07-01-2021, 04:16 AM
(07-01-2021, 03:03 AM)Stichill_imp Wrote:(07-01-2021, 02:20 AM)EmptySea_imp Wrote: Tom, the original poster, likes maps and memory. I can't say as I disagree with that approach much, especially when riding solo. Others have opined about their approaches to route planning and all seem valid to me, not that my opinion is worth the time it takes to read it.
For me, since I usually ride with at least one other person and since we usually have a specific destination in mind, I prefer to plan the route in advance. I use Google Maps on my desktop and then export that route into Scenic and use my phone to view my route. I do not use the audio turn-by-turn in Scenic and I do often have a paper back-up in case my phone craps out plus I do a "dry run" on new routes, including identifying gas and food stops along with landmarks on Google Maps before the ride. I can share the route with the other riders in my group so they know where I'm heading which is a nice feature. Most of this I've done because I don't want a tank bag mucking up the looks of our beautiful motorcycle. LOL So basically, I've gone hi-tech out of pure vanity.
Lol, same!
(07-01-2021, 02:38 AM)KiowaEagle_imp Wrote: I have played around extensively to find a good route planning/gps solution. Scenic is great for planning routes. It consistently finds good roads and I've been very happy with it. But I don't like using my iphone as a gps. Plus in the heat of summer it overheats in the sun becoming useless or if it rains it's not waterproof. So I'd prefer to use my Garmin but it's navigation is rudimentary at best. If you set it for curvy roads it will take you into a local neighborhood and make you do a bunch of turns, that's it's idea of curvy.
So I started exporting the gpx file from scenic and loading it in to the garmin but ran into an issue, the garmin would overwrite the turn by turn directions basically turning it into a garmin route which sucks. So I've found a solution that seems to work reasonably well. When you export a gpx file it sends three parts, two Trip files and a Track file. Once it's in the garmin go to Tracks and find that track file, then convert it to a trip. Once it's a trip you can load it up and it will follow the scenic route instead of overwriting it as long as you turn off Route Recalculation in the Navigation menu of the garmin.
It sounds more convoluted than it is and it works reasonably well but it's not perfect. If anyone has found a better work around I'd love to hear about it.
Very agree!
(07-01-2021, 02:38 AM)KiowaEagle_imp Wrote: I have played around extensively to find a good route planning/gps solution. Scenic is great for planning routes. It consistently finds good roads and I've been very happy with it. But I don't like using my iphone as a gps. Plus in the heat of summer it overheats in the sun becoming useless or if it rains it's not waterproof. So I'd prefer to use my Garmin but it's navigation is rudimentary at best. If you set it for curvy roads it will take you into a local neighborhood and make you do a bunch of turns, that's it's idea of curvy.
So I started exporting the gpx file from scenic and loading it in to the garmin but ran into an issue, the garmin would overwrite the turn by turn directions basically turning it into a garmin route which sucks. So I've found a solution that seems to work reasonably well. When you export a gpx file it sends three parts, two Trip files and a Track file. Once it's in the garmin go to Tracks and find that track file, then convert it to a trip. Once it's a trip you can load it up and it will follow the scenic route instead of overwriting it as long as you turn off Route Recalculation in the Navigation menu of the garmin.
It sounds more convoluted than it is and it works reasonably well but it's not perfect. If anyone has found a better work around I'd love to hear about it.
My TomTom is not quite that bad, but it will take you on a short detour from "Main Road" onto 0.2 miles of "Old Main Road" and back out onto "Main Road".
(07-01-2021, 02:38 AM)KiowaEagle_imp Wrote: I have played around extensively to find a good route planning/gps solution. Scenic is great for planning routes. It consistently finds good roads and I've been very happy with it. But I don't like using my iphone as a gps. Plus in the heat of summer it overheats in the sun becoming useless or if it rains it's not waterproof. So I'd prefer to use my Garmin but it's navigation is rudimentary at best. If you set it for curvy roads it will take you into a local neighborhood and make you do a bunch of turns, that's it's idea of curvy.
So I started exporting the gpx file from scenic and loading it in to the garmin but ran into an issue, the garmin would overwrite the turn by turn directions basically turning it into a garmin route which sucks. So I've found a solution that seems to work reasonably well. When you export a gpx file it sends three parts, two Trip files and a Track file. Once it's in the garmin go to Tracks and find that track file, then convert it to a trip. Once it's a trip you can load it up and it will follow the scenic route instead of overwriting it as long as you turn off Route Recalculation in the Navigation menu of the garmin.
It sounds more convoluted than it is and it works reasonably well but it's not perfect. If anyone has found a better work around I'd love to hear about it.
This post nails it. We are living through some kind of motorcycle navigation dark ages where you have to submit to the rack or shut yourself into an iron maiden in order to get a decent route loaded into your GPS.
LOL.....I don't know if it's that bad but it's not easy. But I agree that the technology should be much better by now. I don't know why Scenic can get it so right but Garmin can't or why you can't just easily export a Scenic route to use in another device.