Garmin gps advice
 

Hi - I am looking to buy and would appreciate feedback on a GPS unit. I assume to go with Garmin.

• I would like to get one due to the long battery life (V.s. cell phone)
• I can see the screen while biking
• know speed, altitude, how far I have gone

Pluses but not necessary would be:

• having a map for guidance
• power meter compatible
• temperature
• touchscreen

I don’t care about heart rate and will not wear the strap.

I would like to not spend a whole lot, but would like the best bang for the $ and reliability, though will consider refurb or used.

Any suggestions? Going to the Garmin site, their product recommendations are: Edge 520, Edge 1000, Edge 810, Edge Touring plus. I assume these do not include discontinued models where I could be spending less.

Any vendors, or places I can find deals?

Thanks!

A used Edge 800 can be had for a good price and will do all you require.

The Garmin Edge 500 is frequently on sale, new, for less than $200, with the best prices being around $160. The 500 cannot display or use street maps. It has no touchscreen. It meets your other wishes. It's the model I see on bikes more than any other.

+1

This is what I use. Pretty cheap because it's five years old, I've been using mine since it first came out. Map and navigation are great in the mountains where I don't get phone coverage. Works fine with my power meter, but not super advanced about it.

520 meets all your criteria except touch screen. Has maps, but not turn-by-turn routes.

You didn't mention price. If cost is no object, don't screw around, get the Edge 1000. Hard to find any deal on a Garmin though I did see a used Edge 1000 on Craigslist for $100 off new.

You could consider the Magellan Cyclo 315 (or the 505)

Magellan Cyclo 315 GPS Cycling Computer - Clever Training

I think it will do everything you need. It works well and is a decent price

Thanks for the replies.

I'm hoping to not spend more than $200 but I also don't want to get something that won't last or work well.

I'd say navigation is greater than touchscreen and from reading reviews say drop the touchscreen altogether.

Where are suggested places to find the 500 or 800 model used? Would certified refurbished give some warranty or not matter?

Using a tcx file for the route instructions looks sufficient and I could use my cell phone Google maps if I'm totally lost. I think most of the time I'll be biking o known trails/places but having a back up if there is low or no phone signal would be a nice plus.

I'm also not in a rush so could wait till the Garmin 520 release. Either that model or if that makes prices go down.
I also heard about lezyne, they are coming out with a gps unit, I'll edit this post when I find a link. Retail $200

How is Magellan vs Garmin? That's a good price on the Magellan.

I have Magellan's flagship hiking GPS (Explorist 710). It's awful. The slowest GPS I've ever used. Something is wrong with the compass, the map constantly changes orientation on the screen and is almost impossible to read. Based on my experience, I would not buy another Magellan unit.

Complaints about my Garmin are more minor: auto lap by distance but not by location (so you have to press the lap button on hill repeats), assumes 1:1 when converting kJ to kC, etc. Both of those apply to the Fenix 3 but not the Edge 800.

Don't rule out the Edge Touring +. Been using one for a couple of years and for navigation purposes it's hard to beat. Great (free) maps, point to point nav, touchscreen, good battery life. A new one is a little more than your price range but not too much.

Does this show altitude or incline? I did not see it in the list but wanted to double check.

My findings:
on a group, someone is selling the edge 510 for $210. Garmin 800 certified refurbished is going for $230 on amazon. The 520 new will be $300. 500 new on nashbar is $152, and $320 for an 810 on biketiresdirect

I am thinking the 500, 510 used, or 800 refurb because of total price. Would any of these be good? Is there that much difference between the 500 and 510?

Thanks

800 = maps and navigation, upload through a USB cable
500 = no maps, has navigation? but not maps, upload through a USB cable
510 = no maps, has navigation? but not maps, upload your rides automatically through your phone

I'm using an 800, it's great. Touch screen works with gloves on, isn't fooled by the rain. Supports power (I'm using it with Vectors).

I was recently on a ride using a Magellan Cyclo and it worked great. At the same time, a number of people with Garmins were complaining about problems with their units- navigation, display problems, etc.

I don't know if it is luck of the draw or if the quality control these days is just that bad.

And thanks to eta about magellan..

current update:
Garmin 800 - amazon certified refurb is $230, and someone selling on a FB forum is selling the 800 with the bundle for $230 also. he said he has an extra mount he can give me worth $35 by barfly. - I figure this is better than the 510 model used for $210 with nothing else included.

520 coming out, which has map function, but $299.

$150+tax 10% store credit for the 510 model new from performance bike (its 20% off), and new means I have to buy a mount but new means warranty/returnable vs the risk of buying used but saving $$

Magellan Cyclo 315: amazon refurb is $263

everything else suggested goes above $300

-- for used from a private seller, I am leaning to the 800, for new, the 500 since it is less out of pocket.
How risky is it to buy used? I assume these things last a long time but it is a chance.

I bought an 800 last summer when my 750 finally gave up the ghost. I got it at a nice discount because it was not the newest, flashiest model and I've been very happy with it.

I have a Garmin 800 and will receive a 520 next week. Space for up to 50-100MB worth of maps so not enough to cover the country but enough for local riding or travelling if you know where your going. Believe the screen may be a little easier to read than the 800. Bought it from Performance Bike for 20% off.

Concur. I have, but no longer use, an Edge 500. Worked well enough, but since I'm a geographer and a techogeek, I usually have to have the latest and greatest gadget around. When the 800 came out, I jumped on it and have been more than satisfied with it. I can construct a route with RIDEWITHGPS, uplaod the ride to the 800, and get turn-by-turn directions. Don't do that for most rides, just new ones and in areas of which I am not familiar.

When the 810 came out, I didn't see any new features that I just had to have. Same with the 1000. The 800 is that good! If you can find one, you will be very happy.

I use mine with a Bontrager heart rate monitor and a Stages power meter. Being a GPS, it will have all the geolocating information you would ever want. With an accessory micro USB slot, I have all the maps I want or need, even European ones when I went there. The only time I really can't read the screen is when the sun is over my shoulder. The reflection on the screen is pretty bad. A quick hand movement to shade the sun will give me whatever I need. Or, I just move my head slightly to cast my head shadow over the unit. I have backlighting turned off, so I can't see very well at night, for those times when I'm stuck out in the dark. Simple enough to turn backlighting on, but that will wear down the battery pretty fast. Good battery power. Only time I came close to depleting the battery was on a hilly double-metric century. I was in the saddle about ten hours that day, and the battery was getting pretty low. Not sure I could have gone a couple hours more.

How did you get the 20% off? I see the current deal of 20% off, but it is not showing up for the 520 model (it is for the 500 and others). Was this a previous deal, or is this the Team performance store credit cash back?

Thanks, that is helpful to know. Do you think if someone took relatively good care of the unit (which I assume most cyclists would, it would be safe to get it used? It seems to have a long life and people are happy with it.

I am thinking the 800 model used, or wait for a deal on the 520.

It was a discount offered in early Jul. I ordered on Jul 3rd. Wait till Thanksgiving and it will probably come back on sale.

Are you getting the base 520 or bundle and where from? Amazon is showing 1-3months

I reckon. Who knows? The only negative I have about the unit is that the surface scratches too easily. After I noticed that, I keep it in a sandwich baggie to protect it. It is either in there, on the charger, or on the bike. Hasn't scratched since. If you can get some type of guarantee and a good price, it is probably worth the risk. Use your credit card so that if the unit is not as the seller describes it, you'll have some protection.

Thanks! I found some (800 model) on ebay from sellers with high ratings, and then they have the purchase protection.

Currently, I decided to wait in case there is some sale on the Garmin 520 (there had been 25% before) and if not, then go with the used 800.

My father gave me the 500 for Christmas, when the 800 was just coming out. He wondered why I wanted the 500 over the 800. I told him because of the touchscreen. The 500 has buttons that can actually be seen, and felt. The 800 n' 1000 are touchscreen. So, Very touch-sensitive. Not good if you have eye-hand coordination problems.

I agree, had the 800 but switched back to the 500 for that very reason.