Haven’t use dmd2 as long as you, but so far you are 100% spot on… Did you get their tab? Or are you using on something else? I’m debating getting the tablet, but it works great on my (so to speak) nav phone …
I just got back from a 9000-mile trip using a rugged Android tablet loaded with DMD2 and OsmAnd+. Both apps were great, but I ended up using OsmAnd+ most of the time-mainly because you can plan routes and build tracks in OsmAnd+. DMD2 is definitely the prettier of the two; OsmAnd+ is more powerful and configurable-and with a corresponding (steeper) learning curve. I was only using the touchscreen for input; if I had the handlebar controller, I’d probably live in DMD2.
First of all, I’ve got a confession, I’m not normally a fan of US UA-cam channels, I find Americans talk very quickly and I find them difficult to follow (I’m British, so it shouldn’t be a problem) you on the other hand, are one of the best presenters I follow, everything is clear, well planned, well shot, you speak clearly and slowly and have a great presentation style. I’m a big Garmin fan, I’ve tried TomTom but it s not as good as Garmin and I’m currently looking at DMD2 but it would be nice to have spoken “turn by turn” instructions - I understand this isn’t possible at moment? So will stick to my Garmin as I can also upload mapping from OSM sources as well. Keep up the great work. 👍🍻
Mate, apparently we talk even faster here in New Zealand, to the point that it is forecast that other English speakers can't even understand us anymore. Not sure if that's true but there you go :)
DMD2 does have turn by turn instructions and spoken instructions. Plus you need an Android device to run DMD2 so that means you can even run Google Maps / Waze if you are in a big city and want navigation online with traffic information.
@@THORKRACINGI think I’ve seen an old review which mentioned no spoken instructions but that good news that it’s there now. One question, if I bought a 865x does that come with mapping or is it a subscription service?
@@MarkN67 It does include our DMD2 app fully unlocked with all services and access to full world maps (updated every two months), no need to pay anything. But again, it is an Android device, with Android 14 and Play Store, so you can install any app on it.
I got the garmin XT for my T7 about a year ago when it was on sale. It has served me well so far. Sometimes the search has made me angry a few times. Love your channel, keep up the great work Ian. Cheers from Texas.
This was obviously a massive undertaking, not only in experimenting with all the devices over the years, but also in putting together a succinct, well thought out video. This is a real public service on a topic that many riders have to make decisions about. I’ve used Garmin devices (handheld GPS, GPS sport watches, car GPS, and Zumo and BMW Navigators) for years and still think the Zumo XT2 or Navigator VI (with its occasional screen issues) are great for touring and for finding your way around unfamiliar cities. I still use the Navigator VI on my R1250 GSA because I prefer the integration, and I use the Zumo XT2 on my other bikes. By the way, my XT2 reliably updates itself when I arrive home and switch the bike off. I do think a dedicated off-road navigation device would be great, and this video has given me some great info. Thank you!
Great video Ian! I've been a Garmin XT user for about 5 years and I've finally had it! I've been trying out DMD2 on my phone for the past few weeks and I came to the same conclusion you did, the DMD T-865X is a great unit. It's right to be under my Christmas tree this year!
Phone mount: Peak Design. Elegant, secure, built in vibration damper... best option out there. Not cheap, but worth it. No idea why those clumsy QuadLocks are so popular.
Peak Design is cheap in overall cost of ownership. Nice Warranty, metal locking mechasim paired with a mag base make it millions times better than other mouting mechansim while wearing gloves. Served me extremely well on & off road.
I concur - Quad Lock is the best mounting system I have used too. I have gone down hard off-road numerous times on my Aprilia Tuareg and have never had my phone break or come off the Quad Lock mount above the dash. I do the majority of my on-road and off-road navigation with my Samsung S-22 using Google Maps on-road and onX off-road.
I bought a cheap rugged smartphone without any service just to use as a GPS and I run Osmand on it. Less than an hundred bucks plus quadlock mount. Does the job. I would prefer a Garmin Tread with inreach but well, that's not the same price :D
Have been using Garmin since they started making hand held units over 30 years ago. They sit on a shelf now. Currently using Android devices with OSMAND software. Old cell phones on my off-road machines and a 8" Ulefone Armor Pad for my R1200RT.
This is the way. It solves pretty much all the issues imo. When I can afford to I'll probably switch to a DMD2 phone/tablet because it'll have the advantages of being able to still use whatever app I want and having a nice charging dock. The OBD2 integration stuff is also pretty cool because I ride a 701 which has a very minimal dash. But for the time being, my $150 cheap china rugged phone does a pretty damn good job. If I need to update maps I just hotspot it off my main phone. The whole Garmin integrated inreach thing is cool, but I already have an inreach and I want it attached to me and not the motorcycle.
Have been using a the Carpuride W702B (BMW mount) and iPhone 13. With Scenic for touring. Easy installation without wiring phone sits in my tank bad or pocket. Works very well with my Cardo On long tours like my Rockies trip, my old trusty Zumo 665 came along for the ride on my luggage but was never used
Ian, as always, you are so dedicated to your channel and so precise on your reviews thank you so much. I have the Garmin and I’ve used it a number of times it’s OK especially if you’re Off Road . I’ve used my iPhone a few times but yes, it does overheat and extreme weather so thank you for reviewing the others. Appreciate it. Looking forward to your next video.
I've been running the Carpuride on my TAT trip this year, and indeed, overheating was an issue. My solution to this was to have a second cheap phone to connect to the unit when the other one was charging. It worked great and was not really a hassle on the ride itself but that also meant having to download offline maps on both phones. Note that overheating was only an issue above 90 degrees, it did not overheating constantly. Other than this, it was awesome. Large, bright screen, access to my favorite apps and music, phones out of the elements, very easy to use and snappy, and pretty cheap. I think I will look at a DMD2 tablet in the future, they are just a bit cost prohibitive and heavy, so they need additional bracing depending on the bike (I have a T7) but definitely the best.
My Garmin XT is the last Garmin device I’ll ever buy outside of my Inreach Mini. It’s using 2005 tech at 2050 prices. Slow, doesn’t navigate, no voice control, difficult to program on the fly… the only redeeming qualities is that it’s rugged and waterproof.
Just to share an excellent android device that I use for navigation … The “Samsung s20 fe” is an excellent device with a fantastic bright high resolution screen, cost less than 200 usd on Amazon, all the necessary GPS frequencies are supported. Another benefit is that it has battery management capability so you can leave it plugged in and you don’t fry the battery. It’s waterproof. You can also still get quad lock cases for it, which makes it super easy to mount. I’m able to simply Wi-Fi connect to my Apple phone so I don’t even need to have service on the device. Then run Google maps , or Gaia GPS. For the money invested, I could not be happier.
Absolutely solid advice Ian. I went with a Beeline Moto a few years ago. It's super basic, but it does all that I need it to. But it is completely dependent on the phone.
I’m currently using a Zumo 550 that I bought second hand. I have multiple cradles so I can use it on my car or transfer to my bikes. I do travel in areas where there is no cell phone service so I prefer the dedicated device so I don’t have to upload maps to my phone. I will also use my cell phone for guidance for getting a quick route. I will have that in my tank bag and use the Zumo as a reference. I also used a Chinese GPS “FodSpot” , it’s very economical, easy to transfer routes from my google maps which is easier to build a route than Basecamp. Thanks for your informative video.
I have an XT2 mounted above the TFT on my Tiger 900 RP, but i also have a Quadlock mount with vibration dampener and wireless charging head on the bars. Phone controls music, XT2 does navigation.
Getting GPX onto a Garmin XT is 'not' difficult. Select the GPX file on an iPhone and then Send, choose the (Garmin) Drive app from the list of compatible apps shown. And that's it 'done'. I do not recommend the XT2 over the XT because IMPO it is really unreliable handling GPX files irrelevant of base map or GPX export version, whereas the XT is very reliable in this respect. For those who just want to get from A-to-B the fastest, a phone running Waze is all you need. After trying at least a dozen phone navigation apps, if you want complex routes, then planning in MyRoute-app online, and using an XT is the best way to go. If you're on a budget, buy a Beeline Moto which is nothing fancy but is reliable and accurate.
Very thorough review on a topic I have been considering for the last 6 months. I almost bought a Garmin XT 2 but decided to use Gaia with my old Google Pixel smartphone that already had the Quadlock case. My old Pixel was just collecting dust so I deleted everything from the phone that was not necessary and downloaded the Gaia app which I used on my N. Cal BDR ride a couple of weeks ago. My new Pixel phone is safe and suspended on my pocket and ready for use when I need it.
I run 2 "keyed" wired garmin gps units, an older montana 600 and newer 700 series, both direct wired on rugged amps mounts. Also have my phone mounted on a quadlock wireless charger. I ride a lot of technical bdr or dirt bike style baja off road so download "tracks" onto all the devices. I've learned that "Routes" do not perform well OFF road. The Montana series was specifically designed with "tracks" in mind. If you ride mostly pavement in urban areas the other zumo style garmin series units are better fo ON road navigation. I use basecamp to interface with the montana devices, very simple and easy to use from my perspective. While I'm riding I have one gps zoomed out and the other zoomed in for an overall perspective. I use google maps destination style routing mostly on the phone as a secondary backup reference, but also have the tracks overlaid using the google saved maps feature. I also use Gaia as another backup map source just in case. The expensive and more fragile cell phone goes into the protection of the tank bag when the trail gets overly technical or bad weather. This navigation setup works really awesome for me across all 3 of my bikes and all my use cases.
My Montana 600 is 11 years old and works great just using CNNA 2024 and occasionally a REALLY old (circa 2000) Garmin topo map set. I do the same thing with Basecamp/Tracks. I rarely ever use an actual route. I set the track to "display on map" and if I want routing info, I can make the unit "route" the track to show ETA, remaining miles, etc,... A second one to set zoomed out would be nice. What I REALLY want is a screen large enough to show a big area while still zoomed in enough to show all those tiny little backroads. This makes creating a route on the fly while out riding MUCH easier because you aren't zooming in/out and scrolling all over the place trying to see if a road connects, goes through, or meets up somewhere else. This is about the only reason I have been considering one of the larger units like the DMD2.
Just picked up the Chigee AIO-5 BMW for my 2018 K1600 GTL. Works great and so much nicer to have something in the BMW Nav space and use the wonder wheel. The only complaint is their documentation is really bad for where to connect the device to make the wonder wheel work. Took me a couple tries to get it working correctly.
I use an old smartphone. - Cheap. - Has a slow processor so, does not produce a lot of heat. - Has only a couple of navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, etc). - Works without a cell phone signal (you can download the maps you need and use on Google Maps, for instance).
Wow, that was so thorough! My Garmin Zumo XT has been very useful on both of my trips this summer when I was out of cell range to find the nearest gas or camping and to plot a route. I also use the Quadlock with a vibration dampener and my phone continues to work perfectly. I had thought about trying a tethered screen, but I have even more doubts now. Thank you for the information.
Good video, thanks. Personally, I use Carpe Iter with OsmAnd. I endorse it after 6 months abuse on my tour of whole Africa. Craddles and commands are very important for offroad. Many upcoming brands don't offer proper accessories and adeguate support. My advice - don't look at specs only!
I use Scenic on my iPhone, and like you the quad lock set up, but with the wireless charger, so no heat problem , because it charges slowly. And soon Scenic will be on CarPlay again. On my Africa Twin with wireless CarPlay it works perfect.
I just got back from a coast to coast lap (about 9000 miles) of the continental US. I used a rugged Android tablet as a standalone GPS, with DMD2 and OsmAnd+ for offline navigation and route planning. I mainly used OsmAnd+, mostly because it did everything I needed it to do without swapping apps or gpx files. If I had the handlebar button controller, it’d be a different story.
The ultimate device is a dedicated GPS like a Garmin that can also support CarPlay/Android Auto, but I am not aware of that type of device. I use an Zumo XT2 as my dedicated GPS, but I also make sure my kit includes a way for me to mount my phone on the handlebars and a way to keep my phone charged while it is being used.
Super comprehensive review. Only thing missing from it is a little Beeline which is ideal for more retro bikes. I have the original on my BMW R9T which just gives an arrow for turns but the latest model gives a little map. Otherwise an old smartphone is another great option, just tether the wifi if needed. Thanks
I use a Ram Mounts quick grip and the anti vibration setup. Super efficiente, the phone (s23 ultra) doesn't vibrate at all ( ktm 1290 SAS). And because of the ram mounts system you can put it like you want!
Thanks this video was an eye opener for options out there. I had been using a phone for navigation for about 8 years now, but I've had quite a few issues with that. I've had Garmins in the past but they all eventually quit on me and I didn't like them anyway. The DMD 5.7" android phone looks like the best option for me. Doubles as a phone with your sim card in it. I was carrying a spare phone with me anyway, with the DMD I could just carry my main phone and leave the DMD on the bike. Sweeeeet. Plus it's like half the price of a new phone.
Waze Navigation best serves inside my vehicles but my trusty Motorcycle Garmin unit (mostly because of its mounting system) has worked without issues for more than five years. That said, I agree with everything said in this review.
Hi Thanks for the information. It was a good and very extensive summary. I have some additions from my own experience. Negative for GSM; because a stone hit the camera lens, the camera was defective. Expensive repair. Also when it rains (wet screen) you can no longer operate a smartphone. I have very good experiance with de Garmins (595 , XT and XT2). Designed for making your own tracks and routes. You mentioned the software and map updates as downsite , for me its a positive. Lifetime free updates. If your motorcycle is parked in your garage with wifi it wil automatically checks for updates. Also you can use the screen in the rain. In europe you can have a lot of rainy days, so thats big plus. You need the Garmin Tread app for communication between your cellphone and the XT2. For incoming calls etc , but also traffic and weather information. The downsite of the Tread app is that i experianced difficult upload functionality for the routes and tracks. This software works like a beta function. The oldfasion way with Basecamp and a PC connection was much better
One very important point you missed, maps are good but satellite images are even better, these show not only where you are also tracks that are not on maps, I use Altogis (available for many countries around the world), this is FREE for the basic version which is all I need, works on any Android device, the is also a pro version for a very small fee
Good thing about a Garmin Zumo XT... it transfers routes instantly between Zumo devices. Like big ba-da boom. Great if you ride with some usual folks. Then we have a bad thing. Wiring. Need to buy a Garmin ($45 or so) cable for each motorcycle. Garmin won't run on 12V... rely on a conditioner/voltage limiter built into each supply cabling. (They got ya !) If you need more detailed maps... you can load the Garmin higher-res maps on it. Pretty simple to use Google Maps to load tracks/routes on it.
For phone mounts, check out the Peak Design mount. In some tests it is better than quadlock with regards to vibration isolation and they now have a QI2 version for wireless charging.
I drove about 5000 miles this summer with my iphone on a Peak Design mount on a 2017 Husky 701 before the camera broke. The vibration on a 701 is more than say a BMW GS. The PD is sleek and I liked it a lot but it couldn't cope with the vibration on a 701 over an extended trip. I rode a further 5000 miles but couldn't take any more pictures.
@@austin97128 Bummer, that's a bit surprising but sounds like there is no perfect solution out there. When I look for reviews, just about all say PD is better for vibration dampening. I can't find the more scientific review I remembered, unfortunately.
I can't speak to reliability because I just got it, but the Aoocci C6 Pro I installed has front and rear cameras, GPS, TPS, and a lot cheaper than the others. Looks great so far.
I have had both the Garmin XT2 and BMW Nav V,.. I like the Garmin better but it's also newer than the Nav V. I'd prefer to protect my $1K phone over the $400 Garmin (bought second hand). Used my phone on the road bike and it got wet, which prompted the Garmin purchase. You can have a bunch of music on the Garmin via SD and it also hooks to the phone (BT) you have protected somewhere else on you. I second your QuadLock recommendation,.. much better than anything else for a phone on a bike if you want it out of your pocket.
Fantastic Video. I settled for Carpuride W702 for my BMW R1300 GS with BMW adapter but for my k1600 I use the provided mount. However, after watching your video, I am thinking of trying a GPS Android tablet maybe.
Some folks may have benefited from the mention of BMW dedicated GPS units such as the Navigator V and VI as well as the more recent BMW Connected Ride Navigator which are closely related to the Garmin unit.
I’ve been travelling Australia for years with a quad lock mount with induction charging and damper, IPhone 8 with Gaia full country download ed, and garmin app, and motiongps app my new phone is in my pocket which has SoS built in nowadays
I bought the Samsung Active5 tablet...so I can have Gaia, On-x, Waze, google maps...movies, email etc etc as i travel and motocamp. It's awesome...however, MOUNTING IT...(10inch screen) hasn't been easy to figure out a way to do that effectively. Very frustrating as I dont have a fabrication shop and Frankensteining it together. If I did, THAT would be the solution..
Ian, first let me say thank you for your product review. I work for a motorcycle rental company, and am in charge of our offroad tours, mainly side by sides but now I’ve been tasked with adding ADV bikes to our line up. So I am on the hunt for a GPS system that will withstand the harsh desert environment, that allows me to swap between my side by side and the adv bike I will be riding, that has a large enough screen where I can see more items like where the other riders and drivers are, and lastly has the ability to track other group riders. I would have love to see more thoughts on the Garmin xt2 or tread. I’ve read that as long as the other riders have the tread app installed on their phone, the Garmin XT2 will identify those that have been invited to the ride. Also there’s a group ride option that has a microphone (like a walkie talkie). Does the DMD tablet, and the Nav software allow for tracking of other riders? Any and all feedback is welcomed and I appreciate all your help and those of the other riders out there.
Great perspective on everything you presented here. I have been through a few options from the Goldwing I used to own to my now Tiger 900. I definitely prefer a standalone device for navigation, and if my phone connects great, but no biggie since I also don’t want to be ‘connected’ to social media and other distractions while riding.
SUPER nice video, thanks. I want to get the CarPuride, the Chigee AIO5 is too expensive... what is sure is that I do not want to put my Iphone 15 PRO Max in the handle bar hehe. Planing to buy a Suzuki VStrom 650 XT 2025, really love this one.
Tethered screen with android auto all the way. I want to use the apps I'm comfortable with, and phone apps are way more advanced and polished than any other manufacturer's software. Also I've had a Garmin in the day and they make the unit software obsolete because they didn't want to update it to a modern OS, making me have to use a virtual machine to sync and update tracks. What a PITA. To solve the problem of breaking or loosing the phone, just pack in a extra cheap (and charged) phone in the backpack. I use rugged phones with 3 day battery life so not that worried about loosing charge. One thing to mention is that only recent versions of android can be used with BT, older versions must be connected with the USB cable all the time.
If I had the budget I'd probably just get a DMD phone or tablet, but currently I use a cheap $150 chinese rugged phone with Gaia, Google Maps, and sometimes the DMD2 app. I think this is the cheapest option because it doesn't put my main expensive phone at risk on the handlebars or expose it to excessive sunlight or vibration. If for some reason I'm on the road and I need to update my maps or routes, I just use my phones hotspot to update it. Haven't needed to yet though. The only downside is it means using quadlock's adhesive mount instead of a real case, but this could easily be eliminated by just getting a refurbished older phone that quadlock makes a case for. But I've gone over some pretty rough terrain and haven't had an issue yet.
currently use my cell phone with a quadlock and usb charger cable. Prefer GAIA for offroad and Google Maps for on road. Planning to switch to larger waterproof/dustproof (rugged) tablet for larger screen.
Good review, I have always been a Garmin fan, that said a few months ago I started using Apple car play on my new jeep wrangler and Onx off-road app. I ended taking off the Garmin thread gps. I have a Garmin zumo xt on my Tiger will probably stay with that for a while. Looking forward to review of the cfmoto 450. May sale the Tiger looking for weight reduction (just turned 81). New rumor, Aprilla Tuareg 450. Shit.
Great video Ian, I am exactly on this dilema, this helped! Personally I still prefer my Zumo XT for offroad riding, but prefer other options for road riding.
At the moment I'm running a Oukitel rugged tablet with DMD2 on it. Works for me (on a 2005 R1200GS), especially I have all the normal Android stuff on there as well :). Mount is home made by the way ;). Next I'm looking at the new Pixel 9 Pro fold in a heavy duty case and mount.
Thank you Ian for another great review. I’m still working on what I will buy. I have a Zumo XT on my BMW GSA, as does my wife. But not quite happy with it. So on my travel bike, Vstom 800DE, I have a Carpe-Iter tablet and navigate mainly with MyRoute App. And I also have a Garmin Montana 700i as backup. But I also have an Inreach Mini. Now putting the Carpe-Iter on my BMW is more expensive than getting a Chigee BMW version. But I’m still not sure if I want…
Vibration is also a phone mount downside. I hv a Quad lock system on my bike with the extra dampener. Killed the image stabilizer sensor on my iOS device. Phone was ok. Pictures, horrible. It’s a $100 fix. Certain vibration frequencies effect certain phones. So it depends heavily on bike, and sustained riding speeds. Mine was a 2020 Ninja 1000 @ a sustained 80-90mph (SD -> SF) on a flat hot Interstate (I5)
4:53 You just buy older models or second-hand phones to use as navigation devices, you don’t need to use latest expensive models. Another thing is that the phone will get dirty and suffer from heat and rain if you don’t take good care of it
i use a car gps and have done for 15 years on about 17 bikes, i upgrade the gps every few years as they are cheap, --- its in a cradle and i put blue tac around the charging point for water proofing and never had a failure--- it cost me 100 bucks, i refuse to spend 800 buck or more because of 20 cents worth of waterproofing--- ive been in the rain, off road, it has never failed, people who spend 800 bucks or more on a gps deserve to be ripped off
My main issue with the tethered tablets is that the screens suck. They're not bright enough to be seen in full sunlight, they're prone to reflect glare, and if you wear polarized sunglasses with the wrong orientation the screen is invisible. One solution that I found is to buy antiglare film which somewhat cuts down on the glare issue and surprisingly mitigated some of the polarization issue. Still not bright enough to be seen in full sunlight, so I only use it in my work van. So, in the meantime, I'm searching for one that is as bright as the TFT dash on my GSXS GT (which should have had all of the tech from the GX, but that's another story) but have had no luck finding something that actually lists its brightness and is cheap enough to buy and return if I have to when the screen turns out to be too weak.
I have The Rally Tab that Itchy Boots uses on her adventures, works like a dream, but it’s expensive, $900 Dollars! The Rally Tab is purpose-built, handmade to order for rally and adventure riders. It is tough, durable, lightweight, multi-use navigation device. It is water, dust, and vibration proof. Very accurate GPS (GLONASS and BeiDou) 1000 mAH battery Can be used as everyday tablet Plug and Play, no complicated wiring.
I just purchased the Thork Racing T865X model and familiarizing myself with it as I find the time. Great: Excellent hardware and the ability to use other Android-based apps such as GAIA GPS and Spotify to listen to tunes. Questionable: The maps you’re forced to use (no choices, just one) are already proving to be incomplete and not always accurate. (I’m comparing the map with legal roads/trails in my area and it’s not looking good.) I’m not familiar with the Android operating system so I haven’t even figured out how to get my favorite GPX files (tracks) onto the device, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.
Thank you for the comparaison; usefull and interesting. I miss the TomTom device; is it on purpose? Or maybe not available in the US? I am tempted to use DMD2 since I will be testing it on my cell phone next season. Again thanks and ride safe!
Ulefone Armor 18T. Weather/dust proof. Withstands vibrations. Never overheated. Huge battery. Wireless charging. The phone is huge but the Ulefone mounting system for it is great. Using OSMAND for maps. I'll never buy a dedicated GPS unit again. Not worth it. Btw... No TomTom Rider? They make motorcycle specific GPS units since the times of the dinosaurs.
For the Android Auto and Apple Car play you can't use just any software (like DMD2) you can only use programs that are approved to run in the AA and ACP.
Very nice overview. If you use one of the phone mirroring screens, the specific app you use really makes a big difference. I had been using BMW's phone app and their cradle. For road routing, it worked well for me, but I ran into overheating issues. I got a Chigee and first tried Scenic. Well, Scenic claims to work in Carplay and it does, but it only shows your location on the map with no navigation instructions. It's useless. I'm going to try Rever next.
Have you been able to use DMD2 on the Carpuride? I'm running the Carpuride 7" on a CRF 250L and really like it. I like the DMD2 for it's maps, they don't seem to take up a lot of memory which is good. Ian this is great info thank you for doing the video. Does the DMD@ tablet require a sim card and service. I suspect it does?
DMD2 will run on any Android device. It's a subscription unless you purchase one of their devices which includes a lifetime subscription to the software. A connection is NOT needed, and neither is a sim card. I have their T665 and while I could add a sim card and connect to cell service I have not connected to anything other than wifi. This does prevent updating in the wilds without a wifi connection. TLDR - not required but it's an option.
I use Garmin 396 LMT-S. They were a bit more costly when I bought it several years ago when I bought it which was the reason I didn't go with the Zumo XT. Looking back I wish I did spend the extra money on the Zumo XT. However its always gotten me where I needed to, so it's done its job. I ended up buying a second mount for it for my second bike. However I find it annoying having to take the gps off the bike every time I park it in front of a store, so that nobody steals the gps
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Been using DMD and DMD2 since 2019. Cannot find anything better, and it's constantly being improved and updated.
Haven’t use dmd2 as long as you, but so far you are 100% spot on…
Did you get their tab? Or are you using on something else?
I’m debating getting the tablet, but it works great on my (so to speak) nav phone …
thanks for sharing. DMD is amazing.
@@timlubbers2884 I have the Carpe Iter tab from before DMD2 started offering their own stuff. Still works great.
I just got back from a 9000-mile trip using a rugged Android tablet loaded with DMD2 and OsmAnd+. Both apps were great, but I ended up using OsmAnd+ most of the time-mainly because you can plan routes and build tracks in OsmAnd+. DMD2 is definitely the prettier of the two; OsmAnd+ is more powerful and configurable-and with a corresponding (steeper) learning curve.
I was only using the touchscreen for input; if I had the handlebar controller, I’d probably live in DMD2.
It has a few problems but it is the best out there.
First of all, I’ve got a confession, I’m not normally a fan of US UA-cam channels, I find Americans talk very quickly and I find them difficult to follow (I’m British, so it shouldn’t be a problem) you on the other hand, are one of the best presenters I follow, everything is clear, well planned, well shot, you speak clearly and slowly and have a great presentation style.
I’m a big Garmin fan, I’ve tried TomTom but it s not as good as Garmin and I’m currently looking at DMD2 but it would be nice to have spoken “turn by turn” instructions - I understand this isn’t possible at moment? So will stick to my Garmin as I can also upload mapping from OSM sources as well.
Keep up the great work. 👍🍻
Mate, apparently we talk even faster here in New Zealand, to the point that it is forecast that other English speakers can't even understand us anymore. Not sure if that's true but there you go :)
DMD2 does have turn by turn instructions and spoken instructions. Plus you need an Android device to run DMD2 so that means you can even run Google Maps / Waze if you are in a big city and want navigation online with traffic information.
@@THORKRACINGI think I’ve seen an old review which mentioned no spoken instructions but that good news that it’s there now.
One question, if I bought a 865x does that come with mapping or is it a subscription service?
@@MarkN67 It does include our DMD2 app fully unlocked with all services and access to full world maps (updated every two months), no need to pay anything. But again, it is an Android device, with Android 14 and Play Store, so you can install any app on it.
I got the garmin XT for my T7 about a year ago when it was on sale. It has served me well so far. Sometimes the search has made me angry a few times. Love your channel, keep up the great work Ian. Cheers from Texas.
This was obviously a massive undertaking, not only in experimenting with all the devices over the years, but also in putting together a succinct, well thought out video. This is a real public service on a topic that many riders have to make decisions about. I’ve used Garmin devices (handheld GPS, GPS sport watches, car GPS, and Zumo and BMW Navigators) for years and still think the Zumo XT2 or Navigator VI (with its occasional screen issues) are great for touring and for finding your way around unfamiliar cities. I still use the Navigator VI on my R1250 GSA because I prefer the integration, and I use the Zumo XT2 on my other bikes. By the way, my XT2 reliably updates itself when I arrive home and switch the bike off.
I do think a dedicated off-road navigation device would be great, and this video has given me some great info. Thank you!
thank you
Great video Ian! I've been a Garmin XT user for about 5 years and I've finally had it! I've been trying out DMD2 on my phone for the past few weeks and I came to the same conclusion you did, the DMD T-865X is a great unit. It's right to be under my Christmas tree this year!
See if you can find an XT2 to play with or find someone who will let you borrow one; you might be surprised!
Phone mount: Peak Design. Elegant, secure, built in vibration damper... best option out there. Not cheap, but worth it. No idea why those clumsy QuadLocks are so popular.
Totally agree. But they will never get broad range support until they drop their pricing about 50%. Their mounts cost as much as a Carpuride tablet. 😮
Peak Design is cheap in overall cost of ownership. Nice Warranty, metal locking mechasim paired with a mag base make it millions times better than other mouting mechansim while wearing gloves. Served me extremely well on & off road.
The new DMD is absolute gold. I use it for gpx navigation and also for roadbook races.
Wow! Man, you sure put a lot of work into this amazing review. Kudos, Ian. That was very professionally presented.
Thanks a ton!
Thanks, I’ve been changing to DMD2 on a “dumb” phone with Gaia and OnX backup. Been impressed thus far
I concur - Quad Lock is the best mounting system I have used too. I have gone down hard off-road numerous times on my Aprilia Tuareg and have never had my phone break or come off the Quad Lock mount above the dash. I do the majority of my on-road and off-road navigation with my Samsung S-22 using Google Maps on-road and onX off-road.
I bought a cheap rugged smartphone without any service just to use as a GPS and I run Osmand on it. Less than an hundred bucks plus quadlock mount. Does the job. I would prefer a Garmin Tread with inreach but well, that's not the same price :D
Did the same, got a buddies hand me down phone :)
Have been using Garmin since they started making hand held units over 30 years ago. They sit on a shelf now. Currently using Android devices with OSMAND software. Old cell phones on my off-road machines and a 8" Ulefone Armor Pad for my R1200RT.
This is the way. It solves pretty much all the issues imo. When I can afford to I'll probably switch to a DMD2 phone/tablet because it'll have the advantages of being able to still use whatever app I want and having a nice charging dock. The OBD2 integration stuff is also pretty cool because I ride a 701 which has a very minimal dash. But for the time being, my $150 cheap china rugged phone does a pretty damn good job. If I need to update maps I just hotspot it off my main phone. The whole Garmin integrated inreach thing is cool, but I already have an inreach and I want it attached to me and not the motorcycle.
I agree with that choice and looking for a cheap rugged tablet for larger screen could be a good choice
@@GRhightech not as much choice unfortunately but you are right!
Have been using a the Carpuride W702B (BMW mount) and iPhone 13. With Scenic for touring.
Easy installation without wiring phone sits in my tank bad or pocket. Works very well with my Cardo
On long tours like my Rockies trip, my old trusty Zumo 665 came along for the ride on my luggage but was never used
DMD2 here as well! Has media player, TMPS, OBD2 for engine info and much more.
Ian, as always, you are so dedicated to your channel and so precise on your reviews thank you so much.
I have the Garmin and I’ve used it a number of times it’s OK especially if you’re Off Road . I’ve used my iPhone a few times but yes, it does overheat and extreme weather so thank you for reviewing the others. Appreciate it. Looking forward to your next video.
I've been running the Carpuride on my TAT trip this year, and indeed, overheating was an issue. My solution to this was to have a second cheap phone to connect to the unit when the other one was charging. It worked great and was not really a hassle on the ride itself but that also meant having to download offline maps on both phones. Note that overheating was only an issue above 90 degrees, it did not overheating constantly.
Other than this, it was awesome. Large, bright screen, access to my favorite apps and music, phones out of the elements, very easy to use and snappy, and pretty cheap.
I think I will look at a DMD2 tablet in the future, they are just a bit cost prohibitive and heavy, so they need additional bracing depending on the bike (I have a T7) but definitely the best.
Used Garmin for a time and switched to DMD2 T665 and man I will never go back. Awesome software and extremely easy to use.
My Garmin XT is the last Garmin device I’ll ever buy outside of my Inreach Mini. It’s using 2005 tech at 2050 prices. Slow, doesn’t navigate, no voice control, difficult to program on the fly… the only redeeming qualities is that it’s rugged and waterproof.
Just to share an excellent android device that I use for navigation … The “Samsung s20 fe” is an excellent device with a fantastic bright high resolution screen, cost less than 200 usd on Amazon, all the necessary GPS frequencies are supported. Another benefit is that it has battery management capability so you can leave it plugged in and you don’t fry the battery. It’s waterproof. You can also still get quad lock cases for it, which makes it super easy to mount. I’m able to simply Wi-Fi connect to my Apple phone so I don’t even need to have service on the device. Then run Google maps , or Gaia GPS. For the money invested, I could not be happier.
Absolutely solid advice Ian.
I went with a Beeline Moto a few years ago. It's super basic, but it does all that I need it to.
But it is completely dependent on the phone.
I’m currently using a Zumo 550 that I bought second hand. I have multiple cradles so I can use it on my car or transfer to my bikes. I do travel in areas where there is no cell phone service so I prefer the dedicated device so I don’t have to upload maps to my phone.
I will also use my cell phone for guidance for getting a quick route. I will have that in my tank bag and use the Zumo as a reference.
I also used a Chinese GPS “FodSpot” , it’s very economical, easy to transfer routes from my google maps which is easier to build a route than Basecamp.
Thanks for your informative video.
Zumo XT all the way. I love mine and transfer from bike to bike. 👍
I have an XT2 mounted above the TFT on my Tiger 900 RP, but i also have a Quadlock mount with vibration dampener and wireless charging head on the bars. Phone controls music, XT2 does navigation.
Getting GPX onto a Garmin XT is 'not' difficult. Select the GPX file on an iPhone and then Send, choose the (Garmin) Drive app from the list of compatible apps shown. And that's it 'done'. I do not recommend the XT2 over the XT because IMPO it is really unreliable handling GPX files irrelevant of base map or GPX export version, whereas the XT is very reliable in this respect. For those who just want to get from A-to-B the fastest, a phone running Waze is all you need. After trying at least a dozen phone navigation apps, if you want complex routes, then planning in MyRoute-app online, and using an XT is the best way to go. If you're on a budget, buy a Beeline Moto which is nothing fancy but is reliable and accurate.
Great review as always Ian. To me the Garmin XT is the way to go.
Very thorough review on a topic I have been considering for the last 6 months. I almost bought a Garmin XT 2 but decided to use Gaia with my old Google Pixel smartphone that already had the Quadlock case. My old Pixel was just collecting dust so I deleted everything from the phone that was not necessary and downloaded the Gaia app which I used on my N. Cal BDR ride a couple of weeks ago. My new Pixel phone is safe and suspended on my pocket and ready for use when I need it.
Glad it was helpful!
My older pixel 6 overheats and turns off if I charge it while touring on my bike. You don't find that an issue?
I run 2 "keyed" wired garmin gps units, an older montana 600 and newer 700 series, both direct wired on rugged amps mounts. Also have my phone mounted on a quadlock wireless charger.
I ride a lot of technical bdr or dirt bike style baja off road so download "tracks" onto all the devices. I've learned that "Routes" do not perform well OFF road. The Montana series was specifically designed with "tracks" in mind. If you ride mostly pavement in urban areas the other zumo style garmin series units are better fo ON road navigation.
I use basecamp to interface with the montana devices, very simple and easy to use from my perspective.
While I'm riding I have one gps zoomed out and the other zoomed in for an overall perspective. I use google maps destination style routing mostly on the phone as a secondary backup reference, but also have the tracks overlaid using the google saved maps feature. I also use Gaia as another backup map source just in case.
The expensive and more fragile cell phone goes into the protection of the tank bag when the trail gets overly technical or bad weather.
This navigation setup works really awesome for me across all 3 of my bikes and all my use cases.
My Montana 600 is 11 years old and works great just using CNNA 2024 and occasionally a REALLY old (circa 2000) Garmin topo map set. I do the same thing with Basecamp/Tracks. I rarely ever use an actual route. I set the track to "display on map" and if I want routing info, I can make the unit "route" the track to show ETA, remaining miles, etc,... A second one to set zoomed out would be nice. What I REALLY want is a screen large enough to show a big area while still zoomed in enough to show all those tiny little backroads. This makes creating a route on the fly while out riding MUCH easier because you aren't zooming in/out and scrolling all over the place trying to see if a road connects, goes through, or meets up somewhere else. This is about the only reason I have been considering one of the larger units like the DMD2.
Just picked up the Chigee AIO-5 BMW for my 2018 K1600 GTL. Works great and so much nicer to have something in the BMW Nav space and use the wonder wheel. The only complaint is their documentation is really bad for where to connect the device to make the wonder wheel work. Took me a couple tries to get it working correctly.
I use an old smartphone.
- Cheap.
- Has a slow processor so, does not produce a lot of heat.
- Has only a couple of navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, etc).
- Works without a cell phone signal (you can download the maps you need and use on Google Maps, for instance).
Wow, that was so thorough! My Garmin Zumo XT has been very useful on both of my trips this summer when I was out of cell range to find the nearest gas or camping and to plot a route. I also use the Quadlock with a vibration dampener and my phone continues to work perfectly. I had thought about trying a tethered screen, but I have even more doubts now. Thank you for the information.
Glad it was helpful!
Good video, thanks. Personally, I use Carpe Iter with OsmAnd. I endorse it after 6 months abuse on my tour of whole Africa. Craddles and commands are very important for offroad. Many upcoming brands don't offer proper accessories and adeguate support. My advice - don't look at specs only!
thank you for sharing. OsmAnd is a great app
I use Scenic on my iPhone, and like you the quad lock set up, but with the wireless charger, so no heat problem , because it charges slowly. And soon Scenic will be on CarPlay again. On my Africa Twin with wireless CarPlay it works perfect.
You've done a lot of homework for this review. Good job mate. Thank you.
I just got back from a coast to coast lap (about 9000 miles) of the continental US. I used a rugged Android tablet as a standalone GPS, with DMD2 and OsmAnd+ for offline navigation and route planning.
I mainly used OsmAnd+, mostly because it did everything I needed it to do without swapping apps or gpx files. If I had the handlebar button controller, it’d be a different story.
What is the screen size and how did you mount it? I got the Samsung Active5...but can't figure out how to mount it in a way that works.....
The ultimate device is a dedicated GPS like a Garmin that can also support CarPlay/Android Auto, but I am not aware of that type of device. I use an Zumo XT2 as my dedicated GPS, but I also make sure my kit includes a way for me to mount my phone on the handlebars and a way to keep my phone charged while it is being used.
Super comprehensive review. Only thing missing from it is a little Beeline which is ideal for more retro bikes. I have the original on my BMW R9T which just gives an arrow for turns but the latest model gives a little map. Otherwise an old smartphone is another great option, just tether the wifi if needed. Thanks
I use a Ram Mounts quick grip and the anti vibration setup. Super efficiente, the phone (s23 ultra) doesn't vibrate at all ( ktm 1290 SAS). And because of the ram mounts system you can put it like you want!
Thanks this video was an eye opener for options out there. I had been using a phone for navigation for about 8 years now, but I've had quite a few issues with that. I've had Garmins in the past but they all eventually quit on me and I didn't like them anyway.
The DMD 5.7" android phone looks like the best option for me. Doubles as a phone with your sim card in it. I was carrying a spare phone with me anyway, with the DMD I could just carry my main phone and leave the DMD on the bike. Sweeeeet. Plus it's like half the price of a new phone.
Waze Navigation best serves inside my vehicles but my trusty Motorcycle Garmin unit (mostly because of its mounting system) has worked without issues for more than five years. That said, I agree with everything said in this review.
Nice shirt and shirt color today, looking good. Thanks for the video!
Damn Ian….pushing 300k subs 👀 Not surprise I enjoy your videos very much!
Hi Thanks for the information. It was a good and very extensive summary.
I have some additions from my own experience.
Negative for GSM; because a stone hit the camera lens, the camera was defective. Expensive repair. Also when it rains (wet screen) you can no longer operate a smartphone.
I have very good experiance with de Garmins (595 , XT and XT2). Designed for making your own tracks and routes. You mentioned the software and map updates as downsite , for me its a positive. Lifetime free updates. If your motorcycle is parked in your garage with wifi it wil automatically checks for updates.
Also you can use the screen in the rain. In europe you can have a lot of rainy days, so thats big plus.
You need the Garmin Tread app for communication between your cellphone and the XT2. For incoming calls etc , but also traffic and weather information.
The downsite of the Tread app is that i experianced difficult upload functionality for the routes and tracks. This software works like a beta function. The oldfasion way with Basecamp and a PC connection was much better
One very important point you missed, maps are good but satellite images are even better, these show not only where you are also tracks that are not on maps, I use Altogis (available for many countries around the world), this is FREE for the basic version which is all I need, works on any Android device, the is also a pro version for a very small fee
Good thing about a Garmin Zumo XT... it transfers routes instantly between Zumo devices. Like big ba-da boom. Great if you ride with some usual folks. Then we have a bad thing. Wiring. Need to buy a Garmin ($45 or so) cable for each motorcycle. Garmin won't run on 12V... rely on a conditioner/voltage limiter built into each supply cabling. (They got ya !) If you need more detailed maps... you can load the Garmin higher-res maps on it. Pretty simple to use Google Maps to load tracks/routes on it.
Now you do this after I procured a Garmin Zumo XT last week! 🙈
I use the Bee Line Moto 2 navigation "tethered screen of 1.4 inches" that works really well for me...but I don't currently do off-road riding.
Zumo xt2 with the tread app. Atlanta ga and the N Ga mtns. Paved and easy dirt on a super tenere
For phone mounts, check out the Peak Design mount. In some tests it is better than quadlock with regards to vibration isolation and they now have a QI2 version for wireless charging.
I drove about 5000 miles this summer with my iphone on a Peak Design mount on a 2017 Husky 701 before the camera broke. The vibration on a 701 is more than say a BMW GS. The PD is sleek and I liked it a lot but it couldn't cope with the vibration on a 701 over an extended trip. I rode a further 5000 miles but couldn't take any more pictures.
@@austin97128 Bummer, that's a bit surprising but sounds like there is no perfect solution out there. When I look for reviews, just about all say PD is better for vibration dampening. I can't find the more scientific review I remembered, unfortunately.
My iPhone has been on my Tigers PD mount for over 40,000 miles. No issues at all and I do a lot of rough off-road riding.
I can't speak to reliability because I just got it, but the Aoocci C6 Pro I installed has front and rear cameras, GPS, TPS, and a lot cheaper than the others. Looks great so far.
I have had both the Garmin XT2 and BMW Nav V,.. I like the Garmin better but it's also newer than the Nav V. I'd prefer to protect my $1K phone over the $400 Garmin (bought second hand). Used my phone on the road bike and it got wet, which prompted the Garmin purchase. You can have a bunch of music on the Garmin via SD and it also hooks to the phone (BT) you have protected somewhere else on you. I second your QuadLock recommendation,.. much better than anything else for a phone on a bike if you want it out of your pocket.
Ian, thank you for another interesting and useful video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic Video. I settled for Carpuride W702 for my BMW R1300 GS with BMW adapter but for my k1600 I use the provided mount. However, after watching your video, I am thinking of trying a GPS Android tablet maybe.
Yard maintenance technician 2 eh? Congratulations on the promotion! 🎉🤣🤣🤣
i just got the carpuride 702, for the price, so far really nice.
I use both an old pixel phone running GAIA and a vintage Garmin Montana 600, great combo for keeping me mostly on track or finding a way out.
Some folks may have benefited from the mention of BMW dedicated GPS units such as the Navigator V and VI as well as the more recent BMW Connected Ride Navigator which are closely related to the Garmin unit.
I’ve been travelling Australia for years with a quad lock mount with induction charging and damper, IPhone 8 with Gaia full country download ed, and garmin app, and motiongps app my new phone is in my pocket which has SoS built in nowadays
Couple of corrections on the xt2. It does updates over the air and you are not limited to garmin maps.
I bought the Samsung Active5 tablet...so I can have Gaia, On-x, Waze, google maps...movies, email etc etc as i travel and motocamp. It's awesome...however, MOUNTING IT...(10inch screen) hasn't been easy to figure out a way to do that effectively. Very frustrating as I dont have a fabrication shop and Frankensteining it together. If I did, THAT would be the solution..
Awesome video Ian!
Making it easy for us average Joe's ✌️
Thanks Jeff!
Ian, first let me say thank you for your product review. I work for a motorcycle rental company, and am in charge of our offroad tours, mainly side by sides but now I’ve been tasked with adding ADV bikes to our line up. So I am on the hunt for a GPS system that will withstand the harsh desert environment, that allows me to swap between my side by side and the adv bike I will be riding, that has a large enough screen where I can see more items like where the other riders and drivers are, and lastly has the ability to track other group riders.
I would have love to see more thoughts on the Garmin xt2 or tread. I’ve read that as long as the other riders have the tread app installed on their phone, the Garmin XT2 will identify those that have been invited to the ride. Also there’s a group ride option that has a microphone (like a walkie talkie).
Does the DMD tablet, and the Nav software allow for tracking of other riders?
Any and all feedback is welcomed and I appreciate all your help and those of the other riders out there.
Great perspective on everything you presented here. I have been through a few options from the Goldwing I used to own to my now Tiger 900. I definitely prefer a standalone device for navigation, and if my phone connects great, but no biggie since I also don’t want to be ‘connected’ to social media and other distractions while riding.
Perfect video on moto navigation options.
Glad it was helpful!
You got a promotion congrats!!
SUPER nice video, thanks. I want to get the CarPuride, the Chigee AIO5 is too expensive... what is sure is that I do not want to put my Iphone 15 PRO Max in the handle bar hehe. Planing to buy a Suzuki VStrom 650 XT 2025, really love this one.
Tethered screen with android auto all the way. I want to use the apps I'm comfortable with, and phone apps are way more advanced and polished than any other manufacturer's software. Also I've had a Garmin in the day and they make the unit software obsolete because they didn't want to update it to a modern OS, making me have to use a virtual machine to sync and update tracks. What a PITA.
To solve the problem of breaking or loosing the phone, just pack in a extra cheap (and charged) phone in the backpack. I use rugged phones with 3 day battery life so not that worried about loosing charge. One thing to mention is that only recent versions of android can be used with BT, older versions must be connected with the USB cable all the time.
I use the BMW connect ride Navigator works well and is integrated into my bike great Navigator
If I had the budget I'd probably just get a DMD phone or tablet, but currently I use a cheap $150 chinese rugged phone with Gaia, Google Maps, and sometimes the DMD2 app. I think this is the cheapest option because it doesn't put my main expensive phone at risk on the handlebars or expose it to excessive sunlight or vibration. If for some reason I'm on the road and I need to update my maps or routes, I just use my phones hotspot to update it. Haven't needed to yet though. The only downside is it means using quadlock's adhesive mount instead of a real case, but this could easily be eliminated by just getting a refurbished older phone that quadlock makes a case for. But I've gone over some pretty rough terrain and haven't had an issue yet.
currently use my cell phone with a quadlock and usb charger cable. Prefer GAIA for offroad and Google Maps for on road. Planning to switch to larger waterproof/dustproof (rugged) tablet for larger screen.
Good review, I have always been a Garmin fan, that said a few months ago I started using Apple car play on my new jeep wrangler and Onx off-road app. I ended taking off the Garmin thread gps. I have a Garmin zumo xt on my Tiger will probably stay with that for a while. Looking forward to review of the cfmoto 450. May sale the Tiger looking for weight reduction (just turned 81). New rumor, Aprilla Tuareg 450. Shit.
Excellent overview. Well done😊👍
Great video Ian, I am exactly on this dilema, this helped! Personally I still prefer my Zumo XT for offroad riding, but prefer other options for road riding.
Glad it was helpful!
I’d have to say google maps on my phone. It’s simply a matter of convenience.
Excellent Ian!
0:04 what’s so funny, Ian? 🤨
Also, your videos have been hugely helpful and interesting for me.
At the moment I'm running a Oukitel rugged tablet with DMD2 on it. Works for me (on a 2005 R1200GS), especially I have all the normal Android stuff on there as well :). Mount is home made by the way ;). Next I'm looking at the new Pixel 9 Pro fold in a heavy duty case and mount.
Really cool content, as usual. I just wished you included Beeline Moto 2
I am going to buy a Carpuride W502Pro. I have lost my iPhone15 on a rough ride it was thrown out of its mount.
ouch!
Thank you Ian for another great review. I’m still working on what I will buy. I have a Zumo XT on my BMW GSA, as does my wife. But not quite happy with it. So on my travel bike, Vstom 800DE, I have a Carpe-Iter tablet and navigate mainly with MyRoute App. And I also have a Garmin Montana 700i as backup. But I also have an Inreach Mini. Now putting the Carpe-Iter on my BMW is more expensive than getting a Chigee BMW version. But I’m still not sure if I want…
Gen 4 iPad mini with cellular. No SIM card installed but I’m able to use the GPS. Cheap $100 used
I rolled the dice and bought a 5-inch carpuride/chigee clone off AliExpress for less than $50. We'll see how it goes.
I use Waze on my phone. Just seems to be the best.
Vibration is also a phone mount downside. I hv a Quad lock system on my bike with the extra dampener.
Killed the image stabilizer sensor on my iOS device. Phone was ok. Pictures, horrible. It’s a $100 fix.
Certain vibration frequencies effect certain phones. So it depends heavily on bike, and sustained riding speeds.
Mine was a 2020 Ninja 1000 @ a sustained 80-90mph (SD -> SF) on a flat hot Interstate (I5)
4:53
You just buy older models or second-hand phones to use as navigation devices, you don’t need to use latest expensive models.
Another thing is that the phone will get dirty and suffer from heat and rain if you don’t take good care of it
i use a car gps and have done for 15 years on about 17 bikes, i upgrade the gps every few years as they are cheap, --- its in a cradle and i put blue tac around the charging point for water proofing and never had a failure--- it cost me 100 bucks, i refuse to spend 800 buck or more because of 20 cents worth of waterproofing--- ive been in the rain, off road, it has never failed, people who spend 800 bucks or more on a gps deserve to be ripped off
I picked up the BMW Chigee after your video on it but I still want to see how it compares
My main issue with the tethered tablets is that the screens suck. They're not bright enough to be seen in full sunlight, they're prone to reflect glare, and if you wear polarized sunglasses with the wrong orientation the screen is invisible. One solution that I found is to buy antiglare film which somewhat cuts down on the glare issue and surprisingly mitigated some of the polarization issue. Still not bright enough to be seen in full sunlight, so I only use it in my work van. So, in the meantime, I'm searching for one that is as bright as the TFT dash on my GSXS GT (which should have had all of the tech from the GX, but that's another story) but have had no luck finding something that actually lists its brightness and is cheap enough to buy and return if I have to when the screen turns out to be too weak.
One of the best reviews 👌
I have The Rally Tab that Itchy Boots uses on her adventures, works like a dream, but it’s expensive, $900 Dollars!
The Rally Tab is purpose-built, handmade to order for rally and adventure riders. It is tough, durable, lightweight, multi-use navigation device. It is water, dust, and vibration proof. Very accurate GPS (GLONASS and BeiDou) 1000 mAH battery
Can be used as everyday tablet
Plug and Play, no complicated wiring.
The rally tab and v4 Carpe Iter tablet are identical devices.
@@MeerkatADV Carpe Iter is cheaper, about $600 Dollars!
@obud3777 i didn't say anything about price, I'm just pointing out the devices are identical.
@@MeerkatADV But I did mention the prices, the prices are the difference. 👍
I just purchased the Thork Racing T865X model and familiarizing myself with it as I find the time.
Great: Excellent hardware and the ability to use other Android-based apps such as GAIA GPS and Spotify to listen to tunes.
Questionable: The maps you’re forced to use (no choices, just one) are already proving to be incomplete and not always accurate. (I’m comparing the map with legal roads/trails in my area and it’s not looking good.)
I’m not familiar with the Android operating system so I haven’t even figured out how to get my favorite GPX files (tracks) onto the device, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.
Thank you for the comparaison; usefull and interesting. I miss the TomTom device; is it on purpose? Or maybe not available in the US? I am tempted to use DMD2 since I will be testing it on my cell phone next season. Again thanks and ride safe!
Ulefone Armor 18T. Weather/dust proof. Withstands vibrations. Never overheated. Huge battery. Wireless charging.
The phone is huge but the Ulefone mounting system for it is great.
Using OSMAND for maps.
I'll never buy a dedicated GPS unit again. Not worth it.
Btw... No TomTom Rider? They make motorcycle specific GPS units since the times of the dinosaurs.
For the Android Auto and Apple Car play you can't use just any software (like DMD2) you can only use programs that are approved to run in the AA and ACP.
true
Very nice overview. If you use one of the phone mirroring screens, the specific app you use really makes a big difference.
I had been using BMW's phone app and their cradle. For road routing, it worked well for me, but I ran into overheating issues. I got a Chigee and first tried Scenic. Well, Scenic claims to work in Carplay and it does, but it only shows your location on the map with no navigation instructions. It's useless. I'm going to try Rever next.
thanks for sharing
Have you been able to use DMD2 on the Carpuride? I'm running the Carpuride 7" on a CRF 250L and really like it. I like the DMD2 for it's maps, they don't seem to take up a lot of memory which is good. Ian this is great info thank you for doing the video. Does the DMD@ tablet require a sim card and service. I suspect it does?
DMD2 will run on any Android device. It's a subscription unless you purchase one of their devices which includes a lifetime subscription to the software. A connection is NOT needed, and neither is a sim card. I have their T665 and while I could add a sim card and connect to cell service I have not connected to anything other than wifi. This does prevent updating in the wilds without a wifi connection. TLDR - not required but it's an option.
@@skdemars thanks, I have the app but with no service except wifi when at home or tethered to my phone.
Master class review.thank you for your reviews.you are invaluable
I appreciate that!
Great Advice thanks
Would a comparison/review of phone tethered units, thinking of getting a Aoci or Cartune device for my BMW R1250R 2023. Thanks
I use Garmin 396 LMT-S. They were a bit more costly when I bought it several years ago when I bought it which was the reason I didn't go with the Zumo XT. Looking back I wish I did spend the extra money on the Zumo XT.
However its always gotten me where I needed to, so it's done its job.
I ended up buying a second mount for it for my second bike.
However I find it annoying having to take the gps off the bike every time I park it in front of a store, so that nobody steals the gps
Best for me - Google maps on my phone. Only Quad Lock mount cost.
+1 garmin zumo xt. I have 2 bikes I can change between and my van.