We are all used to receiving offers from our favorite accessory makers for an enhanced unit that only costs a little bit more. We know it’s automatic that when you add features, the price goes up. It is once in a very rare while you are presented with the opportunity to get more and pay less. With the introduction of the new TomTom Rider, this is one of those rare times.

I’ve been a TomTom Rider fan for years. In fact, the Rider 1 was my very first motorcycle GPS. It was rugged and easy to use and I still have that GPS—well, my daughter does and it continues to work very well. I also have the Rider 2, which came out with a stronger mount and slightly wider screen. I took that unit up the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle, and it is also still doing duty as my back up GPS.

The Rider takes all that was great about the previous generations and takes it many steps beyond. It is even more rugged than the Rider 2, which I wasn’t sure was possible. My Rider 2 took a 17-day, 6,100 mile journey to the Arctic Circle on a KLR, and didn’t hiccup once. The new model updates the mounting plate, making today’s Rider GPS even more durable and secure, while still using the same wiring plug as the previous model, making the upgrade as easy as changing mounts. I recommend buying the ingenious optional locking mechanism (sold separately) that allows you to leave the Rider mounted without any concern about theft.

The new Rider is all you need in a motorcycle GPS, and nothing you don’t—at a cost that is about $300 less than its nearest competition. How’s that for rare? Sure, the TomTom Rider will connect you to your Bluetooth enabled phone, and to any headset you choose, but it also comes in handy for sharing routes with other riders you meet along the way. The wider 4.3-inch, glove-friendly screen acts as a caller ID when your phone is linked and gives you access to your phone book too. But for the most part, the Rider is about getting you there, your way.

I’ve now spent fourteen road days with Rider—more than 8,000 miles total. My impression? This TomTom GPS is fast and very capable. Rider calculated routes, detours, and exits for services load on the fly much faster than any other GPS I’ve used. The Rider’s new three-layer navigation with IQ routes has the world’s biggest database of real travel times so you know when you will arrive within minutes. With advanced on-screen lane guidance you also know just how to get there, even through the most difficult highway exchanges. Lifetime maps come free with the unit, as does the option for daily updates and many no-cost points of interest (POI) files. You can even let TomTom know when you encounter road changes, detours, or speed limit errors with the built-in map corrections menu.

The best feature is the Winding Roads option. You can choose this at any time—before or during your ride—and the Rider will calculate a route to your destination avoiding interstates and cities. TomTom Rider doesn’t just show you where to go, but enables you to choose how to get there—direct, scenic, and interesting. With Winding Roads, TomTom has managed to make the Rider truly a motorcyclist’s best friend—everything you need, and nothing you don’t.

TomTom Rider ships with free Tyre Pro itinerary planning software (PC only at this time, but a Mac version is in the works), which lets you to create routes on your computer to upload to your Rider GPS. Tyre Pro works with TomTom .ITN files, but will allow the import of .GPX files also. The program will work with TomTom, Garmin, and smartphones with the TomTom app installed. Also in the box is a USB cable, motorcycle cradle, RAM mount, and wiring for mounting on any motorcycle.

TomTom Rider – $399.95

Includes:

TomTom RIDER device

Charging Bike Dock and cable

Secure RAM Mount

USB home charger

Software package for route planning on PC

Instruction manual

www.tomtom.com

Text and photography by Dave Hembroff.

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