Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Anomaly on January 15, 2022, 07:27:54 AM
-
OK, from some of the photos posted here, I know some of you pursue each of the two alternate options: do you use a dedicated navigation device (e.g., TomTom), or just the mapping program on your cell phone? And why? Thanks.
-
I found Garmin units to be too fragile. And too expensive to have them break all of the time.
I also like the numerous app/map options on a smartphone.
I have used nothing but the smartphone for over 10 years now. My broke GPS units are on a shelf.
Queue an idiot that thinks a smartphone does not work where there is no cell service in 3...2...1.... :boozing:
-
I've used my phone/Google exclusively on bikes. My friends with expensive GPS units (including a cross country rally) have more trouble and errors.
Phone navigation includes the ability to download your route-Google prompts you if you are going to rural places . You do NOT need a cell signal to use them.
-
I’m still using my phone. I know GPS devices are structurally more robust, and being out in the sun for hours will shorten a phone battery’s life, but I guess I’m just not read to invest in a GPS device. Don’t know if I ever will be. I used one on my Spain trip, didn’t use one on the Turkey trip. Just downloaded the maps in Google Maps, and prayed the navigation system was able to ping off other signals for location.
-
I still use paper maps..🤷♂️🤷♂️
-
I use older cell phones with no plan as my GPS,right now an Iphone 6s and a bomb prove Kyocera. I use Ride with GPS,Scenic.
-
In Europe we rent cars and I just use the iPhone navigation. It works wonderfully in Spain and France although she butchers the pronunciations.
-
I use a Garmin GPS for touring in Europe and find it extremely crude in its user interface and its exasperating to program a route. On the other hand its weather proof and works with gloves.
In the US I use an iPhone with the opposite result: programing a route is super easy but rain and gloves are an issue.
It would be really nice if an easily programmed, weather proof and glove useable dedicated motorcycle GPS were available, with internet access for looking up hotels etc directly and quickly but without the necessity to have it at all times.
-
I use both, but rely on a Garmin GPS more often, since they are mounted more-or-less permanently on my bikes. Although my older Garmin's do not have enough memory to hold a complete map of the US without a SIM card. Never had one break yet. Weatherproof and can be used with any gloves I am wearing. Try that with phone screen. I even bought a pair of special "touch-screen" friendly gloves to use on the phone...didn't work. Besides, my iPhone screen is far too small to use as a nav. device for the most part. Then there's the fact that most phones can't take the heat and shut down if left in the sun too long. And now far too many reports of damage to the phone camera focus mechanism caused by vibrations. Considering what a new phone costs...no thanks.
However, in spite of these issues, I have decided to pick up an old obsolete (ie: cheap) iPhone 6 Plus and try it strictly for navigation purposes. Use it as a back-up to my Garmin on longer trips. No SIM card. If the camera breaks, I won't even know about it. I'll keep my iPhone 10 in my jacket pocket.
-
My Garmin devices have been super reliable. Older models were very slow and lots of odd things to put up with on their software (in the past). I have 4 motorcycle garmin devices and they all work fine. 2 of them have been used on dual sport (like TAT ride) thousands of miles.
A while back, I did switch to Android phones ... google maps, and tried various other mapping programs. At the time I switched, Garmins were very slow (like looking around on a map and picking a spot you want to go to) and cell phones were "free" (sign up for 2 years, get a free phone).
When phone charging ports died, no biggie some promotion to get a "free" phone or $50 phone, just replace the phone.
Then phone plans changed, the free phone mostly disappeared (well, really good "free" phones disappeared, mostly), 14 years old Garmins still working and realizing how many phones I'd been through ... decided to try Garmin again.
I bought a Garmin Zumo XT ... on sale for $399.99, came with a Ram mount system and power cradle. So mount things up, click it on the mount, and you have nice waterproof power.
Maps speed wise, the Zumo is WAY faster than older Garmins, but still a bit slower than an Android phone. I use this a lot. Ride along with no GPS running, get into an area I am less familiar with, see a road, pull over, look at GPS/Phone, "Where does this road go", see it routes through to the other side of the mountain range, lots of road options, pick a point on the map, and route to it. So lots of scrolling around on the device's map.
If you like to plan a specific route in advance ... at home on your laptop (or desktop) you can use google maps to create whatever curvy back road way to get somewhere you want, and they are a few steps (very easy once you know them) to get that exact route over to your Garmin Zumo XT and have navigation instructions to guide you along (not just follow a track on the screen and hope you don't miss some turns). Very cool. For everyone that hates Garmin mapsource and basecamp crap software, this is wonderful! You so not need to have those poor products installed.
Next Zumo XT amazing thing ... "Adventurous Route" ... really. So plan nothing ... on your Garmin, enter a destination, like Reno, NV ... you can let it do the normal routing, and for me that would be ~5 hours of interstate riding ... but, tap on "Adventurous Route", and it has 5 levels of how adventurous to be!, and you have a twisty backroads over Sierra mountain passes route laid out for you. Default adventure level is 4 and looking at fun roads I ride that matches up pretty well with what I would do. When you go to 5 it does get a bit silly, like going too far out of the way just to get a 4-5 miles twisty road into the route.
If you are a pavement only guy you can set to avoid dirt roads.
Some other great Zumo XT things ...
... it has built in WiFi, so it connects and updates and gets software/maps updates over WiFi, so no more goofy Garmin map licenses or crappy update software you gotta run.
... For additional functions, you can pair it to your cell phone via bluetooth, and you can see weather forecast along your route and get a rain radar map animation that shows radar over the next few hours (can't remember the exact time, maybe 4 or 6 hours?).
... It has a bunch of somewhat gimmicky built in apps like: Tripadvisor, iOverlander, Ultimate Public Campgrounds, Motorcycle Locations, National Parks, and History channel. These all "work", but with an Android phone you can also track down a campground, or find areas of interest to visit, or find a motorcycle shop, etc.
... also has some music stuff but I don't listen to music while I ride, so have not tried that
... also pairs with an inReach mini so you can use the GPS to activate an SOS or send messages via satellite. Also, just FYI, it does not pair with older inReach devices, guess they did not have the right chips to do this when they were built.
... and a bunch of other stuff too
So I am super happy with the Zumo XT.
Things an Adroid still does better:
- route adjustments due to traffic issues. Haven't figured out if the Zumo can do this (paired to the phone maybe?). But google maps does this really well.
- you can search for hotels, see ratings/reviews, pick one, book one all in one place. With the Zumo XT you can find hotels, TripAdvisor has ratings, but I don't think you can book one right there on the Zumo
One "issue" I have with the Zumo XT ... while the ram mounting kit and power cradle are awesome, buying another one (for another bike) isn't cheap (around $100 each!) . So if you have 3-4 motorcycles you want to put the Zumo on, hummm, do you buy an addition 3 mounting kits? One work around, for the power to the cradle, some guys put on a USB connector there, then you just move the power cradle mount between bikes, and plug it into a USB port on the bike. But then you don't have that powered directly into the bikes wiring connection. But I guess USB connections are fairly reliable and can be waterproof ish?
So I still use both. For a multi day trip into areas I am not familiar with, will use the Zumo XT. If just running around locally and might want to find a lunch place or route to a gas station, will just have an Android phone in my pocket until needed.
-
I use both. And paper maps. I put custom routes in my GPS, and use the phone to find eateries, gas stations, etc.
-
I've never used a GPS. My Android phone has navigated my car and walking in DC and Europe.
For the bike, I use a Beeline. It's a dongle Bluetooth to my phone. It gives arrows and distance markers for a quick look and attaches to the handlebars. It has it's own Navigation Ap and can also supposedly load map files. I got it from a member here for a good price.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1897/8919/files/1.02_device_UI_image_OPT.png?v=1613815757)
-
For the bike, I use a Beeline. It's a dongle Bluetooth to my phone. It gives arrows and distance markers for a quick look and attaches to the handlebars. It has it's own Navigation Ap and can also supposedly load map files. I got it from a member here for a good price.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1897/8919/files/1.02_device_UI_image_OPT.png?v=1613815757)
Me too! I just have to remember that the Beeline has a mind of its own, and will not necessarily take me to my chosen destination, via the route I had in mind. Sometimes it is simpler to shut the navigation, and start again from my new start point.
-
Roy, you can build your own maps with the Ap. The key is build your map step by step rather than designating a destination and then editing the route. I find the same issue with every map program I've tried to use. There is also the option of loading GPX map file but I've never been able to do that.
RK, I like the Beeline because I can keep my phone in the tankbag and keep it plugged in. I use an auxiliary battery but many bikes have a USB plug. You can also mount your phone like a GPS which would still need have a power source over time.
-
I use a Garmin GPS because the screen is big and my eyes like that. Plus some cell phones use cell towers for the "GPS" and in Idaho it is very easy to get out of cell phone range. I also like to use BaseCamp to make my routes/tracks and upload them to the GPS. I like to make a track when I want to go on a specific path to my destination other than the one the device will pick for me. I have considered getting an older tablet for a big 10" screen but have yet to find one cheap with true GPS. :bike-037:
-
Very timely thread as I have spent the last few days doing the deep dive on this topic. Superb synopsis by usedtobefast. A lot of work went into your post and I am very appreciative. The biggest negatives with using an iPhone are as mentioned damage to camera focusing due to vibration, not adequately waterproof especially at the USB port, not glove touch functional. Possibly the biggest negative is if the phone pops out of the mount and is lost or damaged so it doesn't function, that is a big dent in the fabric of our lives. Especially when you are in the middle of nowhere 3 states away from home. If the same happens with a GPS it would be a bummer, but the damage has been limited and you still have your phone. Also, if you do happen to go down on your bike and are injured, it is a big plus to have your phone on you and not on your bike that you may not be able to get back to. I find the Beeline interesting because many times that is all I want, a prompt on my next turn. I still sometimes write my major routes out in large print and place in the map pocket on my tank bag. Old school but works. Been researching the Zumo XT and TomTom 550 and Beeline, with the Zumo XT looking like the choice, but it ain't cheap at normal price of $499.00. Regardless of what I may or may not end up with, I will always carry plastic covered trifold maps. Durable, reliable, large overview and not dependent on electricity. :boozing:
-
+1 on the Garmin XT over the 6XX series. Vastly improved readability (brightness).
-
Most android mapping apps let you download offline maps.
Maps.me is on my cheapy cell phone. I have the US and Canada on an SD card.
Once in a while I ask it which way to home.
Once in a while I'll ask it to help with the last mile to get to a destination.
Don
-
I still use paper maps..🤷♂️🤷♂️
Not when you’re locating pre booked accomodation in Berlin, 2hrs after dark, in the pouring rain you won’t... :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Mine told me I had “reached my destination”, at the moment I rode under the awning at the front of the hotel..
-
I’ve used an old Tom Tom rider for years. Will replace with a Garmin zumo this spring before my trip out west with the War Department (Wife).
-
This thread came along just in time. I just started looking into replacing/supplementing my Android phone with a dedicated GPS unit. The phone works great for the most part but I do worry about it getting shaken to bits on mixed surface rides. Would rather have it in my pocket than bounced and vibrated on the bars. Would also prefer it in my pocket if I were to go down and become separated from the bike and injured.
Can anyone comment on Zumo vs. TomTom or point to a good article? What are the risks of buying a newer model used one?
-
This is a topic on ADVRIDER now for years, lots and lots of info about using your phone as a GPS.
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/ultra-rugged-kyocera-phones-gps-smartphones-my-guide.1206076/page-309#post-43557880
-
Possibly the biggest negative is if the phone pops out of the mount and is lost or damaged so it doesn't function, that is a big dent in the fabric of our lives.
Don't use a RAM X-grip. That is a POS. Get a RAM Quick Grip to properly secure the phone.
-
I am a much more casual rider than years past, but still prefer Garmin waterproof models.
I've had very few issues with the waterproof versions. The automobile models will go wonky when rained on, even lightly. :angry:
I am an asphalt rider who uses RAM mountings and RAM or Garmin cradles.
My issue with cell phone navigation is signal. In the boonies it can be sketchy.
We use RAM X-grip cradles, with the rubber "tether", and iPhones. The grippers will work off if not minded.
Only had one problem with RAM X's so far. I connected to 911 securing Helen's phone, once. :embarrassed: The X grippers depressed the side buttons just right.
There is a big plus with Google Maps though. It will reroute you faster, and more reliably, if there are traffic delays ahead. That's been my experience in areas of high cellphone density.
As said before, we are casual riders. Wayne has, no doubt, logged more miles than I in the past ten years. My long distance, or year 'round, riding days are a blurry handlebar mirrored memory. Listen to the Wayne.
-
I am a much more casual rider than years past, but still prefer Garmin waterproof models.
..snip..
My issue with cell phone navigation is signal. In the boonies it can be sketchy.
I had a nice waterproof Garmin 276C that filled with water on a rainy ride. Another Garmin StreetPilot 3 that the power connector started to smoke on a rainy ride. I have had a lot of issues with Garmin's in the rain. No such issues with my Samsung other than the touch screen being goofy until it dries out.
What signal do you mean? I have used my smartphone on forest roads all over the Smokey Mountains where there is no cell signal. Still works great.
-
Wayne if your interested in repairing your Garmins I can recommend this guy. He worked miracles on our original 15 year old Nuvi and both of our Zumo s restoring them to better than original working condition. He does good work is fast and reasonable. Down side he is in Minnesota.
https://short-tronics-inc.business.site/
I found Garmin units to be too fragile. And too expensive to have them break all of the time.
I also like the numerous app/map options on a smartphone.
I have used nothing but the smartphone for over 10 years now. My broke GPS units are on a shelf.
Queue an idiot that thinks a smartphone does not work where there is no cell service in 3...2...1.... :boozing:
-
Used to do the Phone [I phone 6] in Province,mind you its the Praerie's, lol ,now Garmin Zumo, .... cause can be operated with Gloves in Rain and like to change it up from Fastest Route to Scenic ,all Gas stops and Hotels and Campgrounds are loaded.
-
I had a nice waterproof Garmin 276C that filled with water on a rainy ride. Another Garmin StreetPilot 3 that the power connector started to smoke on a rainy ride. I have had a lot of issues with Garmin's in the rain. No such issues with my Samsung other than the touch screen being goofy until it dries out.
What signal do you mean? I have used my smartphone on forest roads all over the Smokey Mountains where there is no cell signal. Still works great.
Had an old StreetPilot "brick" for years. Maybe all my "gully washer" rides were pre Garmin? When I'm running a windshield the GPS is tucked up close to the shield
My Verizon service iPhones are useless in some rural areas of western and northern WI. If I'm not on Google Maps in advance, good luck making the connection.
-
You don't need an embedded gps in a device that large. There are many GPS options that connect via USB. We use them for nav on boats a lot.
I may be a little slow to upload this idea......but are you saying I can connect my Garmin to a tablet for a big screen view? Totally awesome if I could work that out. Thanks for the tip. :bow: :thumb:
-
I had a nice waterproof Garmin 276C that filled with water on a rainy ride. Another Garmin StreetPilot 3 that the power connector started to smoke on a rainy ride. I have had a lot of issues with Garmin's in the rain. No such issues with my Samsung other than the touch screen being goofy until it dries out.
What signal do you mean? I have used my smartphone on forest roads all over the Smokey Mountains where there is no cell signal. Still works great.
Right, GPS isn't based on getting service. But the phone needs to have a charge. Also, my Beeline will glitch if the phone is on better saver. I keep the phone in the tankbag, plugged in and safe while it's Bluetooth'd to the Beeline.
OTOH, a dedicated GPS needs power too.
-
I'm not sure if you're talking about an entire garmin nav system (receiver and head) or just the receiver. I'm talking about just the receiver connected to a tablet or computer, running some nav software, like Navtrek, Rosepoint, etc. Some receivers run a proprietary language, and some speak NMEA XXX, which would be industry standard.
A GPS is just a signal receiver. It's not a real fancy device unless you need 0.01-meter accuracy. GPS signal is simply a continuous string of lat/lon data. It's actually readable text. You can direct the output to screen and watch it. It combines the signals from as many satillites as it can find to overtriangulate your position. The more satillites it can find, the more accurate it is.
On the boats we'd mount a receiver (tiny mushroom or puck-looking thing) up in the rigging and run USB down to a standard windows laptop or tablet. The nav software sees the receiver and uses its data to plot a position on a chart. If you've got a garmin mushroom (or puck) and it talks over USB using the standard language, there's a very good chance that it will work this way. I've gotten pretty good marine results with rather inexpensive, generic receivers. I get good signal in cars too, even with the receiver sitting on the floor.
Can't you do the same thing with your cell phone?
-
OK, from some of the photos posted here, I know some of you pursue each of the two alternate options: do you use a dedicated navigation device (e.g., TomTom), or just the mapping program on your cell phone? And why? Thanks.
I ran COPILOT GPS program on an older waterproof Android phone for years, and bought the Tom-Tom last year, mainly for the ability to plot my route on the computer and send to the device. I really like the Tom-Tom and it's wireless connection to the computer. I can leave it on the bike in the garage, plot my route and send to the unit from the couch. Is also easy to load new waypoints or routes when on the road with my small laptop, plot routes from the unit itself, manage multimedia and a bunch of other things. I grew tired of the old cell phone route, even when I used my 'good' new phone as a hotspot and tried to navigate with google maps.
I now just use that phone for music and for the Moto Guzzi Program and module while on the Stornello. It was hard to use it for all 3 things when on the Stornello.
The Tom-Tom was my first 'real' GPS unit on a motorcycle. I did try to use an old car based Garmin, but the Phone Nav was much better. Very happy I made the decision, and it swaps between al my bikes easily with a Ram mount.
-
I'm not sure if you're talking about an entire garmin nav system (receiver and head) or just the receiver. I'm talking about just the receiver connected to a tablet or computer, running some nav software, like Navtrek, Rosepoint, etc. Some receivers run a proprietary language, and some speak NMEA XXX, which would be industry standard.
A GPS is just a signal receiver. It's not a real fancy device unless you need 0.01-meter accuracy. GPS signal is simply a continuous string of lat/lon data. It's actually readable text. You can direct the output to screen and watch it. It combines the signals from as many satillites as it can find to overtriangulate your position. The more satillites it can find, the more accurate it is.
On the boats we'd mount a receiver (tiny mushroom or puck-looking thing) up in the rigging and run USB down to a standard windows laptop or tablet. The nav software sees the receiver and uses its data to plot a position on a chart. If you've got a garmin mushroom (or puck) and it talks over USB using the standard language, there's a very good chance that it will work this way. I've gotten pretty good marine results with rather inexpensive, generic receivers. I get good signal in cars too, even with the receiver sitting on the floor.
WOW. Thanks for the detailed reply. Think I'll just stick to the Garmin and stop to break out my readers when I need to see it well. ;)
-
My Verizon service iPhones are useless in some rural areas of western and northern WI. If I'm not on Google Maps in advance, good luck making the connection.
3...2...1...Bingo, we have another winner. :rolleyes:
It still amazes me the number of people that think a phone needs cell service for the GPS to work.
-
I found Garmin units to be too fragile. And too expensive to have them break all of the time.
I also like the numerous app/map options on a smartphone.
I have used nothing but the smartphone for over 10 years now. My broke GPS units are on a shelf.
Queue an idiot that thinks a smartphone does not work where there is no cell service in 3...2...1.... :boozing:
My Zumo 660 has been good for 300,000 miles. Mostly do custom routes so I chose the roads I want to ride instead of the GPS or smart phone choosing the roads.
The smartphone is not going to provide traffic information where there is no cell service and you have to think ahead and download offline maps for the area you want to ride in which takes up memory on the phone. Oh and a smartphone doesn't work as a smartphone without cell service or WiFi. It will work as a camera, and run some offline programs, but that is about it. They are designed to be connected.
-
The smartphone is not going to provide traffic information where there is no cell service and you have to think ahead and download offline maps for the area you want to ride in which takes up memory on the phone. Oh and a smartphone doesn't work as a smartphone without cell service or WiFi. It will work as a camera, and run some offline programs, but that is about it. They are designed to be connected.
With my Android phone, with downloaded Google "offline" maps, with the phone in airplane mode (so no WiFi or cell service), I can look up hotels, gas stations, restaurants, pick a place to go, route there, etc using Google Maps.
I can't make a phone call, or reserve a room in a hotel, but all the GPS functions work.
But I have had issues venturing into an area that I did not have the offline map for ... then it is useless (with no cell service).
-
Personally I prefer a cheap second hand E-bay TomTom in a water proof case used sound off
If it comes off the bike I loose 15 quid rather than 4 or 5 hundred for the bike specific sat nav or phone
-
The smartphone is not going to provide traffic information where there is no cell service and you have to think ahead and download offline maps for the area you want to ride in which takes up memory on the phone.
I'm not sure what you are saying. NOTHING will provide traffic info without a data connection.
And a map of the entire US with POIs is about 4GB. I have a few apps with most of the US on my phone, which fits easily, so I can go about anywhere without planning ahead.
BTW, the traffic info thing (using Waze) has saved me many hours, possibly days, of just sitting in highway traffic. A great thing to have.
-
With my Android phone, with downloaded Google "offline" maps, with the phone in airplane mode (so no WiFi or cell service), I can look up hotels, gas stations, restaurants, pick a place to go, route there, etc using Google Maps.
I can't make a phone call, or reserve a room in a hotel, but all the GPS functions work.
But I have had issues venturing into an area that I did not have the offline map for ... then it is useless (with no cell service).
You like what you like, I like what I like. I like having my phone on my person. One of the main reasons I like having my phone on my person is a story I read many years ago where a rider went wide on a turn and down an embankment. He was injured and couldn't be seen from the road. He had to drag himself to the bike to get to the cell phone to call for help.
If/when my Garmin Zumo 660 ever dies I'm not sure what I will do. Many years ago when I bought it we were not using smart phones.
Like I said in my first post, I use the GPS, paper maps, and the smart phone.
Paper maps give me a general view of where I am and the surrounding areas without having to fuss around on the phone or GPS zooming out and losing too much detail, or sliding the screen around.
The Smart Phone allows me to look things up quickly and conveniently when I have cell coverage.
The GPS allows me to create custom routes to where I ride on the exact roads i want to ride on, or I can enter in the location of many different Historic Markers in random order and tell it to create an optimum route to all the Historic Markers and it will.
I'm used to all of it and it works for me.
I'm not saying my way is better than your way. I'm saying it works for me, and nothing you post is going to convince me to change unless my GPS dies, or I dump the smart phone when I retire.
-
I've been using the ToM Tom Rider 550 for about 2 years and love it. Every now and then they have a special on them and I paid $240 which was a total bargain. I think it is $400 now.
Scott
-
Years of using a TomTom, also subscribe to the theory of keeping my valuables on me and not on the bike. There are good deals as mentioned above from time to time of brand new TomToms on EBay for half price. Easy enough to connect to the already provided hot switch (green /black ) available on the Guzzi…plus they are glove friendly, water proof and heat proof.
-
I've been using my cellphone and up to now it has served me well, only crapping out once due to overheating. However I often ride solo and have a growing concern of being separated from my phone.
I'm leaning towards a Garmin Zumo XT. Head to head vs. the TomTom 550 is seems to be an overall better tool. I especially like the Adventurous Routing option to include unpaved roads.
Speaking of possible accidents, is anyone using a crash detection/reporting device or app for Android? I started looking but it seems like limited options and performance.
-
Speaking of possible accidents, is anyone using a crash detection/reporting device or app for Android? I started looking but it seems like limited options and performance.
Our family has Life360 installed on all of our phones. It has crash detection. I have no idea if it works. No one has crashed yet to know. :wink:
-AJ
-
The thing I dislike most about phone navigation is you can't (easily) use the touch-screen with a glove on. Having to pull off a glove every time you want to look at something on the phone is a royal PITA. I bought a pair of expensive KLIM gloves that were touted as "touch screen phone friendly" with some magic threads on the index finger. Nope! Big waste of money. I use RidewithGPS as my course routing app on my computer. I can then convert it into a GPX file for the Garmin. A dedicated GPS will always be my primary navigation device, with a phone as a back up.
-
Funny, I leave my phone in my pocket, say Hey Google and tell it to take me wherever. I get voice instructions through my Sena unit.
-
As I mentioned in an earlier post a few days ago, this is a timely thread for me and I have really enjoyed the wealth of knowledge posted here to add to my research. My choices are the Zumo XT, Tom Tom 550 and the BeeLine Moto. Having used my phone in the past I have decided I want to keep that on my person and not risk loss or damage to the iPhone and access to it if I "unexpectedly" become separated from the bike. Using an older (cheaper) phone was an option I hadn't considered. All these have their pros and cons and everybody has their own criteria what is and isn't essential. After much targeted thought and countless YouTube videos I have consolidated what I want out of this device, and my choice is the BeeLine Moto. First and foremost I want simplicity.
I want to know when I turn and enough lead time for that turn. Easily with a quick glance. I want to either have a designated route mode or use the compass mode and explore with the arrow always adjusting & directing me to my end point. I don't require audio input. I don't need topo views and birds eye views. I want to pay attention to my actual ride and not keep referencing a "large, bright, easy to read in any daylight touch sensitive screen." Like I said, everybody is different. After watching a Brit named Henry Crew give a positive review going around the world with one, then it will certainly suffice for my needs. If I need more info on route detail, gas, food & lodging my iPhone is ready and waiting. I texted BeeLine Moto in England to get more info and I got not one but three follow up texts within a day. I am comfortable with the upgrades they have made in company & product in the last 3 years and I am gonna give it a go.
-
tommy....
Very interested in your choice (thanks for posting). But.... wait, now you need TWO devices? Onboard and charging (or draining charge)? Please post back after you have had some time/experience with the Bee. Please, thanks.
-
The BeeLine holds a charge for 30 hours and can be charged with the provided USB cord. Your iPhone, once the app is connected via Bluetooth to the BeeLine
can then be placed in Airplane mode which conserves battery. So the phone only has to be charged at the end of the day. You could also charge the phone via USB on the bike with the phone in the tank bag, but again, it is no longer on your person which I am trying to avoid. I would strongly urge you to check out the multiple YouTube videos available. Both the BeeLine company videos on set up and the other guy I referenced (Crew) are quite good. There a few negative reviews, but I think some of the issues have been resolved with upgraded software. I also like the ease with which you can remove the unit and take it in for the night for security or transfer to another motorcycle. The unit comes in black plastic, or Gunmetal gray or aluminum. At first I thought I would go with the Gunmetal gray metal (the metal ones cost $50.00 more) just because I thought it might be more substantial. But they are all rated equal on dust and waterproof, and for me, having less mass might actually be better. I ride a V 85 so it will fit that type of bike well. If I had more of a cruiser or custom bike I might opt for the metal choices. The unit is pretty versatile. Check out the videos.
-
The thing I dislike most about phone navigation is you can't (easily) use the touch-screen with a glove on. Having to pull off a glove every time you want to look at something on the phone is a royal PITA. I bought a pair of expensive KLIM gloves that were touted as "touch screen phone friendly" with some magic threads on the index finger. Nope! Big waste of money. I use RidewithGPS as my course routing app on my computer. I can then convert it into a GPX file for the Garmin. A dedicated GPS will always be my primary navigation device, with a phone as a back up.
The GPX will import to the phone and display on a Beeline. I've not mastered GPX or a map maker program. Is RidewithGPS free? Can I use it on my computer?
-
I don’t use GPS much in North America but for Europe the Nav in my BMW K1600 is a game changer. Trying to navigate back roads and city centres in unfamiliar countries can be difficult at best without a good GPS. The in dash Nav provides great road maps, calculates fastest, scenic, no-tolls etc.
-
The GPX will import to the phone and display on a Beeline. I've not mastered GPX or a map maker program. Is RidewithGPS free? Can I use it on my computer?
The basic version of RidewithGPS is free. For advanced routing features, you pay a subscription, but I used it for years free before deciding to subscribe. I prefer it that much. It started as a bicycle routing app. For me at least, it is far and away the easiest route planner to use. I've fooled around with most of them. The developer is pretty accessible too. I sent him an email with a question I had about the program and he answered me straight away.
-
I build routes on google maps and then use the google maps app on my iphone.
I am too much of a tech neophyte for anything else.
For a while I tried to follow along with the GPS discussions at ADV but these people are far too advanced for me.
I had a TomTom Rider for a while, god what an annoying piece of crap that was. Crashed w/ broken ribs, stranded, lost, cold, in the rain, flat tire, waiting on tow truck, gear stolen at a trailhead and riding home bare foot.... I have NEVER EVER EVER been as frustrated on a motorcycle trip as I was when trying to use a TomTom Rider GPS. If I haddn't paid a couple hundred bucks for the thing I would have chucked it in the woods on at least 3 occasions. I tried with that thing for a month, and then sold it on ebay eventually.
I carry a Rand McNally Gazetteer for NC in my top box and a cell phone in a vibration-damping holder on my handle bar. I seem to get anywhere I wanna go.