Wonder wheel functionality - Which device to buy?

[Alchemy]

So I'm after a GPS device and my bike has the nav prep so it made sense to go with one of the BMW nav units. However, after loads of reading it sounds like they can be temperamental to put it mildly. I do like the idea of being able to control it with the wonder wheel though. My question is if I go with a non BMW device what functionality would I be loosing? What exactly does the wheel enable you to do and is it much of a big deal to loose that function? I cant find a great deal of detail on this specifically.
Thanks in advance.

By the way, I'm thinking of a zumo XT because right now there's a really good discount from Garmin for bike social members and that device seems to get better reviews.

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Mild edit of title.

Post moved.

Richard

 

[Wapping]

In short, the wonder wheel will not be able to operate or control any functions on the XT.

The wonder wheel will work well with BMW branded Navigator devices, from the Navigator IV onwards. Navigator IV and V devices are very reliable. Earlier versions of the Navigator VI are very shonky. Garmin have now released an updated (replacement) version of the Navigator VI, which supposedly fixes all the problems of the past.

Me? I’d buy a secondhand Navigator V and try it out. If you like its integration with the wheel, great. If you don’t, then sell it on and buy the XT. Your question then will be: Should I but an XT1 or XT2?

 

[Mallard]

I have the BMW Nav fitment on my RS. I also have a Nav 5 and an XT. The Nav 5 works perfectly with the wonderwheel, but I prefer the larger screen of the XT.
I bought an adapter for the XT so that it fits the BMW mount. It works fine, but you will loose all wonderwheel functions.

E-navXT - Adapter 3D Motorrad Shop

With this powered adapter you can use your Gamrin Zumo XT and XT 2 on the bmw navigator V and VI support

www.adapter3dmotorrad.com

 

[Alchemy]

So what are the wonder wheel functions? I guess you can zoom in and out but what else?

A new XT for £277 seems like an absolute bargain. I've seen NAV 5s go for more than that on fleabay recently.

Thank you for the link Mallard

 

[AndrewA]

BMW ConnectedRide cradle and their Connected App works with the WonderWheel.

 

[ShakeyGS]

With the wonder wheel you can access lots of information about your bike on the NAV IV, V or VI screen. With the advent of TFT screens this functionality has become a bit redundant.

However, the big advantage of the wheel for me is to be able to zoom in and out of the map.

I've just received a replacement NAV VI with the CAP screen but I'm not so keen on the monochrome graphics. If it turns out I can't live with it then I'll be sacrificing my wonder wheel to go with an XT.

 

[Wapping]

So what are the wonder wheel functions?

Stroll into a BMW dealership and find out by seeing one being demonstrated for you. Why? To a degree it depends on the make and model of your bike. For example, the functions differed (to some degree or other) between my 1600 and my 850 GSA and / or whether I was using my BMW Navigation device or not.

Try a Google of: BMW motorrad multi-controller functions

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/engineering/detail/comfort-ergonomics/multicontroller.html

There’s loads of videos and forum stuff out there. Or get your money’s worth from a dealership.

 

[Mzokk]

I had an old NavIV on a 2014 R1200RT and rarely used the wonderwheel functions. The only feature I did use was displaying the bikes tank range on the NavIV screen so that I could compare this to distance to destination on the Nav and could display other useful information on the bikes display.

I liked the routing logic of the older Garmin units compared to the XT. On the old units "faster time" routing logic worked on the combined time taken to use possible roads to get to a destination. The XT "faster time" routing logic is to use faster "Main Roads" which can take you towards towns and cities (which I tend to avoid) This can be sorted by putting more shaping points on your route either when designing a bespoke route on Basecamp, MRA or any other GPX creating software or by prodding the XT screen to add more shaping points if you are routing from A to B.

If you do go for an XT don't be seduced by the Garmin Explore connectivity its poor at best and a nuisance at worst. However, the XT does use the Garmin Drive app which can pass routes designed on your tablet or phone in GPX format to your XT. This is very convienient if you use third party software to create bespoke GPX routes. All that said, I've learned to appreciate the XT particularly its bright easily read screen and fast CPU which means it tends to to be a very snappy performer.

I have evaluated lots of phone apps over the past year as my Africal Twin has Android Auto which would seem combined with a decent navigation app to be a suitable replacement for a dedicated GPS device. Alas for me this is not the case, the convienience and abilities of the XT means that a dedicated GPS is still my preference.

I've no experience of the XT2 or the tread app that goes with it, but it does not allow bluetooth transfer of routes to other Garmin GPS devices which may or may not be important to you. As with the XT no doubt third party software may have more functionality for that unit than the Garmin offering.

 

[Alchemy]

Thank you for your insight Mzokk. From what I've seen the display does look very good on the XT. By the sound of it the XT (and nav V/VI) probably do more than I will ever use. My bike has TFT so I'm not interested in the bike parameters you can access with any of the BMW branded options. XT2 sounds like it's probably way more advanced than I need too.
That Bike Social discount makes the XT hard to ignore, plus it comes with car mount and cable so I'll be able to use it in my campervan.
Decisions.....

 

[GSian]

With the Chigee AIO-5 Lite and the CGRC unit you can use the wonder wheel in conjunction with the indicator switch to control Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and any app that's compatible with those, mirroring from your phone. You can also use the wonder wheel to lock a video or take a photo from the included front and rear cameras, and switch from front to rear camera view. it has a micro SD slot. Takes a little getting used to but once you do it's works well. As an addition it has blind spot detection that works better than I expected as an additional safety check.

 

[Neil W]

Now on my third Nav 6 , there is a reason that Nav 5's sell for an average of £250 a pop on E Bay or Facebook

 

[Deleted account 251212001]

I went with the Garmin XT and the wunderlich adaptor from nippy norman (£115) so it clips on the bmw bracket and has power. It powers on and off with the bike. The wheel is pretty useless/redundant in my own experience/opinion.

No complaints on the XT the only thing is the adapter is not easily removed so wont fit in a pouch/case, and youve lost the security/locking aspect. Overall i am happy as the XT is a great little unit with a nice bright screen.

 

[Pablo1]

With the wonder wheel you can access lots of information about your bike on the NAV IV, V or VI screen. With the advent of TFT screens this functionality has become a bit redundant.

However, the big advantage of the wheel for me is to be able to zoom in and out of the map.

I've just received a replacement NAV VI with the CAP screen but I'm not so keen on the monochrome graphics. If it turns out I can't live with it then I'll be sacrificing my wonder wheel to go with an XT.

Are you saying the graphics on your sorted Nav 6 are not in colour ??

 

[RadioFlyer]

There are locking devices for the XT out there.

One example discussed here:

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/garmin-zumo-xt-xt2-locking-adapter-for-bmw-gps-mount.1618759/

 

[richardbd]

Are you saying the graphics on your sorted Nav 6 are not in colour ??

The maps are. The Home Screen etc are black and white. Makes the map screen seem a bit smaller at first but I'm used to it now and I like it...

 

[Pansmiker]

BMW ConnectedRide cradle and their Connected App works with the WonderWheel.

Do you have the Connected Ride?

 

[AndrewA]

I don’t. My friend used it on our jaunt to the continent last month after his Nav5 fried itself.

 

[the woodster]

And you also have the connectedRide Navigator. It's not a mature product yet but it's improving update by update. One thing they have got right is the interplay with the wonder wheel. You can access and implement all the menus with the wheel. Don't forget the Android Auto/Apple Car Play devices like the Chigee AIO-5, which integrates with the wonder wheel and fits the nav prep cradle. The world is your oyster.

 

[Barnoe]

I am one of the lucky ones, I have a BMW Garmin Nav 6 and it works as it should.
So many others haven't been so lucky and have issues with "Ghosting"

My biggest gripe with mine is that even with live traffic on, it still rides you straight into traffic jams and dead ends.
even takes you down roads that are closed for example.
Strangely when I've been out with a pal who also has a Garmin (Zumo) his re-routes?

We once carried on following mine in Germany and ended up going 6 miles down a closed road.
we knew this because there was actual road signs with detours once we got on the actual road.
But we carried on to prove a point, after which we listened to his when it rerouted, and all was ok.

It seems his Garmin and mine came up with the same route when no live traffic was available.
As soon as live traffic was introduced the Zumo gave a more accurate route.

In short..... don't buy a Nav 6 just for the wonder wheel
Avoiding closed roads and traffic is much more important than the features it includes.

 

[Pukmeister]

I went for the Zumo XT for several reasons, mostly price versus features and also knowing the reliability issue the BMW units were having. The wonder wheel feature was never a consideration for me.

If I want to zoom in on the map I can briefly press + or - and I don't like being tempted to take my eyes off the road whilst riding by fiddling with whizz wheels, menus and things.

I would rather pull over to safety and then fiddle with a Nav unit for a minute rather than ride into a parked car or a pedestrian, miss a vehicle exiting a junction ahead, cross the centreline or ride off into the ditch.