GPS - What kinds are best?

[McRat]

I would like to find one that acts fast, goes to xxx.x precision, has a large MPH display, and recalls top speed.  Playback would be cool, but not absolutely necessary.

Are there any that fit racing better than the normal "navigation style" driving GPS's?

[DavidinDurango]

AFAIK, you want the "top speed for trip" feature.  I have that because I can't drive 200mph sideways and watch the readout . . . . .

YMMV.


AFAIK = as far as i know
YMMV =  you mileage may vary

TTFN - wahahahahahaha

[Jonny Hotnuts]

For what its worth our GPS sorta F-ed us.

I have the Garmin nuvi 660 (msrp of about $850).

On my first run it was my intent to go a tick past 150 for licensing. I put 156(ish) on the GPS and held it steady through the 3rd. The timing slip read 149.85, this meant that I could not run past 175 on my second run and had to re-run for the license.

On the next runs it read hot every run
On my pops last run of 169.745 was showing this on the MAX speed of the GPS (and he lifted because he was already running faster then what was allowed for his license according to the GPS).



Now next year I have to make another license run between 175-200 before I can even make a run for the record @ 205.
As you may guess I am a bit bitter about being screwed by the GPS. I still dont know why it would of read hotter than the timed speed (I could see it running less if it didnt refresh quickly enough) but it only means that it didnt roll the same numbers and by proxy I was screwed.

Anyway this is my angry GPS story, I will know better next time.

-JH

[willieworld]

i run a speedometer that runs off the front wheel --cost 52 dollars  works great  willie buchta

[Stan Back]

My mechnical tach reads within one mile per hour of what my $2 cardboard Dream Wheel says it should.  the wheel has also helped some find their right gearing on-the-spot without plugging it in.

[DCarr511]

I have a Magellan that I got in 2005 so it is pretty much out dated now, but it has all the features I would use and I like it very much.

It seems that Garmin is the top of the line now and the most common one being used.

[isiahstites]

I have a Garmin Etrex and it has read within a half mile per hour on every pass I have used it on.
I piad $50 for it used off of craigslist.

Scott

[Stainless1]

JNuts, you need to see a speed readout, not max speed.  Depending on angle of intercept to the satellites you may see some erroneous max speed recordings.  Ever see a max for trip at 200+ from just driving down the road.  A real time readout will be like a speedo, and the max error is generally filtered out.  At least that is the way they worked in the early 90s...

[roadtrip]

For a simple speed indicator, this little thing works well.

Pros; Small size
        Internal battery
        Large bright numbers
        CHEAP -- about $70 two years ago ..... probably less now

Cons; Reads in one MPH increments ... no 1/10's
         Head-up display is useless in sunlight ... if not reflected it reads upside down and backwards so
         I mounted a mirror on it ... works fine day or night
         No recall

It's accurate, quick and doesn't need to be on top of the dashboard. I put mine on the steering column in front of the speedo. Throw the directions away ... it's easier to figure it out yourself.

DS

[donpearsall]

I saw that Jason McVicar had the little watch-type Garmin Forerunners attached to his bike dash. These have numbers about 1" tall and are easily read in the sunlight.

I was playing with one in the store the other day and you can configure it so that the entire display just has MPH showing.

Don

[maguromic]

I have a heads up display on my helmet made by SportVue http://www.sportvue.com/, I used it when I was road racing at it works great. I think they also have them on some bikes at Bonneville.  When I got mine it was about $225.

[Jim H]

This GPS will update 10 times a second (optional 20 times a second). I believe this is what motec uses.

http://www.blacklinegps.com/fuelgps.html

[jl222]

  Jonny
  It was great to meet you at Bville this year.
  Are you timed at the end of the 3mile like an exit speed or is that an average for the whole mile.
  Unless there is a exit speed trap i don't know how one could average their speed for a whole mile especialy if lacking in power. On short course anyhow.
 El Mirage would be easier with 132 ft. trap.

                            JL222
                         
PS. Did you talk to anyone about signing your license i would think 149 would be close enough.

[Low Sodium]

I have a Garmin Foretrex 101 (about $110, takes 2 AAA batteries) strapped to my steering wheel. Worked with great accuracy during Speed Week. Nice big display and shows max speed, too.  Supposedly reads up to 950mph . . .

[Super Kaz]

Mc Rat,
I had a BIG GARMIN that I traded {My Brand New SMALL one} to John Noonan's{for his Old BIG One} because the Number's were much larger=easier to see!
Then I just Lost it at my Top Secret Test Area out in the Desert while testing for M/B/F-1350cc record run at WOS !
I had it Super Velcro'd,Duct Taped ,and Zipped tided on,but it still blew off{hitting me right between the eye's} at 200+mph while on a test run .
I knew I was on a record run so I stayed tucked and didn't look to see where it went.
We Looked for Hour's all over the Desert for it,but never found it !
I then Tried a few different one's but they were not Visible{glare} to me at speed.
So I'm in Need of a new one too
Kaz..........