TomTom Rider - satnav for Motorbikes

The TomTom RIDER motorbike satnav system was built for two wheels - whether that is a motorbike, bicycle or moped - and is tough and durable in operation.

The unit comes ready to use straight out of the box - just plug in and play - allowing the user to get going as soon as possible. All maps come stored on a memory card and maps for other regions are available to buy separately.

The touch-screen controls make operating the unit straightforward, even whilst wearing motorcycle gauntlets. The unit has been designed specifically for bikers and this is evident in the design of the unit. The rugged construction ensures the unit continues to function even when subject to the elements and other rough handling.

Maps can be displayed in 2D and 3D which is in common with TomTom's range of in-car satnav systems.

The unit is both waterproof and ruggedly made fitting to both bikes and scooters. Indeed, TomTom say "TomTom RIDER was subjected to a sustained jet of water at high pressure from all directions and suffered no harmful effects" (source: www.tomtom.com ).

Voice-guided directions are given through the in-helmet Bluetooth headset which is included with the TomTom Rider.

Also included in the pack are a mounting kit and a carry-case for when the Rider is not in use. If you have a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone you can also use the Rider unit to make and receive calls via the Bluetooth headset as well as hear the spoken instructions from the TomTom Rider's voice guidance system.

The volume of the unit is linked to the speed of the bike - the faster you ride the higher the volume of the voice. This allows the user to maintain their focus on riding safely which is becoming more and more important as the roads in the UK become more congested over time.

The Rider comes with thousands of Points of Interest pre-installed. These cover such locations as hotels, hospitals, restaurants, petrol stations, cash machines etc...... and you can also add your own favourite locations. Destinations can also be found using the postcode-search facility common to other TomTom satellite navigation systems.

The TomTom Rider is a great addition to any biker's toolkit and is well worth considering. The TomTom Rider is now also facing competition from the Garmin Zumo which was released in 2006.