SatNav / Phone Mount / Bluetooth Ear Plugs
SatNav / Phone Mount / Bluetooth Ear Plugs
Author
Discussion

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

293 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
I would search but the bloody search isn't working again, I can find a squillion topics but not narrow it down to this section.

Being new to road biking I have a few questions:

I want a satnav as I have a crap memory. I have a Garmin on my dirt bike but they don't actually sell a powered handlebar mount. A non powered one is £25, a powered one that doesn't fit handlebars is £35 it seems you have to buy both furious

So I'm wondering whether to just fit my phone instead as I don't think I need the Montana's capability on the road, any suggestions for mounts, I've seen the quad lock is rated.

If I fit my phone presumably I could also listen to music via wireless ear phones or isn't that a good idea / noise levels too high ?

On my first 2hr ride I forgot to take ear plugs and even at 60 the wind noise was quite loud (LS2 Pioneer) and I couldn't hear my bike - an end can is on order




roboxm3

2,485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
My solution is my iPhone + Google Maps, in my bag connected to one of these: -

https://www.cardosystems.com/shop/freecom-4-plus/

And a pair of these in my lug holes: -

https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/earphones/se2...

The JBL speakers that come with the Cardo are decent but with the earphones you get the audio and noise cancelling in one, without worrying about separate plugs.

Got us to Milan and back without any dramas with the added benefit of rider to rider comms, streamed music and the ability to take phone calls if required.


vonhosen

40,597 posts

247 months

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

293 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
Thanks both, I hadn't thought about just using the voice directions and not seeing the phone.

I haven't ridden with others yet but the ability to talk to them sounds good too.

pessimal

339 posts

111 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
roboxm3 said:
My solution is my iPhone + Google Maps, in my bag connected to one of these: -

https://www.cardosystems.com/shop/freecom-4-plus/

And a pair of these in my lug holes: -

https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/earphones/se2...

The JBL speakers that come with the Cardo are decent but with the earphones you get the audio and noise cancelling in one, without worrying about separate plugs.

Got us to Milan and back without any dramas with the added benefit of rider to rider comms, streamed music and the ability to take phone calls if required.
how do you find the shures on a bike?

i have a pair with a cheapy bluetooth adaptor, but i'm not sure weather to give them a go as noise protection/entertainment.


Dibble

13,286 posts

270 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
Another vote for Ultimate Addons from me. Quad lock also look good, but the UA stuff is really waterproof.

I used a UA case for my iPhone for navigation. I’d just put it down in the handlebars and hadn’t clicked it into the holder, got distracted with glove faffing, set off and the iPhone came off at about 70mph. When I got back to it, the case was a bit scuffed on the corners but otherwise, the phone and case were both fine.

I know you’ve not asked, but I use the CoPilot app for navigation. It was about £25 when I bought it and it includes both Western and Eastern Europe, but you can also download individual countries or groups (like BeNeLux or Scandinavia), saving phone memory. It’s good for use abroad, as it doesn’t need a mobile data signal, it just uses the GPS chip in the phone. There’s plenty of options to “customise” the app (avoid motorways, avoid tolls, that kind of stuff, as well as options to tailor your speeds for different types of road, giving more accurate ETAs). CoPilot has got me all round Scandinavia without any issues.

Whichever Satnav/map app you use, make sure you know how to work it long before you set off. Trying to work it out on the side of the road is a rubbish plan.

TheCommuter

96 posts

108 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
I would search but the bloody search isn't working again, I can find a squillion topics but not narrow it down to this section.

Being new to road biking I have a few questions:

I want a satnav as I have a crap memory. I have a Garmin on my dirt bike but they don't actually sell a powered handlebar mount. A non powered one is £25, a powered one that doesn't fit handlebars is £35 it seems you have to buy both furious

So I'm wondering whether to just fit my phone instead as I don't think I need the Montana's capability on the road, any suggestions for mounts, I've seen the quad lock is rated.

If I fit my phone presumably I could also listen to music via wireless ear phones or isn't that a good idea / noise levels too high ?

On my first 2hr ride I forgot to take ear plugs and even at 60 the wind noise was quite loud (LS2 Pioneer) and I couldn't hear my bike - an end can is on order
I'll try and answer both questions...

You could listen to music via good noise isolating earphones like a Shure in ear earphone but I have found a combination of normal earplugs to minimise wind noise and a Sena helmet speaker for music+directions to be a good compromise.

Also you don't always need a phone or gps mount. These days I just keep my phone in my jacket pocket after entering the destination in Google Maps and just listen for directions via the Sena helmet speaker.

Max5476

1,021 posts

144 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
I'm very pleased with mine.

Tried various in ear head phones and helmet speakers, but not found something I feel works for me - yet.

MrsMiggins

2,867 posts

265 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
In my experience seeing the map is really helpful when navigating in built up areas as it's not always clear from the voice prompts which lane you should be in or even which turning is the right one.

bogie

17,100 posts

302 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
Another vote for ultimate add-ons mount. If you have a trickle charger lead fitted to your bike that comes out somewhere convenient you can get an adapter for £20 that turns it into USB power for the phone - handy on a long journey. Google maps works great for ad hoc use in good coverage areas, for longer journeys into remote areas I have the tomtom go app/maps installed on the phone .lts a tenner a year if you use it.

For audio i have a shark intercoms in my shark helmet which ive used when touring with pillion, its easy and fits well. Most modern helmets have cut outs for a headset which I find more comfy than wearing earphones. You can then wear regular ear plugs for the wind roar and still head helmet headset just fine.

V8RX7

Original Poster:

28,982 posts

293 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
Thanks - there are far more options than I thought.

Unfortunately the helmet I bought last week doesn't take speakers, I did see that on the review and thought it wasn't a problem - never used them off road.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
If you aren't hamstrung by not having a complete map then consider a Beeline Moto - I have one and it's magnificent.

roboxm3

2,485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
pessimal said:
roboxm3 said:
My solution is my iPhone + Google Maps, in my bag connected to one of these: -

https://www.cardosystems.com/shop/freecom-4-plus/

And a pair of these in my lug holes: -

https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/earphones/se2...

The JBL speakers that come with the Cardo are decent but with the earphones you get the audio and noise cancelling in one, without worrying about separate plugs.

Got us to Milan and back without any dramas with the added benefit of rider to rider comms, streamed music and the ability to take phone calls if required.
how do you find the shures on a bike?

i have a pair with a cheapy bluetooth adaptor, but i'm not sure weather to give them a go as noise protection/entertainment.
I get on well with them...perfectly comfortable once you’ve got them in right and block out sound well enough that you can have the volume relatively low and still hear music/directions/conversations.
The only slight faffage is the wire when you’re on and off with the lid but you do get into a routine with it.

roboxm3

2,485 posts

225 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
quotequote all
MrsMiggins said:
In my experience seeing the map is really helpful when navigating in built up areas as it's not always clear from the voice prompts which lane you should be in or even which turning is the right one.
I’d agree with this for built up areas e.g. Milan...when it’s hot...and raining...at night...but at worst you just have a quick peek at the screen to get the general of where you’re going and you soon work it out...

vonhosen

40,597 posts

247 months

Wednesday 29th January 2020
quotequote all
Max5476 said:
vonhosen said:
I'm very pleased with mine.

Tried various in ear head phones and helmet speakers, but not found something I feel works for me - yet.
https://www.ultimateear.com/product/bluetooth-soundear-motorcyclist/