Garmin 390LM

Cosmetic accessories, comfort accessories, windshields, luggage racks, etc.

Moderator: Modsquad

Monty1952
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 156
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:00 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Garmin 390LM

Post by Monty1952 »

I am a self confessed gadget freak and have been using a GPS in my cars ever since Garmin bought out their first StreetPilots which must have been at least 20 years ago. As a newbie to two wheels (motorized), one of the first things I had to get was a motorcycle unit and picked up the Garmin 390 LM.
The screen is almost unreadable in any kind of stronger daylight. Is it just me (be gentle if so) or is the technology just not there yet outside the shielded confines of a car dashboard? So is anyone using one successfully and if so, do they use the bluetooth headset to get direction instructions? At 65-75mph you certainly dont want to be spending too much time on a screen anyway.
2014 Forza - Silver 2,300km
2013 BMW C600 Sport 0km!
User avatar
homie
Prestige
Prestige
Posts: 6102
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:49 pm
Year: 2015 PCX150
Color: Pearl White
Location: FloridaLand

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by homie »

Monty1952 wrote: The screen is almost unreadable in any kind of stronger daylight. Is it just me (be gentle if so) or is the technology just not there yet outside the shielded confines of a car dashboard?
its true, Garmin should consider making a GPS for segways, motorcycles and bicycles that you can actually see outside a car. My nuvi is crap on the bike too. Just use a cell phone and a GPS app instead.
Image
User avatar
DAB
Forum Benefactor
Forum Benefactor
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:55 am
Year: 2013
Color: Red
Location: Nottingham, UK

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by DAB »

Monty1952 wrote:I am a self confessed gadget freak and have been using a GPS in my cars ever since Garmin bought out their first StreetPilots which must have been at least 20 years ago. As a newbie to two wheels (motorized), one of the first things I had to get was a motorcycle unit and picked up the Garmin 390 LM.
The screen is almost unreadable in any kind of stronger daylight. Is it just me (be gentle if so) or is the technology just not there yet outside the shielded confines of a car dashboard? So is anyone using one successfully and if so, do they use the bluetooth headset to get direction instructions? At 65-75mph you certainly dont want to be spending too much time on a screen anyway.
I use a Tomtom rider and find it's best to have the screen as vertical as possible. No Bluetooth.
Other rides
Yamaha MT-01, Yamaha BT1100, Yamaha WR250R, Ducati 900 GTS, Honda VFR 750FV, Honda Forza 350
SECoda
Honda Forza 300 &
Honda Forza 300 &
Posts: 1312
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 2:49 pm
Location: USA

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by SECoda »

+1 My LG G3 even has an extreme brightness range for direct sunlight.
homie wrote:
Monty1952 wrote: The screen is almost unreadable in any kind of stronger daylight. Is it just me (be gentle if so) or is the technology just not there yet outside the shielded confines of a car dashboard?
its true, Garmin should consider making a GPS for segways, motorcycles and bicycles that you can actually see outside a car. My nuvi is crap on the bike too. Just use a cell phone and a GPS app instead.
User avatar
yak
Minister of Magic
Minister of Magic
Posts: 195
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:35 am
Year: 2013
Color: black
Location: Phoenix, AZ. USA

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by yak »

I remember how excited i was when the price of a Street Pilot dropped from $700 to $300. I bought one then. Still use it. It's huge. Just buy one of them for $5 on Craigslist and duct tape it to your scooter. Turn the volume up loud and ignore the screen.

This is perhaps the least-helpful thing i've posted to this forum but I couldn't resist since no one has mentioned a Garmin Street Pilot in ages.
Monty1952
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 156
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:00 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by Monty1952 »

yak wrote:I remember how excited i was when the price of a Street Pilot dropped from $700 to $300. I bought one then. Still use it. It's huge. Just buy one of them for $5 on Craigslist and duct tape it to your scooter. Turn the volume up loud and ignore the screen.

This is perhaps the least-helpful thing i've posted to this forum but I couldn't resist since no one has mentioned a Garmin Street Pilot in ages.
LOL - like your sense of humour! Wouldn't buy a car without a GPS in it or a backup camera now that I think about it. Maybe I should learn to read a map again!
2014 Forza - Silver 2,300km
2013 BMW C600 Sport 0km!
User avatar
homie
Prestige
Prestige
Posts: 6102
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:49 pm
Year: 2015 PCX150
Color: Pearl White
Location: FloridaLand

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by homie »

yak wrote: This is perhaps the least-helpful thing i've posted to this forum
Is this a rule? because if it is I need a new forum
Image
User avatar
Walrus
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 76
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:44 pm

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by Walrus »

I bought a $700 Street Pilot back in the day too. Haven't tried to put Navigation on a bike yet. I test rode a Harley Tri Glide Ultra with navigation a few weeks ago. The nav package is made by Garmin and Harley factory installed. It worked and looked great on a very bright day. Honda offers a nav package on Goldwing, I haven't seen it work but most Goldwing forums say it is not as good as aftermarket.
User avatar
you you
What's a wot?
What's a wot?
Posts: 10001
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:37 pm
Location: Between Lulu and Chichi

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by you you »

Monty1952 wrote:
yak wrote:I remember how excited i was when the price of a Street Pilot dropped from $700 to $300. I bought one then. Still use it. It's huge. Just buy one of them for $5 on Craigslist and duct tape it to your scooter. Turn the volume up loud and ignore the screen.

This is perhaps the least-helpful thing i've posted to this forum but I couldn't resist since no one has mentioned a Garmin Street Pilot in ages.
LOL - like your sense of humour! Wouldn't buy a car without a GPS in it or a backup camera now that I think about it. Maybe I should learn to read a map again!

Amazing what you get used to. ABS, traction control, electronic stability, computers, fuel injection. full disc brakes, electric windows, proximity warnings, digital climate control.

Brought it home when I bought the LDV grandad minibus. What a shonker. It has a radio.
User avatar
ScooteringAbout
Frequent Poster
Frequent Poster
Posts: 513
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:20 pm

Re: Garmin 390LM

Post by ScooteringAbout »

I use a car Garmin mounted via suction cup to the black stock shield on the front of my PCX. Works fine, of course I don't use it in the wet. :)
aka DrewJW
Post Reply