What's the advantage/usefullness of connecting helmet with Cardo to bike?

[Msprygada]

We take delivery of our C400GT tomorrow and I am currently reading the manual and I am at the part of connecting my iPhone to the bike and they discuss connecting the helmet communicators to the bike. We have Cardo PackTalk Bold's and they work perfectly as it and can do most any feature hands free like take calls, get directions from my Scenic app, take and make text messages. What is the advantage of connecting the helmets. I am researching the BMW app and trying to figure it out and hopefully it is as useful as my Scenic app which I find very useful for uploading routes that I have set up prior to a ride.

How useful do you find the BMW navigation?

Thanks for any insights.

 

[wspollack]

We take delivery of our C400GT tomorrow and I am currently reading the manual and I am at the part of connecting my iPhone to the bike and they discuss connecting the helmet communicators to the bike. We have Cardo PackTalk Bold's and they work perfectly as it and can do most any feature hands free like take calls, get directions from my Scenic app, take and make text messages. What is the advantage of connecting the helmets. I am researching the BMW app and trying to figure it out and hopefully it is as useful as my Scenic app which I find very useful for uploading routes that I have set up prior to a ride.

How useful do you find the BMW navigation?

Thanks for any insights.

1) Big disclaimer:

I don't have helmet speakers, or the extra-cost nav option on my '22 C 400 GT, or much knowledge in this area.

2) I have used BMW's Connected app on my phone a couple of times for navigation, and it's okay, in a pinch. It doesn't provide maps, but it will give you turn-by-turn directions, and tell you how far the next turn is. And you get to keep the phone in your jacket pocket. Mostly, I don't really care where I am, so not much help from me.

Did you order the full-blown nav option, or are you referring to the free turn-by-turn capability?

3) Very complicated subject:

I often frequent the BMWLT.com forum. No, no scooter threads over there, but there are lot of threads about TFTs and helmet speakers and Bluetooth and suchlike, typically regarding late-model RTs. Sometimes I stumble across such threads, and just skimming them gives me a headache.

If you go over there and do a search on, say, Cardo TFT, you can get enough info to spend a day on. The thread https://www.bmwlt.com/threads/tft-and-general-stuff-on-the-latest-tft-app-update.191057/ is one of many that touches on that, and is two years and almost 2,000 posts long.

I'm not saying that a new RT works the same way as our scoots, but I believe there are a lot of similarities with the software. For instance, you may get some control of your Pack Talks using the Wonder Wheel gizmo that you wouldn't get if you didn't go the full-integration route.

 

[mzflorida]

1) Big disclaimer:

I don't have helmet speakers, or the extra-cost nav option on my '22 C 400 GT, or much knowledge in this area.

2) I have used BMW's Connected app on my phone a couple of times for navigation, and it's okay, in a pinch. It doesn't provide maps, but it will give you turn-by-turn directions, and tell you how far the next turn is. And you get to keep the phone in your jacket pocket. Mostly, I don't really care where I am, so not much help from me.

Did you order the full-blown nav option, or are you referring to the free turn-by-turn capability?

3) Very complicated subject:

I often frequent the BMWLT.com forum. No, no scooter threads over there, but there are lot of threads about TFTs and helmet speakers and Bluetooth and suchlike, typically regarding late-model RTs. Sometimes I stumble across such threads, and just skimming them gives me a headache.

If you go over there and do a search on, say, Cardo TFT, you can get enough info to spend a day on. The thread https://www.bmwlt.com/threads/tft-and-general-stuff-on-the-latest-tft-app-update.191057/ is one of many that touches on that, and is two years and almost 2,000 posts long.

I'm not saying that a new RT works the same way as our scoots, but I believe there are a lot of similarities with the software. For instance, you may get some control of your Pack Talks using the Wonder Wheel gizmo that you wouldn't get if you didn't go the full-integration route.

Hey Bill. What is the full navigation system you were referring to? Thanks. Mike

 

[wspollack]

Hey Bill. What is the full navigation system you were referring to? Thanks. Mike

I may be talking out of my butt here, because I just went over to https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/urban_mobility/c400gt.html and pretended to build a new C 400 GT, and didn't see anything like what I was talking about.

However, when I ordered my bike (May, 2022), I could've sworn there was a fancy nav option, which I declined.

I declined an option like that on a new car almost six years ago -- we use a phone app, for thousands less, a few times each year -- and I just thought that maybe I was having a senior moment, conflating the two events, or something. So I just did some searching, and if you download this C 400 X accessory catalogue (PDF) that's a few years old -- https://www.bmwmotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/EMAIL_C_400_X_Accessory_Overview_v2.pdf -- you get to see this page:



Maybe that's what I was talking about. That catalog is from a BMW dealer, not from corporate, but perhaps Max in Troy offered me the same thing. Maybe it's a dealer add-on. In any case, I don't think I'm completely over the bend here, i.e., I believe I was thinking about the add-on navigator, that I was offered to order that product, something like that.

And maybe no one even offers it anymore, for the scooter.

 

[Msprygada]

Went for a break in ride last night after work and try out the BMW navigation app, that leaves a lot to be desired. It wouldn’t tell you of upcoming turns and it even missed some turns. I drive mostly back roads and I am sure the road information for those roads versus interstates is not as accurate. I agree Bill, in a pinch it might work and probably works for major highways but I think I am going to just stick with my Scenic iPhone app as that does a fantastic job. I have a Garmin Tread for our quad that I might see if I can get that mounted to my liking. BMW should have just done Apple Play or Android Auto and leave the job of navigation to the professionals.

 

[wspollack]

Went for a break in ride last night after work and try out the BMW navigation app, that leaves a lot to be desired. It wouldn’t tell you of upcoming turns and it even missed some turns. I drive mostly back roads and I am sure the road information for those roads versus interstates is not as accurate. I agree Bill, in a pinch it might work and probably works for major highways but I think I am going to just stick with my Scenic iPhone app as that does a fantastic job. I have a Garmin Tread for our quad that I might see if I can get that mounted to my liking. BMW should have just done Apple Play or Android Auto and leave the job of navigation to the professionals.

1) Great minds think alike?

2) I'd go with the Garmin.

3) If you decide to mount an iPhone, be aware of Apple's warning from about two years ago, re potential vibration damage.

I did a post about this a month or so ago: https://www.bmw-scooters.com/index....ower-your-phone-on-the-c400gt.2692/post-23306

To update that post:

- RideApart's article reporting on Apple's warning: https://www.rideapart.com/news/532790/apple-iphone-motorcycle-vibration-warning/

- Apple's warning (which they have apparently updated since its original publication: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212803

- The five companies that I now know of that offer, or include, vibration-dampening for their motorcycle phone mounts:

Hondo Garage: https://hondogarage.com/collections...orcycle/products/buzz-kill-vibration-isolator
Quad Lock: https://www.quadlockcase.com/blogs/news/introducing-the-vibration-dampener
Peak Design: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/motorcycle-bar-mount
SP Connect: https://sp-connect.com/products/anti-vibration-module
Rokform: https://www.rokform.com/products/motorcycle-mount-dampener

Even though I hardly ever mount my phone on a bike, when that warning came out I bought the anti-vibration add-on from Hondo Garage (because I already owned their beefy RAM-based phone mount).

 

[Msprygada]

I am aware of apples warning about putting iPhones on motorcycles. I don’t mount my iPhone on the scooter, I keep it in my pocket and use the directions from the app into my cardo headset. I used to use a Quadlock and then I bought the anti-vibration mount because on the Vespa it used to shake quite a bit. But it still shakes around even with that anti-vibration mount and after I read Apples warning about putting the phones on bikes, I started just putting it in my pocket. I really never paid attention to the visual maps anyway, I just look around enjoying the ride and wait for the app to tell me that a turn is coming up.

But you are right, the Garmin would be the best device the only problem is that I use it in portrait position so I can “see” further down the road and I am not sure how that will work as I would not be able to use it above the dash and it might be in the way if mounted to the mirror. I thought I saw someone with a mount of some kind in the center of the handlebars. That would be a great place to put it but I cannot seem to find it again.

 

[mzflorida]

I may be talking out of my butt here, because I just went over to https://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/en/models/urban_mobility/c400gt.html and pretended to build a new C 400 GT, and didn't see anything like what I was talking about.

However, when I ordered my bike (May, 2022), I could've sworn there was a fancy nav option, which I declined.

I declined an option like that on a new car almost six years ago -- we use a phone app, for thousands less, a few times each year -- and I just thought that maybe I was having a senior moment, conflating the two events, or something. So I just did some searching, and if you download this C 400 X accessory catalogue (PDF) that's a few years old -- https://www.bmwmotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/EMAIL_C_400_X_Accessory_Overview_v2.pdf -- you get to see this page:

View attachment 3779

Maybe that's what I was talking about. That catalog is from a BMW dealer, not from corporate, but perhaps Max in Troy offered me the same thing. Maybe it's a dealer add-on. In any case, I don't think I'm completely over the bend here, i.e., I believe I was thinking about the add-on navigator, that I was offered to order that product, something like that.

And maybe no one even offers it anymore, for the scooter.

Thanks Bill. Appreciate it. Not that anyone is this thread is considering the BMW nav in this post, but I think I would go with a Garmin unless I was able to get one used at an auction site or salvage yard.

 

[mzflorida]

I am aware of apples warning about putting iPhones on motorcycles. I don’t mount my iPhone on the scooter, I keep it in my pocket and use the directions from the app into my cardo headset. I used to use a Quadlock and then I bought the anti-vibration mount because on the Vespa it used to shake quite a bit. But it still shakes around even with that anti-vibration mount and after I read Apples warning about putting the phones on bikes, I started just putting it in my pocket. I really never paid attention to the visual maps anyway, I just look around enjoying the ride and wait for the app to tell me that a turn is coming up.

But you are right, the Garmin would be the best device the only problem is that I use it in portrait position so I can “see” further down the road and I am not sure how that will work as I would not be able to use it above the dash and it might be in the way if mounted to the mirror. I thought I saw someone with a mount of some kind in the center of the handlebars. That would be a great place to put it but I cannot seem to find it again.

Saw this after my post and agree with you; Apple, Android, or Garmin.

What I did to solve for the phone vibration issues is use an old phone as my dedicated GPS (the vibration issue only affects the gyroscope for the camera on smartphones). When I rode I set up my wifi hotspot on my current phone that I use every day and connect the old phone to that. This step is not necessary, but it helps if you are going to reroute or want to receive traffic alerts. You can pick up a phone that will still get updates for the next couple of years for 50 or 100 bucks. I am super happy with the Rokform anti-vibration mount though and will put my 13 ProMax on it.

 

[byee]

I own an Apple iPhone 12 Pro which I have mounted on my C400GT but purchased an inexpensive 5-1/2” Motorola Android phone for $125

Works great and not worried about it getting stolen or vibrations destroying the camera.

Phone is setup to connect to my hotspot. Buying a tablet SIM is an option too.

Disadvantages - can see incoming iMessages and accepting or initiating phone calls.

The TFT is pretty well useless unless you gave helmet coms - required for both the GPS and music functionality.

I bought into the SENA technology - 10S and 50S. I found the 10S problematic Bluetooth’d to the bike and friends.

Upgraded to the 50S. C400GT Bluetooth to helmet and exclusively use MESH to communicate with my ride group.

 

[Msprygada]

What was interesting was I disconnected both my Cardo helmet comm and my phone from the bike as I thought I was not going to bother using it.. Then I decided to give it another try so I connect just my phone (no helmet) again and use the bmw app for navigation. I started the ride and it was giving directions to my Cardo when it was no longer connected to the bike. I assumed that it was going from the bike to the phone and then the phone to my cardo as the cardo always connects to my phone.

So I kept It kept giving me turn by turn directions for about 20 minutes until I stopped for gas but when I resumed my trip, the navigation resumed on the dash but the voice commands no longer worked but the on dash directions worked for the remaining 50 miles of the trip. Weird. You just had to keep looking occasionally at the dash to make sure you didn’t miss a turn. I will have to try connecting the Cardo to the bike again and try a short trip And have both my phone and helmet connected and see how that works.

 

[rongrimes]

I had comm systems in two of my previous helmets, but found I never used them. So, with my latest Shoei, I just decided to not put one in. Don't miss it at all.