Garmin or Google Maps?

[Hammo]

Hi , I am not a technophobe so can anyone help me out here , i have no sat nav on my R18 Classic . i have fitted a duel usb/c port and wonder which is best to use for touring buying a Garmin or using Google maps on my android phone , using your phone are you depending on it not running out of data ? or the battery going flat , any advice is quite welcome.

 

[Petrus]

I use Michelin.

 

[LBV]

I've got a Quadlock mount attached to the middle of the handlebar on landscape mode and use my phone. As long as you have it powered from the usb port you'll be fine for power and it uses little data so I wouldn't worry about that unless you have some small data plan like 1GB per month.

 

[emgarciax]

Keep it simple, get a Beeline Moto II.
https://beeline.co/products/beeline-moto-ii


No need for power cabling, as it charges via USB and lasts > 12 hours. I've used it over a whole weekend of riding with no need to charge.
Battery impact on the phone is minimal, not irrelevant, but the phone I keep on the jacket so while GPS uses energy, the screen is actually off.

But, just as important is the fact that the Beeline app is extremely easy to use, the maps are very good with virtually every POI (Garmin jargon) available.
It's very easy to edit a route or modify it. This is often not mentioned enough.
Routes are saved on the cloud, so I can pull the iPad on the hotel or at home and edit route there with more screen for easier planning. When I go to the iPhone app, it's all there.

Also the puck (the actual Moto II device) acts as an interface to the app and you can skip waypoints with it, no need to take the phone out. Just recently they added the option to start a route from the device itself. They keep improving on it!

You can get voice instructions (turn by turn) so if you have a Bluetooth helmet you can get those right to your head. The puck does provide the map (of course) and a visual cue (blink lights on top) when the turn is to be executed.

IMHO this is a beautiful design and implementation of both: hardware and software.

For the record:
I am (was) fluent on BMW Motorrad Navigator V and VI and Garmin's BaseCamp
Also got to use and fluent on BMW ConnectedRide cradle and app.

If you're looking for simplicity, and classic looks, this is the way to go.

NOT affiliated to Beeline in any way shape or form.

 

[Rider0974]

I use a garmin sat nav on my VN 1600 outfit, housed in a waterproof
case with clear plastic front bought on ebay. Attached to the handlebars
with a RAM mount. I've been using the same set up for several years on
various bikes. Not needed on the TC as I use the built in sat nav.

 

[skidward]

Keep it simple, get a Beeline Moto II.
https://beeline.co/products/beeline-moto-ii


No need for power cabling, as it charges via USB and lasts > 12 hours. I've used it over a whole weekend of riding with no need to charge.
Battery impact on the phone is minimal, not irrelevant, but the phone I keep on the jacket so while GPS uses energy, the screen is actually off.

But, just as important is the fact that the Beeline app is extremely easy to use, the maps are very good with virtually every POI (Garmin jargon) available.
It's very easy to edit a route or modify it. This is often not mentioned enough.
Routes are saved on the cloud, so I can pull the iPad on the hotel or at home and edit route there with more screen for easier planning. When I go to the iPhone app, it's all there.

Also the puck (the actual Moto II device) acts as an interface to the app and you can skip waypoints with it, no need to take the phone out. Just recently they added the option to start a route from the device itself. They keep improving on it!

You can get voice instructions (turn by turn) so if you have a Bluetooth helmet you can get those right to your head. The puck does provide the map (of course) and a visual cue (blink lights on top) when the turn is to be executed.

IMHO this is a beautiful design and implementation of both: hardware and software.

For the record:
I am (was) fluent on BMW Motorrad Navigator V and VI and Garmin's BaseCamp
Also got to use and fluent on BMW ConnectedRide cradle and app.

If you're looking for simplicity, and classic looks, this is the way to go.

NOT affiliated to Beeline in any way shape or form.

I agree with everything said above. The only drawback in my opinion, is that the map display is very basic and it can be difficult to see where you need to make a turn at "confusing" intersections, offramps etc. I have not used the voice instructions.

 

[Mac]

To me it depends on your use. I like to explore unknown roads and sometimes have to ‘find’ my way back, or I look for ‘alternative’ routes. I like to look at a junction ahead and think is that a dead end or does it go roughly where I want, so I like to look at a map of some sort.

Due to the aesthetics of fitting on the Classic I really wanted the Beeline Moto. It is a small device and doesn’t shout look at my large screen on the bike. However where I ride I often have no mobile signal and was not sure based on reviews as to what happens in this situation. Some reported alternative routes were automated and some stated it just tried to get you to reverse track to the original route, emgarciax will have better intel on that.

I tried Google maps on the mobile, including downloading the maps for no signal areas, that didn’t use much data but my phone became hot and used a lot of battery so would need to be plugged in anyway. That may have been a setting I didn’t know about but I like to have traffic information reach me and I had not turned off data so I guess the phone continually searches for a signal.

I had a Garmin Zumo XT available and struggled as to where to fit it to not interfere with the looks of these lovely machines. I ended up clamping the Zumo to the screen mount using a Ram mount small clamp. This meant the device is sat low behind the bars next to the speedometer. I still have an uninterrupted view of the bars etc so my OCD doesn’t kick in! Wiring is straight forward as it routes under the tank and I used the spare power plug that sits above the battery. In future I may pick up the smaller version of the XT3 that has just been released when I tell the misses mine has gone faulty! It has a smaller overall size and would hade even better. Having just had to replace my Shoei and intercom it will not be this month .

So in summary I guess it depends what you want to do and how you ride.