Looking for Navigation options besides ACP - What do you recommend?

[RayBJ]

I have a 590 but it sits on my desk waiting for me to figure out what I want to do with it. The 660/665 were the last ones to support internal .mp3 files

The Zumo 590/595 also support .mp3 storage/playback.

 

[Snoking1127]

The Zumo 590/595 also support .mp3 storage/playback.

I play music all the time from my Zumo XT, via a micro SB card in it.

 

[Elqueso2]

I play music all the time from my Zumo XT, via a micro SB card in it.

Most of the Motorcycle "Zumo" Garmin's will play MP3 files, which even included my old Zumo 550. The one thing about the Zumo 665, it has XM built into it too, so I get turn by turn directions and XM Classic Rewind. Granted, you have to mount an XM40 antenna...

 

[herring]

I use a Garmin Zumo XT2 on my trips and works great with a Ram Mount...

Thank you.

Before CAN-AM got Apple CarPlay to work I bought a Garmin Zumo XT GPS and a SlingMods docking station I bought from Spyder Extras.
The dock provides USB power so I rode with the Garmin mounted to the dock and plugged into it's USB power outlet.

Now that CarPlay is working, I've also added a QuadLock case to my iPhone, and a QuadLock handlebar mount.

I have a small travel case for the Garmin, so I still pack it and a USB power cable for it when I travel longer distances. I've been to one location in a deep canyon that had no cell phone signal, which is why I still carry the Garmin.

Because Apple CarPlay has worked fairly reliably for me I haven't really tried the BRP GO!/BRP Connect navigation process.
Also, I like that I can create routes on my desktop computer using the Google Maps application, and then send the routes to my iPhone.
The routes are then usable on my Spyder.
And if I'm attending an event with planned routes, I can import the GPX files they usually provide for the rides.

Thank you for the information. I'm considering doing a similar setup.

With you having a 2025 bike, hook your phone to the USB in the upper compartment and use Carplay on the bike, using the GPS apps off your phone. I just came off an 8 day trip with my 2024 and it worked for me. I wear a half helmet, so no headphones, I just look down onto the screen to see when I need to make a turn.

Thank you. The issue is that ACP is problematic. I've tried all of the solutions provided but still do not feel the application is reliable.

 

[jdgretz]

Most of the Motorcycle "Zumo" Garmin's will play MP3 files, which even included my old Zumo 550. The one thing about the Zumo 665, it has XM built into it too, so I get turn by turn directions and XM Classic Rewind. Granted, you have to mount an XM40 antenna...

View attachment 256426

Also, you should get weather with your XM subscription. That comes in handy.

My old 665s may be slow, and loading the latest maps is a bit of a hassle, but it has everything I want and need.

I have a spare 665, cradle, and a couple of antenna.

Jdg

 

[LisaMal]

I have a Garmin Zumo XT, Android Auto/CAP display, and a Pixel 8 Pro smart phone. I like using Google maps on the desk top and sending them to the phone. The Android Auto screen allows the use of gloves where the phone does not. Also, in hot weather, the phone will over heat. However, the Garmin and AA/CAP display does not.
View attachment 256354

And I thought I had the Starship Enterprise Spyder version but it’s you! Lol!

 

[pauly1]

If you are only in an urban, metro area, then a cell phone is adequate. But we like the roads best where there happens to be voids in cell phone coverage. The cell phone is a wonderful, and wonder-filled, tool; the 'do everything for everyone' type. That stated, those types of tools rarely excel at a single function vs a device specifically made for the task. One exception might be many cell phone cameras.

Hands down, Garmin GPS products. I've used Garmin GPS products for 20+ years. They are user-friendly, reliable, and easier to plot a course on-the-fly than any cell phone product. The models were: Road Tech Quest (made for H-D), 590, 690, and XT. We had the 690 and XT models bluetooth connected to our Sena headsets. Although the later Garmins would play MP3 files, we used our phones for that function, as the Garmins were a bit clumsy in how they handled volume and song sequencing. A common complaint on the 590 and 690 Garmins was their screen readability in bright sunlight: I made a sun-shield and attached it with Velcro strips; you can find one commercially made, too, which improves bright, sunny day use.

For power, I used the Customer Circuit, accessible under the LH Access Panel on ST and F3 models; I've not worked on any RT models to know where that circuit is located. And, yes, I modified or fabricated a number of mounts to get the GPS where I wanted it; some models came with a clamp to attach to the handlebar and a 1" RAM-ball type mount.

As stated, hands down, Garmin GPS mounted on the handlebars or handlebar clamp.

 

[LisaMal]

I’ve been a Garmin user since way back when. Probably the first GPS that ever was produced. What I found is that the GPS is the best device for routing in my opinion. However, if you ride in a group, multiple people have even the same model of Garmin mounted on the Motorcycles, there is a possibility that they will create different routes and cause chaos. Be careful of this.

I was at club BRP this weekend, and spoke with one of the technology engineers behind their new display and BRP GO! Their on board navigation tool uses mapbox. He was trying to convince me that creating routes is as easy there as it is for the Garmin. I’m not convinced.

So I’ll keep my Starship Enterprise handlebars with a Garmin mounted on the right side, a CarPlay device in the center, and my phone on the left!

 

[mecsw500]

I’ve been a Garmin user since way back when. Probably the first GPS that ever was produced. What I found is that the GPS is the best device for routing in my opinion. However, if you ride in a group, multiple people have even the same model of Garmin mounted on the Motorcycles, there is a possibility that they will create different routes and cause chaos. Be careful of this.

I was at club BRP this weekend, and spoke with one of the technology engineers behind their new display and BRP GO! Their on board navigation tool uses mapbox. He was trying to convince me that creating routes is as easy there as it is for the Garmin. I’m not convinced.

So I’ll keep my Starship Enterprise handlebars with a Garmin mounted on the right side, a CarPlay device in the center, and my phone on the left!

I'd challenge that technology engineer. It does not have a native app for Apple macOS. Using it on an iPad just loads the iPhone version.

So the only Apple version is on an iPhone. I found using the iPhone app to be far from intuitive. It's seemingly designed for entering geographic coordinates rather than addresses or names of places. I cannot see BRP Go being anything like useful.

There is no real workflow available that takes routes prepared on a Mac with all the route selection criteria available under Apple Maps or Google Maps, then loading them into BRP Go. That would be practical but obviously not ideal. I cannot understand why BRP considers the app a practical way of planning routes wit such a restricted app. Most people plan routes offline with laptops or tablets and load them into their phones. Relying on a very feature poor app to enable this only on a phone is just not up to snuff.

I like to pre arrange trips on a MacBook or an iPad. The iPhone display is just too fiddly and constrained to plan routes. Apple Maps, Google Maps and a Garmin are far more intuitive than BRP Go I'm afraid.

 

[jcthorne]

I’ve been a Garmin user since way back when. Probably the first GPS that ever was produced. What I found is that the GPS is the best device for routing in my opinion. However, if you ride in a group, multiple people have even the same model of Garmin mounted on the Motorcycles, there is a possibility that they will create different routes and cause chaos. Be careful of this.

I was at club BRP this weekend, and spoke with one of the technology engineers behind their new display and BRP GO! Their on board navigation tool uses mapbox. He was trying to convince me that creating routes is as easy there as it is for the Garmin. I’m not convinced.

So I’ll keep my Starship Enterprise handlebars with a Garmin mounted on the right side, a CarPlay device in the center, and my phone on the left!

The Mapbox app CANNOT create routes. Period. it only does destinations and calculates its own routes. No allowance for shaping points or timing. Even the mobile versions of Google Maps, both Android and Apple cannot create routes. Google maps for web can but its useless on the road. At the moment only Garmin supports true route planning.

 

[mecsw500]

The Mapbox app CANNOT create routes. Period. it only does destinations and calculates its own routes. No allowance for shaping points or timing. Even the mobile versions of Google Maps, both Android and Apple cannot create routes. Google maps for web can but its useless on the road. At the moment only Garmin supports true route planning.

What I do with Apple Maps is I use the macOS version to create my routes. I then save a route by sending it to Apple Notes, choosing a name that starts with "Maps - ".

My iPhone syncs the notes, so I select the map route I want on my iPhone and all is well. It launches Apple Maps with the desired route loaded for me.

From past experience, I agree the Garmin interface is the most user friendly and intuitive I've every used on a display device.

I tried Garmin BaseCamp. Not only had it not been updated for 5 years, it was still an Intel binary which will not run on the next release of macOS which drops support for that. The user interface is pretty dated and far from intuitive. It crashed a lot. The reviews in Apple's App Store were 8 years old and not very encouraging.

 

[RayBJ]

For us 'veteran' Garmin users, Basecamp still works well enough to create custom routes using the default 'ride types' and tweaking with D&D or adding Waypoints. Simple D&D from the PC to the Garmin unit.

Several newer phone mapping apps with crisper GUIs (if phone is your solution) and Garmin software has moved on but, for the older units, IMHO Basecamp for the win.

 

[Lctriple]

Get a Beeline. I've not tried one yet but plan to. Look up Beeline.

 

[RayBJ]

Get a Beeline. I've not tried one yet but plan to. Look up Beeline.

If phone is your device of choice this will add another layer/device and battery drain on phone that already has several cons (single point of failure being #1).
Note: Beeline Moto II requires a smartphone and Bluetooth connection to operate.

 

[LisaMal]

I'd challenge that technology engineer. It does not have a native app for Apple macOS. Using it on an iPad just loads the iPhone version.

So the only Apple version is on an iPhone. I found using the iPhone app to be far from intuitive. It's seemingly designed for entering geographic coordinates rather than addresses or names of places. I cannot see BRP Go being anything like useful.

There is no real workflow available that takes routes prepared on a Mac with all the route selection criteria available under Apple Maps or Google Maps, then loading them into BRP Go. That would be practical but obviously not ideal. I cannot understand why BRP considers the app a practical way of planning routes wit such a restricted app. Most people plan routes offline with laptops or tablets and load them into their phones. Relying on a very feature poor app to enable this only on a phone is just not up to snuff.

I like to pre arrange trips on a MacBook or an iPad. The iPhone display is just too fiddly and constrained to plan routes. Apple Maps, Google Maps and a Garmin are far more intuitive than BRP Go I'm afraid.

I agree with you about route planning. However, when you’re talking to an engineer, who is a millennial, don’t expect them to know how those of us who plan complicated routes really use their tools.

 

[mecsw500]

I agree with you about route planning. However, when you’re talking to an engineer, who is a millennial, don’t expect them to know how those of us who plan complicated routes really use their tools.

Well there is this. There’s a big difference in engineering something and having a human interface professional view things from a user’s perspective.

However, how hard can it be for BRP to create a map product that runs on a PC/macOS/Linux, iOS iPads, Android tablets, iOS iPhones, and Android phones.

There are plenty of portable software platforms to develop on. Spyder’s are mostly touring machines and hence the need for a proper professional map software product is a given. The ability to create and save routes, use varying route criteria, and display turn by turn instructions with selectable audio destinations.

I would suggest such a facility would be of the highest priority development, especially with the release of the 10.25” display. With all the best will in the world, and despite the Can Am engineer’s protestations that BRP Go is a decent product, the fact is it’s a completely underwhelming and largely impractical tool for what Can Am Spyder riders want and need.

There are any number of companies that BRP could have partnered with to accomplish that. It’s an opportunity lost. Just like cheaping out with the USB A interface supplied in the glovebox not supporting a higher current delivery with perhaps a USB C interface even if not at USB C speeds. BRP is not thinking this through. If HD can do it, if BMW can do it, if Honda can do it, and if dozens of car manufacturers can do it at Spyder prices, BRP wake up people.

 

[racoon]

I would suggest such a facility would be of the highest priority development, especially with the release of the 10.25” display. With all the best will in the world, and despite the Can Am engineer’s protestations that BRP Go is a decent product, the fact is it’s a completely underwhelming and largely impractical tool for what Can Am Spyder riders want and need.

You failed to include all of the other BRP products in your assessment of what BRP GO does.

The 3-wheel product line is fairly minor part of the company, and BRP GO works on all of the BRP product lines.

 

[LisaMal]

All of the latest replies are spot on IMHO. Each manufacturer, in my experience working with BMW, wants you to be brand centric to their brand. That leads to this attitude of using mine and not somebody else’s.

I run a touring business. And I travel worldwide. None of these solutions are 100% effective everywhere. Then you have the problem for a product line like BRP has of being able to cover both on road and off-road.

My current solution is to stick with GPS from Garmin, and back it up with Apple CarPlay. In 2027 they have also shown that they implemented the equivalent on android. I’m staying away from BRP Go.

Let me just add that after having a software testing background from 20 years working in HiTech, that everything evolves. What is today’s bug fix is tomorrow’s feature. Keep telling BRP what you want and perhaps they will listen!

 

[racoon]

Keep telling BRP what you want and perhaps they will listen!

I think this is the most important part of your response.
Complaining about something on a public forum won't solve anything.

Any complaints, concerns, and requests for changes should be directed to BRP.

 

[Snoking1127]

I think this is the most important part of your response.
Complaining about something on a public forum won't solve anything.

Any complaints, concerns, and requests for changes should be directed to BRP.

As a network design engineer at a large nation wide bank, the bosses always said bring me a solution, not a problem. So maybe people need to suggest solutions to BRP and not complain about problems. That might get them to listen.