Since we’re now in the Information Age, getting from Point A to Point B has never been easier. Once upon a time, a lost motorist would have to stop the car, pull out a massive, unwieldy map from the glove box, and squint to read the microscopic print. Nowadays, just about everyone has a smartphone with GPS.
So, check out our list of the main reasons for investing in a motorcycle GPS unit before your next adventure:
That’s fine if you’re driving your sedan down the highway to work. But, what if you ride a motorcycle? Will the map on your phone actually help you on the country’s most remote trails? And, do you really want to go through the hassle of replacing your phone if you happen to lay your bike down? Probably not.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been lost as a result of poor guidance from your smartphone’s map app. It’s a funny, yet frustrating, situation that most of us have experienced. But, when you’re out on the trail, it can be life-threatening. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for when it comes to GPS maps.
Accuracy: An Old Map Can Make You More Lost
The free GPS apps simply don’t have every back road, alleyway, or trail. It’s better to invest in a product that has one, single, solitary function: Making sure you don’t get lost. And, that’s why accuracy is of the utmost importance when deciding on a motorcycle GPS unit. Hit up Wandering Biker for motorcycle GPS reviews to find out which motorcycle GPS units provide the highest level of accuracy.
Durability: A Necessity for Adventure Motorcycling
If, on a daily basis, you use your smartphone as a GPS while riding your motorcycle, you should probably reconsider. And, if you’ve mounted your smartphone on your motorcycle before hitting the next trail, then you truly live dangerously.
Don’t you appreciate the money value of time? Your smartphone wasn’t designed to withstand a spill on the trail or an impact at even moderate speed. The amount of time spent obtaining a new phone, connecting it to all of your favorite apps, and restoring all of your precious data would cost most people more than a rugged motorcycle GPS unit would.
Ease of Use: Let the Good Times Roll
Simply put, you need a GPS unit and a mount that’s made specifically for motorcycles. If you find quite a bit of difficulty navigating your smartphone’s map app while wearing gloves, you might want to opt for a GPS unit that has a directional pad rather than a touchscreen.
Nobody wants to stop everything, take off a pair of gloves, and then plan a course. You’ll also want a mount that’s specifically made to absorb the vibration of your motor, the ordinary shock of bumps and potholes in the road, and the force that comes along with landing a jump on a secluded trail. Plus, as long as you live in a good neighborhood or park in a garage, you don’t have to keep mounting and dismounting your smartphone every time you go for a ride.
