I’ve had a look at MRA and it seems quite good, I like the track log feature but would like to know more before I subscribe. I’ve just sorted out a decent mount for the phone on the bike (Peak Design) and I’m now looking for a good navigation app.
Why would I pay MRA money
- Thread starter ChasF
- Start date
It depends if you like it or not.
It plays nicely with the MRA route planning - that is, if you plan a route ahead of time, it can navigate you nicely along it.
In my recent trip in France it had a habit of trying to take me down “roads” which were actually cut-throughs of private car parks with barriers, and it also directed me to a non-existent E Leclerc petrol station in a residential neighbourhood. This wasn’t via preplanned routes though - this was a “take me to X” usage. I only tried it as my Garmin XT2 had corrupted the France map and only ever showed me in a green field with no roads. It also doesn’t warn of speed cameras or police.
I prefer Waze for the “get me to X” usage.
If you’ve got a BMW, the ConnectedRide app worked fine for my friend.
Other apps (free and paid-for) are available too.
It plays nicely with the MRA route planning - that is, if you plan a route ahead of time, it can navigate you nicely along it.
In my recent trip in France it had a habit of trying to take me down “roads” which were actually cut-throughs of private car parks with barriers, and it also directed me to a non-existent E Leclerc petrol station in a residential neighbourhood. This wasn’t via preplanned routes though - this was a “take me to X” usage. I only tried it as my Garmin XT2 had corrupted the France map and only ever showed me in a green field with no roads. It also doesn’t warn of speed cameras or police.
I prefer Waze for the “get me to X” usage.
If you’ve got a BMW, the ConnectedRide app worked fine for my friend.
Other apps (free and paid-for) are available too.
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The app is excellent.
we know you like the route planning app, have you used the navigation app much?
Yes, alongside my XT and BMW’s own navigation app, on my 1600 and 411.
Just a heads up, the nav app on actual phone has been developed quite well over time. The Nav app on car play likewise as been developed over a period and from reports is quite stable and works ok, however using the nav app on Android Auto is kind of wet paint and very much at the start of its development. Its coming along but is not particularly stable as yet, hopefully it will catch up with the on phone nav/carplay capability/stability.
I’m sure it is, however, I’m not much into route planning but I am looking for something more sophisticated than just point to point routing a la Waze. How much can be done on the phone directly?
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Cant beat waze for point to point plus it gives you so much info.
MRA is excellent for Route planning and if you run waze in the background on Android auto it tells you a lot of info speed camera's road conditions etc.
MRA is excellent for Route planning and if you run waze in the background on Android auto it tells you a lot of info speed camera's road conditions etc.
Just used MRA on Goldwing via CarPlay for 10 days and 2500 miles though France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria and it was brilliant.
A few minor issues but that was mainly down to my not too thorough planning rather than the app .
Notably the depiction of current speed limits is much clearer on MRA than either Google or Apple Maps, as we used all three at various points .
Used it MRA on Garmin XT, IPhone 14 , 15 and CarPlay in both cars and on bike and it’s fabulous .
You really need to use the web based program for planning routes and then navigate using the app . The app updates instantly if you’ve just changed a route on the web .
I’ve got a Chigee Play waiting to go on new bike and having seen it in use , for some reason the depiction of roads surrounding the current route but not being used is very faint compared to the CarPlay on my Wing .
Must be a Chigee issue rather than MRA ?
A few minor issues but that was mainly down to my not too thorough planning rather than the app .
Notably the depiction of current speed limits is much clearer on MRA than either Google or Apple Maps, as we used all three at various points .
Used it MRA on Garmin XT, IPhone 14 , 15 and CarPlay in both cars and on bike and it’s fabulous .
You really need to use the web based program for planning routes and then navigate using the app . The app updates instantly if you’ve just changed a route on the web .
I’ve got a Chigee Play waiting to go on new bike and having seen it in use , for some reason the depiction of roads surrounding the current route but not being used is very faint compared to the CarPlay on my Wing .
Must be a Chigee issue rather than MRA ?
The app relies on the web based MyRoute Routeplanner for anything much beyond an A to B route, all be it you do have the option of assorted algorithms to generate various types of roads to be ridden.
If though you are not so keen on creating your own routes, the app (good as it is) is maybe not the one for you, as it probably lacks the ‘sophistication’ you are looking for. The ‘sophistication’ all lives in Routeplanner.
I’d suggest Kurviger, with its associated phone based app. Similarly, some people swear by Pocket Earth.
The phone app latest beta version has route planning in app now, so no need to use the web version.
The public release should be along early July to make this feature available to non-beta users.
The public release should be along early July to make this feature available to non-beta users.
You can use MRA for a fortnight with a free trial. Start the trial when you have a bit of time to play about with it. I took Lifetime membership when there was a deal on, I think 99 Euro for the planning app and navigation app. The route planning app is great and does most things that Basecamp can do and many things that it cant (route planning on your phone, Ipad or Chromebook for instance) The navigation app is nearly there. I use it with Android auto and there are still a few issues with directions at roundabouts. Using the app on the phone seems perfect though. Some folk have issues with phone overheating though I use it with AA and turn the phone screen off and while the phone gets warmer than using Google maps or Waze my "offline phone" which is a humble motorola G7 from 2018-19 on Android 10 copes OK and maintains its charge when plugged in. Also try OSMand. Works well, no phone heating issues but a much steeper learning curve in using it, compared to MRA. Probably better for off-road use though. Basic OSMand is free and OSMand+ (which can also be used with Android Auto) is 10 Euros per year.
Thanks all for the advice and suggested alternatives. I have already had some phone overheating issues using Waze which, at the time, I put down to the phone being in the tankbag map pocket hence the peak design phone mount which I thought would overcome the problem.
I've had MRA for about two years now. I learn something about it on every trip. On the occasions it has gone 'off piste', it's been my fault - obviously not admitted at the time. The more you find out the more you realise how good it is. You have to put time in. Also, it's going places. My biking buddies are slowly coming round to it as well. There is also a very knowledgeable group of people on this forum who contribute positively and generously and can always solve our problems. If you just want to go from A to B it's not for you but I respect your wish to do so.
Also, those who want to clang down the ramp of the shuttle and just 'explore', fantastic. Have at it.
Also, those who want to clang down the ramp of the shuttle and just 'explore', fantastic. Have at it.
Both, according to the announcement in the beta forum.
After quite some work by me and Joost, we are proud to announce that a major update 4.2.0 is coming your way. This update contains one major feature: the in-app MRA Routeplanner
* Create new routes from scratch
* Edit any route
* Access to our unique MRA Routeplanner features in-app
* Modify waypoints
* Change route information / details / options
They’re also developing it so all routes sync to your device for offline use (a great feature of Scenic that I’ve often wished MRA had).
I’m still hesitating. I’m quite keen to have a go at route planning rather than just point to point navigation so will probably subscribe at some stage but would be interested to hear when they’ve improved the phone heating situation. We’re just back from a camper trip using my iphone 7 via CarPlay with Waze and had problems with the phone overheating. Using Maps app seemed to overcome the problem. Anyone know if more recent phones are less prone to overheating?
I use Waze most of the time with car play in my car, have an iPhone 12 and have never experienced the phone overheating. I am also a MRA gold subscriber, use it extensively for route planning as Waze is only good for point to point. They still have an issue with phone battery draining when navigating, due to the garmin maps they use. But the route planning aspect is brilliant and as I have an XT which I use on the bike, no issues with the MRA route planning part.
I have used the MyRoute Navigation app, for several hours solid at a go, with no overheating problems. Likewise, no battery problems, all be it the phone benefits from being powered by the bike.
Commencing next week, I’ll be using it solidly (all day) for several days on the trot.
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