Garmin make some of the best motorcycle GPS units around, and the Garmin StreetPilot 2820 GPS navigation system is no exception.

It is the Garmin Zumo range of motorcycle GPS units that is probably the most well known of the Garmin range of GPS navigators that are specifically designed for motorbike use, but the Zumo’s are not the only dedicated motorbike GPS system that Garmin make. They do other Global Positioning navigators as well that are specifically designed to be mounted on a motorbike.

Of course the first thing to observe about a motorcycle GPS system is that it needs to be vibration and water proof. There’s no point in mounting a GPS unit on a handlebar unless it’s both. The Garmin StreetPiloot 2820 is just that, water and vibration proof, being specifically designed for motorcycle use.

The 2820 was based on the 2730 but has incorporated some extra, extremely useful features that add some hot functionality to the 2730 for the motorcyclist. Blue tooth technology is really standard these days, and the 2820 has it, so that audio can be directed to the ear under the helmet.

And a slightly bigger screen than the Zumo, always useful. A fine sunlight readable touch screen display and of course a MP3 player built in, which also seems to be pretty standard now.

Of course all US mapping is included with some 6 million points of interest, and who could utitize even a fraction of all that. You’d spend your whole life riding to see even a fraction of that, (and what’s wrong with spending your whole life riding)?

As you’d expect you get the choice of voice or screen display to navigate with, voice being essential for a motorcyclist. 2D or 3D viewing and text to speech as well, so you can get street names to your ear.

Use one of various possible traffic receivers for real time traffic information so you get to avoid those traffic jams that use up time and fuel. If you choose GXM 30 for your real time reports then

you can have satellite radio as well as your up to date traffic information through an XM traffic network receiver, though you need to buy this and subscribe.

Unlike the Zumo you don’t get configuragle icons and the picture viewer that I have talked about with the Zumo., and you don’t get the special lock which drastically reduced the risk of theft of your GPS. So make sure you don’t leave it lying on your handlebars where it may get lifted.

And it won’t accept data cards for additional memory unfortunately whereas the Zumo will take an SD card.

On the positive you get 2000 waypoints whereas the Zumo allows only 500. It will fit previous Garmin mounts and power cables.

Overall the Garmin StreetPilot 2820 is a top end high quality Garmin GPS navigator that will do the job for any motorcyclist. It has all the features you’d expect with a motorcycle GPS unit with the best that modern technology allows, and any motorcyclist who chooses one will be the proud owner of some of the best motorcycle navigation on the planet.