Modern Vespa

Hi All
I was wondering if you could recommend a GPS app for Iphone.
I used a Garmin before and got used to mapping out my routes in advance then loading them onto Garmin then following them on the GPS.

I tried with Google maps but not really working well for me.
Any tips or advice would be welcome.

Thank you in advance
E.

Try the apps “Scenic” and “ScootRoute.” I give Scenic the edge, but they’re both interesting.

Thank you !!

I use Google Maps (on Android with Huawei) and that's fine.

I use the Vespa app with my Supertech when I want nav

Either Google Maps or Apple Maps works pretty accurately in locating you on a map. I am not sure what you mean by "Google maps not working for you", could you elaborate.
You can get turn by turn directions on any of those two mapping apps. Also you could layer other things like restaurants(breakfast/lunch/dinner), gas stations, coffee shops etc.
What does Garmin offer that these other map apps don't offer I wonder. I have never owned Garmin so I am not aware, guess the UI must be friendlier.
I think the use case for stand alone GPS devices or apps other than google/apple maps has to be more than just directions and finding locations of places etc. They must deliver more than just navigation I am guessing.
Whenever I have done long trips, I have downloaded the section of the map to the phone so that I have it available even if I loose cell service enroute.
I believe there are plenty of tutorials on how to maximize the use of either apple or google maps.

I've done many multi day trips, and nothing, for me, beats Rever. You can plan out the route down to the dirt path on your computer, then pull up the app on your phone and just either follow the blue line (my preference) or get turn by turn directions. I've found some pretty amazing roads that way that Google would have had me miss. Google wants the "most efficient" and I want the most scenic route. I just love the interface and being able to plan out the exact route I want to take. Check them out.

On these various apps, do they import and export .gpx files?

Hi.
I use google maps in my car all the time, I am happy with the app and with the maps etc.
It is easy to send the maps and routes to your phone. (off line with Iphone a bit trickier)

Google maps defaults to the fastest route.
so if you prepare your map on google and then forward it to your phone unless you have a way point on the longer road when you open the map it will show you the shorter road.
you have a maximum of 10 way points. yesterday I had a route that followed a river, on the east side, it passes near the river and is a beautiful and windy road. On the other side of the river is highway (not interstate) that is straighter. At every bridge across the river the map defaults to the highway. So in order to keep on the east side I had to put way points all along the road.
Hope this make sense.
E.

I am a die-hard believer in dedicated GPS hardware for this specific application. For the car, sure, I’ll use the phone. For two wheels, no way.

But I’m old-school like that.

I was with you on that until I installed a wireless-charging RAM-style phone mount. The standalone GPS became a dinosaur overnight.

I've generally got too much else going on my phone to use it as gps too. I like to use my garmin - it is much easier to shape routes or use tracks on it.
my two cents

I have used dedicated Garmin gps units on the scooters for years now.

I use My Route App for creating most routes, but can easily make one directly on the units if necessary.

After following fledermaus this past week, and having him miss turns and stop often trying to figure out the route on his phone, I quickly came to the conclusion that the Garmin way is better.

Bill

Garmin’s “Adventurous Routing” is supposed to be a nice feature that finds the twisty & hilly routes that Google/Apple might not use in “avoid highways” mode. But, full disclosure, I haven’t used the Garmin solution.

I have, and it works well for motorcycles.

The plus with Garmin is being able to plan ahead at your leisure. It's useful in the camper-van as well, as you can locate dispersed camping sites and get accurate interesting routes to them.

I have enjoyed having a Cardo in my helmet: it's great for music, nav, and talking to friends on group rides.

Doesn't solve the "which app/device do I use?" question, but it's a nice way to hear whatever directions you have.

Whereas I *hate* having spoken directions switched on, as most are superfluous, and they get very irritating indeed if you decide to detour. I use the GPS directions *as suggestions*.

I try to ride by memory. I only use GPS when I don't know where I'm going, and usually only switch it on when I'm close.

I don't need to be told how to leave my apartment.

I bought a holder for my phone to use for navigation but I couldn't see it in the sunlight. Ended up sending it back.

That is a definite advantage to a dedicated unit, it doesn't have to completely rely on internal battery power, so can have a far brighter screen.

Garmin's Basecamp computer software is pretty good, but a bit of a learning curve to get full use from it.

Which Garmin device do you garminites use? How is it mounted? Thanks

I have a Garmin 595LM and the full Garmin mount on my BV350. My other scooters (and my motorcycle) have a mount for an outdated Garmin Zumo 500 with the (much simpler) Garmin mount.

The last couple years, I've been using WAZE on my iPhone on the bike. I like that it gives me other info like traffic slow-downs ahead. While you can put a destination into it, I generally use it for a "follow along" with the maps, rather than have it give me directions.

I have been using a navigator for almost 50 years now that tells me where I need to turn, as well as critiquing my driving/riding. So, that's fun. If anyone says anything to her, I will delete this post and deny.

Lol , having a Navigator is a luxury..

I'm using a fairly old Garmin Zumo 390LM. Does the job just fine though, with full updated maps for all of Europe, Canada, USA and Mexico.

I guess then that my headache is a luxury...

I have three that I use.

My favorite is a nuvi 3490 that is my second. It has a glass screen so it is easy to see and use. It is perfect at any time except when it is raining.

I bought a Zumo 660 for the 2016 Cannonball and used it alongside the 3490. It is clumsy and ugly, but works in the rain. It has a hard mount on the Xmax.

I received a Zumo XT for Christmas this year and have been using it since. It is not as easy to use as the 3490 but close. I have had a few issues with it going dark or cutting out on rides, so I still don't have full confidence in it yet.

I have RAM mounts on every scooter and power on all but the Zuma.

Routes are programmed into each using My Route App mostly.

If set well, routes are easy to follow. I rarely make a wrong turn and when I do it is usually my fault as I turn off the sound and don't use any bluetooth to the helmet.

Simply follow the purple line.

Bill

I've got the Garmin Zumo XT with the small but direct wired mount. I just got it for the cannonball. So while I've only had it for a little while, it has been vigorously tested. The screen was tons easier to see than my phone, and it really did work with gloves on. For my phone I put little conductive finger mittens on my thumb and index finger. I'm not giving up my non-conductive gloves!

I use Garmin Zumo 595 both on my Africa Twin and Froggy

but if you want the iPhone App strongly recommend https://www.waze.com/apps

Oddball here, I guess.

Android phone running either Google Maps (when I don't care about the route, but know the destination -- it's pretty good about traffic*) or CoPilot GPS Navigation and Traffic** (when I'm forcing it to follow a specific pre-plotted turn-by-turn route and/or expect to be out of cell coverage -- its maps are stored on the device).


* I'm seldom able to out-guess it. The only exception is if it routes you around freeway gridlock onto frontage roads -- you can lane-split on freeways (I'm in California) but not on two-lane frontage roads. Add stop signs and EVERYONE taking the GPS-recommended detour and... oops.
** formerly ALK CoPilot Live. I don't bother with the online traffic updates since I've got that covered with GMaps.

ETA: bolded stuff, reacting to Jess's later post. Hadn't used it in so long (until last weekend) that I forgot those little details. It's disconcerting how small my world got 'cause of the pandemic...

+1

have heard there are a couple apps that show similar route, but they dont do gps or require subscription that seemed high enough to warrant a garmin ... wait do garmins still req subscriptions?

Any solution that requires a cellular connection is automatically disqualified in my book. If you’re still in range of a cell tower, you’re not trying hard enough.

you mean the cell phone apps, the garmin or both?

I agree with those who say that dependence on cell coverage is a recipe for disaster in remote areas. And if you need something that will be able to store routes both before and after the actual ride, a dedicated GPS is the thing.

That said, I rarely stray from areas with cell coverage, so I use Waze. It not only gets me to where I need with turn-by-turn directions, but it passively crowdsources everyone using the app to be able to identify accidents and jams in real time, and routes you around the problem areas.

Besides, I have a unique problem that I discovered during my Iron Butt ride: Satellite-based navigation / tracking systems don't work in the area next to the Dead Sea since it is so low the signals don't reach the receiver.

CoPilot allows plotting routes on the device and saving those plotted routes (and it has onboard maps and route calculation).

On Android devices, it's possible to get into the filesystem, find the saved routes, and share them with other Android devices -- but they might not match exactly unless both devices are set to use identical vehicle routing preferences. This is not officially supported, but it works.

It's useful for plotting routes on a tablet for use on a phone. The file format is incompatible with pretty much any other nav app.

It's not possible to do this in the iOS version.

Google Maps allows downloading beforehand. I've downloaded all of the state i live in.

The official Vespa app also has map downloads.

No idea for Waze True true. From experience both Google Maps and the Vespa app do work without cell service if the maps are downloaded

I basically agree with you Jess but ... Apart from remote and isolated places normally inaccessible even to a two-wheeled vehicle (except maybe motocross motorcycles) tell me where "there isn't" a mobile phone repeater.
Well ... maybe there is some place in the USA but in Europe they have planted poles everywhere, even camouflaged as trees.

The US is quite a bit more spread out than Europe. It’s very, very common to have no cell reception in areas that are also excellent riding destinations.

Both for me. i like the ease of planning a route on google maps and transferring it to my phone. And I like that you can pre-download maps in case you run out of signal. But, 10 waypoints is no where near enough when I'm planning a day trip. Especially because it's always trying to re-calculate for most efficient route.

On the flip side I have a Garmin Zumo. It's rugged and waterproof and mounted in a powered cradle. The phone I worry about getting wet and have to put it away. The Basecamp software has a really old user interface that hasn't been updated in a decade. It is awkward and takes some fiddling, but once you get going it works to plot complicated routes.Then let's you transfer a whole batch of pre-planned routes over to the GPS unit to be selected later.