Motorcycle gps gadget

[Wikky]

I've been looking at Garmin and Tomtom devices.
Does anyone have views on these and recommendations, good or bad?

I've been using Waze on my phone with it connected to my helmet comms but it doesn't seem as good for plotting multi-stop routes.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

Having had Garmin & BMW satnags I’m now curious about this simpler version...

Motorcycle sat nav

Motorcycle sat nav, made simple. Beeline Moto’s interface guides you in the clearest manner possible with one big arrow pointing in the direction

beeline.co

More cost effective than getting the Triumph connect module on my Scrambler XE.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Having had Garmin & BMW satnags I’m now curious about this simpler version...

Motorcycle sat nav

Motorcycle sat nav, made simple. Beeline Moto’s interface guides you in the clearest manner possible with one big arrow pointing in the direction

beeline.co

More cost effective than getting the Triumph connect module on my Scrambler XE.

I got one, i like the small size and no wiring needed. Works OK but it messed up in Spain when it had me on a tiny parallel road and got confused.

 

[glenn2926]

I have a Garmin zumo 660. It’s a good few years old now but it’s been brilliant. I much prefer Garmin over Tom Tom but that’s just personal preference. The beauty of Garmin is Basecamp to plot routes the install them onto the sat nav. The BMW branded sat nav is Garmin, I can and have put my zumo straight in the mount on my brothers BMW. I do not have it bluetoothed to my helmet and have it muted so just visual guidance.
I would definitely buy it again.

 

[Baldeagle7470]

I looked at this a while ago,thought would leave it until more user reviews.
Looks handy and I am fed up with struggling to hear the Bluetooth to my helmet.

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[glenn2926]

Forgot to add, we used beeline in Sardinia. It was hilarious. Quite strange at first. We all had a go with it. Just an arrow telling you which way to go at your next turn and a countdown to said turn. Advantages are, no wiring it rechargeable, easy to swap between bikes, routes can be plotted on your phone, disadvantages, it’s quite small so need to get used to looking at it, you need to remember to recharge it, if you’re swapping it between riders remember to to get the phone it’s talking to off the rider that used it last . I wouldn’t buy one but it’s better than nothing.
My son bought it and I don’t think he’s used it since.

 

[Pops 1]

I use a TomTom Rider 500 and am very happy with it. I find it easy to use and you can plan multi stop routes with it. You can also choose various routes to your destination including twisty routes if you fancy a bit of fun.
It is hard wired onto the bike with the head unit being removable and you can Bluetooth it to your helmet. I can also direct my phone and music player through it to my helmet.
A great bit of kit which I have used all over the UK and Europe without incident.

 

[Wikky]

I use a TomTom Rider 500 and am very happy with it. I find it easy to use and you can plan multi stop routes with it. You can also choose various routes to your destination including twisty routes if you fancy a bit of fun.
It is hard wired onto the bike with the head unit being removable and you can Bluetooth it to your helmet. I can also direct my phone and music player through it to my helmet.
A great bit of kit which I have used all over the UK and Europe without incident.

The Rider 500 was one I was looking at as I don't need world wide maps which come with the 550. I did see somewhere that traffic data on the 500 is available for just 5 months. Is that your experience also?

 

[Geistguy]

Been using a Garmin Zumo for 8 years, after several trips abroad it has never let me down, bluetooth works well with precise and clear instructions. Like all sat navs sometimes the route doesn't seem logical but has always got me to my destination.
The "twisty route" function is brilliant.

 

[Lee337]

I just use Google Maps on my phone via a BT headset. No having to look down at anything. It does rely on having a reasonable BT set

If you download the map, you don't even need a mobile signal as long as your phone is GPS enabled. Used an old phone with no sim card in Portugal a few years ago & it seemed to work fine.

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[Howard B]

I have used Garmin for the past 15 years and currently use a Garmin 595. Happy with the unit, but Basecamp is awful. I have stuck with Mapsource for plotting my routes.

 

[Tigertom]

I use a Tomtom rider 550 and like it.
Calimoto, a ‘phone app , is fun and useful.........worth downloading and free for local rides if you don’t want to subscribe.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

I use Zumo 660 on the bike. I also prefer Mapsource to Basecamp for route plotting.

 

[glenn2926]

I use Zumo 660 on the bike. I also prefer Mapsource to Basecamp for route plotting.

Great isn’t it? We do things differently. I cannot use map source it’s just far too complicated for me. I find Basecamp very used friendly.

 

[LesW]

Great isn’t it? We do things differently. I cannot use map source it’s just far too complicated for me. I find Basecamp very used friendly.

When Basecamp was created, (mainly 'cos Mapsource wouldn't work with MAC computers) there were rumours that Mapsource would cease to exist.

So I learnt to use (the over-complicated) Basecamp, with success I might add.

Then I found out that Mapsource would carry on being available, so reverted back to that, I am surprised that you find Mapsource to complicated, as it is a first class route creating program, without all the unnecessary 'extras' found in Basecamp.

..but as you say we all do things differently.

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[Nico]

Another vote for TomTom and using the twisty roads option if you have the time. We used them to come out of the Nurburgring on a Sunday afternoon to get over to Spa and it took us across some fab roads that were quiet and well surfaced.

Glenn2926 re post 6 - I was thinking of getting a Beeline to try out. If its the metal version and your lad is thinking of getting rid, let me know

 

[robnchris]

I use a Garmin Zumo 395Lm on all my bikes the screen size is adequate to see and the unit size isn't too big to fit in your pocket.
Though I always carry a set of good old paper maps in case Zumo gets lost and trys to take me somewhere I don't want to go.

 

[glenn2926]

Another vote for TomTom and using the twisty roads option if you have the time. We used them to come out of the Nurburgring on a Sunday afternoon to get over to Spa and it took us across some fab roads that were quiet and well surfaced.

Glenn2926 re post 6 - I was thinking of getting a Beeline to try out. If its the metal version and your lad is thinking of getting rid, let me know

It’s the one about the size of a wrist watch. I think he’s keeping it to use on his bikes.

 

[Pops 1]

The Rider 500 was one I was looking at as I don't need world wide maps which come with the 550. I did see somewhere that traffic data on the 500 is available for just 5 months. Is that your experience also?

I don’t tend to use the traffic data on the bike so not sure how long it’s available for.
However, on my car TomTom it’s been there for years so I can’t imagine the bike one would be any different.

 

[ChrisL]

google maps and google my maps are free and you can use google my maps to create custom routes in advance either on your phone or on a PC for transfer to your phone. The link describes the process.

Road Tripping? Build a Custom Google Maps Route for Your Phone

Need to create a customized map to use in the Google Maps app? Here's how to build your route so you're ready to travel.

www.lifewire.com

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[LesW]

google maps and google my maps are free and you can use google my maps to create custom routes in advance either on your phone or on a PC for transfer to your phone. The link describes the process.

Road Tripping? Build a Custom Google Maps Route for Your Phone

Need to create a customized map to use in the Google Maps app? Here's how to build your route so you're ready to travel.

www.lifewire.com

Couldn't be doing with using my phone as a satnav on my bike, waterproofing it, can’t use it with gloves, poor lighting etc.

Much much prefer a dedicated motorcycle unit.

 

[glenn2926]

google maps and google my maps are free and you can use google my maps to create custom routes in advance either on your phone or on a PC for transfer to your phone. The link describes the process.

Road Tripping? Build a Custom Google Maps Route for Your Phone

Need to create a customized map to use in the Google Maps app? Here's how to build your route so you're ready to travel.

www.lifewire.com

Your phone is not a lot of use as a sat nav on the bike. Bike sat navs tend to be water proof, shake proof and dust proof and can be used with protective gloves on. At one time the local motorcycle dealers were keeping a Garmin motorcycle sat nav in a bucket of water to show prospective buyers how water proof it was. For some reason they didn’t keep a Tom Tom in the bucket. I never asked why.

 

[ChrisL]

I have a waterproof phone housing, I've done hundreds of miles across France in torrential rain with no problems at all, the phone is connected to my headset by bluetooth and once set up I don't need to touch it again, I can use voice commands to change music, call someone etc. it works a treat. And of course navigate.

 

[WillinFrance]

Have used the Garmin Montana for many years on a number of motorcycle's. Have done many road and off-road trips. Today it's mainly used for off-road trail riding in France, Spain and Portugal. BaseCamp is good at planning a multi stop route for road and trails. Plus you can download free detailed maps of Europe.
No Bluetooth connection, but never needed it. It's also easy to download the route from the the PC to Garmin and also the route taken from Garmin to BaseCamp.
A very rugged device...

 

[Jaws]

I've been looking at Garmin and Tomtom devices.
Does anyone have views on these and recommendations, good or bad?

I've been using Waze on my phone with it connected to my helmet comms but it doesn't seem as good for plotting multi-stop routes.

Had all sorts of Garmins over the years, then a couple of years ago I tried a TT... Used it for a year and sold it with the bike..
Went back to Garmin

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[Wikky]

Thank you for all the responses. Clearly there are supporters of both devices(TT and Garmin).
It may come down to price for me as Garmin 396 is cheaper than TT550 and should do an adequate job. I'll have another look at Sportsbikeshop then.

 

[maison]

I use a Tomtom rider 550 and like it.
Calimoto, a ‘phone app , is fun and useful.........worth downloading and free for local rides if you don’t want to subscribe.

I have been trialling Calimoto too, for the last couple of weeks as lockdown has lifted.

Easy to use and reliable. The free version, allowing “local rides” to be planned etc covers the whole of Wales, so gives plenty of scope for me. I have found that it is fairly power hungry so will need a USB connection if riding anything other than a route of 2 hours or less. Works well though and the route directions are clear and accurate.

 

[Jackd]

Had Garmin 660 on bikes for many years. Used it for trips all over Europe. It gets things wrong frequently and you have to learn to use it as a guide and not the definitive. As for basecamp.......... LOL
Decided to give Tom Tom a go and never looked back. Far more user friendly for me personally. Just intuitive.
Now also use the Tom Tom HGV in the Moho. Excellent.

 

[rnb100]

Tom Tom Go 550 Live for me. Excellent bit of kit.

 

[LesW]

As for basecamp.......... LOL

Couldn't agree more, to much clicking on the screen to create a route, much easier using Mapsource.

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