On my way to see a pair of very large people, using Calimoto for directions, a question. Should I stick with Calimoto or is a motorcycle GPS a better solution?
Before satnav and google maps on mobile phones , I used to sit down in front of a map , choose a route and write down all the relevant information on sheets of paper, route numbers, left or right at junctions etc and stick them under the clear plastic window on my tank bag. And if I got lost, I would ask the first person I saw for directions. Simple. Found a lot of interesting and fun routes that way.
I still use that approach to get places quite often to be honest. A little bit of paper stuck on the tank, in my little phone case or in a clear pocket never runs out of battery!
I tried a beeline on my tour of Scotland. It was an interesting difference from a traditional sat nav. Personally I don’t think you can beat a decent biking satnav with lifetime updates. No worrying about battery life, loosing your phone in a ditch if the worst happens. I don’t have comms I just have the satnav in eyeline if it flashes up with anything you see it in your peripheral. You don’t need the sound. Ridden across Europe through middle of Rome and various cities and not once wished it had sound.
Not spoken to Lurch for ages. I used to run a satnav, still have it; a Garmin Zumo for road and a Garmin Montana for trails... but found them both a bit clunky, and then I had a satnav and a phone to carry at my destination, also I couldn't put the Zumo on other bikes as the cradle for it although attached via a RAM style mount, it was also hard wired to the bikes electrics, stopping me removing it, so I'd need a second cradle for a second bike etc. I use my phone now with a QuadLock mount, have a mount on all my bikes as they are not so expensive to make that cost prohibitive and then charge it off a USB port on the bikes (my Beta doesn't have a USB, but not been an issue yet as I don't ride so far on that). Oh, I use Google Maps on the phone, so the route choice is limited but I can ignore it and it will update to still get me to the location. When trail riding I use the OS App and can plot the whole route, but don't get turn by turn notifications, so need to keep an eye on it which is a pain. I used a comms unit once to talk to another rider I was out with, same as you, never again, way too annoying/distracting, was nice having music on a longer trip though
I haven't spoken/seen him in ages either. The whole Covid thing ruined a lot of that kind of thing and definitely had a big impact on his industry. I'd not actually considered the carrying it around problem. Obvious once you've said it though and could be very annoying! I use Google Maps to get me somewhere too but not for a general ride when I want to use specific roads. It's a real shame it doesn't support that.
@@CalmBiker I went for a spin with Mr Fish the other day, he used Calimoto to get us back from Loomies and it came up with an incredible route, almost convinces me to get the app and pay for the subscription to it.
I believe it is an accessory bar . When I got my second CB500X it can with a Garmin 396 that I could update the maps. Great having a brighter display but it was always an extra step. Id always have to go to Google maps to get address anyway. It was just an extra faff. The waterproof and powered mount via poggo pins was handy. For me the phone is just more convenient. Plus when it came to planning a ride I'd always plan it in Calimoto and export it to Garmin. Now my set up isn't cheap being Quadlock but if I change phone I just change case
I use the TomTom Rider 550 on my Honda, it clear even in bright sunlight and is wired into the bike. It’s a really great unit and has many of the features you mentioned. I also use the BeeLine “Tripper” style on my Enfield which is also very good. Having said that, I can still get “off track” with either..🤣🤣
On our outing this afternoon i used the NT1100 's Apple car play using Waze same set up in my VW i also have Google maps on my phone as a back up it links via a Fodsports wifi device and for the first time ive used something like this it was fine in the past i have used my iPhones but batteries last only around one hour
I have a satnav on the bike wired in so doesn’t run out of battery but you’re right they are expensive. You can plan a route on most satnavs as well and upload them, my last Tomtom you could also set a location and choose type of route from quickest to very twisty. I use a headset built into my helmet and find hearing the instructions much better than just having it visual. I was curious about the comments of being distracted when connected to another rider, I assume if say you and Mrs Calm are in the car it’s not a silent journey? Most helmets now have a cut out space for speakers so as not to get that increased pressure on your ears. Lastly think most satnavs now come with lifetime map upgrades, although couldn’t be 100% on that.
Sounds like the TomTom has very similar functionality to Calimoto but probably in a better form factor. I think the talking distraction is slightly different to being in the car because your passenger can see pretty much the same viewpoint as you and react according to what you are doing. With Lurch being 100m back he wouldn't necessary know I was concentrating on something happening on the road as well as the route planning.
I have a Garmin GPS running all the time in the car as I use it as a speedo so I can do say 60kph or whatever speed I need to do and have the cruise control on so I don't have to worry about speeding. Have nothing on the bike but I have a Navman which I can use on it's mount which is on the handle bars.
Garmin zumo XT made to be on a bike totally waterproof copes with vibration no need for a dampener to protect the camera screen quality on the is better than your phone
My view would be to use the set-up you have until you find reason to need something better. I have a Zumo XT on my 500x which is fine, but probably more than I need for my purposes most of the time. On the other hand, I draw comfort from the fact that it cost a good deal less and is physically more robust than my phone, for which reason alone my phone never gets mounted on the bike.
Before satnav and google maps on mobile phones , I used to sit down in front of a map , choose a route and write down all the relevant information on sheets of paper, route numbers, left or right at junctions etc and stick them under the clear plastic window on my tank bag. And if I got lost, I would ask the first person I saw for directions. Simple. Found a lot of interesting and fun routes that way.
I still use that approach to get places quite often to be honest. A little bit of paper stuck on the tank, in my little phone case or in a clear pocket never runs out of battery!
I tried a beeline on my tour of Scotland. It was an interesting difference from a traditional sat nav. Personally I don’t think you can beat a decent biking satnav with lifetime updates. No worrying about battery life, loosing your phone in a ditch if the worst happens. I don’t have comms I just have the satnav in eyeline if it flashes up with anything you see it in your peripheral. You don’t need the sound. Ridden across Europe through middle of Rome and various cities and not once wished it had sound.
I don't mind the lack of sound. I wish Calimoto flashed or something to get your attention occasionally though. I often miss junctions 😀
Not spoken to Lurch for ages.
I used to run a satnav, still have it; a Garmin Zumo for road and a Garmin Montana for trails... but found them both a bit clunky, and then I had a satnav and a phone to carry at my destination, also I couldn't put the Zumo on other bikes as the cradle for it although attached via a RAM style mount, it was also hard wired to the bikes electrics, stopping me removing it, so I'd need a second cradle for a second bike etc.
I use my phone now with a QuadLock mount, have a mount on all my bikes as they are not so expensive to make that cost prohibitive and then charge it off a USB port on the bikes (my Beta doesn't have a USB, but not been an issue yet as I don't ride so far on that).
Oh, I use Google Maps on the phone, so the route choice is limited but I can ignore it and it will update to still get me to the location. When trail riding I use the OS App and can plot the whole route, but don't get turn by turn notifications, so need to keep an eye on it which is a pain.
I used a comms unit once to talk to another rider I was out with, same as you, never again, way too annoying/distracting, was nice having music on a longer trip though
I haven't spoken/seen him in ages either. The whole Covid thing ruined a lot of that kind of thing and definitely had a big impact on his industry.
I'd not actually considered the carrying it around problem. Obvious once you've said it though and could be very annoying!
I use Google Maps to get me somewhere too but not for a general ride when I want to use specific roads. It's a real shame it doesn't support that.
@@CalmBiker I went for a spin with Mr Fish the other day, he used Calimoto to get us back from Loomies and it came up with an incredible route, almost convinces me to get the app and pay for the subscription to it.
Was that a Yorkshire pudding sticking joke?!
Hehe! Maybe!
I believe it is an accessory bar . When I got my second CB500X it can with a Garmin 396 that I could update the maps. Great having a brighter display but it was always an extra step. Id always have to go to Google maps to get address anyway. It was just an extra faff. The waterproof and powered mount via poggo pins was handy. For me the phone is just more convenient. Plus when it came to planning a ride I'd always plan it in Calimoto and export it to Garmin. Now my set up isn't cheap being Quadlock but if I change phone I just change case
The calimoto planning is excellent. I think I'm sold on keeping it and perhaps upgrading my case.
I use the TomTom Rider 550 on my Honda, it clear even in bright sunlight and is wired into the bike. It’s a really great unit and has many of the features you mentioned. I also use the BeeLine “Tripper” style on my Enfield which is also very good. Having said that, I can still get “off track” with either..🤣🤣
The BeeLine thing does look interesting. Might you be interested in doing a review video with a complicated track to follow? 🙂
@@CalmBiker sounds like a great idea, I’ll see what I can do. 👍
On our outing this afternoon i used the NT1100 's Apple car play using Waze same set up in my VW i also have Google maps on my phone as a back up it links via a Fodsports wifi device and for the first time ive used something like this it was fine in the past i have used my iPhones but batteries last only around one hour
Battery life is always a problem on a separate device. Definitely need power!
I have a satnav on the bike wired in so doesn’t run out of battery but you’re right they are expensive. You can plan a route on most satnavs as well and upload them, my last Tomtom you could also set a location and choose type of route from quickest to very twisty. I use a headset built into my helmet and find hearing the instructions much better than just having it visual. I was curious about the comments of being distracted when connected to another rider, I assume if say you and Mrs Calm are in the car it’s not a silent journey? Most helmets now have a cut out space for speakers so as not to get that increased pressure on your ears. Lastly think most satnavs now come with lifetime map upgrades, although couldn’t be 100% on that.
Sounds like the TomTom has very similar functionality to Calimoto but probably in a better form factor. I think the talking distraction is slightly different to being in the car because your passenger can see pretty much the same viewpoint as you and react according to what you are doing. With Lurch being 100m back he wouldn't necessary know I was concentrating on something happening on the road as well as the route planning.
I have a Garmin GPS running all the time in the car as I use it as a speedo so I can do say 60kph or whatever speed I need to do and have the cruise control on so I don't have to worry about speeding. Have nothing on the bike but I have a Navman which I can use on it's mount which is on the handle bars.
It's interesting to see the difference in speed between the GPS and the speedo.
@@CalmBiker Yes that is why I fitted a Speedo Healer on the Bandit Richard.
Garmin zumo XT made to be on a bike totally waterproof copes with vibration no need for a dampener to protect the camera screen quality on the is better than your phone
How are they for the exact route planning?
My view would be to use the set-up you have until you find reason to need something better. I have a Zumo XT on my 500x which is fine, but probably more than I need for my purposes most of the time. On the other hand, I draw comfort from the fact that it cost a good deal less and is physically more robust than my phone, for which reason alone my phone never gets mounted on the bike.
I went with a cheapish (for branded) phone and didn't worry too much with the case being a fairly loose fit. It seems fine so far.
Google maps I find is just as good, and it's free unlike Calimoto
I did try it and it's great for getting somewhere. I couldn't get it to follow an exact route though.