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What kind of navigation do you use on your Canyon, especially when you are out of cell phone service.

R

Rubicon guy

Member
I have hiked the Grand Canyon, jeeped most States, and I am just starting my Canyon adventure. On all three modes of transportation, I have used my iPhone with GAIA and preloaded maps. I have been riding motorcycles for over 60 years. Not an expert but love to play on my toys. My best friend, my wife passed away almost four years ago; she did most of these adventures, including hiking, with me.
I always have paper maps, compass, essential equipment when traveling. One of the essential tools is GAIA which allows you to travel without cell service and works off satellites. GPX files can be downloaded for tracks, routes, etc.
Your tracks can be marked as routes and saved for future use or shared with others.
The Can Am Spyder Canyon opens the door to almost unlimited travel on maintained roads in the USA or other countries. By saving your GPX file you can share.
 
I use a Garmin XT2, the screen is very clear and readable even with direct sunlight on it. The 2 downsides: cost; and it is not easy to load GPX files without paying subscriptions to a web based mapping service.
 
Here's my 2 cents worth...

Mobile phones with appropriate apps work well for navigation, but I see 3 downsides:
1). Phones (iPhones in particular) have shown themselves not being able to stand the vibrations from being mounted to a motorcycle. They last OK in a car on the blacktop, but not on a bike.​
2). If you are not powering it from the vehicle, you may find your battery goes flat right when you might need it the most.​
3).. Small screen.​

On the Garmin XT2 front, there's no need to pay any subscriptions to anything. On a desktop - Create your route in your favourite application (I use Google MyMaps); export in GPX or KML format & email the exported file to your phone; save the GPX/KML file to your phone; ensure the Garmin TREAD app is installed on your phone, open the app & import the GPX/KML; sync your TREAD app to your XT2 & the file will be sent to your XT2. On your phone - Create the route in the TREAD app; then sync it to your XT2.
 
I'm running a Galaxy Zfold that can open up into a 6"X5" screen, approximately. I have stereo, radio, phone, camera, FOBO, and intercom all running on it at the same time. The phone is held in a vibration free mount that is constantly powering the phone. On screen, my location is constantly shown and plotted on a continuously moving map as I travel. So, I know where I'm at, where I've been, how far I've traveled, where I'm going, all the while listening to the radio, occasionally making a phone call, and talking to my passenger while filming it all at the same time. Yep, that's a bunch of **** going on at the same time all right, but you have to become accustomed to it, or have been pre-programmed to be multifunction capable sometime in the past. It is all extremely handy on longer trips, but it's a pain in the *** to manage on short hops like doing multiple errands. BE AWARE, all of this is impairing your safety if you are not used to managing multiple functions! It's fun, convenient, expensive, and super cool when It is all working together like it is supposed to. Oh, I forgot to say, I don't go off pavement with my Spyder, so I've never been outta cell range. I use Xhunt when I'm off road in my Polaris.
 
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Over the past 7 years I have tried three different Android phones in a handlebar mount, charging either by USB cord or wirelessly. In all cases, in the summertime the phone overheated and quit charging, and then the battery died. This is not reliable for navigation.

Now I have a BMW Navigator V (Garmin in disguise) and a quick release mount on both of my motorcycles, so I can easily switch it back and forth. The phone rides in my pocket.
 
This last week Lake Havasu reached a day time heat of 128°. When I travel in difficult areas I recommend at least 3 navigating modes: compass and paper, phone navigation (GAIA), and one more navigation electronic backup. Prior to traveling, I usually would memorize route, terrain, and travel time. Always have a backup for travel emergencies. Your life and your travel companions lives may depend on your planning.
 
TheMariner said:
Here's my 2 cents worth...

Mobile phones with appropriate apps work well for navigation, but I see 3 downsides:
1). Phones (iPhones in particular) have shown themselves not being able to stand the vibrations from being mounted to a motorcycle. They last OK in a car on the blacktop, but not on a bike.​
2). If you are not powering it from the vehicle, you may find your battery goes flat right when you might need it the most.​
3).. Small screen.​

On the Garmin XT2 front, there's no need to pay any subscriptions to anything. On a desktop - Create your route in your favourite application (I use Google MyMaps); export in GPX or KML format & email the exported file to your phone; save the GPX/KML file to your phone; ensure the Garmin TREAD app is installed on your phone, open the app & import the GPX/KML; sync your TREAD app to your XT2 & the file will be sent to your XT2. On your phone - Create the route in the TREAD app; then sync it to your XT2.
Click to expand...
If you have iCloud, Google Drive or some other cloud based shared drive, perhaps you can just save the GPX/KML file to the cloud from your desktop and import it from the cloud on your phone, avoiding the step of mailing it to yourself. This is how I share files with my Macs, iPads and iPhones using iCloud. I don't know if the THREAD app can read a GPX/KML from a cloud drive. Anyway, just a thought which may remove a step from the process.
 
GAIA is a GPS navigation system that works off of USA, Russian, and European satellites. One can download maps, GPX file route and other data before you even get on your bike. There is no phone service, iCloud, google involved with GAIA because communication is direct to satellites. Education is the key on GAIA.
 
I have a Garmin Zumo XT that I used with my 2024 Spyder RT Sea2Sky before CAN-AM got Apple CarPlay to work.
I have a QuadLock mount on my handlebars and my iPhone is in a QuadLock case.

I have been in one narrow valley where there was no cell phone signal and CarPlay wouldn't work, but as soon as I was out of the canyon it worked fine.

I also had one trip driving from Jonesboro, Arkansas back to the Nashville, Tennessee area where CarPlay wasn't working, but then suddenly started working as I was driving along I-40 between Memphis, TN and Nashville.

I have a carry case for the Garmin, so it now travels with me when I go on longer trips. I have a docking station installed on my Spyder that has a ball mount that works with the Garmin.
 
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