Satnav’s, yes or no???

[Mr Derek]

Dedicated bike sat navs are weather and vibration proof. A phone needs a vibration damper or you run the risk of breaking it. I have a Zumo XT and a Nav V. On the gs I use the Nav V. Easy to fit and remove, wonder wheel compatible, why wouldn't you?
But, being UKGSer, you'll get loads of different opinions, none of which are completely right or wrong. Your eventual choice will be much the same. Enjoy the new bike.

 

[Buttertub]

Enjoy the NC500, i did it a few years ago and enjoyed it even though we got wet most days.

Both the sat nav and phones work so you cant really get it wrong. My preference is the Sat Nav and i've had my Nav 6 for 5 years and its worked without fault. I prefer something that's designed mainly for the one job and it also copes reasonably well on sunny days.
The only negative I find with garmin is that basecamp can be hard work on the mapping side so i much prefer using google maps (mymaps) and then convert the files, its a faff but I use it a lot so its fairly quick for me.

Sat navs come up regularly on this site at good prices so you could always buy and try and if you dont get on with it you could move it on without losing a great deal compared to buying a brand new one.

 

[ilkleymoron]

you do not need a sat nav to ride the nc500 it is well sign posted and in some locations its the only road anyway

only an idiot would get lost

just take a road map that you can spread out to get a good overal view of the area and go from there

 

[Barnoe]

Phones are ok for shortish journeys if you remember to download the map for offline use.

however, extreme heat, cold or heavy rain will leave you stranded.
also phone screens are not as easy to read on the move as a dedicated unit.

i used my phone recently and did all the above, i created a trip on MRA on my phone and couldn't transfer to my Nav6
so following MRA on the phone my quadlock wireless charger couldnt keep enough power... it was draining faster than it could charge it.
i didn't realise until my phone turned itself off.
I ended up aborting the exact route i created and following my Nav 6 to the place in Morecambe i was going.

Buy the best Nav you can afford.
ive had my Nav6 for 3 and half years and its ok.
but for £550 "OK" isnt good enough, it should be amazing!

If i was buying now id get the Zumo XT2 with 5.5" screen ( £180 extra for the 6" is a rip off)

 

[Engineer]

I have recently become a GS1250 owner, so far just been out and about on routes I know well.

Looking at doing the NC500 next May with friends and thinking do I need a BMW Nav system or would I be able to just get away with iPhone hooked up to my quad lock system on a constant charge.

Also thinking about possible trips to Europe as well, what’s the thoughts on this. Do we really need the Satnav system, anyone got any good or bad experiences with either option.

Finally if a BMW Nav system is needed, is the 5 or 6 a one to go for?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I only use a satnav for the getting me the last mile or two to my hotel - use my Garmin 5 on my GS. Can't be arsed with all the faff of planning routes, which invariably get screwed up in one way or another. Take a a good map and wing it, at least then you 'know' where you are compared to blindly following a satnav and losing the ability to use your brain

 

[Martylaa]

I was thinking a second hand Nav 6 but i'm a bit weary of getting one only for it to fial and then i'm stuck with a unit that doesnt work see...

 

[G&T]

If you buy a used Nav 6, get proof/check the date it was first bought and then understand Garmin’s warranty period.

Garmin in my experience have been excellent for a recent return.

I’m happy I went for the Nav 6 (16GB make life a ride version) as I appreciate the wonder wheel and how it fits without modification. I um’d and ah’d on the Zumo XT but I just wanted to plug and play.

 

[Digger john]

I spoke to bmw about the connected ride nav it is now based on a tom tom

 

[Barnoe]

I was thinking a second hand Nav 6 but i'm a bit weary of getting one only for it to fial and then i'm stuck with a unit that doesnt work see...

As ilkleymoron said above
The NC500 is well signposted and you will see these everywhere

Presuming your going anti clockwise, follow signs to Inverness, use your phone to get to Aldi (Friars Bridge, Inverness IV3 5JP)
go up Telford Street and start following the brown signs

Good luck
Check my video of when i did it in 2021

 

[team duvet]

This year I kinda got into the BM Motorrad app on my GSA. Only turn by turn but worked fine for me. Think the new GSA 1300/1400 next year will have a mapped integrated on the dash ? Hope so.

TD

 

[Jazbee]

I only use a satnav for the getting me the last mile or two to my hotel - use my Garmin 5 on my GS. Can't be arsed with all the faff of planning routes, which invariably get screwed up in one way or another. Take a a good map and wing it, at least then you 'know' where you are compared to blindly following a satnav and losing the ability to use your brain

I always enjoyed planning routes in the driech winter months, tours I wanted to do in spring and summer, kept me involved when too icy to actually ride .....but you do get to the stage where you know most routes and just need the last bit to the digs....I'm a recent convert to quadlock and Google maps though, an £700 phone and an £600 satnav is excessive

 

[Martylaa]

Thanks all, like i said potentially i'm thinking Europe as well hence asking about a Sat Nav system...

 

[Martylaa]

As ilkleymoron said above
The NC500 is well signposted and you will see these everywhere

Presuming your going anti clockwise, follow signs to Inverness, use your phone to get to Aldi (Friars Bridge, Inverness IV3 5JP)
go up Telford Street and start following the brown signs

Good luck
Check my video of when i did it in 2021

I'll have a look at that, cheers...

 

[leadfarmer]

Think the new GSA 1300/1400 next year will have a mapped integrated on the dash ?

The 1300 doesn't, disappointingly

Maybe that will be a future upgrade?

 

[Poncherello]

I did it with an iPhone and used Google maps for most of it. I did do some more tricky routes on MRA which is a great tool.
I know there are reports of vibration damage but I’ve done thousands of miles with no issues- I did buy a soft silicone case for my phone which sits in a cheap Chinese knock off of the BMW one. £5 for the case, £30 for the cradle (they’re all over eBay). I’ll be controversial now- a mate at work has the BMW cradle and mine holds it more securely and the springs on the mechanism reduce vibration. Just my view and I’m sure lots will have a different view but it works for me.

 

[MartinK]

I always enjoyed planning routes in the driech winter months, tours I wanted to do in spring and summer, kept me involved when too icy to actually ride .....but you do get to the stage where you know most routes and just need the last bit to the digs....I'm a recent convert to quadlock and Google maps though, an £700 phone and an £600 satnav is excessive

Yup, I've been doing the maps for a spin in April 2024. Using Google Maps to create the route (streetview to see the actual road) then translating to Basecamp.
There's usually 4 of us on the trip, and it's good you all have the route (altho the NAV6's can do weird interpretation sometimes) - at least we all get to the destination on the day!
NAV6 (with pre-planned waypoints), and MESH2 for comms works great to keep the group together

 

[Kritou]

If you are already an iPhone user get yerself another one - a cheap burner phone to run a navigation app. one with an already busted camera should be cheap enough on eBay with a simple app that preloads the whole of the UK mapping My choice is an iPhone 6S Plus 64GB and the Pocket Earth Pro app. Routes can be created on the phone or on an iPad when there is an internet connection but if you want to reroute when out riding just have it hotspotted to the good phone in your pocket - no SIM card or contract required. I have no problem reading the screen and if it rains heavily I stop for a cuppa

RAM do dedicated holders for about £15

 

[EVskiy]

I’ve an iPhone 7 (black) with 128GB onboard storage, that I need to sell.
Original battery and isn't great, will hold charge for a good 4-6 hours depending on use, but if used for nav, music streaming, then it’ll likely to be permanently powered off the bike.
I also have an so connect case for it and a motorcycle handle bar mount with it, as well as in car windscreen mount.

Alm original, never been dropped or repaired in any way possible. I even have original box for it (I think) with unused wired air pods.

 

[stick]

I use a Garmin XT having previously used a Nav V - the reason I changed was because of the ability to transfer routes wirelessly, which works very well. I mount the XT onto the BMW satnav mount using as 3DAM adapter as mentioned above. The slight disadvantage is that the wonderwheel doesn't work with the satnav

HOWEVER if I were in the market for a satnav these days I would probably opt for the MyRouteApp package which utilises a mobile phone, doesn't incur data charges and works seemlessly between route planning and navigation. There is much info about both in various threads on here. This option will probably work out to be much less expensive

Just out of interest , I have used both on the gs , and backed to backed them . May have been me but the route app ( great for planning as Base Camp and google fell out so no interaction now ) just did not follow my pre made GPS route as it re routed , so it was not true to my chosen route . The garmin allowed me to off route as they say , but keep the route on the map so could in effect , go the wrong way but find the route agin , unlike the Route app which sent me on the best re route / directions but not the way I wanted . The Garmin seems more true to adventure planning not a sat nav platform.
I stick with the Base Camp as it works so well for missed turns , straying off route but still following your chosen route and dipping back in with no issues . ( garmin set to skip way points / route points )

 

[Fullchat]

Nav 6 is ok for pre planned routes in Basecamp or MRA. However I have found that rural routes entered 'on the fly' are somewhat erratic and can take you to all sorts of places you didn't really want to be.
One such case was a recent visit to the Lakes. Just outside Kendal I entered Sedbergh and with a group of 6 ended up down a gated very minor road, the sort with grass down the middle, and following a herd of cows some distance. No other optional routes were given. Checking out the route back home it should have been straight forward.
Im going with a phone and Quadlock as a bit of backup and confirmation in similar circumstances.