Replacing my Nav VI...

[Paul]

Thanks for that tip Al. I will be giving my 7 inch screen a thorough test at the Welsh weekend. I have just downloaded MyRoute-App and am getting to grips with that. No turning back now since I sold my Nav VI to our chum in Fife.

[Paul]

I tested the "Crapuride" over the Welsh weekend trip. Generally it worked well, but I do need to get an anti-reflection screen overlay, since the polished screen can blind you when riding with the sun behind you.

I also had a few GPS connection problems with my phone in my jackets breast pocket when in the mountains of Snowdonia, but when I put the phone horizontally in my tank bag the next day, I didn't get those problems any more. I did notice the battery life on my iPhone going down while using the CarPlay screen for navigation, so I might plug it into a USB charger next time I ride.

I'm still getting to grips with MyRoute-App for planning and navigating routes, but i should get better at that with further use.

All in all I think it is a very viable alternative to the BMW Navigator.

Cheers,

Paul

[popsky]

I tested the "Crapuride" over the Welsh weekend trip. Generally it worked well, but I do need to get an anti-reflection screen overlay, since the polished screen can blind you when riding with the sun behind you.

I also had a few GPS connection problems with my phone in my jackets breast pocket when in the mountains of Snowdonia, but when I put the phone horizontally in my tank bag the next day, I didn't get those problems any more. I did notice the battery life on my iPhone going down while using the CarPlay screen for navigation, so I might plug it into a USB charger next time I ride.

I'm still getting to grips with MyRoute-App for planning and navigating routes, but i should get better at that with further use.

All in all I think it is a very viable alternative to the BMW Navigator.

Cheers,

Paul

Great review Paul as after our “satnav” challenges this weekend I’ve looked on the CarPuRide site and put a couple in the basket. On the phone battery drain how long do you think the battery would last without being recharged if not plugged in to a permanent charger.

PS another great weekend and thanks for the tail end Charlie duties, and the concourse competition added a really fun aspect especially the knobbling that other awful 12s

PPS have a look at the MyRouteApp again, look in friends and I’m sure you’ll see me there, if so any routes I make public and vice verse can be uploaded by others to enjoy

[Paul]

Hi Phil,

Regarding phone battery drain, I was down to about 30% remaining on my iPhone 15 pro max after about 7 hours of riding. I have a little USB power bank that will charge the phone about 3 times, so with that plugged in I would have no worries at all. Normally I get through a whole day starting at 100% charged overnight and never get close to running out during normal use i.e. not using the GPS all day.

[Paul]

I just ordered an anti-reflective screen for my Crapuride W702 from Amazon here

[Blackal]

I think for battery drain, it can be partially alleviated by running on downloaded maps and/or downloaded routes.

You can download MRA maps in areas, as you can do with google.

Modern phones- the space the maps take are insignificant. I plan on trying that option in France, to reduce roaming charges.

I suspect it will drain the battery less, but will see.

[popsky]

That sounds good Paul, not very often I’m riding for 7 hrs these days, and a battery bank would take care of it anyway. I’m looking at the 5” version as there’s not much room in the 12 cockpit and the Z being a naked would suite both better, as long as MRA routes work and there’s voice prompts in helmet that is what I’m after, I can then do my route and share with Karen so we’re both on the same page.

I just need a couple more invoices for the home build and see what cash is left then hopefully order 2 Neotec 3 2 SRL 3 and 2 CarPurides

[popsky]

Your reception issues could have been down to the electrical storm that made the northern lights visible over the weekend Paul, Nig and Suz with the K 16 had all sorts of problems as did Karen getting home on Saturday afternoon.

[Paul]

So... Having lived with the Carpuride 702 for some time, I like the concept but there are a few elements of the implementation I think could be improved. To that end, I have bought a Chigee Air-5 Play for BMW, with the goal of reselling whichever one I decide not to keep hold of.

The Chigee is a much smaller 5 inch screen, but has better integration with the BMW bike. It fits directly in the Sat-Nav preparation cradle without the extra depth of the Carpuride BMW adapter. The big selling point is that it works with the BMW handlebar WonderWheel to navigate around the screens and to select CarPlay apps and functions, so you are not constantly stabbing at the screen with your gloved finger. It also reads all the bike's data, much like the Nav V and VI, so can display tyre pressures, engine revs, range etc. There is a 1 second blanking of the screen when you start the bike, but it does not do a full re-boot like the Carpuride does.

This is what it looks like fitted to the bike:

chigee - 1.png (478.99 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

...showing the home screen, with speed, direction & tyre pressure (which works once the bike is rolling)

The device also can read data from the bike and display it on this screen:

chigee - 2.png (461.87 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

Here it is in CarPlay mode, where I can now use the WonderWheel to scroll around and select apps.

chigee - 3.png (478.56 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

It has 4 physical buttons on top which are accessible while the device is locked in the cradle. These going back to the Home Screen, switching between other screens, locking the touch screen if you are in heavy rain, and turning the device off/on.

chigee - 4.png (496.63 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

As. you can see below, the back of the device has the full set of data pins to match the cradle to not only power the device but to receive data from the bike to display

chigee - 5.png (481.26 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

And finally, It sits closer to flush with the cradle, unlike the Carpuride which is a good distance further forward.

chigee - 6.png (516.39 KiB) Viewed 5504 times

So far I'm preferring the Chigee, due to its better integration with the bike and the fact it does not obscure the top of the main TFT display of the bike. That seven inch screen of the Carpuride was nice though... Watch this space, I may have a Carpuride 702 going cheap soon.

Cheers,

Paul

[popsky]

Excellent write up Paul, you ever thought of doing a dedicated review site/youtube, could be interesting and maybe make a little wonga on the side.

I’ve not gone any further with nav’s for our bikes as still waiting to purchase a new set of helmets and comms for both of us, once that’s sorted shall be looking to get K’s Z9 up to speed with a navigation device, so I’ve found this thread very helpful.

[jeznewsome]

The Chigee certainly looks like an excellent replacement for the Nav unit.

It's about time BMW enabled more functionality on the excellent TFT, surely it could also do CarPlay/Android Auto if they wanted it to/paid the licence fee?

[Paul]

... you ever thought of doing a dedicated review site/youtube, could be interesting and maybe make a little wonga on the side.

Thanks Phil, but I think that particular niche is already fairly saturated, and I don't buy as many "toys" as I used to, so would struggle for content (and viewers...)

It's about time BMW enabled more functionality on the excellent TFT, surely it could also do CarPlay/Android Auto if they wanted it to/paid the licence fee?

CarPlay connects initially via Bluetooth, then establishes a link over wi-fi. I'm not sure if the older BMW TFTs support Wi-fi, which could be why we don't see that. It would also spoil BMW's business model of charging £700 or so for a £300 navigator...

Interestingly, if you are not on a BMW, Chigee also do a version of this with external forward and rear facing cameras, to record your ride, act as dash cams in an accident, give you rear blind spot warnings and provide a "Sentinel" service recording video if anyone appears to be interfering with your bike.

[jeznewsome]

CarPlay connects initially via Bluetooth, then establishes a link over wi-fi.

Good point well made. Thanks to Petrol Ped and YouTube I did know this (only earlier this week, though) but had forgotten!

Spy shots of the R1300RT appear to show actual maps on the massive TFT, so perhaps they are finally getting with the programme!