[CavRider]

Great to hear that at least one rider has a good experience with the Connected App / TFT.

I'm sure that some of the issues people experience are due to unfamiliarity, but there are definitely a number of usability issues with BMW's current "solution" that need ironing out, and a couple of fundamental issues that I don't believe can be resolved within the bounds of the current physical architecture. There is also core functionality (for those like me who want to travel a pre-planned route on the roads I decide) that is missing.

Just for clarity, downloading a route defined in a .gpx file does not work for you?

 

[mav17mus95]

In my experience everything works flawlessly with the tft, connected over bluetooth both the helmet and the phone connects in 5 to 10 seconds, EXCEPT the maps, i use google maps and apple maps and I can see the turn by turn instructions without connecting the wifi. Whenever I try to connect the app to see the map displayed it gets disconnected and sometimes it re-connects and sometimes it don’t. I gave up connecting the app and just connecting the phone and intercom via BT.

If someone knows how to get a stable wifi connection to see the map displayed, I’de love to hear about it.

 

[CavRider]

Yes, in the US, Garmin hands out replacements like candy at Halloween 😉

Still, on my trip recent trip to the Rockies, I was reminded of how valuable that simple standalone little Nav box can be. WiFi/Internet access was horrible. I needed to research and create a few routes on the fly, so my phone was useless. The GPS on the Nav came to the rescue. No matter what rat’s nest BMW adopts, I’ll always want a Zumo XT or equivalent mounted. When you need it, you need it.

So, just as with your Garmin the Connected app uses maps that are already downloaded to your phone, which includes its own GPS receiver. So no internet required to research and plan routes with this tech either.

Furthermore the process of updating maps in this app is superior to Garmin IMHO.

Still is probably good to have a backup system.

 

[st13phil]

Just for clarity, downloading a route defined in a .gpx file does not work for you?

It does, but with limitations.

If it’s loaded as a “track” it becomes a fixed route with no opportunity for modification, e.g. to deal with a closed road or diversion; if it’s loaded as waypoints (with the route created in BaseCamp), then the waypoints are sequenced by name, alphabetically ascending, thus requiring that the imported route be edited to restore the correct waypoint sequence. When actually navigating, there’s no option to avoid automatic off-route recalculation, which means the route gets trashed if you choose to deviate from it.

 

[Dultimate]

In my experience everything works flawlessly with the tft, connected over bluetooth both the helmet and the phone connects in 5 to 10 seconds, EXCEPT the maps, i use google maps and apple maps and I can see the turn by turn instructions without connecting the wifi. Whenever I try to connect the app to see the map displayed it gets disconnected and sometimes it re-connects and sometimes it don’t. I gave up connecting the app and just connecting the phone and intercom via BT.

If someone knows how to get a stable wifi connection to see the map displayed, I’de love to hear about it.

This can be displayed on the TFT?

 

[mav17mus95]

This can be displayed on the TFT?

The turn by turn instructions like the ones on the smaller TFT yes, it’s only the actual map that needs the crappy wifi connection and to leave the phone on while on the crappy “connected ride” app

 

[CavRider]

It does, but with limitations.

If it’s loaded as a “track” it becomes a fixed route with no opportunity for modification, e.g. to deal with a closed road or diversion; if it’s loaded as waypoints (with the route created in BaseCamp), then the waypoints are sequenced by name, alphabetically ascending, thus requiring that the imported route be edited to restore the correct waypoint sequence. When actually navigating, there’s no option to avoid automatic off-route recalculation, which means the route gets trashed if you choose to deviate from it.

Got it. Thanks.

 

[TouringTim]

I went for a ride out this evening and on the ride out was a senior technical BMW UK guy. I showed him my issues with the WiFi. He didn't know that the SSID keeps changing.

But he did say that he had just returned from a trip to France and had experienced similar issues so was reasonably sympathetic.

Anyway, he reckons on August 2nd, an update is arriving for the bikes and soon after that an update is arriving for the app. Both are focussed on the issues we've discussed.

Picture of my screen this evening

 

[TouringTim]

I’ve changed my mind about trading up to a new K1600.

Please let your dealer know, it's exactly the feedback BMW need to hear.

Maybe we should all go into our dealers asking for test rides of R18s and then return it saying, lovely bike, would buy one, but the Nav unit doesn't seem very reliable.

 

[JohnS1955]

So, just as with your Garmin the Connected app uses maps that are already downloaded to your phone, which includes its own GPS receiver. So no internet required to research and plan routes with this tech either.

Thanks for this clarification. Others have previously brought this out also. However, creating routes directly in the new environment (from what others have reported) has limitations relative to Trip Planner on the Nav. I rarely plan direct "A" to "B" routes. If I can't build in complex waypoints and shaping points, it's not very useful to me.

Furthermore the process of updating maps in this app is superior to Garmin IMHO.

Interesting. I just went through the Garmin process of downloading the most current North America maps to both my computer and the Nav. I plugged the Nav into my computer, Garmin Express popped up, I checked that I wanted the current map downloaded to both devices, and 30 minutes later, the deed was done. What do you find more awkward with the Garmin process?

 

[TouringTim]

However, creating routes directly in the new environment (from what others have reported) has limitations relative to Trip Planner on the Nav. I rarely plan direct "A" to "B" routes. If I can't build in complex waypoints and shaping points, it's not very useful to me.

You can actually download the app and use it without a motorbike for 7 or 14 days. So maybe you could try the route planning and let me know what it doesn't do and I'll write to BMW. I'm an A to B person, I just adjust the sensitivities on the app to make the route interesting, also it's not just a on/off, it's a how much, that is I want lots of winding roads or I want a few winding roads

I would have thought the route planning should be quite good because the GS owners use that feature, and have been for 4 years, and for sure they're always planning challenging routes.

The biggest issue is the WiFi and that's because the GS folks don't get that. The Bluetooth connection seems solid.

 

[CavRider]

Thanks for this clarification. Others have previously brought this out also. However, creating routes directly in the new environment (from what others have reported) has limitations relative to Trip Planner on the Nav. I rarely plan direct "A" to "B" routes. If I can't build in complex waypoints and shaping points, it's not very useful to me.



Interesting. I just went through the Garmin process of downloading the most current North America maps to both my computer and the Nav. I plugged the Nav into my computer, Garmin Express popped up, I checked that I wanted the current map downloaded to both devices, and 30 minutes later, the deed was done. What do you find more awkward with the Garmin process?

In the U.S. I can download maps state by state. I seem to be notified automatically, on my phone and not my computer, that there is a state map update and those updates happen over the air without tethering to a computer. They do not take anywhere near 30 minutes. Closer to 30 seconds. Entire U.S. would of course likely take longer.

I have not done any much route planning yet with the app but from what others have said it sounds like it might not fit your requirements for planning at this time. One semi interesting but kludgy thing one could do is to create a bunch of "Contacts" that can be used as waypoints. The app will navigate to a Contact from wherever you are. Don't know that these can be glued together to form a route though. Likely not is my guess.

I'm going to experiment with the MRA route planner and see how that feels.

 

[CavRider]

You can actually download the app and use it without a motorbike for 7 or 14 days. So maybe you could try the route planning and let me know what it doesn't do and I'll write to BMW. I'm an A to B person, I just adjust the sensitivities on the app to make the route interesting, also it's not just a on/off, it's a how much, that is I want lots of winding roads or I want a few winding roads

View attachment 167830

I would have thought the route planning should be quite good because the GS owners use that feature, and have been for 4 years, and for sure they're always planning challenging routes.

The biggest issue is the WiFi and that's because the GS folks don't get that. The Bluetooth connection seems solid.

Like you I am also more of an A to B type person and my backside will take offense if I try to spend more that 100 miles in the saddle at one sitting. I'm fine with that as I do not wish to develop any blood clots. The minimal amount of trip "planning" I have done with the app thus far has caused me to question the algo for the "winding" route. It has created some really tortured and nonsensical paths in the couple of times I have tried it. I have switched to "efficient" for now but I am trying MRA route planning as an alternative.

 

[TouringTim]

. I have switched to "efficient" for now but I am trying MRA route planning as an alternative.

I've also found winding means tortuous, especially two up fully loaded. So I've also defaulted to efficient, no motorways and that's really been OK.

Also, I'm not completely A to B, I do add some stops, but very few, just if we plan to go from A to B and notice something interesting on the way. But I'm not trying to setup super complex stuff.

 

[JohnS1955]

You can actually download the app and use it without a motorbike for 7 or 14 days. So maybe you could try the route planning and let me know what it doesn't do and I'll write to BMW. I'm an A to B person, I just adjust the sensitivities on the app to make the route interesting, also it's not just a on/off, it's a how much, that is I want lots of winding roads or I want a few winding roads


I would have thought the route planning should be quite good because the GS owners use that feature, and have been for 4 years, and for sure they're always planning challenging routes.

The biggest issue is the WiFi and that's because the GS folks don't get that. The Bluetooth connection seems solid.

So much of this stuff comes down to individual requirements for route planning. I respect that the "A" to "B" thing works for a lot of people. For myself, I live in an area of Southern California that's littered with hundreds of miles of incredible mountain and canyon roads in very isolated areas. It's not unusual for me to create routes with dozens of waypoints (actual, and no notification shaping points), that take me in all kinds of crazy directions -- sometimes criss-crossing the same roads. So I need the option of full control over every turn I take. I've experimented with the winding road option within Basecamp, and I was never satisfied with it's choices. It didn't select the really great winding stuff, and it calculated winding in areas where it was better to go straight.

I don't have any immediate plans to get rid of my 2018 GTL. It's working great, it's decked out the way I like it, and I have 3-years of extended warranty left. Still, if the 2022+ bikes w/TFT were an extremely compelling upgrade, I'd consider it. Since navigation in that world still seems to be a work in progress, I'll just continue to monitor how things develop for you guys.

 

[TouringTim]

have 3-years of extended warranty left

Not really worth walking away from this, but anyway if you do get a chance to look at the app you might be able to give some valuable feedback so if, and when, you do make the move it actually works for you.

 

[Bust-A-Cap]

I met a fellow K1600GT rider at Max BMW last week that had a new 2022 that was beyond frustrated with the TFT and inconsistent connection with his phone/GPS. He was at Max for them to install an independent Garmin on his bike. He also said his phone barely fit in the phone compartment and suffered over-heating despite the fan. If you have any type of protective cover on your phone it's even worse. Beautiful bike but I'm glad I decided to stay old school and stick with my 2016.

 

[JohnS1955]

In the U.S. I can download maps state by state. I seem to be notified automatically, on my phone and not my computer, that there is a state map update and those updates happen over the air without tethering to a computer. They do not take anywhere near 30 minutes. Closer to 30 seconds. Entire U.S. would of course likely take longer.

I have not done any much route planning yet with the app but from what others have said it sounds like it might not fit your requirements for planning at this time. One semi interesting but kludgy thing one could do is to create a bunch of "Contacts" that can be used as waypoints. The app will navigate to a Contact from wherever you are. Don't know that these can be glued together to form a route though. Likely not is my guess.

I'm going to experiment with the MRA route planner and see how that feels.

With Garmin, you download the entire North America Map. That includes the United States (including Alaska) and Canada. So I can easily create Basecamp routes across state (and country) lines for trips that I do outside of California. Maybe the individual maps you download allow for that level of integration, which I would hope exists.

@DavidMcK is very happy with MRA, so you might be pleased as well. Still, based on what I know, I agree that my requirements might exceed what's currently available in the connected app. Here's to hoping BMW will correct the flaws in the current setup.

 

[Dultimate]

The WiFi connection sucks on the new display. I think that's agreed upon. But, like the rider at Max BMW we are free to put a independent Garmin on the bike.
I may be wrong but from my perusal of the forum isn't the Bluetooth connection much better than the other bikes? Seems like some 2021 didn't even have Bluetooth. And, yeah..it may not be worth it to give up a previous bike for it, but the TFT is good looking and gives the bike a more modern look. Let's not forget the tuning that's improved and the suspension that's self adjusting.

I understand that for the folks that do use the navigation it can be frustrating due to a lack of a feature and the connection with WiFi can be spotty but the navigation is not the end all be all for these bikes. I'm just saying.

 

[JohnS1955]

The WiFi connection sucks on the new display. I think that's agreed upon. But, like the rider at Max BMW we are free to put a independent Garmin on the bike.
I may be wrong but from my perusal of the forum isn't the Bluetooth connection much better than the other bikes? Seems like some 2021 didn't even have Bluetooth. And, yeah..it may not be worth it to give up a previous bike for it, but the TFT is good looking and gives the bike a more modern look. Let's not forget the tuning that's improved and the suspension that's self adjusting.

I understand that for the folks that do use the navigation it can be frustrating due to a lack of a feature and the connection with WiFi can be spotty but the navigation is not the end all be all for these bikes. I'm just saying.

There are many here who use their K16s for very long distance heavy travel. That means 500-1000 mile days, and trips that add up to several thousand miles across multiple states. For those riders (including myself), reliably tackling complex navigation is a must. The beauty of the Garmin Nav/Zumo solution is that you have a standalone GPS box that doesn't have to know your phone exists. You can use your phone exclusively for what it's really good at -- being a phone and for transmitting music to your headset.

I know I can add a Garmin Zumo mount to a 22+ bike, but it doesn't feel right having to do that. If father time grants me another K16 in my future, then I'll deal with whatever the TFT forces on me. In the mean time, the pre-TFT bikes look pretty darn attractive....