I bought the expensive Tomtom Rider solution because I was disappointed with other units for the motorcycle.
I wasn't too happy spending that amount of money, but then again ... the few long-distance trips I do on the motorcycle ... it seemed worth it.
Now, here is my summary with the TT Rider 50 - whatever it's worth - after riding 600km with the latest s/w update, and maps.
The pro/s
a) battery lasts quite long, even with display on high brightness. 2.5h seems possible, that is much longer even than the car units by Tomtom.
b) display is more or less readable in bright sunlight, from all angles, not too bad.
c) nav guidance to one place from where you are right now, works okay, but ... see below.
d) it is nice that one can turn the display by 90 deg while riding.
But that is about were the good news end. Keep in mind that my Rider 50 is the earlier 500/550's cousin, with no hardware changes, no cheaper components, right ? The only differences is in the services and coverage. In other words TT had years to improve the product line, the hardware and the software, and cut the problems out. Okay, CONs :
1) I can hardly say that my brand new unit accepts touch inputs with gloves on. Three times it does, 5 times it simply doesn't. And this happens without any humidity in the air. Very annoying.
2) the database is crap, passed two motorway gas stations today which the unit did not show. And given their appearance these ugly buildings were not just built in the last 6 months.
ad 2) in under 200km total, the Rider 50 guided me twice into a dead-end, one of them downhill into a small street where it was almost impossible to turn a 240kg m/c with luggage around. Can you hear my curses still echoing ?
3) inside the main menu : some items can be moved to where you need them, but many can not. I spare yo the details.
4) it does not work with all modern / recent BT ear-phones. My feeling is, even so I updated to the latest software, it has problems with the BT standard. (see my other post on this).
5) If you plan to change a route while riding, forget about it. Sure you may say, one shouldn't cause it's dangerous. Fine, accepted. What I am saying here is, it cannot be done anyway.
6) even if yo sit on the sofa, one cannot program the route you want. Example : go to the nearest motorway, on the motorway a bit, followed by a nice curvy road into the mountains. You think one can without mental gym and reprogramming while on the road ? okay, try it and show me.
I could go on like this for another 15 min. Is it just ... that no unit can be perfect ? Well, may be, may be not. I think that Tomtom wanted the market(share), without putting too much development effort into the Rider 500, or 550, or the latest Rider 50. It does what it does, is good enough for some nicy reviews in the press, may even be better than some other brands. But it does not live up to even all the most basic demands of the average rider.
What is this post good for ? help another rider to decide whether the Rider 50 (or 500 or 550 I presume) is worth the money.
I wasn't too happy spending that amount of money, but then again ... the few long-distance trips I do on the motorcycle ... it seemed worth it.
Now, here is my summary with the TT Rider 50 - whatever it's worth - after riding 600km with the latest s/w update, and maps.
The pro/s
a) battery lasts quite long, even with display on high brightness. 2.5h seems possible, that is much longer even than the car units by Tomtom.
b) display is more or less readable in bright sunlight, from all angles, not too bad.
c) nav guidance to one place from where you are right now, works okay, but ... see below.
d) it is nice that one can turn the display by 90 deg while riding.
But that is about were the good news end. Keep in mind that my Rider 50 is the earlier 500/550's cousin, with no hardware changes, no cheaper components, right ? The only differences is in the services and coverage. In other words TT had years to improve the product line, the hardware and the software, and cut the problems out. Okay, CONs :
1) I can hardly say that my brand new unit accepts touch inputs with gloves on. Three times it does, 5 times it simply doesn't. And this happens without any humidity in the air. Very annoying.
2) the database is crap, passed two motorway gas stations today which the unit did not show. And given their appearance these ugly buildings were not just built in the last 6 months.
ad 2) in under 200km total, the Rider 50 guided me twice into a dead-end, one of them downhill into a small street where it was almost impossible to turn a 240kg m/c with luggage around. Can you hear my curses still echoing ?
3) inside the main menu : some items can be moved to where you need them, but many can not. I spare yo the details.
4) it does not work with all modern / recent BT ear-phones. My feeling is, even so I updated to the latest software, it has problems with the BT standard. (see my other post on this).
5) If you plan to change a route while riding, forget about it. Sure you may say, one shouldn't cause it's dangerous. Fine, accepted. What I am saying here is, it cannot be done anyway.
6) even if yo sit on the sofa, one cannot program the route you want. Example : go to the nearest motorway, on the motorway a bit, followed by a nice curvy road into the mountains. You think one can without mental gym and reprogramming while on the road ? okay, try it and show me.
I could go on like this for another 15 min. Is it just ... that no unit can be perfect ? Well, may be, may be not. I think that Tomtom wanted the market(share), without putting too much development effort into the Rider 500, or 550, or the latest Rider 50. It does what it does, is good enough for some nicy reviews in the press, may even be better than some other brands. But it does not live up to even all the most basic demands of the average rider.
What is this post good for ? help another rider to decide whether the Rider 50 (or 500 or 550 I presume) is worth the money.
