GPS for the bike

[Magnesium]

I never realised what a ballache it would be getting to places I didn’t know directions to off the top of my head. In the car it’s just a little cheeky peek at my iphone, however on my bike I have to pull over, take my glove off and look a complete tool.

In summary....I need a sat nav! Any recommendations? Or in fact any suggestions other than a sat nav? I'm a little old school and like maps et al.

In other news. I work for a magnesium alloy manufacturer (hence my name), unfortunately I work on the medical side of things; however my colleague is off to Ducati next week. He's a keen biker (fireblade owner) so has asked for a test drive...they couldn’t be happier to let him lose on their various offerings. They've actually set aside an afternoon in the meeting’s agenda for him to go round the track. What a lucky *******!

[moppy]

Tank bag with see through top bit to stick map/gps in.

Stick GPS in your pocket & plug some headphones in.

Get a somewhat decent phone that comes with Google Navigation, hey presto, free, very good sat nav.

[J.M.]

1. Get some paper.
2. Write down a list of road names to get to where you want to go
3. Stick it to the inside of the bike somewhere.
4. Take a glance down for what road you need next.
5. Learn the routes.
6. Don't need the notes next time.

Works a treat for me. Got me down from mine, through London, to Paddy's no problem. Also got me from mine all the way to see me girlfriend (160 miles) no problem.

I find that doing that you just learn the routes so quickly compared to a SatNav (I've tried that before). After doing the 160 mile journey to hers, I found my way home without any help and back to hers again the next time with no help.


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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[bazza]

1. Android phone.

2. Google Navigator.

3. Earphones.

Job jobbed.
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[Irn-Bru]

I got a handbar mount for my iphone + waterproof case. That + TomTom app + headphones = great. One thing you need to do is disable screen rotation, otherwise it goes all over the place unless you're a perfectly straight road.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Peirre oBollox]

The most obvious question before giving recomendations is "what is budget does the OP have for a satnav?"
Once they've decided, sensible recomendations can be given. Especially as satnavs can range in price from £10-£20 right up to several hundred £'s and that's not taking into consideration options for audio feed to the helmet, music and mounting the thing on the bike
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[Vincent]

I bought all the parts for this set up second hand and it worked out really cheap, I also have a Garmin but don't like to leave it on the bike in case it gets nicked:-

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/PB101016.jpg
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Space Is Deep

[Notj7]

Get a smartphone mount for your handlebars. Mine was called RAM MOUNT (google it), I had one on my old bike and when I sold it I just transferred the mount to my new bike, albeit on the other handlebar this time.

You can also get a cheap bluetooth headset (really flat speakers that velcro to the inside of your helmet, google - you can get a cheap one from Hong Kong for £30) for your Satnav Directions spoken if you don't want to have to look down all the time.

Obviously not waterproof, but when it's raining and you have a bluetooth headset just put your phone in your pocket and trust its directions - I have done this many a time and it's been fine
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Left the forum.

[Shinigami]

I got some Chinese waterproof sat nav from eBay, replace the crappy software with Igo primo and works a treat. Quick to respond and ridden in heavy rain with no probs. Blue tooth earpiece and also plays music (which goes quiet when instructions are given )
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Magnesium]

Thanks guys. Well since I have a smart phone, seems logical to start there. I'll go for the mount and Bluetooth headset then see how it goes. Is there anything on the market to charge the phone while im riding? I'm new to biking so have no idea about this sort of stuff. Cheers

[pepperami]

https://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t87/pepperami_photos/IMG_0329.jpg

Something like this?

I`ve just come back from Scottyland using this set up.
Worked a treat It was out in the worst rain I`ve ridden in years and years.
Believe it or not the screen keeps it remarkably dry.
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[panrider_uk]

Tomtom Rider has a bluetooth headset so you can also use it to listen to music and answer phone calls.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[ttr]

I just have a cheap shitty garmin from a few years ago.

Handlebar mount, no audio and no waterproofing.

If it rains I google maps it first and take a gamble on finding my way somehow or another. Usually works.

This is probably the cheapest solution at a maximum of maybe £40, and the possibility of getting lost and wet makes things more exciting.
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GS125-> NT400->VFR400->CRM250->Z750 + GS125->NTV650 rat + VMX1200->GSF600 + GPz550

[Peirre oBollox]

[_Iain_]

Bar mount £10 off ebay, charger kit £25 ebay.

Bosch, however using satnav and riding is a bit lethal. Dont like it myself!
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Gazza M]

i use a bit of duct tape with roads written on stuck to the tank. might upgrade to a map when my tank bag turns up...
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Past: '07 YBR125, '00 GPZ500S, '99 ZRX1100, '98 CBR600 track bike, '97 ZX9R
Present: '05 R6 track bike, 140 pit bike

[_Iain_]

Post it notes on the tacho is a winner too.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Tarmacsurfer]

I use my phone (original Desire) in a waterproof pouch, strapped to my left forearm. The nice thing about doing it this way is that with the addition of some conductive thread to the right index finger of your glove you can still use the phone and play music and so forth when coupled to a bluetooth headset in the lid, music automatically cuts out for GPS instructions (Sygic is remarkably good for bike use, you can pretty much ignore the screen and follow the voice prompts as it gives road numbers) and kicks back in.

A bit OT but something else I've started using fairly recently is an app called "Tasker", allows you to create scripts. One of my favourites is the fact my phone now registers when a headset is connected - either via bluetooth or wired - and when it is then it reads any incoming texts to me, along with the name of the sender. Incredibly useful as there's no stopping to mess around if it's not of any urgency. It does a variety of other stuff as well, switches wifi on and off according to location, automatically turns off the keyguard when the handset is connected to my home wifi so there's no need to constantly enter a PIN and so on (useful as my mobile controls the HTPC).
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[map]

Just came across this thread.
Have been thinking of posting a question asking what the current GPS offerings are.
I know this is asked regularly but models do change and refurbished offerings come around based on the older stuff.

Anyone have any experience of the MAPPY mini 330 (e.g. as here) ?
https://brain.pan.e-merchant.com/3/1/07754313/t_07754313.jpg


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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[cimbian]

Google maps before leaving. Print and laminate is what I did last time out in the wet.

My GPS in the car gives too much info sometimes.
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22PlusY
Current: Moto Guzzi 1100 Breva. Previous: Honda XL650V TransAlp
Bearded, Balding, Born again Buddhist Biker

[gorillaonabik...]

Satnav from car into a bike satnav bag. I use a Kappa bag which attaches to the handlebars.

For power, I have a 12v socket attached.

Bizarrely, the satnav works well as it copes with thick gloves.

If you take this route and buy a car satnav, a word of advice is to ensure it is the right size for the satnav bag.

I personally prefer the satnav functionality over an iPhone (although I could put the iPhone in the bag). This is elements such as being able to manipulate it while wearing gloves, route options, changing colour during the day / night etc... However, I use the satnav a lot so for a casual user, this might not be an issue.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[psychodame]

[toastedblue]

I bought a really cheap tomtom xl off ebay, opened it and wired in a headphone socket...

https://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/539285_4722393259110_828232929_n.jpg

just stick it in my pocket and works a treat

just ordered a power supply so I can charge it on the move or bung it under the seat when parked up.

[Vincent]

Good idea, I've just openede up the little Garmin I use to see if I can do something similar. Did you just connect the earphone socket to the speaker connections?
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Space Is Deep

[toastedblue]