iPhone (IOS app for 'motorcycle roads' ?

I use my iPhone for navigation, mounted to the handlebar with audio though my Sena headset. That part works fine (well, more or less but that's a different issue)...

However, using Apple or Google maps, I can't "force" a good motorcycle route when I ask it for a route to wherever. Either program will generally give several options for a route from A to B but typically none of them are the route I would select as the most scenic/interesting.

If I get off whichever route I selected, the program tries to put me back on it. Yesterday, on a ride from Bath to Sparkford, it kept trying to route me over to one of the programmed routes, finally telling me to make a U-turn and "return to route." SO...anyone know of an app that either looks for scenic routes OR is easy to program a specific route into the app on the phone? I know I can do that on my computer and download it to the phone but I want to be able to do it on the phone itself so it can be done at a food or gas stop.

I have seen the folks who drive around with a back seat and trunk full of electronics that must be kept running 24/7 to map the programs that run GPS systems. They don't really look like they would care about anything like a good motorcycle road, so it would take a motorcycle person to even make a decent judgement about what constitutes a good bike road. Your best bet is to get recommendations from locals or others who may have ridden the good roads and then program the cities and towns along the way (or at the ends) into your route. I have lots of suggestions for this side of the pond, but none for anywhere else other than a few fantasies.

Another thing I've tried with some success is to study the paper map very closely and look for roads with similar profiles or features to some you've experienced and appreciated. What may be a good road to me might be a nightmare or a crashing bore to others. There's a lot of gems out there, but it may be too subjective to expect a machine or a machine programmed by non-riders to lead you down the path you seek.

I have used Garmin's Base Camp software; I doubt that they have a mobile app, but can't say for certain. The options that can be selected in route planning are very comprehensive; you can select your origin and destination tell it you are on a motorcycke and only want back roads and it does the rest. The that last time I used the software it routed me over roads, to use a term, that appear to be very dated, but quite an adventure; rear brake only in some cases.

I have a Tissot P Touch wrist watch that has a compass function, sometimes I just head in one of the 4 major compass directions, when I get lost enough or hungry enough I'll mount and switch on the the Garmin...

Best

No experience with iPhones so I don't know what's available. My Garmin Zumo came with software that lets me plot a route on my PC and upload it to the GPS. It doesn't know "motorcycle friendly" roads, you have to figure that out yourself. But typically if I avoid interstate highways and big city traffic routes I can have a good ride. I've had a few fun rides just plotting a random course within a 50 mile radius of home. Like your phone app, it does get testy if you skip one of the way points. I've had to shut the thing off and on restarting it'll ask if I want to resume the route from my current location - otherwise it'll keep directing me to the skipped point.

Nothing to do with Nortons.

"My Garmin Zumo came with software that lets me plot a route on my PC and upload it to the GPS. It doesn't know "motorcycle friendly" roads, you have to figure that out yourself."

Yes, I can do that on my laptop and transfer it to the iPhone. But I was hoping for a way to make that "custom" map on the iPhone itself since I don't carry the laptop on rides and sometimes want to change the route or add to it while stopped for lunch.

Apple products do not work with Google Custom maps. I think Android products might. Apple is a PITA with things like that.
Pete

batrider said:

Nothing to do with Nortons.

Click to expand...

How about now?

When riding my Commando, I search for roads that cause me to use at least a couple of gears. When searching on my iPhone (Google Maps) for roads on which to ride my Commando, I often find the road by visual inspection and then pick out an address or landmark to navigate to on that route. That way I can ride my Commando on the route I want. It's a pain in the ass sometimes (just like my Commando), but it works.

My Son led me on a 225 mile loop a couple weeks ago. Never touched a limited access highway, and mostly rode windy roads in rural areas.
I asked how he did it. “I just looked at the sattelite maps, and looked for roads near terrain.”
I know, different for here, White Mountains & Berkshires, but it must still have some utility in other areas. Away from cities...

Not sure about iPhone options but there is a recent thread over on the Triumph RAT forum discussing motorcycle routing apps. Some that let you set curviness levels, off roading etc in the options etc.

Thread here:
https://www.triumphrat.net/#/topics/953532?page=1

I just completed 10k KM cross Canada trip using the TomTom Go app on my Android phone. Think there is an iPhone version of it. It. Does a very nice job and uses built in maps so no data needed. It will use cell network for traffic and construction notifications. It is a paid subscription of around $30 for one year.