigation works great and it's free...the best part is updates not requiring you to do anything. They didn't give the iPhone it yet, so I've heard.

I don't think Apple will ever let Google implement its turn-by-turn navi functionality in Google Maps on the iPhone (which is another reason I'm contemplating moving to an Android with HD display when my 3GS contract is up).
Google announced that Google Maps Japan now supports traffic conditions on Android. More info on the Google Japan blog.

[ythq]DEBK1EUMHu0[/ythq]

[Coligny]

Jeezzz... Only for vampirez... I'll wait for the werewolf edishiun...

[waruta]

Google Navi doesn't work for sh*t on a motorbike, I would rather much go with a Zumo 550 or better. Although the newer models have lane features and all touchscreen, some users still prefer the hard buttons on the side of the 550, plus you can get a second-hand on on Yahoo for about 20,000-30,000 depending.

The problem with Google is that it doesn't always zoom out when changing speeds, and that the directions come a little late sometimes, but that all depends on the signal too I guess. Plus it'll eat your phone battery in about 1.5 hours or less and is not waterproof. I'm still deciding on getting a navi, but for now I don't make mega-long trips (yet) to seriously use one and justify the costs. (buying the unit, then the up-up-down maps and cradle etc....)

[Coligny]

Google Navi doesn't work for sh*t on a motorbike, I would rather much go with a Zumo 550 or better. Although the newer models have lane features and all touchscreen, some users still prefer the hard buttons on the side of the 550, plus you can get a second-hand on on Yahoo for about 20,000-30,000 depending.

The problem with Google is that it doesn't always zoom out when changing speeds, and that the directions come a little late sometimes, but that all depends on the signal too I guess. Plus it'll eat your phone battery in about 1.5 hours or less and is not waterproof. I'm still deciding on getting a navi, but for now I don't make mega-long trips (yet) to seriously use one and justify the costs. (buying the unit, then the up-up-down maps and cradle etc....)

Capacitive touchscreens with motorbike gloves... -> Th3 WTF it don't even work at all...

[matsuki]

Google Navi doesn't work for sh*t on a motorbike, I would rather much go with a Zumo 550 or better. Although the newer models have lane features and all touchscreen, some users still prefer the hard buttons on the side of the 550, plus you can get a second-hand on on Yahoo for about 20,000-30,000 depending.

The problem with Google is that it doesn't always zoom out when changing speeds, and that the directions come a little late sometimes, but that all depends on the signal too I guess. Plus it'll eat your phone battery in about 1.5 hours or less and is not waterproof. I'm still deciding on getting a navi, but for now I don't make mega-long trips (yet) to seriously use one and justify the costs. (buying the unit, then the up-up-down maps and cradle etc....)

Bikes might be a different story but it works great for cars and with a power adapter, you're set. (though they do make waterproof android handsets ya know)

Capacitive touchscreens with motorbike gloves... -> Th3 WTF it don't even work at all...

They have ones that work with touchscreens now...Electrified Silver Fibroid pad was the term I saw on one pair.

[waruta]

Bikes might be a different story but it works great for cars and with a power adapter, you're set. (though they do make waterproof android handsets ya know)

Ya I know, but I had my heart set on hacking a TomTom or something similar to work here....

They have ones that work with touchscreens now...Electrified Silver Fibroid pad was the term I saw on one pair.

ICON and a few other makers also carry proper touchscreen gloves, but instead of the phone, I'm still leaning towards the Garmin/Zumo. In the end, something small, bright, long-lasting battery/cable connection and with good instructions (not like google "Turn right at the next junction" - when you're on the highway, or when it refuses to zoom out of 200m mode on the highway and you have 0.4 seconds to react to the next exit - not fun.)

In the end, even a waterproof iPad would be cool to have as a digital dash/navi/entertainment center on the bike

[matsuki]

BTW, Waruta, are you riding during the winter? If so and you need any heated gear, send me a PM.

[Coligny]

BTW, Waruta, are you riding during the winter? If so and you need any heated gear, send me a PM.

No rally driving lights in stock ?

(http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/ultima-225)

[waruta]

No rally driving lights in stock ?

(http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/ultima-225)

PIAA has some cool single HID spots for bikes as well as ClearWater Lights (LED's) floods work pretty well too, but as is everything that works and is engineered well, not cheap.

I've seen a full 4 Glenda lights, 2 HID Spots and the HID conversion kit on a BMW 1200GS and when that bad boy comes into a SA/PA, ya gotta hide the kids and hide the wife

Or you can just go out and buy 4 of those rechargeable Stanley lights and strap them on the hood

[matsuki]

No rally driving lights in stock ?

(http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/ultima-225)

Few years back, a friend of mine had a light rack on his WRX...I've never seen the forest go from night to day so fast. (also good for blinding asshole drivers...which is what I assume you want them for?)

[Mike Oxlong]

How about importing motorcycle helmets for guys whose heads are not perfectly round? Found the make & model I wanted on Rakuten, ordered, only to be emailed the next day that actually the shop that advertised did not have the stock they claimed...

[Coligny]

Few years back, a friend of mine had a light rack on his WRX...I've never seen the forest go from night to day so fast. (also good for blinding asshole drivers...which is what I assume you want them for?)

Nope... The road to the hospital is throught a swampland of ricefield dangerously close to the sea... banjo and all... A little too much left and you dive 70 cm down a ricefield... a little too much to the right and you dive into another ricefield... most of the time no side barrier, no lights and I have to go throught this whatever the weather whatever the time (*)...

AND the Note have plastic headlights assembly (transparent front and mirror) meaning that you can't use powerfull halogen without melting everything... I can't remember the number of time where I wanted to turn my headlight on to try to see better before realising that the switch was already in high beams... It's a bit depressing...

Will try these (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eckomax-vehicle-hid-hi-lo-dual-headlamp-complete-set-h4-8000k-4007) Hi Low beam HID as the next trick, but it feels just like another layer of plaster on a wooden leg (at least HID runs cooler so less stress on the alternator and the plastic...


(*) before you ask... YES this kind of reclusiveness was triggered by some dirty moneydealz... AND I'm not the only one struggling with the road judging by the weekly report of Docs or nurses in medical leave because of a car accident, mostly in the morning strangely enough...

[matsuki]

How about importing motorcycle helmets for guys whose heads are not perfectly round? Found the make & model I wanted on Rakuten, ordered, only to be emailed the next day that actually the shop that advertised did not have the stock they claimed...

LOL, same problem with hockey helmets here, well for the Japanese that is...certain models do not fit alien shaped heads

I live in BFE Japan.

Time for you to buy a bro truck...and that 70cm will be nothing but a speed bump ]http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3848&stc=1&d=1323840331[/IMG]

[Greji]

How about importing motorcycle helmets for guys whose heads are not perfectly round?

Speaking of round heads Mike, I couldn't help noticing you're using your own picture for your avatar. I would like to ask if that is an Okinawan snow carving, or did the mumps go down on you?

[Mike Oxlong]

You know how it is...sometimes daddy's little girl just wants to make a portrait of papa in the sand when we go to the beach together. Since she can't make a snowman down here, concessions have to be made.

[Ganma]

You know how it is...sometimes daddy's little girl just wants to make a portrait of papa in the sand when we go to the beach together. Since she can't make a snowman down here, concessions have to be made.

How is any man ever going to measure up to her father?