Second time lucky :D Mod2

[Craig321]

Sounds normal for an MOT, that they allow you to come back for free. You'd have to ask them how much time they give as it probably varies.

If you're interested in maintaining your own bike then it's definitely worth it. It takes 100% of the worry out of an MOT. You can pretty much take a 5 minute glance at a bike and you'll know if it will or won't pass. You can see everything and there isn't a massive list like on a car. It'll also be much safer than just relying on the MOT saying your bike is safe. Leaky rear brake calipers for example (something you would have noticed when cleaning or whatever if you learn about the bike & maintain it yourself) could have got interesting for you if the fluid found it's way onto the disc.

 

[Stovepipes]

Also, while you *can* get a phone, bluetooth headset*, charger, waterproof case and a mount of some kind, it gets pricey when you start adding it all up.

Compared to dedicated motorbike sat nav it's not pricey. This is what I'm looking to get if I pass my Mod 1 next month
Givi S954 Universal Smartphone / Sat-Nav Holder £35.66

eSynic Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet Intercom £34.95

I could spend around £100 on a phone and still be about half the price of a Tomtom or Garmin but I've already got that covered.

That being said If I needed a Sat Nav everyday and regularly find myself needing to say change the location with gloves on I'd probably go for a dedicated unit but for occasional use it's far too expensive imho.

*A lot of m/c headsets are not set up for pairing with phones, satnavs or anything other than bike2bike comms with the same manufacturer's headsets.

Yup, there a loads of headsets about and ones with a2DP for audio so just make sure you know what you're getting.

 

[GothicGhost]

@Craig321 I am bit of a noob when it comes to bike maintenance but learning as I go lol.

@Stovepipes (good luck on mod 1) I ordered a cheap case from amazon half price ay the moment.
The BDM Cycle / Bike / Bicycle & Motorbike Waterproof holder mount and case

I will test it with water without the sat nav and if it's no good I will get better one like the one you linked.

That headset looks nice I will get something like that when I got the money just need to be sure the bike got everything to pass the mot now lol.

Thanks.

 

[Zbornak]

Congrats. I failed my first mod 2 as well by forgetting to turn my indicator off.

 

[Stovepipes]

@Stovepipes (good luck on mod 1) I ordered a cheap case from amazon half price ay the moment.
The BDM Cycle / Bike / Bicycle & Motorbike Waterproof holder mount and case.

Great price for a case that, but yeah the givi is quite pricey compared to other cases but I'm hoping it's better quality and it's also got the sun visor. At the moment I'm using an Oxofrd Strap Nav holder

It works well on big scooter handlebar but keeps moving about on my Honda CBF 125 and can't see anything in sunlight, which is a nuisance.

 

[ttaskmaster]

That being said If I needed a Sat Nav everyday and regularly find myself needing to say change the location with gloves on I'd probably go for a dedicated unit but for occasional use it's far too expensive imho.

I do generally assume anyone buying a dedicated m/c SatNav has felt the need for one (and/or gotten lost) more often than just occasionally!
Same as someone wanting a high-end multi-button gaming mouse, but only using the PC for email, internet and Freecell!

 

[Stovepipes]

I do generally assume anyone buying a dedicated m/c SatNav has felt the need for one (and/or gotten lost) more often than just occasionally!
Same as someone wanting a high-end multi-button gaming mouse, but only using the PC for email, internet and Freecell!

I get what you mean but I don't really agree. The phone option is a bit of a compromise that can't be denied but it's not a massive one & you could quite easily use it everyday without issue so now knowing that I just can't bring myself to pay £300 when the other option at least half the price. Plus I'm sure many people bought these sat navs without a second thought for the cheaper options as £300 quid isn't almost a weeks wages to them and it's a nice bit of kit.

 

[GothicGhost]

I think the main problem I see when using a car sat nav or phone is the waterproof cases and how good it is keeping out the rain.

£300 is a lot to me but I guess you are paying for that all weather sat nav and if I had the money I would get one myself

 

[The_Abyss]

I went for the dedicated option with a Tom Tom Rider 5. The anti-glare screen and vibration and waterproofing were important to me, as was the ability to track and record my ride. I'm planning for a European trip in April at the moment, and am using Motogoloco web planner which looks really good.

 

[bloodiedathame]

Great price for a case that, but yeah the givi is quite pricey compared to other cases but I'm hoping it's better quality and it's also got the sun visor. At the moment I'm using an Oxofrd Strap Nav holder

It works well on big scooter handlebar but keeps moving about on my Honda CBF 125 and can't see anything in sunlight, which is a nuisance.

That's the exact one I had, and you're right, mounting it was a bitch.

 

[ttaskmaster]

I get what you mean but I don't really agree. The phone option is a bit of a compromise that can't be denied but it's not a massive one & you could quite easily use it everyday without issue so now knowing that I just can't bring myself to pay £300 when the other option at least half the price.

When I bought my Rider v2, you didn't even *have* SatNav on phones, really!!
Given how we're now on v5, you might want to see if the older versions are even cheaper... I bet you can get the full package for under £80.

Plus I'm sure many people bought these sat navs without a second thought for the cheaper options as £300 quid isn't almost a weeks wages to them and it's a nice bit of kit.

Not me - It was closer to 2 months wages at the time.

 

[TallPaul_S]

I went for the dedicated option with a Tom Tom Rider 5. The anti-glare screen and vibration and waterproofing were important to me, as was the ability to track and record my ride. I'm planning for a European trip in April at the moment, and am using Motogoloco web planner which looks really good.

This is where the purpose built satnavs come in, if I was doing a long euro trip I think I'd buy one - no data to worry about, ability to load your own routes etc.

Out of interest, how good is the "winding roads" option? Is it actually any good or does it just send you down tiny little roads with barely any tarmac?

 

[Stovepipes]

I think the main problem I see when using a car sat nav or phone is the waterproof cases and how good it is keeping out the rain.

£300 is a lot to me but I guess you are paying for that all weather sat nav and if I had the money I would get one myself

Yeah I may possibly eat my words if I lose my phone to heavy rain and a failing case but everyone else seems to be getting on with them and for me in car a phone or tablet is an embarrassment of riches compared a dedicated sat nav so I ditched them completely years ago but I'll soon see how it fares on a bike.

When I bought my Rider v2, you didn't even *have* SatNav on phones, really!!
Given how we're now on v5, you might want to see if the older versions are even cheaper... I bet you can get the full package for under £80.



Not me - It was closer to 2 months wages at the time.

The only convenience I absolutely want is the ability to use it with gloves on but there is this & touchscreen motorbike gloves anyway I'll see how I fare with the phone before making any decisions. Plus I like the ability to choose a different sat nav for different times. Sometimes I use waze or google maps for traffic, other times especially when I have no signal I stick with Igo Primo.

2 moths wages on a sat nav

I'm just about prepared to spend that on my bike.

This is where the purpose built satnavs come in, if I was doing a long euro trip I think I'd buy one - no data to worry about, ability to load your own routes etc.

Yeah I can see that although I'll say data shouldn't be a concern and surely the sat nav app you chose will dictate whether or not you can load routes.

 

[The_Abyss]

This is where the purpose built satnavs come in, if I was doing a long euro trip I think I'd buy one - no data to worry about, ability to load your own routes etc.

Out of interest, how good is the "winding roads" option? Is it actually any good or does it just send you down tiny little roads with barely any tarmac?

I've only used the winding roads option once so far. If anything it goes the other way, and risks missing some roads that are close to trails but could be rideable. I'm really not that bothered about that particular feature anyway, as I'd rather plan ahead and know roughly what my route is. The sat nav will then get me there, and get me to my destination at the end of the day should I inevitably deviate from it.

Each to their own though. I like that it is water and vibration proof, it leaves my bike USB free to charge something else like one of the GoPros, and at the end of the day it is a relatively low cost compared to the bike and all the gear that goes with it and the other costs towards a European tour. I paid just over £250 for mine from the Bay, and on my trip in April I'll pay more than that in ferries, fuel, tolls and hotels. A few trips later and the cost will be so insignificant that it won't really matter, and it will still probably sell for £100 in a couple of years if I need to.

That said, it probably would have been just as simple to save £100 and get an old iPhone 4 and waterproof mount. What's best is whatever works for you. From the reviews I did before buying some of the new Garmins seem even better.

 

[ttaskmaster]

2 moths wages on a sat nav
I'm just about prepared to spend that on my bike.

If 2 months wages would buy me a whole bike, I'd consider myself a rich man!
It's not that much money really, unless you're not well paid.

 

[Pants]

Congrats. I failed my first mod 2 as well by forgetting to turn my indicator off.

I will probably fail on this too. So used to auto cancel in the car!

 

[GothicGhost]

I got into a habit of pressing the indicator switch few times after I used it to double check it's off.

Another guy doing his mod 2 said he just looks down to check but I think that is not a good idea lol

Fitted the sat nav today seems ok but will give it the water test later.

 

[phil675]

I failed my mod 2 today because I went into the lane next to me a little on a roundabout (two lanes to go right). Really annoying as I'll have to pay again and go through the hours of riding around the route all day.

 

[GothicGhost]

Sorry to hear that but the second time is a lot easier I found as you know bit more.
I paid £195 for days training + test so it was a lot of money to get again but that extra day helped me a lot.

@The_Abyss I do like that tomtom mostly for the simple clip it on and go.