Cheap Motorcycle Satnavs

[linuxyeti]

[Bonnie Lad]

Yes, as far as this exchange goes, entirely

[Courier265]

anyone got any popcorn??

[JAMSXR]

I used dedicated Navs for years and I’m so glad to now have a smartphone instead.

The user interface on even the expensive dedicated navs is absolutely awful, they’re big/cumbersome and the mapping is restrictive.

Now with my smartphone I can use Waze for point to point navigation, it smashes the granny out of anything else on the market.
For route planning and GPX files I use Scenic, so much easier than using the cumbersome Tyre software you need for Garmin and TomTom.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[talkToTheHat]

I don't really rate zip-up waterproof satnav/phone holders, I had an inexpensive one come apart on the a42 and came up the sliproad towards donnington holding on to my phone. Earlier on in the same trip i'd had problems with the holder leaking and causing random route changing screen presses. I have a pricey Givi holder and it still leaks a bit.

Waze is good unless you lose data connection for an extended period becasue in the sticks, more of a problem with recreational bike use than car use. Google map instructions are often a bit late. Co-pilot and osmand were awful. All phone satnavs need a charger system if you're running with the screen on, but google maps can work in a pinch with a phone in the pocket and a bluetooth headset.

Never been impressed with cheap satnavs in cars, wouldn't want to use one regularly on a bike even in a "waterproof" mount, although clear-topped tankbags may be an option.

I've got a tomtom rider 410 and it's really good. It works in heavy rain reliably, touch seems to work in heavy gloves regardless of how wet it is. Traffic and roadworks reporting is good. Works great in the car too and comes with car and bike mounts. I'd never leave it "locked" to the bike though. Speed camera database and average speed limit calculator is good when it works but doesn't always get temporary installations. Windy roads mode could be better as it doesn't seem that good at avoiding urban areas, but used with some planing and setting of waypoints it's not too hard to plan a nice flowing backroad blast.

For the most part cheaper options have encouraged me to look for better options. That said for the first two or three years of riding I got by with a map under the seat and perhaps route cards in my jacket pocket or taped to the tankbag on longer trips.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[JAMSXR]

Never had an issue using Waze offline. I drove across costa rica downloading the route in hotels and then driving offline for hours with no problem.
I do over 30k miles per year so think I’ve got relatively good experience when it comes to sat navs, and Waze is on another level to anything else.

My iPhone 8 is waterproof and the QuadLock system plus a USB port is far more tidy than my TomTom 410. My TomTom would also get condescension on the screen.

Horses for courses but I found the 410 was absolutely awful, and I let it go with my last bike for that reason. Just look at the TomTom forum, it’s littered with unhappy and frustrated customers.

I use a car for commuting, and I would think that’s the obvious time a dedicated nav would be better. All year round daily use, where a smartphone may not stand the test of time like a dedicated unit. However, after using my phone for weekend riding and touring, I would never go back to a dedicated device.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[DrDonnyBrago]

Stops the vermin nicking your phone if you commute through London I suppose.

[Copycat73]

[JAMSXR]

You won’t be able to rip off the Qaud Lock, you could probably lift the bike from it. You need to get to the clip underneath and twist it, something that would take a few moments while the bike is unattended, but not with a rider on the bike.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Stevie GooGs]

Just mounted mine, ultimateaddons Galaxy S8+

https://cdn.bcf.44bytes.net/files/2017-11-29-12452.jpg
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Copycat73]

[Stevie GooGs]

Ive been using them on my bikes since the original Samsung Galaxy, don't get any problems, my old ktm had no screen so it got the full blunt of it.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Falco]

Waze just updated with dedicated "Motorcycle" mode. I didn't get on with it but I might give it a shot.


I use co-pilot on the phone (moto 3g 3rd gen so *technically* IPX7 water resistant) in a £20 mount for an s3 that I cut the rubber internals to fit. Been through all weathers for the last 2 years still works.
Co-pilot is a bit weird and has a couple of flaws but overall it works pretty well.
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I tell you what, mathematically, I'm having it

[Stevie GooGs]

I use tomtom mobile £15 or £20 for the UK.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Hahadumball]

[thx1138]

I recently got an old Android phone for free, would cost pennies on ebay I reckon, I lashed it up to my handlebars with a water resistant armband that I wear jogging with smart phones in, connected it with it a short usb wire to the power supply I have on my bike and used a satnav app that uses GPS worked fine, no sim card in so no data connection away from home wifi.

[talkToTheHat]

I've had a moto G1 and G3, and whilst I've killed neither with water, wet screens cause issues with touch.

Might investigate new waze. The holy grail of satnav hat to be not needing to ever look at the screen let alone touch it whilst riding. Phone locked and inside jacket (or charging under the seat) is the best way to carry technology.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[sickpup]

So from where can you download the software and how is it installed?

[bamt]

I had an ultimate add-ons case for my S3. The dedicated power lead didn't have enough strain relief so the cable outer separated from the plug and the fine inner wires failed shortly afterwards. Twice, as you can't physically fit a standard plug in there so I had to buy the same again. The latches that hold it closed failed (plastic too thin around the hinge pins) so I ended up using velcro wrapped around it. The phone couldn't be left in a case, it has to go in naked ( or in a thin skin) - I fumbled it several times and ended up with a broken screen. Not a fan of these!

Now I use a small transparent peli case with a ram ball bolted to the back and a usb lead going through a hole in the back that is sealed and out of line of driven rain. My phone is protected in one of those wallet style cases, just fold the cover behind it and it fits, with some foam in the case taking up the slack. Very robust and rainproof, its been in daily use for about three years now. The only issue is that you can't operate the screen with the lid closed - but the lid protects the screen from rain if you open it to change your route. Ended up costing about £45 to make, but I'd have got through several of the cheaper ones in the time I've been using it and I have absolute confidence in it in any weather.

[Serendipity]

I run the free Navmii app on an old iPhone. The base maps are on the phone so doesn't hammer your data, yet keeps up to date with traffic conditions and will try to re-route you before you hit a jam. I also like that it reads road numbers aloud at big junctions so less of an issue if the screen is hard to see or the phone is in your jacket.

For power and mount I fitted a 12v cigarette lighter socket. Then I've got 2 of the Ultimate Addons cases. A soft zip up case designed for an iPhone 4, but I can just about shoehorn the iPhone 5 into it. I carry that in my bag all the time as its smaller and lighter. The second case is one of the big hard plastic cases like Stevie GooGs posted. It's huge and tough, but totally waterproof as long as you have a power cable or the supplied rubber bung fitted to seal the hole for the power inlet. Unfortunately I had neglected to fit the rubber bung when I, ahem, fell into the sea last year and sea water got into the case and killed the phone. I'm confident that the case would have done the job if I wasn't a lazy fuckwit.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[JAMSXR]

I’ve seen that Waze now has a motorcycle mode. I’m not sure it changes much but good to see we have been thought about.

https://9to5mac.com/2017/11/29/waze-hands-free-motorcycle-carpool-lanes/

I actually don’t mind glancing down at my nav when I’m riding windy b-roads, it helps to know what’s approaching. It was really useful on the B500 last year.
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Honda SFX50 > Aprilia SR125 > Aprilia RS125 > Honda RFV400 > K4 GSXR600 > KTM Duke > C1H 636 > K3 GSXR1000 > Aprilia RSV-R > Triumph Street Triple R > Ducati 899 Panigale > Aprilia Tuono 1100 > Triumph Daytona 675R > KTM SuperDuke 1290 2.0

[Courier265]

[Bozzy.]

I used my old Samsung S6 as a Sat Nav but found it used the battery faster than the charger replenished it! If I turned the screen brightness down to try to compensate, I couldn’t see it.

I now use an old Garmin car nav which I’ve ram mounted to the bars. It’s great, and if I damage it it’ll only cost £20 to replace.
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SV650S>>>Street Triple R

[Stevie GooGs]

Depends on what your using to charge the phone, I've got a s6 edge and use a 2amp charger and it works fine, full brightness and bluetooth etc.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[Bozzy.]