Owners
of BMW motorcycles have a new technology available to
them to provide up to the minute directions and navigation
throughout all of Europe. BMW's latest GPS unit for
their motorcycles is a huge step up from their previous
model. This model features an upgraded memory chip,
up to 2 GB from 512 MB. The model also comes with a
road map covering all of Eastern Europe installed right
out of the box. This is a great feature because prior
to this model you would have to take the unit to your
pc and download the appropriate maps onto the unit.
With this model you simple have to mount the unit to
your motorcycle and attach the battery cable and you
are ready to take off on the road.
Riders
will find the new touch screen a vast improvement over
the previous model and it has been retuned for easier
use with gloved hands. The unit has been rated for use
in snow and in rain, and against extreme heat and cold.
The units increased memory and processors allow for
virtually instantaneous updates of information and position.
As with the previous model it still provides the rider
with elapsed time, estimated time to destination, current
speed, average speed and top speed. This models positioning
is extremely accurate as it pulls information from twelve
different satellites when coordinating your position.
Most GPS units only use the information of four satellites
and this gives the BMW model a greater advantage at
calculating your exact position on the globe.
As
for drivers or riders of non-BMW bikes, this unit can
be used with any vehicle or motorcycle and will require
minimal mounting and wiring. For an automobile it comes
equipped with a cigarette lighter plug and can be mounted
fairly easily to most vehicles. Pedestrians can also
use this unit with its battery powered option. This
product is available at all BMW dealerships and online
at the BMW website.
David
Stone is a regular contributor of techinical articles
dealing with electronics. Find more great information
about GPS at http://gps-go.info
