Consider the Tom Tom Rider 2 GPS for your motorcycle, it’s one of the best.

Tomtom are well known in the field of GPS navigation systems, and the Tom Tom Rider is one of the most respected systems in the field of motorcycle GPS. Claimed to be the first GPS system specifically designed for motorcycle use, and biker who is considering a GPS satellite navigation system for their bike has to consider the Tomtom Rider.

Previously of course the GPS systems that were in use on motorcycles were car GPS or handheld GPS units that had been adapted for use on motorcycles. There were some problems associated with this, particularly mounting the unit properly on the bike, and also resistance to weather and vibrations.

So of course a GPS system that is specifically designed for motorcycle use is a giant leap forward in motorcycle GPS technology.

The Rider was developed from the Tom Tom Go automobile GPS. It is hooded to make viewing easier from the motorcycle riding position and reduce glare, and it comes with it’s own Tom Tom rider RAM mounting hardware that fits just about any bike. That eliminates one of the major problems of adapting the GPS unit to bikes, mounting it properly.
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It’s a tough unit although there is some question about the Tom Tom Riders waterproof ability. As we understand it the original Rider was only claimed to be water resistant rather than waterproof, and was not submitted to the IPX-7 waterproof specifications test requiring that it demonstrate waterproofing ability for half an hour at a depth of one meter. However Tom Tom have now released the 2nd version of the rider, called, imaginatively, the TomTom Rider 2nd edition, or just the Tom Tom Rider 2.

The Rider 2, Tom Tom state on their website, is fully waterproof, passing IPX7. One problem overcome.

Now of course a GPS navigation system that is specifically for use on a motorcycle has it’s own challenges. It must be tough and durable, vibration resistant, easy to use with gloves and hopefully has some form of communication other than a screen display, as a rider doesn’t want to spend too much time looking down. And if it has a voice communication component it must be one that a motorcycle rider can hear with wind noise and a helmet, so a speaker like those in use for car GPS systems, won’t cut it. And of course mounting.

The Tom Tom Rider 2nd edition is designed to offer all these features, though of course there is still come question about how well it all works. The mounting system allows for car mounting as well as mounting on a bike, and that is important as so many riders drive as well as ride. There is a Rider car mounting kit (with speaker) that allows this.

It is designed to be used with gloves, which is essential for any motorbike rider, and has bluetooth capability so that voice commands can be relayed directly to the riders ear where they can be heard over the noise of the wind and the motor, though some have still reported that the voice is not as easy to hear as could be expected.

It comes loaded with maps of North America on an SD card so you can plan your route anywhere without worrying about locating maps to download. You can even program it to tell you essential points of interest along your way, like fuel or accomodation, and you can ask it to navigate you to your destination avoiding, for example, all toll roads.

Tomtoms rider gps navigation system is simple, intuitive and easy to use. You can plan your itinerary at home on your computer or do so on the Rider itself, if you don’t have time to do all the planning beforehand. You can even review and test your selected route at home before you leave if you wish.

The unit itself is an easy to use 3 1/2 inch display that is designed to be used with motorcycle gloves, which is a must with any modern motorcycle GPS system. Choose 2D or 3D maps to view if you wish to view.

Take hands free calls via your bluetooth capability and onscreen touch commands, so you have the phone just a touch away.

Criticism of the Rider 2nd edition from users include difficulty hearing the commands, difficulty typing commands into the unit with heavy gloves and lack of detail in the manual. Nothing is perfect and there will always be some who have problems, but overall user comments are positive and support the conclusion that as far as motorcycle GPS navigation systems go, the Tom Tom 2 GPS is one of the best. It is up there with the Garmin Zumo 550 and offers and impressive range of capabilities.

It is clearly designed with the needs of the motorcycle rider in mind and has been specifically designed to be biker friendly.

If you’re looking for a great motorcycle GPS navigation system the Tomtom 2 shouldn’t disappoint. Like everything, being one of the best around it’s also not cheap. However we are able, with the use of modern internet technology, to bring you the cheapest prices in town for the Tom Tom Rider 2. Look below and follow the links to find the cheapest place on the net for the Rider 2.

And check out this video about the features of the Tom Tom Rider GPS navigator. It covers it all pretty well:




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Written by - Motorcycle GPS Deals