Looking for sat nav / map recommendations

Hi ,

At the moment, I try to plan and remember my route before getting on my bike and sometimes have to stop to find out where I'm meant to be going. I'd like navigating to be a little easier - with less worry and prep involved. I'd prefer not to always rely on a sat nav, so if anyone has any good recommendations that isn't a sat nav then please shoot them my way.

However, if you do have experience of a good sat nav, then I'm looking for one that has headphones that can also be used to listen to music (whether that be via bluetooth or just a manual plug in).

Thanks in advance.

Hi and welcome to the forum

IMO you can't beat a dedicated sat nav with a Bluetooth headset

Tomtom or garmin is about all you can get these days but they aren't cheap

I have a Garmin Zumo 595LM. I'm pleased with it. Links to my Bluetooth Sena and phone. Can play music though it via my phone, and it also has a USB for music. Loads of features and it's robust too. Yes it's expensive, but I bought it on offer but it depends on how much you're going to use it. I've used it here and in Europe and it's been great for me.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah302/martynpotter78/IMG_1543_zpswppqewoh.jpg

A relatively cheap alternative, and what I'm currently using, is a Bluetooth headset linked to my phone - Google maps will do full turn-by-turn down directions, and is good 99% of the time. If you don't have signal it will just say "next left" etc instead of "turn left down High Street” or whatever, and you can download maps for a specified area to help reduce data usage too. I just leave my phone in my pocket and it's great.

You can also get cheap handlebar mounts for phones - I've bought one but barely used it, as I actually didn't like having the phone screen in front of me as it was too distracting, but that was when I'd not long had my license.

+1 for dedicated SatNav.

However the next best is yo use a tank bag with a map pocket. Then either have a map of the route or a list of the roads and turns in order.

HTH

And welcome to the forum

hello and welcome I use copilot on my phone, have used it just by audio direction by Bluetooth and have a mount which I prefer now. it's about 16 quid for the full version I think

Some choices:

1) Sat Nav & Bluetooth headset I would say £200+

2) Earpiece plugged into phone & phone in pocket (using phone as satnav no screen saves ALLOT of battery life gives a few hours navigation) £ Free

3) Phone mount with charging and no headset and no music, £10+

4) Phone mount with charging and bluetooth headset, £30+

I would avoid phone in tank bag as I found it was to far to look down and could be distracting. better placed near your dials/ eye line.

Phone mounts:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360-Universal-X-Grip-Motorbike-Dashboard-Handlebar-Holder-Mount-For-GPS-Phone-/182551504162?hash=item2a80eae522:g:2DgAAOSww9xZBCiz

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-Grip-Universal-Motorcycle-Motorbike-MTB-Cell-Phone-Mount-Holder-Black-/231982125616?hash=item3603365230:g:LloAAOSwnNBXY8~j

Headsets:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=scala+packtalk&oq=scala+pak&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.3406j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=scala+packtalk&tbm=shop&spd=5891744729320599433

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/800M-BT-Bluetooth-Motorcycle-Helmet-Interphone-Intercom-Moto-Bike-GPS-Headset-UK-/222257028969?hash=item33bf8d1f69:g:GkUAAOSwMgdXzJ7K

Or watch out for Lidl special at £20

Sat Nav Apps:

From free to a bit more expensive.

https://www.themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=59748