www.DRRiders.com

hi all,

Feel free to throw things at me if I've posted this in the wrong place. I searched around but couldn't find exactly what I wanted to know. I'm used to street bikes and have a Garmin Zumo 660 on my BMW RT, but that seems a bit bigger than what I'd like to mount on my new DR. Also it requires a power source and I'm thinking something which runs on batteries might be best. Any suggestions for a handheld which I can get RAM mounts for which fit nicely on the DR? For Canadian readers, Costco.ca seems to have a pretty good deal on two Garmins right now: the eTrex Legend HCx and the GPSMAP 76Cx -- both are $189.00. Trouble is, I can't tell which is more suitable for my needs (off road and street use with more emphasis on trails and dirt roads). I'm intending to use the roads mostly just to get to the offroad rides.

Here are links to the two units Costco has:

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.asp ... opnav=&s=1


http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.asp ... opnav=&s=1

Any input would be welcome!

T.

I just went through the same process. With advice from an expert on offroad trails http://www.cannonshot.net and talking to an expert at Garmin who also rides dual sport, I picked up a used Garmin 60CSX.

One thing this unit does that others do not, it that it will allow you to load multiple loops in different colors. I guess that comes in handy if you go to dual sport rallies where they provide files for loops. I have not done that yet but will be next weekend.

The expert at Garmin also told me that Garmin engineers were meeting with dual sport people to possibly design a new model specifically for this market that will have the multiple loop capability in the larger touch screen style. No guarantee on that or estimated time to marked but he was pretty sure it was in the works.

+1 I have the CSX60 as well. Great unit! Multiple maps. Very customizable. I have all of the MI off-road trails loaded on it. Easy to float between trails and street mode. A bit more pricey but worth it IMO. The only gripe I have is my need for reading glasses.

Perhaps you would like to write a how-to article for us newbies? If you can write as well as you do carbs...

I just looked up the 60Csx on the Garmin site and I see that it's a discontinued product. Anyone know what the replacement model would be? I've already got a big investment in the Zumo 660 so I may just cheap out and get the eTrex Hcx. Now I just have to find someone with a current Costco membership. I let mine expire because I had enough mustard and ketchup to last me 10 years and didn't need any more. :)

There is no exact replacement for the 60 series. None of the newer units do what that one did as I understand. They are readily available on ebay and Craigslist.

The 60Csx is discountinued but they are still easily available. I picked one up a couple of months ago for a reasonable price. The 60Csx is also suitable as a handheld.

I have a ZUMO 450 on my V-Strom.

The 60csx is definatly my pick, I did have many years of good service from Etrex Legends on sleds and bikes, but the 60 is just a littke more robust, better hard wire connection etc. Also look of the 76csx which has the same guts as the 60 but in a different package to make it float.

For Canadian suppliers Ive used GPScity which shows both the 60 and 76in stock with the 76 being cheaper

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-gpsmap-60csx.html

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-gpsmap-76csx.html

There is also GPS central which Ive used a couple times, they show no 60,s in stock, but have the 76 for $199 which is 20 bucks cheaper than gpscity....hmmmm

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/76cx.htm

These are both in Calgary, so we save one tax. Ive had good service from both and just choose whos cheaper.

For right there in TO there is Radioworld on Steeles or online, but Im not seeing either in stock, but they do have Ram mounts. For $189 for the 76 at costco might just be the way to go.

When you figure it out, get youself a Ram handlebar mount, a 4 gig(min) micro sd card, topo Canada and a 12v hard wire and your good to go.

Good luck, Todd

Thanks Todd! Coincidentally, I was looking at GPS City right after seeing that Radioworld didn't have the 60 models. The 76Cx is $189.00 at Costco vs. the 76CSx (with 2gig card) at GPS City for $239.95. Lots of great reviews for the 60CSx (with 2gig card), though, at GPS City where it's $299.00 -- weird that a discontinued model would be more expensive. And other posters seem to really like that model. Hard to know which to pick. Btw, it seems that GPS City is now collecting full HST (the buggers). When I put it in my basket to see what shipping would be, up came the stinkin' HST (spit, spit, spit).

I'm also tempted to go with the more expensive 60CSx after reading about a guy riding 90% off road from Calgary to Mexico using one, as well as the testimonials above. I'm a sucker for testimonials. :)

Find yourself a 60Csx in the States. Have it shipped to CBI, just in Niagara Falls, and pick it up. It's only, about, an hour and a half drive for you. Buy it outside NY and they won't charge tax, and most places ship for free. I've done it lots of times. Every once in a while customs will ding you for the HST, but you were going to end up paying that anyway if you got it in Ontario.

http://cbiusa.com/