Motorcycle Navigation device

[Jharpphoto]

I'm in the "research" phase of a new navigation unit for my 2024 RT.  I don't have the connectivity issues that many experience w/ the BMW connnected app luckily.  I am considering a stand alone nav unit however and know many like the Garmin Zumo.  I would be interested in hearing suggestions from you on Nav units. The Zumo looks pretty cool to me but I'm sure there are many others to consider. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[donbmw]

For myself I will stay with Gramin Zumo. Had the first version. Replaced it back in 2017.

[Michaelr11]

Been very pleased with my Zumo 590.  The XT and XT2 are two of the newer units.

[Skywagon]

I still have a Zumo 550 I bought new in 2006 that works great. 

[9Mary7]

I have two Zumo, a 390LM and a 395LM and they both work great. All I need.

[strataj]

I too still have a Zumo 550 and use it but I'm not having any luck loading new maps.  I do have a card because the internal memory is way too small for current maps.  I also have a Zumo XT2, it's great.  If buying new get the XT2 over the XT.  I had the XT come off the bike at speed, the XT2 has an update mount.  Garmin builds a tough unit, beside a few mark on the corners it worked and looked fine, amazing. 

[Navi2024]

Have you done any research about CarPlay head unit for BMW …. Wonder wheel also works …. I find it interesting…. YouTube has reviews .. I might give it a try.

[Jharpphoto]

2 hours ago, Navi2024 said:

Have you done any research about CarPlay head unit for BMW …. Wonder wheel also works …. I find it interesting…. YouTube has reviews .. I might give it a try.

I have not, but I'll check into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Navi2024]

 

 

[Navi2024]

There are many examples ..  this is but one 

[Skywagon]

StrataJ...My Zumo 550 won't load new maps from Garmin Express, but I can install all of the US on the memory card using MapInstall.  Just updated it a few days ago.

[mikegalbicka]

I just changed to the free OSM maps (Openstreetmaps) on my Zumo 550. With an 8GB SD card I can load Canada and all the US. I use JaVaWa Device Manager instead of Garmin Express/Mapinstall/Mapsource to manage the maps and find it much easier.

[nortonman70]

I use the Garmin Zumo XT. It is a really great unit, nice size, very easy to read in full sunlight (best I've seen), has not lead me astray in 25,000 miles but the only downfall if there is one is the basecamp and route planning. You need to study pretty hard to make a route. I am not very tech savvy so that may be part of my downfall, but I am old school so carry paper maps, take a look every time I stop and then plug in my next point of where I'd like to end up next. Not perfect but gets me where I need to go.

[RTinNC]

I have a BMW Nav6 and a Garmin XT.  Bought the XT when Garmin was still trying to get the Nav issues resolved.  But now that my Nav6 is working like I champ I MUCH prefer it to the XT.  I really hate the XT interface and the Nav is much better.   The XT works fine but the items on the display and the overall interface is just not as good as the Nav.  

[Dave_in_TX]

On 1/10/2025 at 5:13 PM, RTinNC said:

I have a BMW Nav6 and a Garmin XT.  Bought the XT when Garmin was still trying to get the Nav issues resolved.  But now that my Nav6 is working like I champ I MUCH prefer it to the XT.  I really hate the XT interface and the Nav is much better.   The XT works fine but the items on the display and the overall interface is just not as good as the Nav.  

Garmin is not noted forgood user interfaces. However, on some of the forums I frequent, the XT interface is preferred over older interfaces.

[RTinNC]

44 minutes ago, Dave_in_TX said:

Garmin is not noted forgood user interfaces. However, on some of the forums I frequent, the XT interface is preferred over older interfaces.

What I like about the NAV6 is that on the main screen it provides four bits of information. So I can always see the four items I wanna be aware of…… Miles to destination, time to destination, arrival time and elevation.  The Nav6 interface also has a one touch search button for cities.  I use that a lot.  But these are just my preferences that the XT does not have.

[Dave_in_TX]

23 minutes ago, RTinNC said:

What I like about the NAV6 is that on the main screen it provides four bits of information. So I can always see the four items I wanna be aware of…… Miles to destination, time to destination, arrival time and elevation.  The Nav6 interface also has a one touch search button for cities.  I use that a lot.  But these are just my preferences that the XT does not have.

The XT is capable of showing Miles to destination, time to destination, arrival time and elevation on the main screen.

[terryofperry]

Yes, the XT can show a lot of user preferred info on the trip screen as well as the map, it's how I use it.

 

Terry 

[RTinNC]

56 minutes ago, Dave_in_TX said:

The XT is capable of showing Miles to destination, time to destination, arrival time and elevation on the main screen.

I get that but it only shows TWO items. The Nav shows 4 items.  

[RTinNC]

14 minutes ago, terryofperry said:

Yes, the XT can show a lot of user preferred info on the trip screen as well as the map, it's how I use it.

 

Terry 

Yes lots of options to show any 2 items at a time on the main screen

[wbw6cos]

........oil thread much?

[terryofperry]

Mine shows any 4 items I want, Ed.

 

Terry

[RTinNC]

4 minutes ago, terryofperry said:

Mine shows any 4 items I want, Ed.

 

Terry

OK .. .here is what I am suggesting.  IF the XT can show these 4 items at the same time then I would be thrilled to learn how to make that adjustment on my XT.  Always happy to learn new stuff.   That would make me hate the XT a lot less. 

 

 

 

 

This is the City search button that does not exist on the XT. 

 

[RTinNC]

10 minutes ago, wbw6cos said:

........oil thread much?

No .... but what tires are best? 

[RTinNC]

Ok I got my answer.  Than you @AppFan for sharing the triple super secret to getting the 4 data items to all appear.  It under “trip data” and when you click on it the data appears on the right side.  So now my XT sucks less.  Still not simple city search and have to drill down into categories to search for gas, food and lodging.  But at least the stuff I want to see while navigating is there.  Thanks Joe!!! 
 

[AppFan]

@RTinNC & I talked some more last night. Categories like Gas, etc. can be moved up to the main Where To page via the Add Shortcut button.That leaves the loss of the Cities button functionality without having to drill if anyone has a solution for that?

[strataj]

I really like my Zumo XT2 and I also had an Zumo XT.  BUT Ed is right it is missing the city button and there is no substitute other than a paper map.  The city button displays city around you, the Zumo XT, XT2 will display cites along your path should you be on a route.  I was lucky I didn't "upgrade" my Nav V I purchased along with my 14R1200RT.  I let it go with the 14RT when I got a 22R1250RT.  Didn't like the Nav interface got the Zumo XT (upgraded to Zumo XT2).  They are great units. 

[RTinNC]

4 hours ago, AppFan said:

@RTinNC & I talked some more last night. Categories like Gas, etc. can be moved up to the main Where To page via the Add Shortcut button.That leaves the loss of the Cities button functionality without having to drill if anyone has a solution for that?

Just to clarify ....  1) the 4 data elements can in fact be added on the right side BUT you occasionally (or frequently depending on your usage) have to remove and replace them for example when using the "X" button to end a route or if building a new destination.  Much better but still not as good as the Nav.  2) Also,  on the Nav it allows you to avoid "interstates" and/or "highways" whereas on the XT you only have the option of avoiding highways.  I almost always avoid interstates but usually allow highways as many of what Garmin calls "highways" are really nice roads. 3) and while Joe found the super secret location for adding categories to the main screen using "Trip Data" it does not let you remove or delete all the many unused categories on that main screen.  So the work around is to move the ones you want up to the top so they are easily visible.  All these are with the ultimate goal of having to reduce the "clicks" to get to what is most often used and thereby reducing distractions which the Wonder Wheel with the Nav6 does quite well especially on the GS where zoom in/out and scrolling is so easy. 

 

BUT .... there are a couple features on the XT that I wish were on the Nav .... 1) the category of ALL motorcycle shops where as the Nav only has a BMW dealership category and 2) I love that the XT allows updates to be made via WiFi which is so much easier and faster than having to use the Garmin Express for the Nav updates. 

 

So once again nothing is perfect and much like motorcycles I wish manufacturers would include ALL the enhancements.  

 

I appreciate the additional info from @AppFan and others making the XT tolerable and will continue to use it as a backup to my Nav6. 

[9Mary7]