The guide to choosing the best navigator for motorcycles, without being fooled by commercials and trends. When to use your smartphone as a motorcycle navigator.
Using your smartphone as a motorcycle navigator is possible. With the smartphone today we can really do everything and on the bike we can make the most of it as GPS and maps . In any case, there are big differences between using satellite navigators for motorcycles , designed ad hoc for two wheels, and smartphones adapted for the purpose.
Smartphone as a navigator for motorcycles
Together with motorcycle protections , the purchase of a GPS navigator for motorcycles is another accessory to evaluate. Why is the smartphone not enough?
Both on iOS (iPhone) and on Android OS (Samsung, Hawaii…) there are plenty of applications to use as GPS navigators and maps .
In addition, there are supports, protections and even waterproof hooks on the market to be able to transport the smartphone safely on the bike. So why isn’t using your smartphone as a motorcycle navigator always convenient?
The GPS built into the smartphone consumes a lot of energy. So the first weakness of using the iPhone or Galaxy as a motorcycle navigator is the lack of battery life.
Another factor not to be underestimated is coverage. The smartphone navigator only works where the network arrives, this means that if you are in rural areas or remote locations where 4G is lacking, there may be some hitches. This problem can be “solved by purchasing pre-loaded maps” that do not require network or data traffic.
Here is a third and crucial weak point of the use of the smartphone as a motorcycle navigator: the contrast and visibility of the display that do not always make the maps clearly visible.
So, in summary, the weak points of using the motorcycle navigator smartphone are:
- Brightness and contrast not always optimal
- Limited battery life
- Network coverage
- Less robust materials than a dedicated device
It is clear that if you intend to use your smartphone as a navigator for motorcycles you will have to disable all notifications to messages you receive for the duration of the journey.
Motorcycle navigator
A motorcycle navigator is designed to eliminate all weak points presented by the smartphone. Let’s be clear: if you only use the bike in urban centers, a smartphone stand is the right purchase … however if you are looking for a complete navigator that can show you the way even on long distances and in the most arduous conditions, purchase a dedicated motorcycle navigator would be appropriate.
So which motorcycle navigator to choose?
The market offers a good number of devices and on paper they all look good.
In the current panorama, the two “giants” are Gramin and Tom Tom.
The navigators for motorcycles have a limit: the price. For example, comparing the performance of a motorcycle navigator to the same performance as a navigator designed for use in cars, you will see that the GPS navigator for motorcycles has a much higher price, often even more than double. To overcome this problem, many motorcyclists have tried and decided to use navigators designed for cars on the bike. In the forums there are many testimonials and direct experiences that you can read.
Using the car navigator on a motorcycle
A user, since 2012, has been using a Tom Tom start on both car and motorbike, and claims it works well despite taking rain several times! The idea of using a car navigator on the bike can be a winner especially for those who do not like to drive in the rain and for those who are ready to compromise.
For example, all navigators for motorcycles are equipped with a bluetooth system to be connected to the headset in the helmet: this is how the centaur “listens to the directions”. It is important, at the time of purchase, to check that the GPS navigator in question can be equipped with bluetooth technology, otherwise you will be forced to give up the audio indications.
How to choose the motorcycle navigator
The only wise choice is based on the budget you have to spend. You can orient yourself on choosing the best navigator for motorcycles based on the price you are willing to spend. Each centaur has his own priorities!
Our advice is… don’t skimp on the size of the display. Yes, in this case size does matter, especially since driving safety is everything and spending even an extra second to “focus” the course on a small display can be a lot of trouble!
On the bike, everything should happen smoothly. Currently the best navigator for motorcycles would seem to be the last Zumo by Gramin, both for maps and for yield… However, its use is not recommended for those who practice many off road routes.
To get an idea on which is the best navigator for motorcycles , I suggest you visit “ this Amazon page ” and read the reviews left by users. Also reading on the forums, we understand that many users have not installed the navigator in the right angle, thus penalizing the “visibility” factor. When you read critical thoughts on contrast and brightness, you question that the motorcycle navigator in question may have been positioned recklessly.
