iPhone and SatNav

[paddywinz]

Hi guys,

I have just bought my first bike, a Honda 600 Hornet and fingers crossed I pass my mod 2 next Friday.

In preparation, I am planning a few rides, namely to Brighton and Cornwall (from Bristol) but since I'm the generation of the SatNav, I use it everywhere I drive.

Can anyone recommend a mount and charger for an iPhone? Do people use the headphones or is there something else that I can use that has been tried and tested?

[TLS-Moose]

......or is there something else that I can use that has been tried and tested?

Yes, it's called a map, and a list of route numbers/towns in order along the route memorised, tucked into the top of a tank-bag or taped to the tank ......

getting lost is often the best way to find new places and roads

[billinom8s]

good luck with the test.

there is something called a road atlas, this gives you a REALLY big view of the country and regions, it allows you to see where in relation to everything else in the country you are. imagine google maps but made out of a tree by-product.

This is a very useful tool even if you do only go by satnav. I have been riding with people before who know where to meet then when out on the ride they have no clue where they are and couldn't even find it on a map. it's always useful to have a rough idea if your phone crashes or runs out of juice.

if the road atlas idea sounds scary, use google maps and plan your route. find your start point, find your finish and then look at what's in between. As you will be riding for fun stay off the motorways and try to only use twin tracks if needed. A and B roads are where the fun is.

When you have a route picked out, note down the key towns and road numbers along it. Then write them in black marker on a piece of white paper. with only looking for these key notes you will be more aware of what is going on around you instead of riding like a drone and being unaware of whats happening. stick the paper, writing face up into the top of your tank bag so they are just quick references.

Don't forget that under 5 degrees phone batteries can die very quickly.

personally i don't ride with earphones, only earplugs

other than that, can't help you. Sorry

[paddywinz]

Atlas? What is this atlas you speak of? ARF ARFF.

Writing key towns down is actually a really good idea.

Total Noob. But hey? I thought this was the 'There are no stupid questions' forum!

[billinom8s]

Totally is and it's not a stupid question but we are both old farts, Moose is a really old one.

Satnavs are modern tech powered by witches and unicorn poop so we unfortunately are unable to help.

[TLS-Moose]

indeed

like ..... Cherbourg - Le Mans - Tours - Bourges - Moulins - Roanne - Lyon - Valence - Orange - Avignon - Marseille - La Ciotat ...... a route to the South of France travelled so many times it's etched in the memory. (once you're at La Ciotat you're at the start of one of the best "unknown" rides in Europe - the road to Paul Ricard)

The more you get out, and pay attention to where you are (as opposed to some squawky woman/man in a box on the dashboard) the more fun you have, the less dependant on maps you are, and the less likely to get lost you are

[MellowYellow]

Hi guys,
In preparation, I am planning a few rides, namely to Brighton and Cornwall (from Bristol) but since I'm the generation of the SatNav, I use it everywhere I drive.

Never used that stuff, nor a mobile phone.

Brighton is SE from Bristol, Cornwall is SW...easy game.

[menzies3032]

For something a little more productive then read a map check out this Web site. They specialise in bike mounts for sat navs, phones and tablets.

Hope this helps

http://www.telferizer.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[paddywinz]

indeed
(as opposed to some squawky woman/man in a box on the dashboard)

But she sounds like a real sexy woman. I'm pretty powerless when she tells me to do something.

Being 28 I should really know better, but I got the SW and SE bits. I know that much...

Thanks for the info guys. I should get used to getting lost, afterall, that's the best way to do it. Although with a small petrol tank I need to wise up.

[TLS-Moose]

The Tw*t Nag I use in my work van (!), a TomTom XXL, has the PR4L voice ..... I use that mainly for the ETA it provides and because it has all the Western & Wales routes railway access points on it

We are required to turn all phones, etc., off or to silent in our work vans. People have also been advised they should not use smart-phones as Sat-Nav's, as incoming texts/messages/calls/alerts could still cause distraction even if not answered .......

Personally, I would not want anything uneccessary on my handlebars/top yoke as it has potential to upset the steering and/or cause unwelcome vibrations. Also, assuming your Hornet will be naked, anything affixed to such a bracket will be very exposed - not just in terms of weather, but being hit by flies, stones, etc., let alone falling off/out.

In a world of 24/7 communication, sometimes it's nice to have an excuse to escape .....

[billinom8s]

Should still get 130-140 miles out of your tank.

[layne]

Just keep the sea on your right and you can't miss it. QED

[DynaMight]

Dont listen to these old farts, I'm sure they still remember when everything was black and white. Who actually carries a A3 size atlas on their bike!

Although I've never done it, I'd probably attempt the headphones and phone in your pocket, the voice guidance should be good enough if you also use the road signs too.

Can you get plenty of cases and stuff if you want the phone visible, also search for ones advertised for push bikes. A lot of those 'types' use similar style mounts. If you do go down this route, it maybe worth picking up a cheap Android phone, you can get fairly good ones for under £40. With Google Maps, you can cache the maps so you dont even need data. Or buy a cheap Three 321 Paygo sim, its only 1p a MB.

[billinom8s]

Just don't spend too long looking at the screen when riding.

[cornishredbaron]

hi I use google maps all of the time on my bike I have an inter comm head set in my lid and my iphone connects through Bluetooth so you get directions audiably and no need to look at the screen on your phone plus bonus is you can play music through it too , to power the iphone I have a usb charger fitted to my bike it works well but it will not draw any charge if the bike battery is down to 12v so it safe guards the bike cool .
I hope that was helpful cheers.