Garmin 800 Any point

[decca234uk]

I notice that Garmin are promoting their 800 bike nav. I was toying with the idea of getting a bike nav nut i can't seem to justify it. the question that keeps coming back to me is "what's the point" I know the routes I ride on locally and I'm not planning any rides through the Gobi desert any time soon. i like gadgets though i must admit. If I bought one I'm worried I might get bored with it after a short time. Does anyone have one? If so what do you think? Are they worth it.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Over a 705 - unlikely.

The touch screen will be rubbish, will pretty much mean you need to look at the screen whilst doing anything.

If you don't want navigation you can just get the older 205/305/500 units (which still do waypoint navigation).

The initial point of these units are not exactly navigation though, recording, monitoring, training plans etc.

 

[fossyant]

I like my 705 - tend to use it for back lanes I don't normally ride, and have found some great routes near home that are 'out of the way'.

As for the 800 - not so sure how good touch screen will be on a bike that's rattling along over a rough road surface. The 705 is still buggy, and the latest 3.2 software was a disaster which was pulled .

I don't use mine for the commute though - just weekends and long rides.

 

[Bollo]

Despite the software quirks, I'm a huge fan of my 705. With careful preparation of routes beforehand, it takes up most of the nav burden for unfamiliar rides (always have a map in my back pocket though). Same feelings about the 800 as Squirrel and fossy - a touch screen is going to be a pain in the bum to use for all but the thinnest gloves and I can't see it surviving a mount failure or crash in the same way my 705 has done.

 

[400bhp]

Have a look at the specs of both - identical apart from touch screen.

What I'm not certain on is if the graphics have been "improved" which, given I can't see it advertised anywhere, perhaps not.

Today is the 1st day I have used my 705. I will wait and see what the 800 reviews are like and the price before deciding to upgrade. The used 705's on Ebay go for between £0-£100 less than what you can buy a new one for so very little to be lost in buying a 705 now and waiting to see what the 800 is like.

 

[ianrauk]

I played around with an 800 at the Cycle show. To say the screen will be rubbish is quite far of the mark.
It's very easy to navigate the pages even with thick gloves on (we tested it). Easy to scroll through the menus (left to right or right to left with a swipe of a finger/glove) which are very clear and concise. The screen size is the same as the 705
We (HaloJ, Karlos and myself) were very impressed. It looks a very solid built piece of kit. And due to the size would be far more stable on a bike then the 705.
If you have a 705, it's not worth upgrading imo.

I will not be getting one as not really interested in the mapping side of things.
I will be sticking to my 205 for as long as it keeps working, and when it stops working will probably go for a 500.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Have a look at the specs of both - identical apart from touch screen.

What I'm not certain on is if the graphics have been "improved" which, given I can't see it advertised anywhere, perhaps not.

Today is the 1st day I have used my 705. I will wait and see what the 800 reviews are like and the price before deciding to upgrade. The used 705's on Ebay go for between £0-£100 less than what you can buy a new one for so very little to be lost in buying a 705 now and waiting to see what the 800 is like.

0-100!

Please show me links to completed listings for some of these.

305s go for close to 100, even some 205s

A lot of second hand ones go easily for over 200 (with CAD+HR admittingly).

 

[jimboalee]

The feature on the 800 which I would find useful is the temperature measurement and recording.

But this is not enough to persuade me to upgrade from my 605.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I know the routes I ride on locally

To me, that's the biggest reason to own a GPS: it makes it really easy to explore routes you don't know, so you don't end up doing the same ones over and over again.

Sure, you can do it with a map, and sometimes the map-planning is part of the pleasure, but mostly I just want to enjoy the ride and the scenery and let a gadget take care of the navigation.

 

[DrSquirrel]

The feature on the 800 which I would find useful is the temperature measurement and recording.

But this is not enough to persuade me to upgrade from my 605.

Just so you know - all the old ones have temperatures sensors inside, and you can view it on the debug screen, just doesn't record it.

 

[gb155]

I have a 705 - I want a 800 when they come out.

Teh reason ?

Touch Screen, I have always felt that the 705 should have been touch screen from the day I got it

and

Satalite Maps, not sure if anyone has picked up on this, but navigating with something akin to Google Maps Satalite view will be immense !!!!!!!!

 

[gaz]

upgrade my 705 to the 800? nooooooo thanks, my 705 works just fine and i don't have any need for the touch screen!

 

[400bhp]

0-100!

Please show me links to completed listings for some of these.

305s go for close to 100, even some 205s

A lot of second hand ones go easily for over 200 (with CAD+HR admittingly).

Re-read please.

705's

£0-£100 was the amount less than the price new.

 

[mgarl10024]

Hi Decca234uk,

I've been toying with the idea but like you are struggling with justification.
A thought I've had is whether a SmartPhone would actually be better? Some have excellent screens, can have apps for planning routes, and once at a destination can do a quick search to find the nearest pubs

Not actually done a price comparison, and you'd have to factor in the cost of data through your mobile provider, but it's something I'd look into before buying.

Hope that helps,

MG

 

[Jezston]

Gb155 - satellite