Beeline Moto

cliffa

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Has anybody used a Beeline Moto GPS device? I’m thinking of getting one, as it has the added advantage of a GPS speedo. The KMH numerals on my 961 are secondary, tiny and so difficult to read. ( expensive over here), so it could pay for itself quite quickly.

 
They are a good device. What you are really paying for is the App that goes on your phone and uses the phone GPS chip. The little screen is almost a bonus. The only things to be aware of - if using the GPS then you need to be in phone coverage to plan a route, once entered you dont need to be in phone coverage to follow a route. If you have a phone mount on your bike and ride with the map on screen it will suck the phone battery dry quickly, it is pretty kind on the phone battery if you only use the Beeline screen. The phone does need to be somewhere that the GPS chip can do its thing, and bluetooth to the Beeline work well, so not wrapped deep in a saddlebag.
 
Has anybody used a Beeline Moto GPS device? I’m thinking of getting one, as it has the added advantage of a GPS speedo. The KMH numerals on my 961 are secondary, tiny and so difficult to read. ( expensive over here), so it could pay for itself quite quickly.

I have the same problem of reading the numbers in Km / h as you, I have put three red adhesive notches on the external frame of the speedometer, at 50 Km / h, at 90 Km / h and at 130 Km / h, with this I regulate quite well
 
They are a good device. What you are really paying for is the App that goes on your phone and uses the phone GPS chip. The little screen is almost a bonus. The only things to be aware of - if using the GPS then you need to be in phone coverage to plan a route, once entered you dont need to be in phone coverage to follow a route. If you have a phone mount on your bike and ride with the map on screen it will suck the phone battery dry quickly, it is pretty kind on the phone battery if you only use the Beeline screen. The phone does need to be somewhere that the GPS chip can do its thing, and bluetooth to the Beeline work well, so not wrapped deep in a saddlebag.
Thanks Iain, all good info. Thanks.
 
On Commando , used extended ram mount with iPhone plugged in always , mostly used the “speedbox app” for speedo ,mostly know where I’m going , if not , I plan route , make highlite notes of exit #’s with direction to head after included and stick it in tank bag window , but mostly anywhere in Nova Scotia , I just ride and so far have found my way …. speedbox numbers fill phone face so just a glance and you know progress, a cost free app ….
 
I have a Beeline, I hadn't noticed a GPS speedo option, is this a new function?

Navigation is as good (or not) as any sat-nav, and the Beeline app does the same oddities as a Garmin or TomTom, i.e. taking odd detours along minor roads if it thinks it may save a few yards off your journey. Cannot beat a map and a bit of human thought...

The 'director' is OK, I have the handlebar mount and it sits well on the Commando's 'bars near the clamp on the top yoke. The cheapest Beeline is plastic bodied, only the more expensive ones are metal cased. Not sure if thats much of an issue. The display is visible enough most of the time, bright sunlight may make the screen harder to see.

Routes can be planned and then modified on the app, but it can be fiddly dragging and dropping a route line on a phone screen. The Beeline app works with a tablet, and routes that are prepared on a tablet will be saved in your Beeline account for use with your phone. An app that does that on a PC would be handy.

It isnt (yet?) possible to sent waypoints or planned routes to someone else's Beeline, it would be handy to be able to do that.

The only thing that may be problematic is not having a map display if you want to check where you are (or are not...) other than stopping to look at your phone.

I have found that an old Garmin clamped on the 'bars and powered by a USB charger battery works just as well (so long as it doesnt rain).
 
I have a Beeline, I hadn't noticed a GPS speedo option, is this a new function?

Navigation is as good (or not) as any sat-nav, and the Beeline app does the same oddities as a Garmin or TomTom, i.e. taking odd detours along minor roads if it thinks it may save a few yards off your journey. Cannot beat a map and a bit of human thought...

The 'director' is OK, I have the handlebar mount and it sits well on the Commando's 'bars near the clamp on the top yoke. The cheapest Beeline is plastic bodied, only the more expensive ones are metal cased. Not sure if thats much of an issue. The display is visible enough most of the time, bright sunlight may make the screen harder to see.

Routes can be planned and then modified on the app, but it can be fiddly dragging and dropping a route line on a phone screen. The Beeline app works with a tablet, and routes that are prepared on a tablet will be saved in your Beeline account for use with your phone. An app that does that on a PC would be handy.

It isnt (yet?) possible to sent waypoints or planned routes to someone else's Beeline, it would be handy to be able to do that.

The only thing that may be problematic is not having a map display if you want to check where you are (or are not...) other than stopping to look at your phone.

I have found that an old Garmin clamped on the 'bars and powered by a USB charger battery works just as well (so long as it doesnt rain).
As I could not see it mention in the blurb I contacted Beeline support and they informed me it does have a speedo option, but It would be great if you could confirm it before I buy one.

Apart from the speedo, I like the small size of the device ( I don't really like cluttered handlebars) and the fact it can be very easily transferred from bike to bike and even my e-bike really appeals.
 
As I could not see it mention in the blurb I contacted Beeline support and they informed me it does have a speedo option, but It would be great if you could confirm it before I buy one.

Apart from the speedo, I like the small size of the device ( I don't really like cluttered handlebars) and the fact it can be very easily transferred from bike to bike and even my e-bike really appeals.

I will have a closer look at the thing over the weekend. I bought it approx 1 year ago, so it may have been updated since then.

The Beeline app is a free download, so you could try it out before buying the gadget. I have v3.1.5083 on an Android phone and dont see a GPS speedo option in the app settings.
 
Definitely a speedo option on mine.
Once it is paired to the phone and a route is active the side scroll buttons give access to multiple screen options - navigation, digital speedo, distance travelled/distance to destination, time/trip duration, battery % (phone and beeline), settings.
Mine is an early one, plastic body, and has been quite robust to date.
 
Having had a big day out recently using the Beeline, a couple of things spring to mind.

One is that you have to trust its directions are correct as there is no map to give you an overview of where it is taking you. So checking the route it plans for you is important.

There is a small blob adjacent to the director arrow to tell you that a turn is coming up, but the director arrow doesnt 'swing' until youre almost right on the turning. This would be OK on a bicycle, but it bit iffy on a motorcycle.

The speedo display isnt up to much, the indicated speed (on my unit anyway) was ~10mph down on the bike's speedo. So not to be trusted... but in practical terms that might depend on how good your phone's GPS reception is.

And,,,, it is important that the thing is placed where you get a straight view at it. If your eyeline isnt 'square' on, the display may not be very clear.
 
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