TomTom Rider (part 3) THE REVIEW

Posted on 20. Dec, 2005 by Joanna in Reviews, Sat-nav & GPS, TomTom

The wait is over, Stevie has given the Rider a good test and has given me all the pros and cons so, for all you bikers out there…here are the facts:

The Screen and interface
Very clear and the big buttons make it easy to operate even when wearing bike gloves

Bluetooth headset
Works well to answer incoming calls, and setting it up with a bluetooth phone is quick and easy. It also lets you hear the vocal instructions clearly. It would be great if it was in stereo instead of one ear piece, but you can hear everything well.

Maps
Full postcode search is great for quick navigation, but the Navteq maps seem to have a few errors in the Glasgow area that the teleatlas maps don’t have. Only comes with UK maps as standard and requires memory cards to be inserted, could have been like the GO 700 with a hardisk

Planning
The itinerary planning is really useful for planning multiple stops

The device
Fully waterproof which is essential in Britain! Also really easy to change memory cards so you can swap between maps or add memory

Voice guidance
The pre warnings are easy to hear, concise and given well in advance so you can relax and not worry about missing a turn

Mounting options
Unfortunately the mounting options are difficult to attach to race bikes like CBR etc. and are designed for ‘naked’ bikes

So overall…
Stevie’s giving the Rider two big biker thumbs up, and reckons that a dedicated GPS system for bikers has been a long time coming…What do you think?

For more information on the TomTom Rider click here

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