Dear bin fetish groupies. So having fitted the Tomtom 450 to my new multistrada I thought I'd give feedback on how its performed. In short I wished I'd saved myself several hundred punds. This is a not a fit for purpose device. Furthermore, looking at the realms of comments on the tomtom user forum, this product is a well known deficiency. Shame on tomtom issuing a product that clearly has so many software issues, besides its not being an intuitive 'biker freindly' end user device. As a GPS navigation device, its fine. But so is my 12 year old one. This should be the 'all bells and whistles waterproof bike adventure explorer tool' you must have....trust me - don't waste your money. Its faults are too many to mention.....but as 2 examples, every time you turn on the device it spends several minutes downloading your mobile phone contacts....doesnt save them, if you chose not to have it connect via your phone you can't connect it to your bluetooth headphones! And it wont work with any bluetooth devices....there are only certain devices it will work with and these are only listed in the 'trouble shooting' pages of the tomtom website! There are a couble of guys that have lsted all the ongoing and current issues with this device (gooes on for about 2 pages on 7 subject headings) in the forum. You should do the research and read that first before deciding to buy.....as I didnt.
I'm genuinely surprised as @broke really rates this kit Sometimes he can ask for Wales and it actually takes him to London, and sometimes, it can take him to the right country, but via several other way points first. He often speaks of it being so intuitive and easy to use, an awesome piece of kit I'm led to believe ??
I've got the Garmin, be it the BMW Nav 5 which is kind of based on the Garmin 660. It's absolutely brilliant, connects to phone and intercom, contacts there all the time, routes can be planned on computer using basecamp (not on 660), easy to use etc. etc. My mate's got the Zumo 590 or 595 and that's great too.
The TomTom rider is a piece of junk, I let mine go with my last bike and hope to never use one again. Now I use my phone with Waze or Scenic, so much better!
Have commented before on the Tomtom being shit. Sold my 410 at a loss and bought a Garmin 350lm. It just works.
I got a free Rider 400 with my 2017 Z1000sx that Ive traded for a 2016 Multi 1200S D'air that came with the Dainese jacket! Anyway, they're the most complicated, un-intuitive SAT NAT ive EVER used! ill be going back to Garmin and am HAPPILY giving the 400 away with the bike. Glad to see the back of it!
Apparently TomTom have announced that updates for the following devices will no longer be supported, with immediate effect and without prior warning: GO 750 (W7) XL 2nd Edition (RC/RI/RN/RV) XXL 530/535/540/550 SERIES ONE 4th Edition (PC/PF/PI/PL/PO/PQ) START (XB/XD/XF/XH) EASE (XI/XJ/XK/XL) PLUS (XN/XM) XL 4th Edition (GJ/GI/GK/GP) GO 1000 (TD/TB) GO 1005 (SF/SB) VIA 110/130/220 VIA 120 (AN/AU/FM) START 20/25/45/55/60 XXL CLASSIC SERIES (GQ) GO 700 (M5) GO 630 (JB) GO 720 (M6) GO 730 (J4) GO 740 (WR/WL) GO 750 (W4) GO I90 (DC) ONE IQ ROUTES (P1/PS/P2/PU) ONE 140 (RED) (PM) XL 3rd Edition (R1/RS/R2/R4/RU) GO 820 (FT) GO 825 (FY) Some of these have been on sale as new products with "lifetime" updates as recently as last month.
According to the TomTom website, "When you purchase a navigation device or smartphone app which includes Lifetime Maps, you can download 4 or more full updates of your map every year for the lifetime of your product. Lifetime Maps are available without additional charge and for as long as the product is supported." [my emphasis] Since TomTom are liable to stop supporting any product at any time without warning, compensation, or apology, the term "lifetime" appears to mean nothing at all. Caveat emptor!
IMO the the 410 rider is one of the worst motorcyclist specific products ever. Terrible to use with multiple button pressing, sub menus etc to 'navigate'. Nearly need a feking sat nav to find your way around the operating system. Tiwsty road feature only good if you like gravel tracks and dead ends. Seems to just work on number of corners, not suitability of the roads for a motorcycle. Even my Mrs with her infinite patience (I'm not) could not get to grips with it and gave in, admitting that I was right (!!) . Seems that the motorcycling press were not being sincere also with their rave reviews when the 410 and similar were launched. Gone back to a Garmin thanks, a fairly basic 350lm, bought new after selling the Tomtom on. Now if only Basecamp was an easy to use, intuitive programme...but at least the sat nav is easy to use. In truth the market place looks ripe for a new, better product for motorcyclists. It cant have gone un noticed by most people that smart phones, batteries, screens have all improved. Yet sat navs for us two wheelers continue to be bulky both in terms of the unit, but also the cradles. £300-£650 seems to be the going rate. Rip off.
When you say basic, what hasn't it got that more expensive units have? Personally, and speaking as a technophobe, I'm sure I'd never make use of half the price-bumping bells and whistles. All I want from a sat-nav is one that works, is easy to use, has free updates and which I can load pre-plotted routes onto relatively easily.
I bought Carol a 395LM for Christmas and will be using Tyre and My Route app as we have a Tyre Developer in TVAM. I'm told the free app is fine but the paid for app has very good support and added functionality. Andy
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/107979 Its a smaller screen than a 595, but plenty big enough even for my eyes, maybe some connectivity...dunno after that. I have no interest in streaming music, connecting phone etc. so cant comment on that side of things. Enough distractions when on two wheels. Apart from price the smaller size means it goes easily in to any pocket on my leather jacket. 'lm' designated versions are lifetime map updates. Its easy to save routes to. Not sure what else is required. Paid just under £300 but shopped around to find a good price.
