Sat nav on the big tft model

drdaveboy

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I'm getting a k16 next week px on my gsa was wondering how good the sat nav is , I understand your phone is connected up to use sat nav , does it use Google maps with your phone or garmin ?
Don't think using the chigee I just bought for the gsa is feasible with this

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk
 
drdaveboy said:
does it use Google maps with your phone or garmin ?
Click to expand...

No.

It uses BMW’s bespoke in-house, Connected app. This runs on a suitable modern smart phone. The TFT displays what is on the phone, down two separate channels:

A. The map comes across, via the bike’s own local wi-fi channel.

B. The route comes across, via Bluetooth.

The system works reasonably well, but it’s not without its quirks.

As the app is reasonably power hungry, you’ll probably need to power the phone. Depending on how large the phone is and / or the size of any case the phone might be in, you can power the phone by placing it the bike’s cubbyhole on top of the dashboard. But:

A. You’ll need a very short USB C lead to connect your phone. The USB C end connects (somewhat awkwardly) to the bike, be sure that the lead then ends with the correct plug for your phone.

B. It’s can be a fiddle, putting the phone in, as touching the screen with your fingers can close the app.

C. If the app stops running, you may well have to take the phone out of the cubbyhole to start again.

D. You might well have to set your phone not to go to sleep.

I had to buy a secondhand sacrificial Android phone to get around some of these problems.

I have my 1600 set-up so that I can run:

1. The Connected app on a Samsung Android phone, either in the cubbyhole or sitting in a powered tank bag. The route is displayed on the TFT screen.

2. An iPhone, on a Peak Design mount, the phone powered by the bike. This I have running MyRoute’s Navigation app or I can run any other navigation app I fancy. I can also mount / power my Android phone here too, if I want to. I can then either run BMW’s Connected app on it, or run the MyRoute Navigation app on it. You cannot (as yet at least) display the MyRoute Navigstion app on the bike’s TFT screen. Whether someone will come up with a box of widgets, enabling the TFT to display third party app’s, I gave no idea. I guess it should be possible.

3. A Garmin XT, powered by the bike, mounted on a stem, bolted into the steering column. I think you could well mount a Chigee the same way.

IMG_5819.jpeg

Here’s all three in action, each running the same route.

All three can run simultaneously and independently of each other. Likewise, I can (if I want to) have voice instructions from any two, coming into my helmet. I change the default voices so that I can tell which of the two devices is talking to me.

Which is best? Like gloves and helmets, everyone will have their favourite. I pretty much know how all three work and understand their quirks, foibles, triumphs and failures. Try all three and chose the one you like best.
 
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Thanks , that's a massive help , the chigee is the one that's plug and play for the gs so would need adapter to tap into power somewhere , I will try my Samsung s20 in the cubby hole but the zumo xt might be the answer as I only use a small 5l tank bag

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk
 
My sacrificial S10, in its very thin Peak Design case, just about fits in the cubbyhole. It is still a fiddle, even with a very short USB C to USB C power lead.

BMW cocked-up the cubbyhole design on the 22 bike. I don’t think that they have improved it since.
 
I'm thinking I can use the chigee as well but was wondering how you power your nav up , do you go to the battery or is there a powered connection behind the fairing similar to the gs

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk
 
To power the XT:

1. I bought a nicely made splitter plug, which splits the all but useless power socket, which sits on the offside of bike, near the top of the rear suspension unit. This socket is only live when the bike’s ignition is on. The socket is a little fiddly to get to, as the rear of it is deep inside a tray, under the seat.

2. The power I then ran to a fuse block.

3. The XT’s power lead, I then ran under the fuel tank’s side covers, back to the fuse block.

To power my tank bag and phone cradle, I use the power socket on the offside of the upper fairing. It’s just about the only thing the socket is useful for, other than plugging in a battery tender.
 
Welcome.

I think the Chigee requires its trigger wire (separate from its two conventional positive and negative power wires) to be wired into a switched power source, too.

Just in case it’s of any interest, I mounted the Peak Design phone mount, onto an extension piece which replaces the handle bar retaining bolt. Here’s a very bad picture, but it’ll give you an idea of where the piece you are looking for goes:

IMG_0013.jpeg
 
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in short, expect the BMW system to be shit, unreliable and infuriating.

I promise you, you won't be disappointed and you'll be buying either a Garmin or some other form of reliable (ish) sat-navery very soon.
 
Decompressing said:
in short, expect the BMW system to be shit, unreliable and infuriating.
Click to expand...

It integrates pretty well with the wonder wheel and very well with the big TFT screen. It does though have its quirks. There again, so does the XT and MyRoute’s Navigation app. Some people moan about them, too.

As I said to the OP, try it out, not least as it’s free. If you like it, great. If you don’t, try something else.
 
As I have the chigee bmw version , I'm going to mount that with the slimmed down bmw cradle on to the bike , then I've got the on board one and the chigee if needed , I do have a nav 5 but going to sell that

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk
 
Wapping said:
It integrates pretty well with the wonder wheel and very well with the big TFT screen. It does though have its quirks. There again, so does the XT and MyRoute’s Navigation app. Some people moan about them, too.

As I said to the OP, try it out, not least as it’s free. If you like it, great. If you don’t, try something else.
Click to expand...
Yeah, for the word, “quirks” read, “unreliable, frustrating with its development stunted by a woeful lack of product-testing by BMW”. Other than that, of course, it’s excellent. And yes, the XT can be irritating at times for some of its routing but it’s never failed to either route or display which puts it streets ahead of the BMW (un)Connected Ride set-up.
But then you know all this!
 
I've got the BMW connect system on my RT, I find it pretty good most of the time, but I do agree BW lost the plot by not getting it to auto connect like a car does, it's a pain stopping for a pee or fuel and having to re connect it manually, especially if it's been raining. On the while though, I found the directions no worse than the original BMW sat nave from my K1600, not that that's great, but it beats maps ;)
 
The reconnect problem, at least on the 1600, is as much to do with Apple / iPhones as it is with BMW.

I bought a sacrificial S10 Android phone to remove the connectivity issue. The phone still makes WiFi connection (for the maps) after the Bluetooth connection, for the route and I sometimes have to prompt the WiFi connection after a stop, using the smart wheel thing.
 
Wapping said:
Welcome.

I think the Chigee requires its trigger wire (separate from its two conventional positive and negative power wires) to be wired into a switched power source, too.

Just in case it’s of any interest, I mounted the Peak Design phone mount, onto an extension piece which replaces the handle bar retaining bolt. Here’s a very bad picture, but it’ll give you an idea of where the piece you are looking for goes:

View attachment 363066
Click to expand...
Have you got a link to where I can buy the extension piece that replaces the standard handlebar bolt ?
 
nicholsonj2252 said:
Have you got a link to where I can buy the extension piece that replaces the standard handlebar bolt ?
Click to expand...

www.tecnoglobe.be

BMW K1600 GT Motorcycle GPS Mount - Secure, Easy, Durable Accessory motorbike France

Enhance your BMW K1600 GT with the BikePenR GPS mount, designed for optimal visibility and vibration control, compatible with Garmin and TomTom devices motorbike dealer
www.tecnoglobe.be www.tecnoglobe.be

Not cheap but very well made. Quick delivery, too.

No doubt there are other versions around.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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