Motorcycle GPS - What is it and Why Would You Want It?

GPS is the new wave of navigation, and motorcycle GPS systems is no exception. But what exactly is GPS and why would you want it on a motorcycle?

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It's a high-tech way of saying that it tells you where you are on the globe, and if you have a motorcycle GPS systems it tells you where your motorcycle is.

A GPS, including a motorized GPS, works by receiving radio signals from a series of satellites that are located in orbit around the world. Cross-referencing these satellite signals allows your motorcycle GPS unit to operate with an accuracy of about 6 meters or less, right where you are.

For your GPS to work you need to be in a location where you can pick up radio signals from several different satellites in order to cross reference them. Too few satellites and accuracy drops, none, or one, and it sucks.

Early GPS systems, to be precise, had limited utility to the motorcyclist or car driver because they provided you with your position on the globe in latitude and longitude. While it was accurate, it wasn't really user-friendly, as you couldn't really use it to plot your position on the map unless you were highly map savvy and had the resources to do so. However modern motorcycle GPS systems have moved beyond this, and the best motorbike GPS units have now become a total motorcycle navigation solution.

Suggested Read: Explore The Open Road With Motorcycle GPS Devices

GPS technology has been integrated with modern mapping software to eliminate the problem of only being given latitude and longitude. You now have a visual display that shows you where you are on the map. So at a glance you can tell where you are.

And where do you want to go? Because high quality modern motorcycle GPS systems are high enough tech, you can rely 100% on them for your entire navigation needs.

So with a map display that shows you where you are, you can even ask your motorcycle GPS systems where you want to go. It will do so with exceptional accuracy, and will do so via Bluetooth technology with both visual map pointers and voice prompts directly to your motorcycle helmet.

A good motorcycle GPS systems will come preloaded with a large number of maps, and so you can accurately navigate your way across the country with the supplied maps. It should also load points of interest, so you can ask it to point you to the nearest fuel stop, motel or food stop.

And a dedicated motorcycle GPS system should come with a properly designed handlebar mount so you can mount it on the handlebar in front of you. Although you don't need to watch it regularly, it's not safe, it will tell you directly to your helmet whether you need to turn right or left.

If you have the right subscription, it'll also be able to tell you when there's a traffic issue ahead, and tell you how to navigate your way around it. So relying on your GPS navigator should save you both time, fuel and frustration.

And if you want, make phone calls or listen to music along the way.

A modern motorcycle GPS systems is one of the best tools a motorcyclist can have if he or she loves long rides. It removes the need to carry, and consult, and navigate maps.

And then at the end of the day you can download your ride and store it to recreate it in the future. Or share it with your friends.

Suggested Read: Reasons to Get a Motorcycle GPS Navigation