I received this unit for Christmas primarily for my bike, but once I purchase the car mount adapter it will be used in the car as well.
This is an excellent unit, to say the least. One reviewer mentioned that it's too difficult to turn the unit onI say "hogwash". The pushbutton is stiff, yes, but that's done to keep the unit from turning on accidentally while in your jacket pocket or carry bag (and with a touch screen, you can well imagine how much mischief one could accidentally create if it turned on without your knowledge). Ditto with the Scala Rider headsetyou don't want the thing accidentally turning on, running the battery down, do you?
Another reviewer mentioned that it doesn't have a "speedometer" or trip meter functionit most certainly does have a speedometer, and what I assume is the "trip meter"but since TomTom set the unit from the factory to eliminate as much extraneous information as possible, you have to activate it in the menus. Once that has been activated, it'll be there until you turn that feature off. In fact, there are a great number of features you can turn on and off in the menus.
I found the documentation to be adequate, and to the point. The printed documentation is to get you up to speed until you charge the units and turn them onit's easy sailing after that. The unit is very easy to use, and it has tutorials right on the unit, so in my opinion further paper documentation is rather redundantactually, I think it's pretty smart on TomTom's part to include tutorials on the unit itself rather than supply a printed bookthat way I don't have to carry around the book, as all of the information is already on the unit! They really don't say much about the bike power cable, but I can certainly understand whyit's not possible to provide information about every bike out there, and if you aren't familiar enough with your bike, or can't figure out how to install it, it's probably best to get someone who is (like your bike dealer) to do the installation.
I've got a Motorolla Razr phone, and the TomTom easily hooked up to my phone via Bluetooth, and it painlessly downloaded all of my phone numbers I have stored on the phone (thank you for providing this helpful feature!).
I do wish that it gave the street name when it gives you instructions to turn, but I soon got used to how it worksnot only does the display give you very clear instructions on where to turn, it also gives you the street name. Once you get used to it, it's easy. But I would like the option of hearing the street name (my PDA does, but the map display isn't as easy to see as the TomTom). While playing with the unit as my father-in-law drove the car, I discovered one potential issue with having the street name spoken to youwhat happens when the street name is changed, but your maps haven't been updated? If you rely on the spoken street name, you might miss itit's best to take a glance at the screen to make sure you're taking the correct turn (I found one such roadthe name has recently been changed, but the map showed the old name instead). Still, I'd prefer to have it spoken, and visually double-check the map.
Overall, I give the TomTom an A-. TomTom, if you're reading this, I'll give you an A+ if you guys update the software so that it'll give you the street name by voicethen you'll have the best bike GPS available! However, I'd still buy the unit as is. It would just increase the functionality by including this feature.
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My wife gave me this unit for Christmas. She's a doll and I love her very much, but she was not very versed about what to shop for or expect from a GPS unit. I've now used the unit several hours during trips, utilizing the blue tooth connectivity with my cell phone and the included headset within my helmet. Ive also used it in the car a lot. They said this unit was designed by motorcyclists, but obviously the bikers TomTom consulted knew very little about the minimum expectations for features required in a decent GPS unit...especially one costing this much.
I am going to break-down my review into two parts....what it has that is good...and what it lacks that makes it a non-competitive GPS unit in the US. I've used GPS technology at work and at play for years. Most of my background with consumer-grade GPS units is with the Garmin brand. So it is to that brand that I will make most of my comparisons because Garmin, for the most part, has it right and does it right! (imho)I have no financial or personal relationship with Garmin, whatsoever.
OK..first for the positive...it's water resistant/proof (don't really know about the proof part cause I havent had it in the pouring rain yet)...Fast processor and fast acquisition of the GPS constellation...good screen graphics and brightness...decent battery life...sensitive touch screen technology....blue tooth capable...can download your Outlook contact database....decent internal memory...heavy duty Ram mounting hardware for your bikes handle bars....USB connectivity to your computer for map downloads, etc....and if you are into directions from the unit, it has a few male and female voices from which to choose.
Now for the features it should have but does not:
-Should have a trip computer with trip parameters such as max speed, average moving speed, time moving, time sitting still, odometer, trip odometer, vertical and horizontal elevation, etc. None of this exists on the tomtom rider.
-Should leave a track, or a bread crumb trail, as you ride along. Not available on the TTRider. This is a real disappointment.
-Should have larger fonts for speed, arrival time, etc. Way too small to have to deal with on a motorcycle...even when set to the largest font.
-Should not "snap" to the nearest road to fool you into thinking their base map is accurate...because it is not that accurate in reality.
-Should come with a cig lighter plug for powering, but it does not.
-Does not allow any preference setting while in motion. You must stop before you can do anything with this unit outside of a few limited functions. Excuse: a safety feature
-Cannot make a call while moving. You can only recieve calls while moving. What's that about???? (yea I know, safety)
Has annoying icons on the screen when the phone and headset are not connected and there is no way to get them off the screen!!
-Gives you no options as far as screen orientation relating to your travel direction...always points you up. Thats ok most of the time, but we deserve to have a choice in this price class.
-Can fall off the ball mount and, if not tethered to the bike or mounting base, it will hit the ground and will be lost.
No elevation available...for those of us that ride in mountains and are use to seeing this on gps units, it's certainly an oversight by the TTRider. GPS derived elevation is not that accurate in the first place, but readings are relative and give a pretty good indication of elevation changes as you ride.
Direct sunlight makes the screen totally INVISIBLE.
If I could send it back to Amazon I would. I plan to give it to by wife for her car and purchase a gps unit that more closely fits my needs as a touring motorcyclist and as a consumer that refuses to settle for inadequate and poorly designed products.
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1. I have owned a Rider for more than 18 months.
2. The first one I had, the dock broke in Texas while I was riding Route 66.
3. I called TomTom from Texas (I live in Calif) and asked them to FedEx a new one.
They said no can do.
4. Once home, TomTom sent me a new Dock, but... it took them 1 month to get it to me.
5. After a while I started to notice that the Rider was not charging while in the dock and on my bike.
6. They asked me to send them my Rider back with all the accessories.
7. Then after 4 weeks, they sent me a new Rider, with no charger and no accessories.
8. The asked me to send it back.
8. After another 4 weeks, they sent me another.... new Rider... with all the accessories.
9. The dock didn't charge.
10. After another week, they sent me a new dock. It works.
There are known issues with the docks and charging, but TomTom won't admit it.
It's manufacturering issue. I'll let you guess where they are made.
The Tom Tom rider is good, easy to use. But if anything goes wrong, you'll be waiting many weeks for a replacement.
Ad of course the wait time on the phone, plan on an hour with each call.
I probably would NOT buy another one.
Honest reviews on TomTom Rider 2 GPS Navigator for Motorcycles and Scooters
I bought this product from Amazon and received it 4-days ago. In the last 4-days, I have been in contact with TomTom by phone and email trying not only to get detailed information about the product, but also trying to get help with it. This is by far the worst motorcycle GPS on the market.
The Pro's: (there is only one)
1) They have upgraded the headset to the Cardo Scala Q2.
The Con's:
1) The screen is unreadable outside either in the sunlight or on overcast days. It looks completely white washed. There are no settings to resolve this on the unit.
2) The documentation included is for the original Rider, not the Rider 2nd Edition.
3) The screen is unreadable outside
4) There is no documentation available from TomTom or from RAM-Mount for the motorcycle mount that is included.
5) The screen is unreadable outside
6) TomTom's 30-day map guarantee only works if you call and harass them about it. Then you must fax or email proof of purchase before they will comply with there own guarantee.
7) The screen is unreadable outside
8) The power button is ridiculously hard to operate
9) The screen is unreadable outside
10) THE SCREEN IS UNREADABLE OUTSIDE!!!!!!!
So, in my opinion I can only believe that people who rate this highly either ride only at dusk, or during the nighttime. Either that, or they want everyone to make the same mistake they did, so they don't feel like they are the only one's that were taken for their money.
Oh, and did you get it yet?
THE SCREEN IS UNREADABLE OUTSIDE!
The whole purpose of the unit is to use it outside on a motorcycle!
I have owned a TomTom GO910 for a few years, and was actually very pleased with it except for the cost. But I will NEVER purchase another TomTom device after dealing with the company over the last 4-days.
My recommendations would be to please do your research online in advance. The TomTom Rider and the TomTom Rider 2nd Edition are pure crap, because there SCREENS ARE NOT READABLE OUTSIDE! Which itself is ridiculous as they were specifically designed for motorcycles!
Do yourself a huge favor, buy the Garmin Nuvi 550 instead! It's waterproof with an 8-hour rechargeable and replaceable lithium battery! Plus, its only half the price of the all too overpriced Zumo model! Wanna save even more money, buy the Garmin Nuvi 500. Again, waterproof with an 8-hour rechargeable and replaceable lithium battery. The only difference between it and the Nuvi 550 are the maps. The lower 48 vs. all of North America.
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After much research I decided that the TomTom Rider, 2nd edition, was the GPS for my Scooter, a Genuine Buddy St. Tropez. I ordered one and a few days later it was delivered. I charged up the battery for both the GPS unit and the Cardo Scala Bluetooth Headphone set. Once charged I turned on the GPS by pressing the button on the side. And like so many reviewers have stated, pressing the on/off button is extremely difficult. Sometimes it would work, sometimes not. No click could be felt or heard, one just had to press the button down really, really hard. A big negative for me.
Once I got it running, I entered my home address, but the unit could not find it on its map. Okay I thought, I read the instruction book so I made a map correction that the GPS unit accepted. After adding my street I again tried to enter my home location, but the unit still couldn't find my address, even though I corrected it and saved it to its map. Another problem. I asked the TomTom folks about this, their reply: "When a street is corrected, through MapShare, it needs to be verified by our surveyors before it will be updated." That's fine, but wouldn't it make sense to leave it corrected on the unit that reported the map problem? Especially when it was my home street that was missing?
Next I loaded the TomTom Home software to my personal computer. The HELP and Instruction book said I could use the TomTom Home softwares' emulator to enter a name and password to protect the device. It also said I could enter routes and all from my home PC (instead of having to enter all that data on the GPS Unit's screens). I started the emulator and immediately received an error NO MAPS FOUND. Odd I thought, the map was loaded; what's going on? So I contacted the TomTom folks. They replied a day later saying that "the Online Emulator that allows you to plan routes, and set your password is currently not compatible with our RIDER 2 devices." Oh, no one mentioned that anywhere in the item's description, did they?
Before I received a reply to my inquiry I attempted to mount the TomTom Rider 2nd edition on my Scooter. The box contains a universal RAM Mount in which to place the unit on your vehicle. I was ready to place it on my Scooter when I realized that the mount requires a handlebar, one with open space to hold the mount. And guess what? Scooter's don't have handlebars! So even though they state that this TomTom Rider 2nd edition is for Motorcycles and Scooters, it really isn't for Scooters. Note: Those big Touring Motorcycles don't have handlebars either.
So I thought maybe I could mount it a bit lower. I took my Scooter outside in the sun so I could see better. I placed the GPS unit on different parts of my Scooter to see what could work. It was then I realized that you couldn't read the screen in sunlight. I checked the unit's brightness and made sure it was at 100 percent; it was. What good is a GPS unit if you can't read the screen? Sure you could hear it telling you what direction to turn, but what if you wanted to check the map while on the road? You'd have to stop under a bridge or in the shade of trees to see the screen. What good was that?
It wasn't good. So I went and filled out Amazon's Returns screens. For the reason I put down not as described. Amazon said these TomTom Riders were good for Scooters; they aren't. The description also never mentioned that the online emulator software didn't currently work. That's a big problem for me.
In summary:
Big problems with this TomTom Rider 2nd edition.
1. The on/off switch can be very hard to depress. (More difficult when wearing a glove).
2. When you correct the map it will not save your own corrections. Since my correction was to add my home address street, this was a big problem for me.
3. The online emulator bundled with the TomTom HOME Software,the software that allows you to plan routes and set your password is currently not compatible with RIDER 2 devices. No estimated date of correction.
4. This unit is not for Scooters or other types of Motorcycles that do not have an exposed area of handlebar in which to mount the Universal RAM Mount.
5. You cannot read the screen in sunlight.
Sorry TomTom, this Rider returned your Rider 2nd Edition back to Amazon.
