I have a Montana...I ordered it from the USA for about €325.It is an excellent GPS and one with which will be easy for you to learn with. The screen is excellent in sunshine and you can transfer tracks that you've ridden on via bluetooth with other same spec models. My camera is gps enabled so I didn't need the 650 with the built in camera.

I will be ordering the mounts this week. I have my RAM mount(ball and socket) up on the bar above my instruments where I find it easier to glance down at rather than look at the crossbar(where you can get a mount for same)

You can buy the RAM mount and rely on batteries or have it charging through a cigar charger via USB. I'd go against this idea as it opens itself for vibration through time and possibly a loose USB plug eventually. Or you can carry a packet of AA batteries once the main battery looses it's charge.

I will be ordering what's called a Rugged Mount which is hard wired from the battery and which charges the gps as you ride, The gps clips into place and can be locked with a small screw if need be.This in turn is bolted to the RAM mount,which is in turn bolted to the moto.

IMHO there's no need to get the TTech mount which,although is a great bit of kit,is just too expensive. It's your call.

I have a 32GB micro SD card in mine which allows me to put maps into it rather than the main 'hard drive' I also use this to store pictures to view(not great quality but OK) of my family whilst on the road.

I use www.wikiloc.com to download routes,e.g of trails in Spain. Really easy to use once you get the hang of the whole thing.

Here there's a whole post..

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=688775


So...all that to say take the plunge and enjoy.



:)















.

brillant, very helpful - thanks

Does the RAM mount & memory card come with the 650? i also need to buy the car cradle as well...its �50!

Hi

You need to buy the SD card....even a 4 or 8 gb no doubt will do...You'll have to get your maps after also of which the gps arrives without.RAM stuff does not come with it so you need to budget for all the extra guff.

Having said that the maps should fit on the gps without a card...it'll just use up space that you might want for trails and other info, e.g. All campsites in Europe....WW2 sites in France.....Radar cameras etc etc .

ahem....I have heard that some people living in France with XTZ's try and download City Navigator 2013 from one of those torrent type sites.....and that it works just fine...ahem...so I'm told....but that's illegal and you shouldn't do it.....




You should find the car mount in the USA maybe cheaper if you order them all at the same time thus all for one postage cost??






.

bloody hell.....so i need to buy

The 650 Garmin unit
SD card
Ram mount - bike
Car mount
and Maps??

PLUS.... Rugged mount if i want it to charge on the go? (can this be swapped between bikes?)

i need to find another job :)

Correct!!!..

Or just the 600 and not the 650....cheap sd card from china works just the same in mine...a few quid

I use my gps in the car with it just lying somewhere...it does get a good signal so no need to have it right on the windscreen....if need be.

Hence the possible tip about the maps....lol

Can be swapped between moto's if you can be bothered routing the wires from the battery each time....

:)

cheers for all the info...very helpful!!

im confused now about maps....i need it for greenlaning and for the Mrs to use in the Car...so do i have to buy a Topo & a road map? (how much we talkin?)

The reason for my confusion is that i (stupidly) thought that you bought the unit and everything came with it....it just worked straight from the box.

how wrong could i be....

Ive also heard the camera on the 650 is really poor? shame as i think thats a great feature.

If it were I I'd get a road map from somewhere e.g. City Navigator Europe or just the City Navigator UK if you want.....this will let you use it as normal.

You can get the price off Garmin's main website....(or cheaper on ebay). If you do go the way of getting your maps ie from Garmon...I'd get the DVD's as you'll always have them in your drawer. If you download off their site then they're locked to that sd card and can't be transferred(so I'm led to believe)so if you loose the gps/sd card then you'll have to buy another map. DVD will make it easier to have the master disks for a new gps or new card if it malfunctions.

With this then you'll see what detail it has on it before opting for anything else.

You might be surprised to see what lanes and tracks are marked already. There's a few forest trails that I can see in my maps of where I live. Anything else smaller/single track is not there. If you then need something more detailed you can go the topo way....but it'd be good to get some one to confirm single track stuff will actually be on there first.

You can have lots of maps installed and with the gps you just 'activate' which one you want to use from the set up icons...dead easy.

:)


.

changed my mind again, putting it back on to the handlebars again. to much vibration on the top bar for my liking.

finally got the montana 650 and the rugged mount, well get it bought for me actually :icon_tongue:

just need the RAM mount now, any recomendations? gonna fit it to the bars after reading about all the vibes of having it above the clocks.

oh..also need maps :angry5: (���). gonna get City Navigator europe first seems im going to France soonish. No where seems to over them on DVD's...always seems to be download or SD card?

Ohlins: did you get the rugged mount in the end? do you use it off road

Hi Phil..

I got the rugged mount from the same company in the USA that I bought the GPS from.. Fast shipping and great customer service. (It arrived with a couple of screen protectors)

I have mine mounted above the clocks with no ill effect to date. I already had a standard cheap RAM mount and all I needed was the 'base plate' ie Rugged Mount....which has a ball on it and fits onto the existing RAM.....The base plate has standard holes drilled in same to allow it to fit the onto the GPS. You could look on ebay for a standard RAM .

After fiddling and setting up I have all I need on one 'page'....no need to delve deeper into the GPS for other guff.

If you need a couple of pics I can take a few snaps to let you see what's what.


It works really well in direct sunlight and is a pleasure to use. When off road,on my Gas Gas,I usually just put it in my pocket to log forest trails here as my buddy has his on his KTM525 with the same rugged mount...so it works on fast enduro stuff with out a hitch.

(As an aside I'd try to see what it's like having to look so far down to the cross brace when riding...)

Some people.....ahem...might use somud dot com to find CN Europe 2013 maps....some people might even find Garmin Middle East and Africa(which will cover Morocco).

:)





.