Audio SatNav and best "A" class bike.

[Tony Norton]

Hi all,

first of all, a question that I am not in desperate need of an answer to, but it would be interesting, to me: -

Does anybody know of a small SatNav that has an audio output via an 3.5mm phono socket? I reckon that riding a motorbike has so many things that one must keep an eye on that to add a SatNav screen to the equation is just a step too far. Looking to the future I would like a SatNAv that I could pop in a pocket and listen to the instructions via my ear pods. I do have the Ridermount GPS Audio, but my gut feeling is that it requires too many wires floating about.
Any ideas?

A second thing, relating to my original "Advice needed for a Newbie" post. I think I have found the ideal bike to get through the "A" class tests. It is the Kawasaki Z650. It is "A" class, just! 50.2KW but shorter, and narrower than my beloved 500 Rebel and the same weight. I reckon it should be more manoeuvrable. So I have bitten the bullet and bought one. It has been lowered and adjusted to suit me and will be registered and taxed from 01/07/23 so I'm looking forward to some interesting practice sessions, and, hopefully, Mod1 and Mod2 passes.

Happy biking to all

Tony

[MCN]

Some folk swear by their phone as a SatNav.
Some swear that a Tom Tom is all you need for a SatNav.
I use Garmin in my car and on my bikes. Car SatNAv and Bike SatNAv.

The Garmin Bike models have features that nothing else provides.

Bluetooth comms is useful then you can use airpods and do not have additional phaphery of a cable. (Which works but is an erse of a thing when the BT tech is relatively inexpensive now.)

As to distractions.
You just use it when possible.
When spoken commands are available there is almost no need to look at a screen.

Phone as a SatNav? I have not seen any app that can compare to the systems that Garmin use.

Phone apps are maybe available for $$ ££ but again I have not seen any that I would even give $£ for.

Some Apps need Internet to work. Navmi is one App I use and It is practically s4ite.
Maybe fine if you do not use proper SatNavs but the app is extremely not friendly to navigation on the move.

Tom Tom Satnavs are limited too. I have experience of those.


Garmin are probably expensive but if you will use a SatNAv more than Now-And-Again the investment is worth it.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Ayrton]

If it's just for the audio I found Google maps on a phone to be fine. Cant see why you'd want to pay a lot for a real satnav if you aren't going to use the screen.

[Tony Norton]

Hi MCN,

my guess is that you may be on MCN staff, and therefore an experienced biker.

[Nobby the Bastard]

Nope, he works in the oil industry.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[grr666]

I'd love an old Renault 5 GT Turbo. Used to love those mad little cars.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[WD Forte]

I have two Android tablets with free offline gps apps on them
I like the big screen in the car
plus a spare android phone with google offline maps on it I can and have used as a satnav.
You wont get traffic and some other info offline of course

Openstreetmap for Android is free and pretty good and there are other free offline apps too.

You could probably even use google maps on your PAYG phone providing
it has sufficient data

even giffgaff allows you 20GB
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bikers smell of wee

[MCN]

[dave001]

i just use the phone on the bike as I got a helmet with Bluetooth.

the Audi has satnav built in but i find the phone more convenient.

[to v or not to v]

[A100man]

On the rare occasion I go somewhere when I don't know the way. I look at a map before hand and write the sequence of roads /big towns.

For precise local directions I'll use OSM viewer on my phone for the last mile. Back in they day I'd buy a town plan from news agents on arrival.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[MCN]

[Easy-X]

The in between option is that Bluetooth directional thingy they have on some of the latest Royal Enfields.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[rpsmith79]

[grr666]

Come on Tony, get with the program. You're lobbing thousands at a bike collection, get a £150 Sena kit and a
quadlock mount, it's less than the cost of a mid range lid.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[stinkwheel]

On the rare occasion I use a GPS for navigation, I use OSMand for android which is an offline mapping system using open street map data.

I just use it on my tablet but it works on any android device with built in GPS (rather than the signal triangulation system). I think there's one of the samsung phones you can pick up cheaply that was notorious for the SIM bracket breaking rendering it useless as a mobile phone but it can still connect to wifi to download the map packages and has GPS so it knows where it is.

The annoying American voice gives you mostly accurate directions with no need to look at the screen. It tells you about speedbumps just as you hit them.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Easy-X]

[to v or not to v]

back in the day, i used to check a map then write the route out on a piece of paper and stick it on my tank.

nowadays i just follow my nose. i dont have anywhere particular to be and getting lost can be fun.
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
its old and fat, but its a damned good ride. the bikes not bad either.

[stinkwheel]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AJFCJaX8L1kagKj7d1cCGp7W17u0uZl9Q0Q-ROdV4kMwlDkfjSvavceQsDbslCtzazKk_9jZBoOK-jgY4_D7kikFgkfewLogkbUK2ANRGqMPXgJc9s40yrlSQ-gQUz0bKZJC8D996kl3URmzIqaEMLiI3H_b=w1160-h870-s-no
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.