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RT
Idaho
Jan 15, 2012
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EXCELLENT PRODUCT
This GPS works great and as expected.
Recommend? YES
1 viewers found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?
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Jay
State College, PA
Nov 18, 2011
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FRIENDLY TO USE, LACKS A COUPLE FEATURES
i upgraded from the quest 2. nicer larger screen, touch screen controls, which can be annoying if you put it in your pocket or fanny pack. easy to get directions, but lacks an elevation feature. battery only lasts 4 hours, so buy a second battery. some of the directions it gives you are wrong, like when it told me to drive down a "driveable trail". WRONG!!! if you take your motorcycle in the woods, you'd probably want to get topo maps for it. it has some topo maps but they show the lay of the land but no trails.
Recommend? YES
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John
St. Paul, Minnesota
Oct 4, 2011
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FIRST REVIEW FOR THIS APPLICATION
Pros: perfect for my application
Cons: have yet to run into any
I use my Nuvi 500 for snowmobiling (needed 3rd party maps but I anticipated that - RedPine Mapping) This uint is perfect for this. I do have to run on external power the cold is a bit much for the battery. I use it in 3D viewing mode and changed my vehile to a snowmobile (kind of a fun little option). I also use the RAM mount as metioned by others, if you're thinking of doing the same as me get the Composite Plastic mount not the aluminum one it doesn't play well with the cold also I would suggest ditching the stock mounting screws and go with stainless. I also like it displays current speed as snowmobile speedo's are notorously inaccurate. Since I appear to be the first one here using the unit this way feel free to contact me with anything I may have missed that you're curious about that I may have already come accross. farls@minn.net
Recommend? YES
18 viewers found this helpful.
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Crudstud
State College, PA
Jul 21, 2011
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UPGRADE (?) FROM QUEST 2
Pros: ease of use, easy to see color screen.
Cons: nothing that serious
The unit is very easy to use. the battery doesn't last very long if you use it on a motorcycle, but i bought a spare. However the battery life of both batteries together do not equal the battery life of the quest 2. Basically, it's a pleasure to use this gps. the only thing i find less than helpful is that the top of the screen does not display the next street you approach. the quest did this. the quest also could display elevation and if this unit does, i haven't found it. The built in speaker is very nice. This is a nice unit for people like me who don't want to get stressed out by a GPS that has too many hard to figure out functions. The Nuvi 500 comes with topo maps, whereas the 550 does not. I might buy the upgraded topo maps from Garmin some day, but i can't review them at this time. I loved the step by step video explanations that GPS City offers. Good job, guys! When I use this unit, i have a light happy feeling, because I know how easy it is to use and program. It's delightful.
Recommend? YES
55 viewers found this helpful.
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Randy
Middle Tennessee
Mar 15, 2011
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GARMIN NUVI 500
The garmin nuvi 500 will communicate with Mapsource and basecamp both, but you can do more with basecamp. The only thing I have found wrong with the unit once you take the tracks off of the unit you can't put them back on in such a way that you can see them again on the nuvi 500. i have 4 garmin in all and two of them are hand held. I can see very well at age 58. The reason I wanted the 500 is for a bigger screen. I ride off road most of the time and really needed the ability to take tracks off and put them back on. If anyone has figured this out our contact me at Randyhdee@aol.com
Recommend? YES
75 viewers found this helpful.
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boudee
houston, tx
Feb 17, 2011
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WHAT GARMIN DOES NOT TELL YOU
Pros: don't know, can't use it for its intended purpose.
Cons: garmin failed to give important instructions
Have not been able to use th device. downloaded map upgrades per garmin's instruction and it wiped out all topo maps.have now been waiting for two weeks for sd card t fix the problem. they admitted their mistake that downloading map updates would wipe out the topo maps.
Recommend? NO
94 viewers found this helpful.
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Rob
Edgewater FL
Jan 15, 2011
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JUST WHAT I WANTED!
Pros: easy to use.
Cons: had to buy extra wiring harness.
I wanted a GPS for my KTM 525 EXC motorcycle to use in Dual Sport events. The Nuvi 500 is perfect and even shows trails in the middle of nowhere.
Recommend? YES
95 viewers found this helpful.
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Dennis
Texas
Dec 7, 2010
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BEST FOR GEOCACHING 500
very useful for geocaching. I have a garmin 885t an emap and Iphone app. 500 is the best.
Recommend? YES
90 viewers found this helpful.
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Dave T.
Visalia, CA
Jul 24, 2010
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SIMPLE AND WELL MADE
I switched from a Garmin 276C hoping to have a simpler GPS to use on my motorcycle. If you are just looking for street information, this is great little unit. It responds quickly in urban settings. My only dissapointment is that it is not as information rich as the 276C. Things like time to next turn, elevation and average speed are either not available or a little clumsy to access. But the upside is that I'm probably watching the road more and the GPS less...
Recommend? YES
93 viewers found this helpful.
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Rusorjay
Hudson Valley, NY
Jul 4, 2010
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NUVI 500
Pros: good value, battery life, ease of use.
Cons: not bluetooth compatible.
Works great. Easy to use. Its waterproof. Costs a lot less than those high priced gps units made specifically for motorcycles. Screen is big enough to be viewed while mounted on my windshield or handlebars.
Recommend? YES
96 viewers found this helpful.
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Pete
U.P. of Michigan
Jun 11, 2010
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GREAT STORE, GREAT GPS
Pros: price, brightness, topo maps
Cons: wish it was bigger
GPS City price matched the gps. Great people to deal with. I bought the Nuvi 500 for use on my Goldwing and am very satisfied. It seems brighter than my other Nuvis and after adding a Glare shield is readable in just about all conditions. I will add to this after installing on my atv so I can check the Topo maps. So far very satisfied.
Recommend? YES
103 viewers found this helpful.
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Tom O
Brewerton NY
Jun 1, 2010
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GREAT GPS FOR THE BIKE OR CAR
Pros: water proof and multiple modes
very easy to use in the car or on my motorcycle. Love the different modes. Easy to read maps and program routes.
Recommend? YES
99 viewers found this helpful.
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Brian
Long Island, NY
Apr 9, 2010
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EXCELLENT MULTIPLATFORM GPS
Pros: multi purpose platform, expandable
Cons: voice directions do not include street name
I love the unit. I bought it with the microSD Bluechart map card. Very easy to install in unit. I don't have the room in my boat for one of those large marine units so I bought this one after a recommendation from GPS City. It's perfect, small enough so it doesn't clog up my dashboard on the boat, and easy enough to install via the suction cup. Buoys and map detail are excellent, plus an added benefit is finding restaurants and landmarks from the water that are on land.
The automtive mode works fine also, Just got back from a trip between MY and VA and it worked great. Had no signal issues, the map detail was excellent.
Very simple method to change from automotive to marine use, its a selection on the highest level map page.
I would recommend this unit to anyone who needs to use a unit for both car and boat. Would also be ideal for Jet skis. It's sealed pretty well from the water.
Recommend? YES
114 viewers found this helpful.
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Greg
Central Illinois
Mar 21, 2010
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WORKS GREAT EXCEPT FOR A FEW THINGS
Pros: quality, product support, waterproof, battery
Cons: +/- buttons too small, finding points of interest
Bought this for motorcycle, marine, and automotive use. Overall I am very satisfied. Unit is waterproof and has good battery life. Updated software allowed much easier access to screen brightness setting (tap the power switch). Lacks the settings and flexibility of earlier Garmin units (dumbed down a little), but user interface is very friendly.
Things that need improving: 1) The topo maps are good for hiking or off road use, but very difficult to use for on road travel in my area because the small back roads may not appear but there's too much topo info cluttering the screen. I then purchased the "regular" map package like on the Nuvi 550 and a micro SD card, so now both map sets plus the Inland Lakes maps are all loaded and I can switch between the three. 2) For motorcycle use the + and - buttons are too small to hit with gloves on, and it might be better if they were on the left side of the screen since you are most often using your left hand to operate it. 3) It would be nice if, when traveling on an Interstate, you could limit searches for restaurants and stores to only those along your Interstate route. Search shows too many choices that are close by but way off the path you are on. My old GPS III was better in this regard.
I have no regrets in purchasing this unit.
Recommend? YES
121 viewers found this helpful.
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Mountain MIke
volcano, california
Oct 23, 2009
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GREAT GPS
Would be great if the actual elevation would show on the map screen.
Recommend? YES
161 viewers found this helpful.
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Tom H.
Eau Claire, WI
Oct 11, 2009
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NUVI 500 FOR MOTORCYCLE
Pros: way cheaper than zumo, works fine on cycle
Cons: long map download time from garmin website
I wanted a GPS suitable for motorcycle use, but I didn't want to spend the $800+ for one of Garmin's Zumo models. After doing some reading I decided to give the Garmin Nuvi 500 a try. I bought the Nuvi, a RAM cradle (RAM-HOL- GA32U), a RAM mount (RAM-B-149ZU), and a Nuvi case -- total cost including shipping $314.33. The RAM mount works great on my Harley-Davidson FXDC Super-Glide Custom, and I believe it would be fine on ANY bike with round handle bars. The GPS is held very steady and securely, and can be adjusted to almost any viewing position. It is extremely easy to install, and uninstall for washing, storage, etc. The GPS works great. I can't hear it, but I didn't expect to be able to on a motorcycle. The visual directions are clear and easy to follow. There are lots of things you can do with it... program customized routes (this is primarily what I wanted it for), look for food, lodging, attractions, etc. I've not gotten it wet yet, but it claims to be, at least, water resistant. Battery life is OK, but probably less than the advertised 8 hours. I all ready had an AC charger from another Garmin device which works with the Nuvi 500, but that would be something else to consider buying if you don't have one. For in-car use it comes with a 12 volt DC plug in which charges the battery. The only "con" was when I checked to see if it had the latest maps on the Garmin website, I was told a free update was available, so I downloaded it. What it doesn't tell you when you start the process is that the download and installation to the device takes hours, even on a "semi" high-speed internet connection. Bottom line, it works great and I like it. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me: therfel@frontiernet.net
Recommend? YES
180 viewers found this helpful.
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Linda
Corning Ca
Oct 8, 2009
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SO FAR GREAT UNIT
Pros: ease of use, size, topo feature
Cons: n/a
I have only used it for work but actually bought it for my motorcycle. We bougt my husband the Zumo 660 which is great for him but I didn't need some of those bells and whistles. Already have them in other forms. For a significant reduction in expense this unit will be great. One of the main reasons for the purchase of this unit was the topographical feature. I am very pleased with how simple the unit is to work. I am very naive when it comes to these. Good luck.
Recommend? YES
173 viewers found this helpful.
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Margaret
Melbourne, FL
Oct 3, 2009
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GOT IT FOR THE MOTORCYCLE - WORKS FINE
Pros: lightweight, easy to stash in pocket, fits bike
Cons: wish it had longer battery life
Got this for some upcoming trips, and used it for the backroads to Key West. Initial problem in syncing GPS w/my computer, but swapped out a cable and it worked great. I just need to remember to shut it off when taking stops as the road trip was over 8 hours, and my battery warning came on just as we were within minutes of our arrival point. Used a generic usb plug-in charger (that I have for my Mp3) and it worked great. Found a good tapas restaurant in Key West using it in the walking mode.
Recommend? YES
162 viewers found this helpful.
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SteveO
Santa Fe, NM
Sep 21, 2009
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GARMIN NUVI 500
Pros: topo maps along side street maps
Cons: mini-usb power plug
I purchased this unit for my street motorcycle and then as a secondary unit to my off-road adventures. This unit is truly a wonderful GPS with plenty of functionality and information. The "negative" comment I have about this unit is the poor design of using a mini-usb connection as a power supply. When I had this unit mounted in its RAM cradle, getting the 12 power supply plugged into the back was not easy. If it had the standard round plug, this would be much, much easier.
Recommend? YES
191 viewers found this helpful.
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James
Clinton, MA
Sep 17, 2009
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EXCELLANT CARRY ALL GPS
Pros: battery life of 9 hours.
This is the best choice I have made regarding GPSs. It has so many features. The one I really like is that with the battery, it can be carried anywhere and you have always available, information regardles of where you are.
Recommend? YES
189 viewers found this helpful.
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Larry
Denver CO
Sep 2, 2009
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NUVI 500
Seems OK, have not spent that much time with it yet.
Recommend? YES
191 viewers found this helpful.
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Ed
Sacramento, CA
Aug 7, 2009
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BEST GPS 4 ME
Pros: waterproof, street and 100k topos, 8 hr battery
Cons: must buy computer cable to registar
This unit is just what I've been looking for. I ride a motorcycle, bicycle, and drive. Since it is among the few waterproof models, and the price was in my range, this was a no brainer. I got the latest updates and firmware from the Garmin site as well as the text to voice feature.
Recommend? YES
191 viewers found this helpful.
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Pops
Alvin, Texas
Aug 4, 2009
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NUVI 500
Pros: shows pipelines. also picks up the satellites insi
GPS City is a great company to deal with. Fast shipping and good customer service. The Nuvi is really cool. I had a Quest for several years but I had to replace it because it is outdated and there were no map updates available for it. After several discussions with Garmin I chose the Nuvi. Have had it a few weeks and seems like every time I use it I find something new. It shows pipelines too which is a big help here in the Houston area. It aquires the satellites inside which the Quest did not do. I have recommended it to several friends.
Recommend? YES
209 viewers found this helpful.
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Texan
San Antonio, TX
Jul 23, 2009
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CAN'T GO WRONG WITH GARMIN
I wasn't able to find a Nuvi 500 to look at before I ordered it, but as soon as it arrived I knew I had made the right choice. I have an aviation Garmin which is over ten years old and still working, so I trust the Garmin name and the Nuvi 500 is just perfect for the motorcycle and the car.
Recommend? YES
197 viewers found this helpful.
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Matt
Shanghai, China
Jun 16, 2009
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DON'T USE IN CHINA
I found out that this device, with the China map, cannot be used in China because there is an agreement between Garmin and the Chinese government that an offset is programmed into units that are not sold in China. It would have been nice to know this before I bought the device AND map. I am very disappointed.
Recommend? NO
235 viewers found this helpful.
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Mark
Richmond, VA.
Mar 25, 2009
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IMPRESSED!
Pros: accuracy, price point, multi-modal.
Cons: it belongs to my employer :-(
I purchased this unit because it is the only vehicle GPS unit (to the best of my knowledge) that provides coordinates in U.S. National Grid format. This is a job requirement for me. Thus far, I have not used this unit beyond the windshield of my vehicle, but I am impressed with the accuracy. It will show the posted speed limit, and actually changes about the same time I pass through a reduced posted limit zone. That never ceases to amaze me. Map quality and detail are very good.
Recommend? YES
225 viewers found this helpful.
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elkroeger
Seattle
Mar 23, 2009
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GREAT LITTLE UNIT
Pros: long battery life
Cons: no headphone jack
Best for multi purpose use (drive hike boat). Using it now on a motorcycle. Liked it so much, I bought another for the wife. Only downside for the motorbike is no wired or wireless voice, just the speaker on the back, which you can't hear too good (but I don't like the voice commands, so it works out great!)
Recommend? YES
224 viewers found this helpful.
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Ron
Alabaster, Alabama
Feb 25, 2009
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BEST ALL AROUND GPS
Cons: no blue tooth
I would recommend this GPS to anyone. For the money it was just what I needed.
Recommend? YES
238 viewers found this helpful.
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Randy B.
Aug 15, 2008
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NUVI 500 GREAT GPS!
This is a must have GPS for the outdoors person. Excellent!
Recommend? YES
277 viewers found this helpful.
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(4.5/5.0 based on 30 ratings)
