Motorcycle Sat Nav vs Phone App

[Stu]

I prefer a sat nav over a phone mostly due to the fact that they are waterproof and work really well with gloves on where as a phone isn't always waterproof and not that great when using it with gloves on 

 

I also plan my routes through a program the way I want to go and google maps is somewhat limited in that respect and as are a lot of other apps 

 

I know people who used to swear by a phone then they got a sat nav and their mind was changed! aint that right @Hoggs  

 

 

3 minutes ago, 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.

You mean not all of us are miserable bast*rds that go round correcting spelling and grammar??

 

 

[Pie man]

For what its worth, I prefer a dedicated sat nav especially for route planning. I bought the KTM app, good as it is, it doesn't half suck the life out of the phones battery. The phone/app is good for shorter journeys in my opinion, but for touring etc a dedicated sat nav works well for me.  

[Tiggie]

I used to use my phone but I didn't have a mount so it would go in my jacket pocket and I would follow the the spoken directions via earphone 

 

A lot of swearing done when I would miss a turnoff, and it would happen a lot 

 

  Don't forget everyone that @Stu still has a sat nav available to buy, I believe it even spell checks your entered destinations 

[Tricky]

Does anyone forego the satnav when touring and just use a map?

 

I'm hoping to have my first go at touring this year and I'd like to pack as light as possible (I understand that's half the battle) so I'd rather not bother with a satnav. I figured I can always check the maps on my phone if the map and signposts aren't enough.

[husoi]

3 minutes ago, Tricky said:

Does anyone forego the satnav when touring and just use a map?

 

I'm hoping to have my first go at touring this year and I'd like to pack as light as possible (I understand that's half the battle) so I'd rather not bother with a satnav. I figured I can always check the maps on my phone if the map and signposts aren't enough.

It will depends where you're touring.

I can't see how a sat-nav device will take too much space. Mine goes in the trousers pocket when I'm not riding.

On the other hand, having a paper map will add to the adventure. You may take the wrong left and only find out 10 miles down the road when you have to stop at the farm's gate  

If touring in UK then the phone should be fine as long you know that you eventually will run out of battery unless you can charge on the go.

Abroad you will have to allow either roaming data that will cost you an arm and a leg or buy a sim card for the country you're visitng.

[Stu]

54 minutes ago, Tricky said:

Does anyone forego the satnav when touring and just use a map?

 

I'm hoping to have my first go at touring this year and I'd like to pack as light as possible (I understand that's half the battle) so I'd rather not bother with a satnav. I figured I can always check the maps on my phone if the map and signposts aren't enough.

 

If you're worried about space you're doing it wrong if you're thinking of forgetting the sat nav

 

With it being mounted to the bike it's not a worry and you can get locking mounts so you don't have to remove it all the time 

[Copycat73]

1 hour ago, Tricky said:

Does anyone forego the satnav when touring and just use a map?

 

I'm hoping to have my first go at touring this year and I'd like to pack as light as possible (I understand that's half the battle) so I'd rather not bother with a satnav. I figured I can always check the maps on my phone if the map and signposts aren't enough.

orienting a map with a phone .. good luck wit that one .. signposts and phone signals .. Ha ! Ha! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! 

[Tricky]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

 

If you're worried about space you're doing it wrong if you're thinking of forgetting the sat nav

 

With it being mounted to the bike it's not a worry and you can get locking mounts so you don't have to remove it all the time 

 

It wasn't just to save space. I should've been a bit clearer on that

 

I watched a video that Neevesy at MCN put up about motorcycle touring and he advised to forget the satnav. He seemed to suggest that they just got in the way and you just end up slavishly following the nav's directions rather than feeling like you're exploring. And that they frequently cause arguments because they contradict what you can see on signposts.

 

I'd just be touring in the UK and in Europe.

The video in question.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNlVuZF0CE

[Tricky]

28 minutes ago, Copycat73 said:

orienting a map with a phone .. good luck wit that one .. signposts and phone signals .. Ha ! Ha! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! 

 

 

I was going to take a compass

 

The phone idea was more to stop and consult it if I got a bit lost.

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

11 minutes ago, Tricky said:

 

It wasn't just to save space. I should've been a bit clearer on that

 

I watched a video that Neevesy at MCN put up about motorcycle touring and he advised to forget the satnav. He seemed to suggest that they just got in the way and you just end up slavishly following the nav's directions rather than feeling like you're exploring. And that they frequently cause arguments because they contradict what you can see on signposts.

 

I'd just be touring in the UK and in Europe.

The video in question.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNlVuZF0CE

One reason I like the Beeline. You can have it follow a set route or you can put it into direction mode when it will always point towards your destination but not give any directions.

 

That means you can just explore roads that look interesting and know you're heading in the right direction.

[Stu]

29 minutes ago, Tricky said:

 

It wasn't just to save space. I should've been a bit clearer on that

 

I watched a video that Neevesy at MCN put up about motorcycle touring and he advised to forget the satnav. He seemed to suggest that they just got in the way and you just end up slavishly following the nav's directions rather than feeling like you're exploring. And that they frequently cause arguments because they contradict what you can see on signposts.

 

I'd just be touring in the UK and in Europe.

The video in question.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNNlVuZF0CE

 

See I beg to differ! 

 

I tend to use mine to plan a route to where I am going to be staying and places of interest and I also use it free hand ie if I am going for an explore I just ride then use it to navigate back to base 

 

Or set a point of destination and just ride where I want knowing the sat nav will get us there eventually even if I do take the roads that look good. 

 

I have mine set to avoid U turns and that way if it tells me to do a U turn I know I MUST turn around! 

 

You don't have to follow the sat nav but just the general direction it's telling you to go knowing you will get there eventually 

[Gerontious]

17 minutes ago, Tricky said:

 

 

 

I watched a video that Neevesy at MCN put up about motorcycle touring and he advised to forget the satnav. He seemed to suggest that they just got in the way and you just end up slavishly following the nav's directions rather than feeling like you're exploring. And that they frequently cause arguments because they contradict what you can see on signposts.

 

I'd just be touring in the UK and in Europe.

Some people have very odd ideas about the purpose and use of sat navs. Prime example here, though he’s not alone in that mind set. Far from it

 

if you have put together a route then presumably that route is where you want to go,  maybe you have chosen roads that look interesting or want to stop off at a particular village that has something of interest, or you have been advised has a particularly good eatery or cafe.

 

but they are not fixed in stone, unless you are the type that can’t cope with a bit of variety.  See an interesting sign and turn off your preplanned route to “go look” - I do that all the time!! The sat nav will simply recalculate to get you back on track. And there’s nothing to stop you from continuing to ignore it, unless or until you’re ready.

 

”they frequently cause arguments” - when I turn off... firstly why would anyone know or care?  The only people who have that kind of issue are those who organise tours with a fixed itinerary. “We’re going from here to here, via here. Lunch here. Coffee break here and arriving here at 5pm... where dinner and a bar awaits.” You will only get arguments if you have shared the route with other riders and you have someone who will have a panic attack if it changes. Deal with it.

 

been plenty of times that there have been so many diversions off my preplanned route that I’ve simple winged it.  Turned it off, so that sat nav simply records where i am. I might turn it back on later.. or might not. Depends. Then... press the home button and see how far it says I am from home or the hotel. How long it should take to get there and just follow the recommendations. Or not, as the case may be.

[Tricky]

Thanks everyone. Some very useful feedback.

 

I've never done any touring at all so I don't have a clue.

[S-Westerly]

On occasion my satnav has taken me on some "interesting " roads which on balance I'd have preferred to avoid. Its also taken me on many really good roads and like any electronic device there is a large degree of "garbage in, garbage out". If I'm roaming an area its useful for when I want to finally get to my destination and just key it in and ask for fastest route.

[Stu]

4 hours ago, Tricky said:

Thanks everyone. Some very useful feedback.

 

I've never done any touring at all so I don't have a clue.

 

The best tips I can give is use a sat nav and learn to ignore it when you want and follow it when you want and never panic if you take a wrong turn! you will always get there. 

 

Also learn how to use it as if you have a pre planned route that has waypoints or shaping points whichever you use you need to be able to easily skip one or two if the route changes for whatever reason 

[Breezin]

I've never had a satnav, and don't understand the need for one  over a decent phone  either on earbuds only or in a decent holder.

I use Waze, G Maps and sometimes Calimoto on the phone and never had an issue.

Edited March 18, 2021 by Breezin

[husoi]

11 hours ago, Breezin said:

I've never had a satnav, and don't understand the need for one  over a decent phone  either on earbuds only or in a decent holder.

I use Waze, G Maps and sometimes Calimoto on the phone and never had an issue.

If you read the comments above you will see why some of us mere mortals have them.

[Yorky]

11 hours ago, Breezin said:

I've never had a satnav, and don't understand the need for one  over a decent phone  either on earbuds only or in a decent holder.

I use Waze, G Maps and sometimes Calimoto on the phone and never had an issue.

Not knocking the above, I use Waze a lot in the car/van. But none of these will let you pre-plan your route to any great accuracy. They will take you there the fastest route which isn't necessarily what you are wanting.

And yes, I know you can choose to ignore them

[husoi]

Another point...

 

Both phone gps and sat-nav are great at predicting arrival time.

This is very useful when you have a ferry to board

[Ian Frog]

7 minutes ago, husoi said:

Another point...

 

Both phone gps and sat-nav are great at predicting arrival time.

This is very useful when you have a ferry to board

and great fun to beat lol.

Cheers

Ian

[Gerontious]

25 minutes ago, Ian Frog said:

and great fun to beat lol.

Cheers

Ian

and a ready source of evidence.

[Ian Frog]

Just now, Gerontious said:

and a ready source of evidence.

How very true.

Hence I tend to make a note of the suggested time then turn the thing off till I am within a sensible distance and require directions to destination.

I seldom leave anything like sat-nav on for the bulk of any journey preferring to watch the scenery etc.

Cheers

Ian

[Copycat73]

12 hours ago, Breezin said:

I've never had a satnav, and don't understand the need for one  over a decent phone  either on earbuds only or in a decent holder.

I use Waze, G Maps and sometimes Calimoto on the phone and never had an issue.

then you should try one .. then maybe you`d be in a position to comment... but briefly .. the durability and usability of a phone is crap as a sat-nav fitted to a vehicle .. because it was never designed for that function..

 

[Breezin]

3 hours ago, Copycat73 said:

then you should try one .. then maybe you`d be in a position to comment... but briefly .. the durability and usability of a phone is crap as a sat-nav fitted to a vehicle .. because it was never designed for that function..

 

I understand the durability argument,   though I have a usb power supply for that.

What are the usability benefits over a decent phone app? As advertised above  not entirely compelling. 

On the downside, I see not only cost but also more handlebar clutter and additional faff factor.

[husoi]

Strange that we haven't anybody going for a handwritten map with notes and modern things like post-it...