Hi

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a thread that answers my question. Hopefully you can help me.

I have a BMW R1200 GSA (2017) motorbike, my BMW Navigator V got stolen, the in-built mounting plate slightly damaged. Now I need a replacement:

In March 2021 I'll start a trip around the world (Europe, Stan-Countries, Mongolia, Australia, North-/South America). Mostly I won't have mobile data for apps that link to a Navi.

Which Navi would you recommend and why?

So far I have shortlisted 3 devices:

BMW Navigator VI:
+ Mounting plate ready, receives error msgs from the bike
- Only Europe maps, expensive
Do OSM Maps work well?

TomTom Rider 550
+ Worldwide maps, wlan for update, looks easy to handle
- Reviews indicate no/bad signal
Are maps outside Europe good?

Garmin Zumo XT
+ Satelite images (do you need that?)
- Only Europe maps
Do OSM Maps work well?

Many thanks for your help and input
Roger

Thank you, Cholo.
Indeed, Google Maps would be ideal - I like the offline maps.
Don't you have the problem, that the phone overheats quite fast when there is sun, GPS on, charging and covered in a case?

Note that you CAN buy additional maps for any Garmin. Be sure to buy them FROM GARMIN, not an aftermarket, as only the ones from Garmin direct ban be updated as opposed to buying new. At least that's my understanding - CHECK WITH GARMIN directly to get the straight scoop. I went round and round with this with Garmin some time ago, as I have a European Garmin with Euro maps and a North American Garmin with NA maps - and wanted both to have both. MAJOR aggro to get it sorted out, but finally did, and both now update nicely.
I like the "real" GPS as it "just works", where the phone can be a faff. Arguably there's TOO MANY options, so it's not simple. Some of us love the playing around with it, some hate it - your choice. If you want to do the research and play and testing, the phone works well - I DO use both for various purposes. (on road GPS, off-road phone and GaiaGPS mostly, but backup is the GPS.) But a good solid mount is tough, keeping it charged is a pain, plugging in a separate cable and keeping the whole mess dry etc. is annoying. Again the GPS just works, does the job quietly with no fuss. All you have to do is add the appropriate map in advance, or you can also use OSM maps for free.
I love GaiaGPS on my phone.
And I would definitely go Garmin over TomTom since you already have the mount etc.
Hope that helps!

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I'm happy using a smartphone in the car with a choice of apps including maps.me (OSM). But on a bike I've found a smartphone overheats in the sun in places like southern Spain and Morocco. It starts off dimming the display to the extent you can hardly read it, then cuts out totally to protect itself from the heat.

So my choice would be BMW Nav VI (brighter display than equivalent Garmin device) coupled with OSM maps and then Garmin Basecamp running on a notebook Mac/PC for waypoint storage, route planning and download to the GPS.

Loads of specific information on UKGSer: https://www.ukgser.com/forums/forumd...hp/46-GPS-Info

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Hi Roger:

I have used Garmin products for 20 years and have always been happy with them - I'm used to how the Garmin user interface works, and the devices & maps have met my needs while riding through North America, West, Central, & Eastern Europe, and Morocco.

Earlier this year, I purchased a TomTom Rider 550 because Garmin didn't offer suitable cartography for Tunisia.

It's a major PITA to switch from one operating system to another (think changing from Windows to Mac, or Mac to Linux, or iPhone to Android), that much I can attest to. It took me quite a while to get used to using the TomTom, and learning what it can and cannot do.

But, because of the countries that you plan to go to (Stan-Countries & Mongolia, where I don't think Garmin has good cartographic coverage), I think you might be better served by the TomTom.

The biggest advantage I can see to the TomTom is free worldwide cartography. The biggest disadvantage to the TomTom is inability to construct off-line routes on a computer unless you have an internet connection.

The biggest advantage of the Garmin is a very well thought out user interface that you already are familiar with, a bigger screen, and high quality cartography in major countries (all Europe, Australia, major Asian countries). The biggest disadvantage of the Garmin will be the cost of buying one-time map downloads for each of the countries/regions that you visit outside of either Europe or North America.

You didn't indicate where you live. Be aware that Garmin units sold in North America are preloaded with North American maps (& free lifetime updates for them), and Garmin units sold in Europe are preloaded with European maps (also with lifetime updates). If you elect to buy a Garmin unit, make sure it is the appropriate unit (Americas or 'Atlantic') for the region that you plan to begin your tour in.

As for me - I'll keep using the TomTom for Tunisia, but once I get out of Tunisia into Europe or Morocco, I'm going to buy a new Garmin unit (my old Garmin unit is quite old). Honestly, I don't like the TomTom UI, and I don't like not having the ability to plan my routes out on a laptop. Lastly, it is not possible to download tracks (where you have been) from a TomTom to your computer.

Michael

I'm going to recommend something that's not on your list (sorry). Garmin Montana 610 with free worldwide maps from OSM. Garmin's interface is a bit clunky and the screen isn't as big as others but it's the satnav of choice for many people, rugged, adaptable and water resistant. Powered cradle available.

Hi all

Many thanks for all the answers so far.
Highly appreciated to receive such valuable input from experienced Travellers!

At the moment i tend to a Garmin based device (Garmin or BMW Navigator). My friend might go for the TomTom and our phones as back-up.

To answer a question in an earlier post, I'm from Switzerland. I'll make sure to get a Navi with Europe pre-installed.

Grüezi Roger:

If you buy a Garmin (or BMW) unit from any European retailer or distributor, you can be reasonably assured that it will be the correct model for Europe.

Garmin labels their European units as "Atlantic" and their North American units as "Americas" - this labelling is normally present on the inside of the battery enclosure.

If you are travelling with a friend and your friend uses a TomTom, then you will have all the bases covered.

There is a navigation application available for smartphones called Sygic that offers worldwide mapping - I think it costs about CHF 50 to buy a lifetime worldwide map license. Although I think that using a smartphone as an on-motorcycle navigator is an invitation to problems (small user interface, small touch points, difficult to read the tiny display when riding, waterproof issues, mounting issues), you might want to consider that as a backup solution - by that I mean a "side of the road" reference. I bought the Sygic package many years ago, and I have found it useful (though not indispensable) when travelling in lesser developed countries. The biggest advantage of the Sygic app over other smartphone apps is that it does not require a GSM or Wi-Fi connection to work - all the data is stored in the phone.

Michael

Has this app worked well for you? The reviews seem to show it's glitchy. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...llReviews=true

Can you set a new routing destination when this app is off line?

I'm looking for a phone app as a road side look-see, mapping second opinion, find lodging resource. The off line component is important. I use a Montana GPS for navigation and routing - which is durable while vibrating on the handlebar on a washboard/rutted road - and waterproof.

I'm a longtime Garmin user. I bought my first Garmin GPS in 2001. All my bikes since then have had Garmin navigation mounted on them.

This past year I made the switch to an Android smartphone. I purchased a rugged phone and so far I haven't had any problems with heat or sun (not to say it can't happen... I just haven't experienced it during the Colorado summer).

I have a wireless charger mounted on my bike so there's no fussing with charging cables.

Is one way better than the other? Overall, I'd say no. I much prefer the smartphone. It's much more flexible. More options. For me it was a lot cheaper than a high-end Garmin device. The screen is bigger and clearer than most motorcycle-style navigation devices. I like that I have several different navigation apps which utilize different mapping datasets.

However, it's taken me some time to set everything up how I like, and I'm a gadget geek.

The Garmin option is most certainly the simplest. It's almost plug-and-play.

I really wouldn't choose a GPS on the basis of the maps that are supplied by the GPS manufacturer. For 15 years I used Olaf's (free) MarokTopo map of Morocco on a Garmin rather than Garmin's own mapping offerings. Now I use OpenStreetMap of Morocco instead.

Take a look at the coverage (roads and tracks) in the 'stans on the free OpenStreetMaps, see https://www.openstreetmap.org/

OSM is built and updated by a worldwide consortium of volunteers, so in conjunction with Garmin Basecamp you would have the advantage of a consistent planning platform for the entire journey.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I agree with Tim. Most Garmin devices have the option to install alternative maps, paid or free. OSM is definitely a good option. So I would not use that as a blocking argument against using a dedicated GPS device vs. a smartphone.
The smartphone apps do make it a lot easier to keep these maps updated. But how often do you need to update these maps anyway?


The choice is really down to personal preference, imho. I've converted to a (rugged) smartphone after years of using (Garmin) devices. Mainly because it's one less device I need to carry while traveling. The Phone is on the charger a lot of the riding time anyway, so why not use it while it's charging, right?

I prefer the way OSMAnd handles tracks for navigating and its configurability. I also like being able to switch to a different navigation app (Waze, Google Maps, Maps.me) at any time it is convenient. I also have Wikipedia, Booking.com, AirBNB, ferry time tables etc. at my fingertips right there on my dash.



I did install a custom launcher to make it easier to use one handed with gloves.



But even rugged smartphones can still be more vulnerable than most dedicated GPS devices for motorbikes. They are more sensitive to overheating, but that really depends on the model I think. I never had issues with my Doogee, even at temps between 35C and 40C during summer in Bulgaria.

__________________
Belgium to Nordkapp via Iran | Discover Overland | Destination World

Thank you for all the input

Hi all

Status update

I'm now travelling for 5 months. Not as far as initially intended, but that's ok: From Switzerland, through Balkans, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia.

I bought the Garmin Zumo XT. I'm super happy with the navigation, incl the Adventurous Routing feature (on Garmin Europe Maps). It mostly finds awesome roads.
For Georgia & Armenia I'm using OSM. It works perfectly, only the Adventurous Routing doesn't work (a friend has the same device/map and there it works...).
A great feature is the iOverlander app with lots of (wild) camping spots.
At the beginning I had to do twice a software rollback after a firmware update - but now it works without problems.

As a back up I have a case for my smartphone from SW Motech on the handlebar, which I used only once.

Let me know in case you have questions.
Best
Roger

Hi Roger!

In about 4 months we are going to travel to Iran, starting from the Netherlands on our BMW R1200 GSA . We are looking for the maps you have mentioned and we cannot find them.
Georgia and Armenia.
The website garmin.openstreetmap.nl is no longer supported and the queue for download is "This request is #109454 in the queue. The delay is approximately 456.1 days" .

So I was curious where you downloaded these maps.

Regards, Monique and Ronald!