Navigation On A Budget

I loved my iPhone/quadlock w/ vibration damper so much I bought a mount for my wife's bike just in case I wanted to ride her's. I watched a few YouTube videos on the Beeline Moto and did like it. That minimalistic look certainly is more visually appealing to me. But I just have more functionality with my phone mounted on the handlebars. With Waze I get up to date traffic (and police) notifications as well as simple music control and call connectivity with the Ruroc w/Shockwave audio. So I guess for me it came down to function over fashion.

 

I won a Beeline Moto in a competition and love the fact that it's so unobtrusive. It's easy to use and the route planning mapping has been improved. I also like to be disconnected from the outside world when I ride my bike - it's part of the pleasure - so like the fact that I cannot see phone notifications etc and I don't want to listen to music or answer calls so that's also not a consideration for me.

 

You can programme whatever route you like just as in Google maps and it usually gives you a fast / fun option to choose once planned. If you just want to explore it has a compass mode where it just points in the direction of wherever you'd like to end up so you can proceed in generally the right sort of direction.

You can also import GPX routes, but I have never tried that so have no idea how easy that is.

 

If you plot a waypoint, it wants to take you to the centre of that place and can keep trying to turn you back there for a while if you ignore it - once you are aware of this you can carry on by to your destination but I did end up with a bit of a mystery tour round a town that I had just plotted to go via as Beeline wants you to go to the centre, and then on to the next waypoint. Easy enough once you know that is what it will do. You could out in northings / eastings I suppose of that exact waypoint rather than the place name but I now use the place name but bear in mind that Beeline will want to find the centre of it so just bypass it myself if needed.

It's also obviously fairly small, not sure what your eyesight is like - mine is fine but would think it could be tricky to view if it were poor at closer vision perhaps.

 

I've found Beeline to be good for rural rides, but I'm not sure that it would be the best solution for finding a particular front door in a town or city, where I think I'd prefer navigating by the audio instructions provided by a conventional satnav app.

 

I am using an outdoor smartphone (shock resistent and waterproof) with a big accu (8.500 mAh) and the offline app "SYGIC". YOu only need to start your GNSS-System like GPS or so and thats it. In comparison to Google Maps you need no data plan. The cost for the app are affordable (one time payment)! I am using it on every national and international tour.

 

I enjoyed my Beeline - it looks good on the bike , sort of traditional shape and unobtrusive unlike a smart phone stuck on a quad-lock mount (which I also have).
It can be easy to miss a turning until you get used to it and it is quite small - about at the limit of my eyesight without glasses.
Mine also has stopped working now, it just won't charge and it's well outside of the warranty period!

 

My mate has a quadlock and its a rock solid dependable mounting system even at speed and wheelies etc.
He has a Samsung s22 ultra and running a Calimoto subscription it hasn't failed to satisfy so far with good routes and days out

 

I use an old WiFi only smartphone (Samsung S7) on a Quadlock without vibration mount as I don't care if the camera gets damaged. I power from a Hella USB if a long trip. I have downloaded offline Google maps covering the UK. This has worked really well for me, I set the route while able to connect to WiFi. Potentially could create a hotspot from my current phone and get traffic updates, but I am not that bothered about that.

 

Hi Steve, I can let you have a Garmin Zumo 220 motorcycle sat nav for £40 plus postage, it is a dedicated motorcycle unit, shockproof and waterproof, it is in the original box with manual, it has the charging lead, it also has a handlebar mount, you will need a USB lead to permanently wire it power. I use the Triumph sat nav and go pro unit that works via the dash so no use for it now, the car has a built in unit so no use there as well. PM me if interested.

 

@Iceman - PM'd.

 

I am also tempted by a Beeline but currently use my Google Pixel on a Quadlock mount, usually with Google Maps and no vibration damper.

@SteveXFR I will interested to see how you get on.

 

I have a Garmin satnav in my van for when I have to go somewhere in a city. When on a bike, I don't go near any cities. As a former town planner, I have worked with maps and plans all my life, and am very happy with using a map on my rural rides.