Beeline mini navigator for motorcycles

Introducing my latest purchase, a BMW R 1150 R, I spent a few words to point out (again) as much as he prefers old school instruments. Let me add that I like the essential ones, but it is a love for everything that is minimalist that I have been carrying for a long time and that obviously does not concern only the instrumentation of our bikes or their lines.

In short I hate displays modern because I find them too rich in information, sometimes difficult to interpret and in any case devoid of charm and personality. Nonetheless I find them a source of distraction.

The TFT displays of motorcycles were not enough, we have long since taken the habit of follow the directions on another screen, be it that of a navigator proper or a smartphone. In particular the latter, due to the fact that we already possess everything and use it with confidence, is now a regular guest of our handlebars. In both cases, I do not deny its usefulness, on the contrary, I myself make frequent use of it.

Although it is practical and useful to know the way to go, we all know very well that having the smartphone turned on in front of the eyes for navigation is a dangerous source of distraction: great, light, with graphics full of information, colors, numbers… In addition, perhaps we have not deactivated the notifications of messages and phone calls.

This was not enough, it is also ugly to look at, especially on bikes with a more classic look. So how to reconcile the need for navigation with that of not getting distracted and keeping the look clean?

A minimalist solution

The solution I have adopted is called Beeline. I discovered it at least a couple of years ago and have been using it for more than a year now mounting it from time to time on the bikes I try and although it does not replace the 100% a navigator (or a good smartphone app) for completeness of functionality, it has become the tool that I use for several species in everyday trips because it provides only the essential information for the trip, that is the direction and distance of the next turn. And when you have what you need, you realize how everything else is not that important, on the contrary. Earlier I was talking about minimalism, do not?

In practice, the Beeline is a small watch with a sturdy body and a black white screen that can be mounted on a small support with two rubber bands or by mounting another special support that uses the Ram spherical attachment.

From an aesthetic point of view it is very pleasant and minimally invasive and the screen – I say this right away for the skeptics – it can be seen well even in full sunlight. But how is it going from the point of view of navigation?

Take advantage of Google Maps but also accept GPX

The Beeline alone does not sail, Here because it is not to all intents and purposes a navigator. To work it needs to be connected to the smartphone which really acts as a navigator. It connects via bluetooth quickly and steadily and communicates with the appropriate app. This too is equipped with very intuitive minimal graphics and has never given me problems.

For navigation the app take advantage of Google Maps with which we are all familiar. The particularity, however,, is that it also allows you to upload .gpx files, save them in your own paths and follow the track. In fact, I also used it on the Benelli TNT 125 during mine #EscartonsPatent.

Little, leggero, its battery really lasts a long time. I mean you do days and days on the road. It connects in a flash with the bluetooth of the phone so that I can keep it in my pocket. It shows no notification and limits distractions a lot but takes a while’ of habit to graphics totally different from any navigator.

The screen always shows us a big arrow that moves like a compass and indicates where our goal is in relation to our position. However, we must not fall into the trap of thinking that it is also an indication of the next turning point! That is indicated by the dot and the exit number in the case of a roundabout as well as by the distance in meters. A series of bars on the edge instead show us how far we have to complete the journey.

In other words it is graphics designed to minimize distractions but what, in realtà, the first few times ends up distracting simply because it takes a while’ of time to process the information. Once you get used to it, however, it is actually much more intuitive, even if perhaps it would have been better to give more emphasis to the turning point and less to the position of the final goal.

The mode “compass”

This graphic is also explained by the fact that can be used in mode “Compass”. In practice, it will not give us any turning directions, but it will simply show us where the destination is compared to us and how many kilometers are missing. Reaching one's destination thus becomes a sort of treasure hunt: it is I who decide where to turn, I do the path by trying to get closer and closer. It is not particularly suitable, however,, if you have an appointment.

A tool against laziness? Very Well!

By using the Beeline more and more often, even for longer journeys, I realized another thing that I like because it is stimulating: it forces you to be less lazy and to understand where you are and where you are going. With the usual navigation we are used to being led step by step and albeit type navigation “turn by turn” the Beeline is basically the same thing, Having less information leads me to pay more attention to road signs. So when I decide a destination and plan the trip on the app, I already start studying the best route, for example by deleting motorways, and I try to memorize some names of the centers that I will go through. So at the turns I try to go the old way, or reading the signs, sure to be able to take a fleeting glance at the Beeline for confirmation.

And then it has a nice look that doesn't look bad at all either on my Roadster or on a special but not even on a more modern bike. So much so that recently the Beeline it was also chosen by Triumph for a designer series and you can choose with both plastic and aluminum shells.

I like:

• size
• battery life
• limit distractions
• makes you less lazy
• aesthetic impact
• ability to upload gpx
• efficient bluetooth connection
• very simple app

I do not like:

• the graphics are not as immediate as they seem at first
• the support with the rubber bands is the most aesthetically beautiful because “disappears” at the sight, but the rubber bands can be broken easily
• a couple of times he froze in the same way: I stopped for a few minutes at a point where there was no signal and entered a sort of “recalculation”; it was enough to close the app, turn it off and start over
• when you get out of the track you are following it does not help you to recover but continues to indicate the turning point where you are “wrong” Street

Prices from 178 Euro its www.global.beeline.com