Why would you use a "motorcycle gps" instead of a smartphone?

sfalexi

Joined
Jul 10, 2013
Messages
52
Location
VA Beach, VA
Bike
2009 Wee Strom
Alright. Sort of a philosophical question, and I understand those that may have gotten motorcycle GPSs before smartphones became so damned smart, but I'm curious.

I currently own a garmin 2730. Barebones, no bluetooth, limited storage (2 GB), must be hardwired for power, but it's waterproof and works with gloves. My iphone I can connect to my bluetooth headset, can run off battery (or I can plug it in to keep it powered while riding), but can't make custom maps, isn't waterproof, and can't use gloves on it.

So if you are a rider that still prefers a dedicated motorcycle gps as opposed to trying to bluetooth a smartphone, how come? Is it just the custom mapping and route planning that is the major difference and draw? I've kept my GPS in my locked glovebox for over a year and haven't pulled it out, so I'm wondering if it's really worth hanging onto or if I should just not worry about it, go on with my iphone.

I HAVE noticed a few interesting things....

iPhone can and WILL overheat if the sun is on it while I'm riding (if I have it in the glovebox on a nice day or mounted on my RAM ball). I can keep it charging in the topbox without fear of overheating, but then I can't see upcoming turns. I like the idea of a dedicated motorcycle GPS, but it's clunky and a bit of a pain, and really I don't like not having any sound cause I'll find myself missing an upcoming turn cause I'm listening to my podcasts and didn't hear a "ding" or something and didn't see the screen change (I'm thinking a dash shelf could fix that, but I'm wondering if it's worth the $100 or so rig one up)

I've also checked every few months or so on custom GPS mapping apps on iphone, and there seems to be no "great" solution. Navigon, sygic, garmin, etc. apps all seem to not really do the job well or allow downloading of maps for offline navigation or have it all.

I've even toyed with the idea of buying the cheap Nokia Lumia 520 (ATT gophone) and ziplock back as my motorcycle "ipod touch + maps" since you can download maps for offline use, use it with gloves on, and it'll provide a couple extra uses as well such as podcasting, maintaining playlists, or even movies or workout apps or anything else that would run down my iphone battery if used for long durations. I'd then route it to my bluetooth headset as music only and my phone as phone only so I won't run down the charge on the phone, and I can keep the charge on my 'dedicated gps' higher since it won't be searching for towers or be used for anything else.

Any ideas on how I could/would use my 2730 more effectively or are motorcycle GPSs, for all intents and purposes (intensive purposes! lol!), a thing of the past? FWIW, I'm not an iron butt enthusiast (I want to do it, but it's not right now a "passion"). I ride mostly for fun with the wifey, group rides if we can ever fit them in our schedule, and since we have two big 'ol doggies, we keep it to MAX 12 hour trips or less from time of leaving to time of returning.

Alexi
 
I use an older car Nuvi GPS on the bike.. and my SmartPhone.

The dedicated GPS serves several purposes.

1) can always give you a route. No need for a data connection.
2) set it and forget it. It auto re-routes, it's not trying to multi-task and I am flipping away from the screen.
3) Interface works great for finding the next gas station along my route and figuring distance when I need to stop for fuel.
4) Again interface bonus, works great for finding me food along my current route.
5) Nice to see a heads up display of the upcoming road beyond my visual range. Let's me know if I need to slow down through the corner because it is about to turn into a hairpin or I can hold the speed because over the hill is a long sweeper.

-1) No bluetooth audio for turn by turn to my headset.
-2) If I miss a turn it auto re-routes and doesnt tell me that I can save 30 minutes by doing a u-turn.

Yes, the smart phone can easily add in good around traffic routing, has more detailed search and more accurate up to date results and the ;latest map and construction issues. Plus the newer version of google maps does not need a constant data connection. It does download the route and associated maps when you initially put in your destination, but deviate/change the route or the destination and you need data. But also nice it is constantly looking for a faster route and if it is not sure it puts them both on-screen.

So I use both. GPS for the whole day ride, set my final destination for the day there and let it go, need fuel, two pushes of the finger I see the locations. When I am approaching a bigger town or other issues I can hit the phone GPS and use it. It can give me audio clues for navigation (in traffic I don't want to look at a GPS screen) and the fastest routing.

But the automotive GPS still has the better interface and easier to push buttons.
 
No I would not use a motorcycle GPS instead of a smartphone. My iPhone does what I need and it's a phone. If I rode a LOT more maybe a dedicated GPS would make its way to the bike. But not a motorcycle GPS. Way too much money and not enough bang for the buck.

I've made a couple of trips with my iPhone in a RAM mount connected to power and have had NO problem with it over heating. NONE. I keep it tilted near-vertical with the map showing the whole time.

A dedicated GPS has some advantages if you're going to make use of them. Same with a motorcycle GPS. I won't so my phone works for me.
 
You pretty much answered your own question in the second paragraph.
I prefer my basic NUVI 550 GPS. It has a good mount that is not overly clunky. It's waterproof and works with gloves. I don't like voice prompts, too distracting to me, so this one works great for me. I like a dedicated device that works without a data plan and other reasons that T_C mentioned. If I need to go without a dedicated power connector it does last a good long time. If I miss a turn and I want it to show me the benefit of a U-turn I can turn the "allow u-turn" option on. But I leave it off since it's sometimes just fine to take a new road I didn't anticipate... unless it's gravel, then I just do the u-turn and let it recalc again to get me back on track. This one cost me about the same as a regular car GPS unit when I bought it and I can also use it in my car (and I often do when traveling that way).
 
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You have to decide what you need/want in a unit. If you want to create routes on your desktop and load them onto your gps then you pretty much need a dedicated unit. If all you want is point A to B then many smartphone apps will do that.

If you decide you need a standalone, you can find several in the used or NOS bracket on eBay. For example, there are several TomTom 920s there for $100 or less. Does everything a new Zumo does but is not waterproof (ziploc bag fixes that). I have used one for over 100k miles and it serves me fine. Bonus is that it comes with EU maps as well. Saved me lots of $'s over the years.

Rod
 
For me it's a no brainer - GPS - I ride in areas that don't have cell service available. One of the nice features of a GPS is the miles to destination routing. If I am riding out west with a buddy and we get separated or split up, we can leave a phone message for the other as to where we are in miles listed on the GPS. Then we know exactly who is in the lead and by how many minutes or miles if we need to reconnect. No need to wait for a message or hope to catch a call, it works and is very convenient.
 
Ohh... also... in my case.

I like having two devices... Murphy has taught me to have two!
 
I use an old dual core Motorola with Sygic on Android which is totally off grid capable. It was free so extra plus. I am not one for preloading maps but Sygic is really easy to just naviagate to next "POI". Sygic may preload maps? never tried?
I now have an S5 which I may try out useing an AquaBox or something. The S5 works great with gloves and has a WAY better screen than I am used to .....
 
The 2730 is ten years and two generations old. I wonder if we would even have this discussion if you were comparing it to the phone you were using 10 years ago.
 
I use my Garmin for Music and I like to see, plan the route. also there are tons of areas in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana that cell coverage is like Elvis. it is has left the building
 
As you all know, I've moved to a combination of paper maps, recipe cards, and iPhone help.

I find the iPhone's mapping system to be more up to date, more accurate, and more reliable than Garmin.

Paper trumps both, though, and street signs (or local people) tell me the best place to get food or gas.
 
Just curious if you can 'preload' routes down to a cell phone? If I am on an extended trip, I have all my suggested routes (could be 15-20) already loaded on my GPS. It doesn't mean I don't change them, but I usually am going long distances in a limited time frame and like to prepare as much as possible. On a trip to Alaska, you'd be in deep trouble depending on a cell signal. In fact, there's plenty of places in Tennessee where you are out of luck. ;-) BTW, I am currently testing PRIMO 2.4 software on my inexpensive Rage GPS, which is waterproof and fairly 'drop proof' and works well with gloves (including Gerbing heated ones). I bought North America maps, New Zealand Maps, and Europe maps pretty inexpensively. Some folks across the pond have modified the software to be more 'motorcycle' usable and are working on a 'scenic' option as a routing possibility. These units are so cheap, you can afford to have a extra one in the saddlebag if you have problems. But then again, I still use an old flip phone for what little cell service I need. :D
 
Uncle Phil said:
Just curious if you can 'preload' routes down to a cell phone?
Click to expand...

I haven't looked into it. Pre-loading a route for me consists of a colored marker line on a Rand McNally. I've had enough close calls on the ST where I'm looking down when I should be looking up that I scared myself out of GPS screens on the bike.

If you have a Bad Elf GPS reciever, you can couple it with a phone Application by "Motion-X" and pre-load your maps to the phone. You'll always have a GPS signal and always have maps loaded.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Just curious if you can 'preload' routes down to a cell phone?
Click to expand...

Depends entirely on the software. I've tried out close to a dozen nav programs for Android, and half to two thirds have some option for loading routes. Several have their own format, so you'd have to push them through a converter from whatever software you were using to do your planning.

--Mark
 
"Is it just the custom mapping and route planning that is the major difference and draw?"

Yes. In my style of touring that is essential. A phone works if you just ride to places and want the shortest route.
 
While I have and really like my iPhone 6 and it will certainly provide GPS capability and there are apps available (I have a couple on my iPhone, just in case), including Google Maps that allow a person to download the maps onto their smartphone so cellular service is not required, I prefer to use my Garmin Zumo 390LM (LM = free lifetime maps) on the bike and/or in the Jeep. I had a Garmin StreetPilot 2720 for years, but it died last October on a trip. Since Garmin no longer supports it they gave me 20% off on a new Zumo. For tours I like to create my routes on my Mac, then download to the Zumo and use the Zumo via bluetooth to my Sena headset (I also bluetooth my iPhone to the Sena). The Zumo is waterproof and rugged and is rock-solid in the Ram-ball mount. I have my iPhone safely tucked away inside my waterproof jacket and/or a Zip-loc baggy and I can always use it as a backup if my Zumo should die. I like the voiced instructions, personally, whichever device I happen to be using. By bluetoothing my iPhone to the Sena instead of the Zumo I do lose some of the functionality of the Zumo, but as I understand it, if I were to do that I cannot use my iPhone as a music source to the Sena. So, by doing it the way I do currently I can ride down the road listening to music if I want, make and receive phone calls, use Siri on the iPhone to control the music or place calls without touching the phone itself and get the GPS voice guidance. Works great--no wires. I always disliked the hard-wired setup I had with the 2720. You can just do a lot more and get a lot more information, and without any cellular service, with a dedicated GPS like the Zumo (and many others--I'm pro-Garmin because that's what I've always used and am familiar with).
 
ParkerBill said:
While I have and really like my iPhone 6 and it will certainly provide GPS capability and there are apps available (I have a couple on my iPhone, just in case), including Google Maps that allow a person to download the maps onto their smartphone so cellular service is not required, I prefer to use my Garmin Zumo 390LM (LM = free lifetime maps) on the bike and/or in the Jeep. I had a Garmin StreetPilot 2720 for years, but it died last October on a trip. Since Garmin no longer supports it they gave me 20% off on a new Zumo. For tours I like to create my routes on my Mac, then download to the Zumo and use the Zumo via bluetooth to my Sena headset (I also bluetooth my iPhone to the Sena). The Zumo is waterproof and rugged and is rock-solid in the Ram-ball mount. I have my iPhone safely tucked away inside my waterproof jacket and/or a Zip-loc baggy and I can always use it as a backup if my Zumo should die. I like the voiced instructions, personally, whichever device I happen to be using. By bluetoothing my iPhone to the Sena instead of the Zumo I do lose some of the functionality of the Zumo, but as I understand it, if I were to do that I cannot use my iPhone as a music source to the Sena. So, by doing it the way I do currently I can ride down the road listening to music if I want, make and receive phone calls, use Siri on the iPhone to control the music or place calls without touching the phone itself and get the GPS voice guidance. Works great--no wires. I always disliked the hard-wired setup I had with the 2720. You can just do a lot more and get a lot more information, and without any cellular service, with a dedicated GPS like the Zumo (and many others--I'm pro-Garmin because that's what I've always used and am familiar with).
Click to expand...

Bill they gave you 20% off the $600.00 price tag?
I've got a 550 that i've had $600.00 worth of aggravation on and am going to get a 390. So I should buy direct?
 
EASt said:
...........................

Paper trumps both, though, and street signs (or local people) tell me the best place to get food or gas.
Click to expand...

Yes!
My HTC smartphone does more than my Nuvi 550....and if you choose the right app it can do it all offline anywhere at all.....for alot less than any dedicated gps.
 
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