What motorbike Sat Nav?

[weeksy]

So, a slight techy request.

My phone on a handle bar mounted clear case today was somewhat crap for navigation. You couldn't really see it we'll dye to reflections on the plastic covering, donut was, half useful, half crap.

Minor complication is that my bars don't have much in the way of space after fitting heated grip controller.

So first, what Sat Nav, I liked the idea of Trickys one that can make the route more or less twisty and random.

Also, how to mount it?

[Skub]

This one is spammed to death on F/B. Dunno if it's any use.

https://beeline.co/pages/beeline-moto

I wouldn't be keen to use a smart phone,they're far too fragile for that environment imo.

[KungFooBob]

I much prefer a proper satnag to the phone in a case.

I've got an older TomTom 400, it's got a touch screen that works with gloves on, its water proof and vibration proof, it's got twisty road mode, etc...

It came bundled with some 3rd party software called 'Tyre' which was brilliant for planning routes, but then they changed it from Google Maps to Open Maps (or some such bollocks) and it became a bit shit.

They all work with RAM mounts these days, there will be a RAM mount (or a 3rd party RAM compatible) prefect for your bike.

[weeksy]

This one is spammed to death on F/B. Dunno if it's any use.

https://beeline.co/pages/beeline-moto

I wouldn't be keen to use a smart phone,they're far too fragile for that environment imo.

It's interesting for sure.

[KungFooBob]

There's a new(ish) type of satnag that essentially 'mirrors' your smartphone. You keep the phone in your pocket and the bit you fit to the bike just mirrors the route planned on the phone and uses the phone GPS. I think the Beeline is one of those, it's also they type of thing that's been fitted to new bikes (and has been fitted to cars for years). I think TomTom do one as well (VIO).

[Cousin Jack]

I have a Garmin Zumo, works OK, but be warned ALL sat-navs have quirks. On my trip to Norway the tour company used 4 different models to sus out waypoints. (An old Garmin, an up-to-date Garmin, and the same with Tomtom) We were all provided with downloadable waypoints, so in theory all the people should follow the same route.

The reality was that every one seemed to have a mind of it's own, 4 bikes would follow 4 different routes. They usually ended up in the same place, but not always! On 1 infamous occasion a couple of us stopped at a crossroad while following my sat-nav, and met another bike coming in the opposite direction following his. Whilst pondering on this a 3rd bike from the tour group passed across from left to right, I'm sure if we had hung around someone would have completed the 4th direction too.

AFAIK Garmin and Tomtom are the only ones that do waterproof motorcycle sat-navs, I am used to Garmin so I hate Tomtom quirks, but the reality is that both are good.

[Ditchfinder]

I have a beeline but not had chance to test it properly yet as I've only been going to work. App is easy to use and mounting hardware is decent. Display makes sense, arrow is general direction you should be going and a dot on the perimeter tells you which direction next turn is and you get a countdown to that turn.

Needs testing on City traffic but on rural stuff it works well.

(that's all in route mode not destination mode - I'm too much of a control freak for that)

[asmethurst99]

I have Beeline as well -I’m waiting to try it out on a circular sort of trip through Essex - in town it seemed a bit slow but I was on my route to work so it wasn’t
a fair test .
Was slightly fiddly to set up and pair (pairs all the time it’s on it seems)
I was meaning to do a write up - just haven’t used it yet
All part of my plan to ride more

[weeksy]

Lol get a move on fellas.

[Skub]

I take it if your phone battery dies,the Beeline dies with it?

[weeksy]

I take it if your phone battery dies,the Beeline dies with it?

Shouldn't be an issue for me personally. I get 5-6 hours out of my phone even using navigation on screen, so screen off it'll be lots of hours. My rides are rarely 1 hour+

[Asian Boss]

Back when I rode places I always used a Zumo. It worked well all over Europe.

[scottyuk]

On the tours I've been on it's always been the TomToms/Garmins that people turn to when the phone apps have issues. Often the problems seem to be data strength which can be mitigated to some degree by downloading the maps into the phone.

I had a TomTom (910) years ago and switched to a Garmin Zumo 590 which I found much better. I've upgraded it (software update) to a 595. I'm now thinking of getting a Garmin XT mainly due to the screen and processing power.

I'm not a fan of using a phone after seeing the issues and also due to all the reports of mounts ruining cameras. Also if my satnav went wrong then I've got my phone as backup. If I had all my eggs in one basket then you don't have that.

In normal times I commute and I use the nav on every journey. It not only warns of traffic on route but it pops up warnings of stationary traffic as you approach it and stuff like that. I just find it useful.

Like many things I don't think there's a right and wrong. I think it's just finding what works best for your personal situation.

[Trinity765]

I prefer a satnav to a phone as they are specifically for the job, mount securely, are waterproof and can take a tumble. I've always had Garmins as they were reputed to be superior however I know many people now with Tomtoms who are just as happy. I have a Garmin Zumo 595 with lifetime maps (LM) and would avoid the 390 as there's been many charging issues with them.

I use https://www.myrouteapp.com for route planning and I pay the subscription for the full works. It has many maps including Google Maps/Street View/HERE(Garmin)/Tomtom and map tools and it's the easiest way for creating and sharing routes as others can download the route straight to their device in whatever format they need without them needing to pay the subscription. It also allows you to view how your route will be interpreted by a Garmin or a Tomtom so you can tweak it to be calculated the same on both.

[gremlin]

Conversely, I've used Garmins, a BMW sat nav (no idea which co. was behind it) and a borrowed Tom-tom and I've found my phone, Google maps and the Sena 10R bluetooth get up the best combo by a well-navigated country mile. Phone sits in a cheapo, generic mount and visibility is rarely an issue, but if it is, a quick adjustment sorts it. Bluetooth means I can listen to music and hear the instructions when needed.

[Supermofo]

I've got a TomTom 450 and it's really good. I don't tend to pre plan routes just pick a spot and then select one of the twisty/hilly options. It's also good as if you need to make up time or plans change just set it to quickest route. It's also great for finding local roads you never even knew existed! One draw back on the very twisty setting is that it sometimes picks roads that barely qualify and make you feel like your riding down a cycle path. Mines wired to the battery so no worries about battery life. Looks like the 550 is the current model. Pricey but I'm really glad I got mine, I don't ever have to think about routes now if I don't want to.
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/403825


As for mounting I got one of those ram mounts that replaces one of the 4 bolts that hold my handle bars on. Like this
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/399703

[MrLongbeard]

Garmin am the daddy.
My TomTom Rider 500 is going the way of WEEE this weekend to be replaced by Zumo XT

[Tricky]

I've got a TomTom 450 and it's really good. I don't tend to pre plan routes just pick a spot and then select one of the twisty/hilly options. It's also good as if you need to make up time or plans change just set it to quickest route. It's also great for finding local roads you never even knew existed! One draw back on the very twisty setting is that it sometimes picks roads that barely qualify and make you feel like your riding down a cycle path. Mines wired to the battery so no worries about battery life. Looks like the 550 is the current model. Pricey but I'm really glad I got mine, I don't ever have to think about routes now if I don't want to.
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/403825


As for mounting I got one of those ram mounts that replaces one of the 4 bolts that hold my handle bars on. Like this
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorc ... rod/399703

This is exactly what I have , and same mount on the 790 when we went to Wales that time- I've made a bracket for the multi, but that was just because I could and it made it neater.

I've used all sorts over the years on my Highlands and Euro trips, a Garmin car unit in a cheap bike case, Wave, google and I still have the full purchased version of CoPilot on my phone but prefer the TomTom to them all- my thoughts are exactly as MoFo's really.

Having said that though, I really don't use it that much, and unless it's a proper (ie multi-day) trip in the UK, I'll typically just use Google maps these days in my ear and not bother with a display- the Triumph is excellent in that respect as wanky nice and clearly as the dash otherwise is, a nice feature is that it also links into the phone so you get all the directions up on the dash if want them (along with your music, radio stations etc )- it's shit if you want to know what RPM you're at, how much fuel you've got left though

[scottyuk]

On the tours I've been on it's always been the TomToms/Garmins that people turn to when the phone apps have issues. Often the problems seem to be data strength which can be mitigated to some degree by downloading the maps into the phone.

I had a TomTom (910) years ago and switched to a Garmin Zumo 590 which I found much better. I've upgraded it (software update) to a 595. I'm now thinking of getting a Garmin XT mainly due to the screen and processing power.

I'm not a fan of using a phone after seeing the issues and also due to all the reports of mounts ruining cameras. Also if my satnav went wrong then I've got my phone as backup. If I had all my eggs in one basket then you don't have that.

In normal times I commute and I use the nav on every journey. It not only warns of traffic on route but it pops up warnings of stationary traffic as you approach it and stuff like that. I just find it useful.

Like many things I don't think there's a right and wrong. I think it's just finding what works best for your personal situation.

This thread prompted me to bite the bullet. Garmin XT ordered. I'm with Bennett's so got a discount: £343 delivered

[Supermofo]

Having said that though, I really don't use it that much

I'd 2nd that. I don't use mine all the time. I tend to have a few select 'rides' for say a standard blast that I know.

I use mine for say a morning coffee in Maldon/Heybridge, when I met Weeksy last year, Southwold ride, West Country ride etc. It takes the pressure off trying to plan a route and then the ballache of staying on that route. I was impressed when it came up with a 5hr ride to Yeovil from Hertford in a couple of minutes and when I didn't stick to it, it re-routed in seconds.

Another thing to think about Weeksy is also if you want to hear it as well. For the first year or so I just looked at the screen and it was ok. But getting an intercom and being able to hear the instructions was much better. I just went for a cheap Scala Rider as that's all I use it for.