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

[mecsw500]

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.

I understand your point. However, the BRP Go use case for road touring with a Spyder is different to the other BRP vehicles and watercraft. Perhaps the core of the system is portable across each of the product range, but the capabilities required for a jet ski are rather different than those required for a Spyder. Perhaps the same software that configures its UI, depending upon what machine it is installed on, would be the way to go. The whole route planning through street address waypoints is a peculiar requirement for road going vehicles I think.

Me, I stick with Apple Maps on my phone. Sometimes I use CarPlay on the 10.25” display, but mostly not. However, even in the US, Android phones are popular. In South America, Asia, and SE Asia, both Android and increasingly, Huawei’s own OS, are extremely popular, all markets Can Am is trying to expand into. Users of Chinese vehicles in those markets are used to highly sophisticated display systems with high quality navigation apps on even the most entry level of motorcycles and automobiles. I drove a Chinese rental car in Thailand and was blown away by the technology embedded in it.

My comment about the USB A’s current provision still stands. It should really be USB C at this point in time to handle top end phones both running apps and still charging. Most phone devices are largely USB C by now with higher current draw requirements.

The comments I make here I most surely make known to BRP as feedback. Posting my thoughts about BRP Go here are to get feedback on my opinions, provoke other’s opinions, and so I can gain some kind of more complete nuances to my discussions with BRP. Sometimes I’m off in left field, sometimes I’m not. It’s nice to have the opinions of others and I’m not adverse to people saying I’m wrong or even crazy. I’m often both, and at my age perhaps even a little senile.

 

[RayBJ]

What seems to be lost in this discussion is that BRP is a recreational machine manufacturer. They aren't application designers.
BRP-GO is still a non-starter for true navigation use.
To the OP, focus on stand-alone GPS units or your phone. Your mental health specialist will thank you.

 

[racoon]

I understand you point. However the BRP Go use case for road touring with a Spyder is different to the other BRP vehicles and watercraft.

And yet BRP GO! is the app for use across all BRP products, regardless of your opinion that it should be more focused on the needs of the on-road vehicles. It works the way it works.

As an Apple user I'm quite happy with the way Apple CarPlay works on my 2024 Spyder RT.

 

[mecsw500]

And yet BRP GO! is the app for use across all BRP products, regardless of your opinion that it should be more focused on the needs of the on-road vehicles. It works the way it works.

As an Apple user I'm quite happy with the way Apple CarPlay works on my 2024 Spyder RT.

I’m an Apple user so that’s fine by me too, but in emerging markets and even the US, Apple is not necessarily the dominant phone manufacturer.

It works the way it works indeed, but the feedback I send to BRP is that this is an opportunity left untapped, especially when compared to premium touring motorcycles which includes Harley, and soon to be Indian, with their trikes.

In fact, although the app is the same across platforms, the head end of the software which runs on the displays is actually quite different, so there are already significantly differing implementations between all of BRP’s product lines.

 

[racoon]

Google thinks Harley-Davidson has it's own app. But Google also thinks the basic navigation app is free but to tie into the display requires a $350 fee.
Also the app is completely proprietary without support for apps like Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, or Scenic.

A bit more time with Google, and it appears the 2020 or new Indian Motorcycle with built in navigation the RIDE COMMAND app supports Apple Carplay.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

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

Dang! That looks like the cockpit of a Boing 757.

 

[weeneil]

Since I have a 2022 Spyder I added an Aoocci device which brings reliable CarPlay to the trike. It also has front and rear dash cams. It's been flawless for over a year.

View attachment 256359 - View attachment 256360 - View attachment 256361

How did you mount the dash? My front camera is the same, but I mounted the rear camera centrally on the angled part of the top box above the BRP logo, as I will never need to remove it completely.

 

[Danvirsse]

I use my phone on a home-made bracket mounted with the handlebar bolts. I like to pre-plan my routes, so I use DMD. There is a free version of the app for Android and it offers a web-based version for planning the routes on my laptop.

 

[kbirdsong]

How did you mount the dash? My front camera is the same, but I mounted the rear camera centrally on the angled part of the top box above the BRP logo, as I will never need to remove it completely.

I used one of these. Previously it had a phone holder attached. https://www.lamonstergarage.com/lamonster-bar-clamp-with-1-ram-ball-for-can-am-spyder-f3-rt-2020-canyon/?searchuuid=b9b3aa7d-58f9-4b00-929c-52337ac294b1&search_query=Lamonster®+Bar+Clamp

 

[racoon]

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.

As an employee, the type of suggestions I make to my bosses would be a lot different to the suggestions I'd give to a business that I was a customer of.

But hey, you do you.
I'll go for a ride.

 

[iSilentP]

I use my iPhone exclusively for this. Scenic app for route planning and GPS logging and pretty much stick with Waze for navigation. I like Waze's ability to warn of potential hazards on the path traveled.

 

[pegasus1300]

I use the Garmin 660 that came with my 2012 RTL and plan my route app. I plan my routes on my computer and transfer to the GPS. I can also transfer routes published by 3rd parties.

 

[mecsw500]

I use the Garmin 660 that came with my 2012 RTL and plan my route app. I plan my routes on my computer and transfer to the GPS. I can also transfer routes published by 3rd parties.

That’s the bit I like. Whatever solution works best for you be it Apple Maps or a Garmin, the ability to create my route at the start of a day on my laptop and transfer it to the smaller screen is essential to me. My tired old eyes find trying to compose such things on my phone is not so easy for all but the simplest of journeys.

This is where the BRP Go! functionality released for the 10.25” displays falls up short for me. A not very intuitive interface on a small screen is just too difficult to use. I tried installing it on my iPad Air to get a bigger screen and all it did was install the iPhone app with a black area around it. Two out of ten for BRP on that one. Even a web app would have been useful.

I used to use Garmin devices before most cars had navigation systems and I always thought their user interface was superior to most other systems, especially Google Maps.

I was on a flight one time, sitting next to a Google employee, and he saw me programming my route at the destination on a Garmin devices. We compared him doing it on a Google phone with me doing it on a Garmin device, and he ended up taking notes about the Garmin device I was using and how their UI worked.

 

[Bamboozleme]

I use the Garmin 660 that came with my 2012 RTL and plan my route app. I plan my routes on my computer and transfer to the GPS. I can also transfer routes published by 3rd parties.

2013 LT with original Garmin Zumo it's a relic so my question is this: is there a more modern (advanced) Garmin that would fit right in or must I rewire everything?

 

[jdgretz]

2013 LT with original Garmin Zumo it's a relic so my question is this: is there a more modern (advanced) Garmin that would fit right in or must I rewire everything?

More than likely you will have to get a new cradle and rewire it into the Spyder electrical system. That part should be pretty easy - just replace the old wires with the new ones. You didn't say which Garmin you have. If it's a 665 and you are using XM radio, then you will lose the XM radio as the 665 was the last one to support it.

I'm not familiar with your generation of Spyder, so I don't know what it supports in way of navigation or external feeds to the Spyder comm/audio system, nor do I know how you connect to the Zumo. All of that matters. Do you do phone ->Garmin ->headset or phone ->headset<- Garmin, or something with the Spyder in the middle?

I found this with a little searching:

Replacement Route	Pros	Cons
Direct Swap (Used zūmo 660)	• Pops directly into your existing center-dash cradle • Retains integrated wired audio connection to your bike's built-in speakers.	• You are buying older, discontinued hardware • Maps and software are outdated.
Full Upgrade (Garmin zūmo XT or XT2)	• Massively brighter, modern touchscreen • Fast modern interface with seamless Bluetooth audio.	• Requires removing the factory cradle • Requires rewiring the new 12V power cable into the bike's switched accessory circuit.

Note the Bluetooth audio on the newer Zumo - I don't know about the 2013, but on the newer models, there is no Bluetooth streaming from anything other than ACP, and that's for the 2024 and newer.

jdg

 

[safecracker]

I bought the Zumo XT motorcycle kit from Lamonster when they first came out. I had it mounted to my 2011 and now my 2021. I really like it.

 

[McClendons]

I've mentioned this before, but I want to repeat as I believe it is a great solution. I use one of the tablets (in my case a Carpuride 702 Pro) mounted to the center point of the handlebars using a RAM Ball... very similar to the mounting of the Garmins mentioned in this post. This gives me BOTH Android Auto and Carplay WIRELESSLY! For short rides, I just hop on the Spyder with my phone in my pocket and ride away. For longer rides, I use the USB power in the rear trunk to hook up my phone. It sits back there in the cool (relatively cool in FL), and the port provides plenty of power to charge the phone, unlike some people's experience with the cubby power.

For apps, I use Waze and/or Maps if looking for shortest direct distance. If I am going on a route that may have spotty cell phone coverage, or I want to follow a preplanned GPX route, I use either Sygic or MyRoute Trip app. Both of these read GPX files perfectly, or you can do your planning on another device. They also function like a "Garmin" if Cell Service is lost, the maps are stored right on the device. And of course, nearly all new phones have embedded GPS chips on board, it is a complete misperception that you need cell service for GPS on a phone... the App determines what is needed.

This setup also allows me access to any and all Android Auto apos (or Carplay apps if using an iPhone). I have my phone hooked to the Carpuride, and a second Bluetooth to my phone. The phone is hooked to my headset, nothing to the bike. This allows complete control of apps like XMRadio, Pandora, iHeart Radio, MP3 players, etc. etc. And I get better sound quality than I do from the bike.

The Carpuride (and others as well) are waterproof to IP65 or 67, so no worry of rain, vibration etc. like you might get with a phone. The tablets, depending upon which one you get, are inexpensive enough that I am comfortable leaving mine on the bike with a simple security screw. I just did two nights at Biketoberfest with no issues.