Navigating an adventurous route on your motorcycle is different to navigating on a car journey, or for bushwalking or hiking on foot.
We recently travelled south through Chile and Argentina to Ushuaia, on a guided tour, following the trusty corner-man system. Back home in Australia, we prefer self-guided motorcycle adventures using a smartphone app, with GaiaGPS for route planning and navigation.
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What to look for when choosing a motorcycle navigation system
Maps and directions on GPS or phone devices should be clearly visible while riding in bright sunlight, driving rain or dusty conditions.
Your chosen GPS device or smartphone app needs to be glove-friendly, stay charged, mounted securely to withstand vibrations, and sufficiently rugged to survive the weather and any accidental bike drops. Also useful is a quick release to remove your expensive device or phone and prevent theft when during stops.
With your eyes on the road, any voice turn-by-turn instructions need to be heard inside your helmet, integrated with your bluetooth helmet intercom or headset (we use Sena).
Creating a route for a motorcycle journey has different challenges to car journeys, where you want to get from A to B the fastest route. For biking, we want twisty, fun roads that avoid boring, busy highways and tolls please! Look for a GPS device or app that allows you to plan on a big screen, and easily sync or import GPX files. It is helpful to have points of interest displayed, as smaller bike tanks require more frequent refuelling, and riders need more frequent rest breaks with coffee.
We like to track our rides. Back home, your significant other might want to know that you are safe and be able to see your location. Since motorcyclists often travel in small groups, it is useful to know where your riding mate has gone.
Aside from routing and navigation, some motorcycle apps provide additional features, such as crash detection, social community, and curated riding routes.
Paper maps still have their place, slide one into your tank bag along with your reading glasses. Paper maps are good for a big picture overview, to chat over with locals and friends, and to mark up your routes.
Which is better for motorcycle navigation - a GPS device, tablet or smartphone with app?
Choices, choices. Should you use a motorcycle GPS device, a tablet or smartphone with an app? Which device, and which app?
The type of riding you do will influence your choice of device and apps for motorcycle navigation:
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- If you are going out for a spin on local bitumen roads in an area with good road signs and mobile coverage, you probably don’t need a GPS device, a free smartphone app like Google will likely be enough.
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- If you like to get off-road for some adventure motorcycling in the country or state forests, then consider a GPS, or a tablet or smartphone together with a premium smartphone app that has good quality offline topographic maps, such as GaiaGPS.
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- If you are planning a multi-day tour to places unknown, you might want both a GPS and an app supported by good route planning software. This allows you to organise your daily routes, accommodation and fuel stops, and other points of interest.
GPS devices and apps both provide features for route-planning, navigating with turn-by-turn directions, tracking your ride, and estimating when you will arrive. But some have better map layers or are easier to use than others.
Compared to a smartphone, motorcycle GPS devices are robust, and easier to see when riding and use wearing gloves. The screen layout of the GPS device is optimised for motorcycle navigation, while the user interface apps may not be as good (small fonts, poor contrast).
However GPS devices like a Garmin or TomTom cost a lot more than an app, and route planning with Garmin Basecamp is not a great experience. Getting a planned route or track onto your GPS device can be tricky. Companies may no longer provide map updates for your still-working device. In an irritating example pf “planned obsolescence”, Garmin terminated map updates 1 July 2023 for our four year old Zumo devices. We won’t be upgrading.
Apps allow easier route planning software on a larger desktop screen that sync seamlessly with your phone. GPS technology in your phone works accurately without internet or mobile coverage, but you will need to remember to download maps for offline use before you leave home (this is a premium feature on most apps).
Rugged Android motorcycle tablets for motorcycle navigation are changing the game again with their larger screen displays (great for older riders). Tablets are popular among moto vloggers as they can be used for both navigation and drone control. We haven’t tried any tablets ourselves yet, but have been intrigued by the tablet Itchy Boots uses in Season 7. Is Itchy Boots using a Kcosit KT71, Xenarc RT71, TriplTek, Carpe Iter or Fly Air3 tablet? Is the app OsmAnd (which we reviewed in our hiking apps post)? We’ll have to wait until she tells us more.
If you are a learner, or on a provisional license, your state regulations may prohibit you from using a smartphone or tablet for navigation while riding. You may be able to use a mounted GPS device, as a GPS device is not a phone.
Our sweet spot: we currently plan routes on the bigger screen using GaiaGPS website, then transfer the GPX file to our Garmin Zumo GPS devices. Alan has his phone mounted on the motorcycle handlebars, while mine is in my tank bag along with my reading glasses, with our favourite apps and offline maps. As Garmin have now terminated map updates for our Zumo device, we'll be looking at rugged 8" Android tablets.
Which is the best motorcycle GPS device?
We have Garmin Zumo 595 devices, an older, now discontinued model which has served us faithfully, but map updates are no longer available. The current model for motorcycles is the Garmin Zumo XT. We also use a Garmin inReach device for safety.
TomTom also make a motorcycle GPS, the Rider 550. We have limited experience with this device, but there are many reviews online.
We wouldn’t recommend using cheaper car GPS devices on a motorcycle.
Garmin Zumo XT
- Garmin Zumo XT Motorcycle GPS Navigator
- Approx. $650, no ongoing subscription.
- The device has a bright 5.5” glove-friendly display and is rugged, waterproof and dust-proof. The mounting hardware comes with the unit in the box, and the GPS can be wired into the bike for power. Zumo can be paired with your phone and Garmin inReach (location sharing, SOS). Bluetooth pairing to helmet headsets for voice directions and hands-free calls, and Wi-Fi for updating the unit.
- Street, topographic and satellite maps for your region (Australia, NZ), and points of interest including fuel, food and iOverlander. Rider alerts include camera traps. Garmin maps are based on data from HERE.
- “Adventurous” routing, and rerouting if you stray off your planned route, with estimated arrival time on the device. GPX files can be easily shared. Manage your tracks and routes with Garmin Explore.
TomTom Rider 550
- TomTom Rider 550 Motorcycle GPS Navigation
- Approx. $650, no ongoing subscription.
- A smaller 4.3” screen display, in a suitably rugged unit, with mounting hardware in the box. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are supported for connectivity.
- World Maps, which may be important if you plan to ship your motorcycle to ride overseas. TomTom builds their maps using Open Street Maps data.
- Curated riding routes. Tracking and routing on the device, or using mydrive.tomtom.com website, with “Thrill” options for adventurous and scenic routing.
The ACCC cracked down on GPS providers using the marketing slogan “Lifetime Maps” since Garmin and TomTom’s idea of “lifetime” is not what you or I might expect from this promise. Less than four years after we bought our Garmin Zumo, Garmin stopped map updates for the device. Buy a new device and you’ll also pay for the maps again.
Can I use a smartphone to navigate on a motorcycle?
Smartphone
- You likely already own one. Upfront costs for a mount, vibration damper, charging cable or wireless charging, protective case approx. $250-$300. Plus annual subscriptions of around $40-$100 depending on which apps you choose.
- Screens not great in bright sunlight, you will need touch-screen friendly gloves. Mounting kits such as Quadlock, with vibration dampeners to protect your phone camera and quick release for removing your phone (security!) Phones are fragile, not as waterproof or dust-proof (use a protective case) and the charging cable port is exposed to rain (consider wireless chargers). Great choice of apps to find the right solution for your riding preferences. Bluetooth pairing to helmet intercoms for app turn by turn directions and hands-free calls, and playlists for riding.
- Many options, depending on the app. World-wide street, satellite, topographic, local state government topographic maps, and specialist providers such as Hema (Australia) and Butler Maps (USA). Some maps are free, others require a subscription. Remember to download maps for offline use before you leave home!
- Varies, depending on the app. Some apps offer curated riding routes, custom route planning on a website (bigger screen), points of interest, and folders for organisation, easily synced to your smartphone.
If you ride solo with your phone mounted on your motorcycle, you may not be able to call for help if you crash and are separated from the bike. I have a Garmin inReach that is attached to my jacket. Or ride with friends for safety!
GPS works without internet, and maps can be downloaded for offline use. Put your phone in airplane mode to save battery if travelling in regional areas without mobile coverage.
Which is the best smartphone GPS app for motorcycle navigation?
Apps for navigation can be divided into those that are general navigation apps, such as Google or GaiaGPS, and those that are motorcycle-specific, such as Rever or MyRoute-app. Some apps excel at finding new routes or planning long trips, while others are great for navigating on your bike in city areas with features like lane assist, or better for off-road adventuring in regional areas.
App features that are useful include:
- Accurate, up to date maps for your location and style of riding, including topographic maps. Satellite, street view are useful.
- Offline maps, points of interest and routing (internet not required)
- Route planning for motorcycles (twisty, scenic!), curated riding routes, folders for organising multi-day rides
- Route planning on a larger screen (website) with easy sync to your phone and GPS device
- Import and export FPX files, for sharing routes
- Voice guided directions with bluetooth to helmet intercom or headset
Some useful GPS navigation apps are not motorcycle specific. We use both Google (for freeway and city travel) and GaiaGPS (for hiking, off-road travel by 4WD and motorcycle, and route planning) in Australia and overseas. Other apps, such as Rever and MyRoute-App, were built specifically for motorcyclists.
Google Maps
- Google Maps
- iOS and CarPlay, Android and Android Auto, website
- Free
- For riding in cities, highways and sealed roads
- Terrain, Traffic, Satellite, Street View. Download for offline use.
Pros:
- Voice guided navigation connect with bluetooth to your helmet headset
- Accurate estimated time of arrival, with real-time traffic information
- Good points of interest, including fuel, food
- Can share location (requires internet access)
Cons:
- Routing is limited (eg 10 waypoints), and hard to export routes from Google to GPS device
- Less accurate in regional areas when riding off-road
Alternatives:
- OsmAnd (voice guided navigation with lane assist, offline maps and topography, good POI, GPX files, but no satellite maps or web interface for route planning )
- Waze (traffic, hazards, and speed cameras, but no topographic or offline maps, limited routing, and no support for GPX)
- Maps.Me (offline maps, but no web interface for route planning, and no GPX support)
Gaia GPS
- GaiaGPS
- iOS and CarPlay, Android and Android Auto, website
- USD40 for premium version, annual subscription
- For adventurous off-road riding in Australia and the world, and multi-day tours
- Street, topographic, satellite and various other layers. Download for offline use.
Pros:
- Local Australian government topographic maps
- Excellent route planning tools, custom waypoints and folders for organisation, with sync from website to phone app
- Import and export GPX files, easy to share routes
Cons:
- No estimated time of arrival
- No curated motorcycle routes, hard to search Public Tracks to find great roads
- Limited points of interest, can’t search for fuel stops, food
Links to GaiaGPS are affiliate links, I earn a small commission at no cost to you. This does not affect my recommendation of this app that I use extensively.
Rever
- Rever
- iOS and CarPlay, Android, website
- USD40 for premium version, annual subscription
- For on and off-road riders, especially social riders who like community, events and challenges
- OpenStreetMap, topographic, satellite, Butler maps (USA). Download for offline use.
Pros:
- Community motorcycle routes to help find great roads
- Route-planning by surface type, points of interest including fuel, and sync from website to phone app
- Share location, safety alerts, tracking your friends
- 3D animations of your rides for sharing on social media
Cons:
- Navigation with turn by turn has some limits (25 waypoints, no off-road)
- Negative online reviews of bugs, inaccuracies in offline maps, and battery use are a concern
Alternatives:
- EatSleepRide has similar social features, group rides, and accident alerts
- Scenic has community motorcycle routes to discover and route planning tools
MyRoute App
- MyRoute-App
- iOS, Android, website
- AUD65, annual subscription
- For multi-day tours
- OpenStreetMap, satellite, street view, HERE (Garmin), TomTom
Pros:
- Curated motorcycle routes to help find great roads, particularly in Europe
- Good route planning tools, customisation, folders for organisation
- Supports GPX and other file formats
Cons:
- Separate navigation app currently in beta costs another $30 annual subscription
Conclusion
What is best for you, a GPS device, a smartphone app, or both, depends on the style of riding that you enjoy, where you ride, and how much planning you like to do.
You may also be interested in our reviews of navigation apps for 4WD, and GPS apps for hiking.
Happy riding, and stay safe.
