Sat Nav on bikes or scooters
Discussion
I don't know of a single bike with a truly integral sat nav They either have a capability of displaying your phone on their own screen (normally through crap proprietary interfaces) or plug into an "optional", and extremely expensive, badged device from the likes of Garmin or Tomtom.
But, like above, I'd have to ask why you'd want an integral sat. nav.?
Keeping the maps, the POIs, the routing engine up to date will inevitably be expensive and require a visits to the dealer. If it's to include real time traffic updates then it'll need some form of communication capability, either linking to your phone or with its own SIM. If you're linking to your phone for traffic updates then you've defeated the point.
Buy a cheap but robust phone and a decent mount and use the likes of Waze or Google maps if you want something cheap and easy, or MRA Next if you want something more functionally rich. That whole package will be better, more flexible, cheaper and easier to manage than any integral sat.nav.
But, like above, I'd have to ask why you'd want an integral sat. nav.?
Keeping the maps, the POIs, the routing engine up to date will inevitably be expensive and require a visits to the dealer. If it's to include real time traffic updates then it'll need some form of communication capability, either linking to your phone or with its own SIM. If you're linking to your phone for traffic updates then you've defeated the point.
Buy a cheap but robust phone and a decent mount and use the likes of Waze or Google maps if you want something cheap and easy, or MRA Next if you want something more functionally rich. That whole package will be better, more flexible, cheaper and easier to manage than any integral sat.nav.
I know people roll their eyes because Quadlock are advertised to death, but I've been using the dampened contactless charging phone mount on my bikes with my Samsung S21 for years now and it's never let me down.
Clip the phone on, it charges instantly and you just use Waze / Google Maps as you would normally.
Can see why you might not want a mobile on display in major city centres but other than that I don't see the problem.
Clip the phone on, it charges instantly and you just use Waze / Google Maps as you would normally.
Can see why you might not want a mobile on display in major city centres but other than that I don't see the problem.
I’m currently on BMW Navigator VI number 5. All 4 of the ones I’ve had before have malfunctioned in some way and needed to be replaced FOC by Garmin.
It is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
It is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
Mark_S1000RR_2010 said:
I’m currently on BMW Navigator VI number 5. All 4 of the ones I’ve had before have malfunctioned in some way and needed to be replaced FOC by Garmin.
It is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
Totally agree ..the one on my S1000rr always let me down. I stopped using it about 4 years ago after it told me to take the 10th exit off a roundabout with 4 exitsIt is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
Triaguar said:
Mark_S1000RR_2010 said:
I’m currently on BMW Navigator VI number 5. All 4 of the ones I’ve had before have malfunctioned in some way and needed to be replaced FOC by Garmin.
It is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
Totally agree ..the one on my S1000rr always let me down. I stopped using it about 4 years ago after it told me to take the 10th exit off a roundabout with 4 exitsIt is utterly useless, sends you anywhere but the place you want to go and is a nightmare to programme. I use a quad lock and Google Maps on my phone these days, far easier.
markymarkthree said:
CHLEMCBC said:
K87 said:
Does anyone know of a bike with a built in sat nav that doesn't need a phone to be present?
Why?I have a very old Navigon sat nav, must be 20 years old and that works ok usually. I am bike hunting and my hobby involves going to new to me urban areas, directions street by street would be useful. I thought that one of the touring scooters or latest bikes might have a device built in to their display, just to be neat and thief or damage proof.
The message that I am hearing from you is that I am out of luck and if I want to go ahead it is going mean a smart phone.
i appreciate the fact that you have given your time in responding to my question, thank you.
Edited by K87 on Wednesday 12th March 11:56
When it comes to a Smartphone, you don't need anything special so an "out of date", thus cheep, model will be fine. Get a model with an IP (67 or 68 I think) rating then it won't mind getting wet.
Both Waze and Google Maps will give you street by street instructions and are free. My preference is Waze for the warnings like potholes, broken down vehicles and speed traps etc.
Both Waze and Google Maps will give you street by street instructions and are free. My preference is Waze for the warnings like potholes, broken down vehicles and speed traps etc.
black-k1 said:
When it comes to a Smartphone, you don't need anything special so an "out of date", thus cheep, model will be fine. Get a model with an IP (67 or 68 I think) rating then it won't mind getting wet.
Both Waze and Google Maps will give you street by street instructions and are free. My preference is Waze for the warnings like potholes, broken down vehicles and speed traps etc.
thank youBoth Waze and Google Maps will give you street by street instructions and are free. My preference is Waze for the warnings like potholes, broken down vehicles and speed traps etc.
This one is £25 and will do what you need with Waze or Google maps as stated above. Your local phone/game shop will probably have something similar. I just switched to a sim only mobile deal with a small provider that gives me 50gb of data for £8 a month. I use my previous - cheap Chinese - phone solely for sat nav on the bike - mainly because I have a waterproof case for it. I use Bluetooth to a headset but it's just as good with no sound, you just have to keep an eye on it a bit more.
CHLEMCBC said:
This one is £25 and will do what you need with Waze or Google maps as stated above. Your local phone/game shop will probably have something similar. I just switched to a sim only mobile deal with a small provider that gives me 50gb of data for £8 a month. I use my previous - cheap Chinese - phone solely for sat nav on the bike - mainly because I have a waterproof case for it. I use Bluetooth to a headset but it's just as good with no sound, you just have to keep an eye on it a bit more.
Thank you, looks a bargain.I used smart phones for work about 15 years ago. I dealt with the Middle East and doing emails at 3AM on a Blackberry smartphone was hell on earth, working 12 hour days 7 days a week. I swore then as soon as I could get out of the habit of smartphones then I just might be a happy man. I am aware that times change and many of the people I know live their lives on an iphone, I should just get on with it.
As I said, I was just thinking that bikes might have had something built in by now.
Thanks again
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