GPS &/or Phone App

Fennellg

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2015
Messages
607
Location
North Carolina
Wish Garmin and Google could come to an agreement. Garmin is not much threat to smart phones and their dominance. But it would be nice for specialised needs like motorcycles and rv s. Updated poi’s restaurants gas stations and hotel motels would be nice. When relying on Garman you will find a gas station closed up or it is no longer there same holds true for the other businesses. Road closures and traffic trouble is also superior with a smart phone.
 

RiderRSA

Just do it!!
Joined
Jun 7, 2016
Messages
7
Location
South Africa
I like using my phone and dislike spending money on a dedicated GPS. I like my phone nice and protected in my tank bag so started looking at a compromise on the actual display. Came up with Maxca XPlay C5 Pro. In essence the same technology as most new cars where Apple Car Play or Android Auto connects your phone to the display. Phone is then controlled via the screen. Anybody here tried this or similar?
 

Bill_C

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 22, 2021
Messages
492
Location
Central Valley California
I like using my phone and dislike spending money on a dedicated GPS. I like my phone nice and protected in my tank bag so started looking at a compromise on the actual display. Came up with Maxca XPlay C5 Pro. In essence the same technology as most new cars where Apple Car Play or Android Auto connects your phone to the display. Phone is then controlled via the screen. Anybody here tried this or similar?
I had to Google that. Admittedly it looks pretty cool and, if it works, solves all your problems in one shot.
For what it's worth, for roughly the same price you can pick up a ruggedized 8" Samsung tablet and a mount. The display would be bigger which, if your vision is like mine, is a must.
If you buy that Maxca XPlay C5 Pro, post up a review and let us know how you like it and how it performs.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk
 

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
I have been riding with Garmin since 2006 (Quest) and very much experienced with mapsource and basecamp. I was always looking for an alternative, but end up staying with Garmin.
Up until last year I had an old Zumo 220 for the ST and the Montana for my street legal dirtbike. Bought the XT last year and I can finally see where the track or route is taking me. The Montana is good for off road use, but still hard to see (better than my old 60) The XT is big and bright, but I think it is too big for a true off road machine. Perfect for ADV bikes.

Where I live Garmin maps with lifetime updates show you most of the unpaved roads on the computer. They do not on the XT or any other street GPS. I plan a track ahead and follow it when I ride. I think the Montana or any any of the handhelds show you gravel roads as a doted line, but it is hard to see them. That is why I always follow a highlighted track I made in advance or someone else did.
That must be a regional thing. After I read your post I checked on my Zumo XT for a lot of my favorite dirt and gravel roads here in the county I live, and they're all there including the OHV trails in the national forest near me. Some of those OHV trails don't even show up on Google Maps.
 

COSoccerDad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
27
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
For many years I always used whatever version of Garmin's Zumo GPS. Finally I decided I'm done. They are expensive, have poor visibility in sun light, and a true PITA when in isolated situations where the road disappears if you zoom out. I planned to keep the Zumo 665 until it died then go to a phone. Even though my early experiments with a phone were mixed at best. I found I had a lot of uneasiness with the dust, the weatherproofing, and the insane amount of vibration when riding off road, and of course the inability to adjust anything unless wearing fingerless gloves. All of that even before finding a suitable mapping app.

My attitude changed when on a multi-day ride with a trusted riding buddy and he could not stop highlighting the improvements Garmin had made on the new Zumo XT. It really was daylight readable (for the first time), they dramatically improved the map operation, included map updates in the purchase price, and the price was significantly lower that previous versions. This friend's recommendations had a long established, proven track record with me, so I took the plunge. Good move on my part.

The XT is a game-changer in the Zumo line. It doesn't suck. I'm hard pressed to come up with navigational changes I would make. I think Gramin realized they were losing out to phones and had to come up with a justification to keep selling GPS units to motorcyclist. They bought themselves a few more years in the bike market. It's not perfect. The cell tower driven weather info is limiting in areas without cell towers. There are times when getting back to the navigation screen takes more screen touches than I'd like. And of course, when you have a phone, a headset, a gps, and maybe even a bike with bluetooth, it all can go to sh!$* and make you want to turn off everything. But overall, the XT is a great step in a positive direction. Garmin has preserved a spot on my bikes for a few more years.
Thanks Dirt_Dad, this is very helpful, I may have to be on the lookout for an XT.
 

COSoccerDad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
27
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Sorry i ride tarmac and an occasional dirt road
I've been riding strictly pavement for decades, just never felt comfortable off road with any of my previous bikes until this S10, this year will be my first off road riding in over 30 years. But living in Colorado, I know I have been missing out on a ton of fantastic rides.
 

fac191

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2016
Messages
2,826
Location
London
Wish Garmin and Google could come to an agreement. Garmin is not much threat to smart phones and their dominance. But it would be nice for specialised needs like motorcycles and rv s. Updated poi’s restaurants gas stations and hotel motels would be nice. When relying on Garman you will find a gas station closed up or it is no longer there same holds true for the other businesses. Road closures and traffic trouble is also superior with a smart phone.
First time i did the West Coast of Scotland ( Highlands ) i plotted some petrol stations where i knew i would need gas and actually phoned them up to make sure they were there. Glad i did.
 

COSoccerDad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
27
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
There was a follow up article about the Maxca Xplay on ADV Rider for those that are interested:

Awesome, thanks! I think I've decided to play with Android Auto and see how I like it, then I'll probably pick up one of these Maxca.
 

SkunkWorks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,733
Location
Colorado
I've been riding strictly pavement for decades, just never felt comfortable off road with any of my previous bikes until this S10, this year will be my first off road riding in over 30 years. But living in Colorado, I know I have been missing out on a ton of fantastic rides.
Once the weather warms up, and the dirt roads/trails dry out a little, if you want to get together for some day-rides let me know.
I'm usually free on the weekends or Holidays for a ride.


On the original topic.
I use a Garmin Zumo-XT.
It is pretty rugged. Screen is easy to read even in bright sunlight. I can navigate the menu's and screens with gloves on, while I'm riding. (A HUGE plus!)
I also pair my iphone with it. This gives you a couple advantages. my phone stays in the tank-bag, and I can see pop-ups on the Garmin screen when someone calls or sends me a message.
If you install the free "Garmin Drive" app on your phone, it will send you live traffic and warning data to the Zumo as you ride.

I use Google-Maps for route planning. I find it much easier to use than some of the other mapping apps. I can plot locations such as fuel stations or food as waypoints.
Now Google only uses KML/KMZ as a file type. Garmin only will recognize .GPX file types.
I use a free website called "GPS Visualizer" to convert the .KML file into .GPX format, then put it into the folder on the microSD-card that goes in the Zumo.
I can then load it up on my Zumo-XT and it shows my GPS-track that I created in whatever color I choose it to be.
It may sound like a complicated process, but it's actually really easy, and you can store as many .GPX tracks in your Zumo as you want to.

Alan H.
 
Last edited:

RCinNC

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
Colorado was awesome riding country. I couldn't count the number of times I pulled off the road just to gawk at the scenery. Phantom Canyon Rd was spectacular; I felt like I was riding a horse in a western.
 

COSoccerDad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
27
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Once the weather warms up, and the dirt roads/trails dry out a little, if you want to get together for some day-rides let me know.
I'm usually free on the weekends or Holidays for a ride.


On the original topic.
I use a Garmin Zumo-XT.
It is pretty rugged. Screen is easy to read even in bright sunlight. I can navigate the menu's and screens with gloves on, while I'm riding. (A HUGE plus!)
I also pair my iphone with it. This gives you a couple advantages. my phone stays in the tank-bag, and I can see pop-ups on the Garmin screen when someone calls or sends me a message.
If you install the free "Garmin Drive" app on your phone, it will send you live traffic and warning data to the Zumo as you ride.

I use Google-Maps for route planning. I find it much easier to use than some of the other mapping apps. I can plot locations such as fuel stations or food as waypoints.
Now Google only uses KML/KMZ as a file type. Garmin only will recognize .GPX file types.
I use a free website called "GPS Visualizer" to convert the .KML file into .GPX format, then put it into the folder on the microSD-card that goes in the Zumo.
I can then load it up on my Zumo-XT and it shows my GPS-track that I created in whatever color I choose it to be.
It may sound like a complicated process, but it's actually really easy, and you can store as many .GPX tracks in your Zumo as you want to.

Alan H.
Absolutely! I don't have many friends that ride adv-tourers, in fact, none, ha, so I will definitely hit you up.
And thanks for the info on the Garmin, it may be in my future, just not sure when yet.
 

COSoccerDad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2022
Messages
27
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado was awesome riding country. I couldn't count the number of times I pulled off the road just to gawk at the scenery. Phantom Canyon Rd was spectacular; I felt like I was riding a horse in a western.
It truly is! And Phantom Canyon Rd is one of the first on my list of rides once the weather gets better.
 

SkunkWorks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,733
Location
Colorado
If you combine "Old Stage Rd.", Phantom Canyon Rd, and Shelf-Rd you can make a nice easy dirt-loop out of the day.................all right from CO-Springs!
 
Top