Don't sweat it!
 

Joel, If you can navigate without a GPS and get yourself around comfortably, you are WAY ahead of those that totally rely on a GPS. Navigation is an art as well as a science. If you purchase a GPS and use it, it will only enhance what you already know and it a good feeling then to know that if it "shits a bucket" so to speak, you can continue on with confidence.

You can use a GPS in different ways.

You can sit behind the computer and program your whole trip in the GPS. That is fine if you always stick to your original plan.

The other way of using it (the way I do) is using it as an addition to a paper map. Every few hours, I look on the map from where to where I want to go and then use the GPS instead of notes on a piece of paper in the tankbag. I think it is much safer to listen to the directions my Tomtom gives me then to look down at the notes in the tankbag. I plan my trip in little parts while on the road and sometimes I change my mind if I see a nice road.
That is for the open road.

In cities like Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, nothing beats a GPS.In heavy traffic, you don't have the time to look at a map in your tankbag but it's no problem to listen to the directions of the GPS.

I use a Tomtom Rider 2, hardwired to the accessoires contact on my (old) GoldWing. It costs me € 599 including the Ram mount and the bluetooth headset and maps of Western Europe. It does not have all the bells and whistles most Garmins have but I don't need them so why pay for it.
I'm thinking about buying a second Ram mount and power cable for my BMW.

Post Its
 

Hey, never mind "years ago" it's still a good technique! :rolleyes2:

Those little yellow post-its work well enough, if you fix them somewhere to your front that is protected from the wind (I have only lost one or two over the years - usually on a motorway at high(ish) speeds). I've used them like "tear-offs" a la the racing guys and got a whole day of navigation out of a set of them, without looking at the map during the ride. Then spend a bit of time over a beer in the evening, writing up the next day of riding and arguing the pros and cons of various routes with the other riders.
All kept in the tankbag with the map(s).
This reminds of that old saying about what writing implement to use: USA space technology developed the universal pen that always works in a vacuum, the wet etc etc. I do as the Russians are reputed to do in their space effort - I use a pencil, it works in all weathers. :thumbup1:

Have to admit, I often use AA Route Planner for work trips - especially if it's an early start and I'm still packing. I still check it against the map.

Hedging my bets
 

When looking at a thread such as the one shown in the link below, the usefulness of electronic/GPS navigation systems is apparent:-

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ouctou-18256-2

Exchange of information is easier; overall, I am agreeing with earlier posts about achieving a balance of using paper maps in conjunction with electronic satnav/GPS.
The exact balance in this use is up to the individual, and there are lots of types of electronic gismos in the market to do this.
I may wait a bit longer, until the basic ones are given away with the cornflake cereal packets!! :rolleyes2:

My wife got the Tomtom one, that we use in our car, for free with a phone subscription......... (and then I liked it so much I bought the Rider for on my bikes)

You need to differentiate between the two types of GPS.
The one that you load and display maps and it guides you along roads - or the point and shoot type that just points you as the crow flies between waypoints.
I have the latter, a Garmin eTrex, bought it via e Bay very cheap and it does me for what I want.
I put in a waypoint/route manually and follow that as best as I can down whichever road seems the right one.
If it works for me in Cairo where there are no GPS maps then it can't be too bad.
Bear in mind that out in the desert/bush there are not that many roads to get confused over.

I beg to differ on that point Mark. I found that navigation in the Sahara was the hardest of anywhere I have travelled. Bear in mind that this was 30 years ago, and well before GPS, but the problem was that there were so many tyre marks in the sand, leading off in different directions, and it was impossible to differentiate between what could be the main route, and a nondescript local track. In addition, the track from Tamanrasset to Agadez (900kms) was so badly rutted that I always had to ride 1 km away from the centre of the track and sight up the next 44 gallon drum/cairn of rocks every 2 km. Occasionally one would be missing and it was nervewracking being out there alone with no confirmation that you were still on the right route and hadn't missed a slight turnoff.

Garry from Oz.

I'm using my GPS Garmin 60CSx since september, 2007. And it's great to use on trips.
Here in Brazil and South America, we've lots of maps, and roads to use, I don't know in another countries, but, it helps a lot when you're a little bit lost... :eek3:

farqhuar - yep you're right.
What I meant was that a point and shoot GPS rather than a fully loaded map thingy is good enough for me, and better than just a map, because as long as I know what direction to go in, even where there are multiple tracks, I've done OK. It is better than having just a map and then being confused when the track has multiple split offs.
If I'm in doubt, when I looked at the route in the planning stage, I load up a few waypoints and follow them.
I probably didn't clarify what I meant.

Get one!
 

Hey Jo!

Firstly, if two giggly girls can learn to use a GPS in a week or so - so can you. (it took us much longer to figure out a torque wrench... to give you an idea)

Ofcourse, it DID help that our tutor set up waypoints for us, that lead to shopping centres with MEGA SHOE SALES --- somehow our inner compasses found that easily enough.

Don't let the gadget crazy blokes dazzle you with all the fancy GPS's that read maps and bedtime stories....

GET A SIMPLE GPS (we paid £60 each for a Garmin ETREX on ebay) that SIMPLY gives you your location, can record waypoints and EXTRA BONUS... if you use your imagination... it works just like a compass... because it only has an arrow, pointing in a direction.

Jokes aside -- it depends where you're travelling - but we believe its an INVALUABLE safety tool: always have maps -- but having something that can pinpoint your exact location in case of rescue/getting lost etc. is essential.

PLUS -- if you buy a basic model, you can spend your time getting to grips with it --- and if you like it --- you can upgrade!

If you're struggling, you're absolutely WELCOME to join us on some orienteering excercises... we've heard there's a DELIGHTFUL little beauty spa somewhere in the sticks of essex... and we're just getting the waypoints together.

xx

Girls, as I said, I've got an eTrex, in a nice yellow colour - can I join you at the spa?