Having used a Garmin for work i decided to purchase a SatNav for my bike, and after checking the alternatives, i plumped for the TomTom Rider, because:

- you get a wireless headset
- you get a mounting kit
- this is supposedly designed by bikers, for bikers
- its a 2nd version, so any problems would hopefully be ironed out
- TomTom have a reputation for making good SatNavs.

Having purchased the Western Europe version (as the price was reduced in the sales) the package duly arrived. Getting the unit up-and-running was simplicity itself (after charging both the wireless headset and unit for a few hours beforehand). The menu system is pretty easy to work out and is also useful when on the move (although there is a reduced menu-system in this situation) for safety reasons, but all you need to do is pull over for the larger menu.

Initially I did wonder how i would get the mount onto my bike (GSX-R600 K6) but after quickly realising that it wouldnt go anywhere on the handlebars, or clock set up, i attached it to the right mirror stand. This works like a dream as its level with the eyeline and pretty secure. I did have to tighten up the nuts at one point, after going approx. 100 miles, as the mount slipped down when going over rough tarmac, but after that incident it hasnt moved. Just in case it wouldnt fit, i searched online and found a nice alternative mounting system (telferizer - easy to find online), which has a central mounting system (which they say will fit any bike, but you will need to use the back mount of the enclosed ram mount system to attach the TomTom Rider). This does work nicely, but can be a bit uncomfortable as its set below the clocks.

I've driven in high winds and torrential rain and although i was drenched through, the TomTom Rider kept on working and didnt miss a beat. I've seen comments about the voices not being loud enough at high speed, which is a fair point, but when you use the well-designed visual display with the voice prompts (i use a loudness setting of 95% as 100% is distorted) i've not had any problems 90% of the time, and thats with using ear plugs to reduce wind noise too).

To update the software and to get additional downloads you'll need to install the software and register your unit using TomTom Home. This is again simple to use and quite useful as you can get information on any possible traffic problems before setting out (not that thats a problem for bikers ;o). The unit checks for updates either automatically or when you decide to and informs you of anything pending, then its a simple matter of choosing what to update (this can vary between unit updates, safety camera updates or other downloads, i.e. new voices).

The speed cameras, errm, i mean safety cameras download i consider to be an essential purchase for a biker (you get a years supply of updates for the whole of Western Europe, for a one-off payment) and the audible warnings for each camera is well in advance of the camera location (approx 400 yards) and again its an easy process to update the database by connecting to TomTom Home. I did read (after going online a few times) that you can get a free download of safety cameras if you do this the very first time you run TomTome Home, but this isnt clearly spelt out enough in the documentation.

You are also able to link up your mobile phone with the TomTom so that you can receive calls when on the move via the headset (and also make a call when stationary). Linking my phone to the unit was again easy (even though it wasnt one listed - K850i - it connected straight away with no issues), a few clicks, and its linked, and if you choose to do so, every subsequent time you want to in the future automatically.

The additional voices are a waste of money, imho, i'm still waiting for John Cleese to say something even remotely amusing and the 'sexy voice' is anything but.

One minor thing would be that i had to remove some, albeit unused software (voices) from the unit so that i could add other downloads, as the unit said it was full, even though it was straight out of the box.

I really cant find any significant fault with this SatNav (a clearer voice would be one thing but thats minor) and would recommend it to any biker looking for the best biker SatNav on the market.

I've owned a number of Tom Tom devices for cars etc. and I've found thier software and maps to be pretty good, so when I decided to buy a Sat Nav for my bike this was the one I went for.

I'm not going to review the software or applications or map accuracy, but I'm going to list a few of the issues, plus some good points, that I've experienced with the unit.

Not compatible with the iPhone - while you can pair the device, and Tom Tom say it's compatible, every call I've ever received or made cuts off after 30 sec to 1 min. No access to data so traffic etc. can't be used

Sound quality - instructions in the headset are poor and volume dips mid-sentence, generally cutting off the distance part e.g. "In ... hundred yards, turn left"

Difficult to download map updates - maybe something to do with my account but I couldn't purchase a map update until I'd loaded the device with a blank card, connected it to my computer and started the Home application. It then let me buy a map that I had to copy across

The bike dock has broken 3 times - First time after I had the device for about a week, I noticed it wasn't charging. I checked the wire to the battery with a volt meter and it was fine. Checked the pins on the dock: nothing. Tom Tom replaced it free. Second time it broke I was working as a bike courier. Tom Tom insisted I send the dock back before they would send a replacement. Decided just to buy one. This one lasted about 3 months before it too broke. Sent the other back and it broke 1 week after receiving it

Bike dock doesn't hold the device strongley enough - it buzzes when I ride and I had to pack it with cut foam sheet to stop this

The USB / charger door broke - I noticed the locking tab was loose and realised that the rubber seal had disappeared and that the lock was broken. Sent unit back and they repaired it. 1 week later the same thing happened again. Sent unit back to Holland and they sent me a new unit. This was nice! I notice that this has a different revision number so maybe they've changed things in the design. Unfortunately, they didn't repair the bike dock that I sent back.

New unit DOA - received new unit but it gets stuck at the Tom Tom splash screen. Followed reset instructions but they didn't work. Called support and they sent instructions about doing a backup, erasing the SD card, and restoring certain files. This didn't work either.

I currently have a very expensive paper weight. Shame, as when it worked it was good, and even though I'm not despatch riding any more I use it to commute. It's still useful for those days the Blackwall Tunnel is shut and you have to go through somewhere unfamiliar. And the speed camera database was good.

Hopefully, support will fix this for me soon.

Having previously used TomTom Navigator 5 on a PDA, I decided it was time to get something better for use on my bikes. Having looked at both the Garmin and TomTom offerings I went for the TomTom Rider V2 Western Europe.
On both bikes the TT works a treat - getting me accurately where I want to go. The itinerary function allows me to plan an "interesting" route more for pleasure than getting somewhere.
On the VFR I tend to wear a fixed chin bar Arai RX-7RR4 full face helmet, so don't use the bluetooth headset in that helmet. That means giving the screen the odd quick glance to see the next direction. When on the Pan European I wear a flip front Shoei Synchrotec II and have the headset installed in that helmet. The route instructions, as well as taking mobile phone calls on the move, come through clearly at speeds in excess of the legal limit.
One change I made was to replace the supplied Cardo headset, although perfectly adequate, for a Cardo Scala FM headset. I can know hear instructions in both ears, listen to the radio or an MP3 player (by using one of those small FM transmitters).
The TT Rider has navigated me successfully to southern Spain, so no complaints there. In my local area it's routing can be a tad strange - but no SatNav possesses local knowledge. So it's a matter of remembering that one small fact.
The MapShare technology allows users to input any errors they find in the units map to download to TomTom for map corrections. I found a new roundabout, logged it and a week later TomTom had corrected the map to show the roundabout.
The optional in-car kit allows the unit to be transferred quickly from bike to car.
The only real glitch was that when updating the maps, the original SD Card wasn't large enough to cope with the transition from one map to the other (it wanted to put the new map on before it deleted the old map, so not enough space). So I copied the data from the original SD Card to a 4GB SD Card and fitted that to the unit in place of the original.

Overall, a truly excellent piece of equipment. I'd highly recommend adding a 4GB SD Card to your purchase and, if you also own a car, getting the in-car kit. Had it not been for the memory issue, I'd have given it a 5 star rating.