Beeline 2 Sat Nav

[robinh73]

Evening all. I am looking into bike sat nav systems, mainly for use in the UK at this point in time. Has anyone got experience with the Beeline unit and in particular the newer mark 2 version? I like the fact it is so small but with a useable sized screen and also the fact it looks easy to transfer between bikes. It seems to get good reviews online but any feedback from the PH brethren is always solid advice. Cheers.

[Orchardab]

I have the 1st one and it’s great.

[Dark Side]

I didn't really get on with V1 but gave Beeline 2 another go as my bike's bult-in navigation is rubbish. In my option, the mapping on V2 is much clearer than the compass on V1 and I like being able to design a route in Calimoto and upload it to the Beeline app on my phone in a minute or so.

[On Cam]

I have v2 and it's great. But be aware for speed camera and traffic visibility you need to pay a subscription.

[jhoneyball]

beeline 2 is superb. V1 was a first go, and it feels it. But it was still very useful. V2 is streets ahead. Gave my V1 to a mate.

Not tried the subscription on the V2 yet. But I use an apple CarPlay unit on my two BMWs running Waze

[Raoul Duke]

I’ve also got the V2 and think it’s great.
I upload routes from Calimoto if I want to choose a fun route, or the standard Beeline app, if I just want to get somewhere quickly.

Haven’t tried the subscription option yet, so would be interested to hear from anyone who does that can confirm whether it's just fixed location cameras, or if links with Waze etc to provide live updates on mobile van locations?
For £40 p/yr, I’d probably pay the extra, if it does that as well.

[robinh73]

That all sounds like high praise and confirms what the online reviews say. I think I will get one and see how we get on. Thanks again all for the input, very much appreciated.

[SamG40]

I've just used a beeline 2 to get around the vosges, down to Switzerland, then up through the Black Forest, upload a gpx to it in the Black Forest to do a fun loop I found and then home. Its not perfect and sometimes the 'fun' routes its suggests aren't fun they are just slow back roads through all the villages etc but overall it was great. I've got a Monster so didnt want a big screen on it. For the size of it the functionality is great.

[Dark Side]

SamG40 said:

I've just used a beeline 2 to get around the vosges, down to Switzerland, then up through the Black Forest, upload a gpx to it in the Black Forest to do a fun loop I found and then home. Its not perfect and sometimes the 'fun' routes its suggests aren't fun they are just slow back roads through all the villages etc but overall it was great. I've got a Monster so didnt want a big screen on it. For the size of it the functionality is great.

I find this with Calimoto sometimes too tbf. Around North Wales some of the roads it thinks are 'winding' are barely more than singletrack roads you can't get into a rhythm on.

[baxb]

Used my V1 a fair bit at home & Europe



I like the fact is unobtrusive, battery life is great, lasts 2/3 full days. As has been said the fun route is occasionally not great, but more often than not it's ok.

V2 seems to address the main issue of V1, which is it's a bit easy to go wrong on junctions with multiple directions with the small map.

Had my V1 2 & a bit years & like it & will likely go for a V2 (or whatever is around) when it's time to update.

[the cueball]

Dark Side said:

SamG40 said:

I've just used a beeline 2 to get around the vosges, down to Switzerland, then up through the Black Forest, upload a gpx to it in the Black Forest to do a fun loop I found and then home. Its not perfect and sometimes the 'fun' routes its suggests aren't fun they are just slow back roads through all the villages etc but overall it was great. I've got a Monster so didnt want a big screen on it. For the size of it the functionality is great.

I find this with Calimoto sometimes too tbf. Around North Wales some of the roads it thinks are 'winding' are barely more than singletrack roads you can't get into a rhythm on.

Calimoto tried to send me through farms when I used it..

It also keep trying to take me off great flowing "a" roads by turning right, turn left, left then right.. AKA a pointless slow loop of around 100 yards as it considered it more winding than the road I was on.

I accept user error played a part too...



What does this Beeline thing offer that is better than say google maps, which I use at the moment.. is it worth the swop?

[Moulder]

Didn't know you could pull up history, thanks baxb.

Not sure where Northern France, SW England, and the two Wales trips went.

This is a V1, but it has changed both local and longer trips. Decide start/end, put them in Google, drag the route around a bit, export to GPX, then set off.