You can even control many of your apps using a bar-mounted Bluetooth controller from Carpe Iter(I bought myself the excellent Adventure Control), which allows panning and zooming in a wide range of software from Google maps to Locus and many more.

I have been in touch with Garmin support online, and they juggled me around various departments and then landed me in the European support, which I am now wait a reaction from. (I am based in Switzerland)The search isn’t perfect – looking for a ‘motorcycle shop’, ‘motorbike shop’, ‘motorcycle dealer’, ‘motorcycle garage’ or ‘motorcycle mechanic’ doesn't deliver local dealers. That'd be helpful, but again, Google will help if you need it. Searching for ‘Webbs’, the Peterborough Yamaha dealer appeared though, showing in the info as in a section called ‘Everyday Life: Motorcycle Shop’ (despite that not being listed in the Categories), so it’s strange that it doesn't come up when looking for ‘Motorcycle Shop’. It seems odd not to group motorcycle dealers and mechanics, in case someone needs a mechanic while on a big trip. Ride Summaries - Use the Tread® app to review your ride details, including speed, acceleration, decelerations, elevation and more. See popular moto paths preferred by other riders and view the adventure with high-resolution, subscription-free Birdseye Direct satellite imagery to discover new routes to ride. Spoken directions were played seamlessly over the music, and despite turning the systems on and off variously, they all stayed linked perfectly. The Tread app also reconnected itself every time, without fault. Some can't be imported, though they can be copied and used on the XT via USB, sent to XT via Drive, and imported into Basecamp. (Seems to be merely a bug in explore, since the data is readable on the XT and in Basecamp without any issues.)

Following the line is intuitive, and upcoming turns are clearly shown at the top of the screen. Main road exits are also illustrated with a pop-up on the right, which makes it really clear what lane to use. As a means of getting where you want to be, I can’t fault the Garmin, and while Google maps can do a great job too, the additional options – and especially the ease of use with gloves one – can make a dedicated sat-nav like the XT2 worth the investment. Of course, you can. However, using your expensive phone may subject it to situations that it was not designed for. The vibration can damage the camera’s image stabilization, the sun can cause it to overheat, and rain can ruin it. A dedicated motorcycle GPS is designed to withstand all of those stressors. but only a couple of KB in size - no clue why, since I am not sure where the Data is actually stored on the device, but not in the GPX-file itself. There are touches that TomTom does well, which I miss on the Zumo XT2 – most notably the progress bar on the side– but I was very impressed by the Tread app’s Group Rides feature, and the potential this has for me to use the sat-nav with anyone else, regardless of what GPS they’re using . Or indeed if they’re not using one at all and only have the free Tread app.

Maps for New Regions

The ‘Popular Paths’ are those most ridden by other motorcyclists using Garmin, and can clutter the map so I leave them turned off. I haven’t noticed any Michelin Scenic roads pop up (I may have missed them), but I leave them turned on.

Stream music from your smartphone through the Zumo XT navigator, or play MP3 files stored on your Zumo The Garmin Zumo XT2 rugged motorcycle sat nav system is built for adventure. Featuring a large and bright 6 inch display that's highly visible, even in direct sunlight. Built tough, the Garmin XT2 is designed to withstand both the elements and handlebar vibrations. For motorcyclists looking for the ultimate sat nav, get ready to enjoy the ride. Childrens helmets are available in a variety of sizes depending on the Manufacturer, but they are generally : Trendy Places Feature - Discover the best spots along your route with suggestions for trendy places.Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to keep the preloaded maps and software up to date without using a computer. Onscreen cues show when new updates are available. I’m no luddite, having taught myself coding for Arduino, built a motion-controlled camera rig, and more recently learned CAD using Fusion360, but while I’m sure that seasoned Garmin users have found a way of incorporating the external software into their trip planning routine, as it seems so confusing to me and I can do all I want with the device itself, I just don’t tend to use it. Both the XT2 and the XT seemed pretty much as responsive as each other, and the XT2’s menu refresh isn’t alien-looking to hardcore Garmin users, but it does look a little cleaner and more modern thanks to more restrained use of colour in the icons.