Garmin Quest

 From: Brian Whiting - Wales

Touring in the past has always involved that special skill of trying to keep one eye on the road and the other on the map. One of the great advantages of this is that you can get lost very quickly and find some lovely places that you did not intend to visit.

To some extent that is now being eroded, for when using a Sat/Nav system the nice young lady tells you that you have gone wrong and puts you back on the right road.

I have now given into technology and use the Garmin Quest, and what a great bit of kit this is. A browse of the map and sort out the route you want directly with the unit. Or if you want to be really clever before you leave home load the MapSouce CD provided onto your PC, sort out your route(s) and connect the unit with the USB cable and load the file to store in the Quest.

(Please note that the screen images on the following pictures are distorted due to being photgraphed).

The display works in conjunction with the spoken instructions. When you set off the 'lady' gives you your first direction The following is an example.

As each turn is approached you are told "In point 3 of a mile turn left' - In 500 yards turn left - in 400 feet turn left" with the display changing to match.

As you continue the display changes to a larger map. At roundabouts the message is much the same, "In 1 mile enter roundabout - In point 3 of a mile enter roundabout and take 4th exit left - In 400 feet enter roundabout and take 3th exit left.
 
As you go onto the roundabout you are reminded to "Take 4th exit left." Once clear of the juction your are informed to "Continue for 7 miles".

As you proceed the display gives you a constant update of your position and direction, together with an estimated time to the next turn. Because you will have already programmed in your normal driving speeds for various roads, it will also display the arrival time at your final destination.

The unit comes with a bracket and suction pad at the back of the holder for fitting to a car windscreen. I took this bracket off and purchased a Garmin handlebar fitting normally used for mountain bikes.

The speaker is part of the unit that is pushed into the lighter socket of a car for the power supply. I positioned this under the seat, and took the plug apart and extended the wires so that they could be attached directly to the bike battery. (Don't forget to make sure that the fuse is left on for safety).  The unit can be set to remain 'On' when you stop and detach the unit for security purposes while at the Motorway Services etc. The speaker wires were detached from the speaker and extended and fitted to a socket to the side panel by the seat so that I could plug in my helmet speakers. If you use a intercom system then this could be connected to the control box.

I have used this quite a bit in the UK to get the hang of it and works fine. I am off to Spain, riding through France in June, and that will really give it a good outing. I will report back after the trip.

For full specifications go to www.garmin.com/products/quest/#