Motorcycle Sat Nav vs Phone App

[MotorcycleTourer]

Morning TMFers!

 

In light of an upcoming trip, I was thinking this morning about the pros & cons of using a dedicated motorcycle sat nav over a phone app (or vice-versa.)

 

From a personal standpoint, I find a dedicated sat nav to be better whilst on the bike. But I find them fiddly to use, a nightmare to set up, with dated user interfaces, and about 16 million unnecessary menus that I have to Google when something isn’t working. And then there’s the ridiculous cost of them.

 

Phone apps aren’t quite as good on the bike, but their functionality is intuitive (we’re used to smartphones these days), they’re quick, they’re cheap (many are free), they’re accessible, and they’re convenient. Plus there is an abundance of choice.

 

Do you have a preference over one or the other? And is it worth sacrificing the quality of a dedicated unit for the sake of convenience, choice, ease of use, and cost?

[Ian Frog]

A query guaranteed to get multiple opinions.

As a person who only seems to use a satnav to get me to a specific destination rather than plan a route I am happy using google maps both here and abroad.

I will be interested in the input you get from others who use them more creatively than I.

Cheers

Ian

[raesewell]

This is a bit of an old chestnut, the subject has been covered ad nauseam. Try a forum search. The short answer is, both.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I've tried a satnav and found it too distracting. I tried various phone apps and didn't get on with any of them. So I went for a Beeline. Very simple display that just has an arrow telling you which way to go, a dot that tells you which direction your next turn is and how far away it is, and a bar that tells you how far along your route you are.

 

It runs via bluetooth from an app on your phone which allows you to plan routes in advance.

 

I like the app which works well for me. I like the minimilist display which is easy to see at a glance. Battery life is excellent. The only quibble is that in built up areas where there are multiple turns very close together it can confuse you as you don't get the same road layout as a satnav. But then satnavs are 100% accurate and I've got lost using them as well.

 

If you go wrong it recalculates very quickly.

 

 

[husoi]

As @Ian Frog says you will get as many answers as members in the forum

Here's my personal opinion

 

My circumstances:

Intercoms connected to either phone or sat-nav (on screen map becomes secondary)

Plenty of sockets to charge any device known to mankind  

2 bikes. A long range ST1300 and a cruiser Shadow 700 for the shorter one day trips.

 

My choice:

 

Both the phone and Sat-nav.

 

Phone with short trips on the Shadow, will get instructions on the intercom via waze no need for on screen map at all times

 

Touring, the Sat-nav rules. Had a poor experience with the phone on last long tour where temperatures above 30c almost melted the phone. It kept overheating if the screen was on all the time. The battery life was very low because of the need of increased brightness to compensate for sun glare. (here in Scotland is called the weird shiny thing in the sky).

 

Which Sat-nav? the best you can afford. I followed our guru's @Stu (may he be blessed  ) and got myself a Garmin zumo XT.

[James in Brum]

If I could easily afford a satnav I would have one. For how little I need one I try on Map and planning to get me near to where I am going. Occasionally I use google maps with earbuds in. 

[MotorcycleTourer]

25 minutes ago, Ian Frog said:

A query guaranteed to get multiple opinions.

As a person who only seems to use a satnav to get me to a specific destination rather than plan a route I am happy using google maps both here and abroad.

I will be interested in the input you get from others who use them more creatively than I.

Cheers

Ian

Same. I knew there would be a healthy division in preference, but that’s why I asked... somebody always comes up with a helpful point of view that I never thought of!

[MotorcycleTourer]

18 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I've tried a satnav and found it too distracting. I tried various phone apps and didn't get on with any of them. So I went for a Beeline. Very simple display that just has an arrow telling you which way to go, a dot that tells you which direction your next turn is and how far away it is, and a bar that tells you how far along your route you are.

 

It runs via bluetooth from an app on your phone which allows you to plan routes in advance.

 

I like the app which works well for me. I like the minimilist display which is easy to see at a glance. Battery life is excellent. The only quibble is that in built up areas where there are multiple turns very close together it can confuse you as you don't get the same road layout as a satnav. But then satnavs are 100% accurate and I've got lost using them as well.

 

If you go wrong it recalculates very quickly.

 

 

Ahhh that’s a good point actually, I forgot about the Beeline. I remember doing some research on them once, and the opinions were even more divisive than GPS vs phone! Maybe that’s another question for another day

[MotorcycleTourer]

19 minutes ago, husoi said:

As @Ian Frog says you will get as many answers as members in the forum

Here's my personal opinion

 

My circumstances:

Intercoms connected to either phone or sat-nav (on screen map becomes secondary)

Plenty of sockets to charge any device known to mankind  

2 bikes. A long range ST1300 and a cruiser Shadow 700 for the shorter one day trips.

 

My choice:

 

Both the phone and Sat-nav.

 

Phone with short trips on the Shadow, will get instructions on the intercom via waze no need for on screen map at all times

 

Touring, the Sat-nav rules. Had a poor experience with the phone on last long tour where temperatures above 30c almost melted the phone. It kept overheating if the screen was on all the time. The battery life was very low because of the need of increased brightness to compensate for sun glare. (here in Scotland is called the weird shiny thing in the sky).

 

Which Sat-nav? the best you can afford. I followed our guru's @Stu (may he be blessed  ) and got myself a Garmin zumo XT.

Definitely, the sat nav wins hands down on the bike. I’ve had similar issues with overheating, and I struggle seeing my phone in harsh sunshine. I must admit, I do struggle with sat nav with only voice guidance though...

[husoi]

Just now, MotorcycleTourer said:

Definitely, the sat nav wins hands down on the bike. I’ve had similar issues with overheating, and I struggle seeing my phone in harsh sunshine. I must admit, I do struggle with sat nav with only voice guidance though...

You're not alone. I got lost with on screen map 

[Copycat73]

i have a number of Garmin sat-nav units for different vehicles .. they do exactly what it says on the tin .. use of a computer is strongly advised .. i avoid crap apps on the phone .. free ones are sh1t and paid for expensive .. also vibrations have a habit of damaging phones and water don`t help either ... not to mention phone signals and gps.

[husoi]

1 minute ago, Copycat73 said:

i have a number of Garmin sat-nav units for different vehicles .. they do exactly what it says on the tin .. use of a computer is strongly advised .. i avoid crap apps on the phone .. free ones are sh1t and paid for expensive .. also vibrations have a habit of damaging phones and water don`t help either ... not to mention phone signals and gps.

That is a valid point, although I'm a huge fan of waze and never had any sort of problem with it.

Having the UK left the EU data charges will become expensive so you want offline maps if you're abroad. This will be the greatest advantage of dedicated Sat-nav.

For Scottish remote areas (pretty much anywhere outside Glasgow and Edinburgh) you will want to use apps like Navigator which allows you to download the maps and work offline.

 

Having a IP67 phone helps on water protection and I never had problems with vibration so I can't comment on it. 

Yes phone connection is a pain when isn't there but I never found a problem with GPS link.

[S-Westerly]

GPS on the bike every time. I use a Tom-tom one and it's clear and easy provided you set it up right. Mine has coverage for the whole of Europe assuming I ever go back there.

 

Not sure about roaming charges becoming more expensive as some non European destinations are equally cheap. Most phone providers have said they will stick with the status quo. Obviously this is subject to change

[raesewell]

I guess people just like talking about sat navs. 

[Ian Frog]

Just now, raesewell said:

I guess people just like talking about sat navs. 

Could be worse I suppose.

At least it`s not oil or tyre pressures lol.

Cheers

Ian

[husoi]

15 minutes ago, raesewell said:

I guess people just like talking about sat navs. 

Or some of us are not just lurking and actually like to express their opinion and somehow be helpful  

[Copycat73]

20 minutes ago, raesewell said:

I guess people just like talking about sat navs. 

Yep .. and there are plenty of other threads for your pontification ..  

[Fleck]

I bought a beeline for occasional use here and in Spain. Works OK. I like the small size and no wiring involved. Also it uses Google Maps navigation so is up to date. If I needed it every day I'd probably get a waterproof holder for the phone though in fact I've got one somewhere. 

[raesewell]

1 hour ago, husoi said:

Or some of us are not just lurking and actually like to express their opinion and somehow be helpful  

As this topic has been extensively coved in the past many times, we have already been very helpful. A search is all that is required.

[James in Brum]

2 hours ago, raesewell said:

I guess people just like talking about sat navs. 

It’s the difference between a forum and a database for me. If I just want reviews or thoughts I would search but probably on the internet asa whole. I come here and ask questions because I also want conversation/interaction/engagement along with knowledge.

[Stu]

5 hours ago, James in Brum said:

If I could easily afford a satnav I would have one. For how little I need one I try on Map and planning to get me near to where I am going. Occasionally I use google maps with earbuds in. 

I can do you a deal on one  

[James in Brum]

I have a small court case at the end of the month. I’ll see how thy goes before deciding to spend money

[raesewell]

Just now, James in Brum said:

It’s the difference between a forum and a database for me. If I just want reviews or thoughts I would search but probably on the internet asa whole. I come here and ask questions because I also want conversation/interaction/engagement along with knowledge.

Nice post.

[husoi]

Just now, Stu said:

I can do you a deal on one  

Talk about sense of opportunity eh? 

[husoi]

3 minutes ago, raesewell said:

As this topic has been extensively coved in the past many times, we have already been very helpful. A search is all that is required.

We're all old people.

Don't you know old people like to repeat everything lots of times?