Bicycle navigation comparison 2018


  • Outdoor athletes have long since discovered the hiking routes and cycle paths of this world. Modern recreational athletes now also resort more often technical aids such as bicycle Navis.
  • These devices allow orientation using the GPS system. Cyclists have the opportunity to focus on the beauty of the track instead of constantly looking for the right path.
  • The devices also offer various options for cyclists, e.g. Route planning, POIs (points of interest - interesting places) and other helpful functions.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: navigation

The outdoor sport is gaining more and more popularity. People are increasingly spending their time outdoors, where the wind blows over the nose, the scent of the flowers and grasses gives you the feeling of being one with nature. However, for many friends of outdoor activity, a simple climb is not the ideal of a successful mountain bike tour.

With the help of the technical possibilities many bikers plan routes, which they can then leave. Thus, for example, check the route and the height profile before drivingso that it can not come to unwanted surprises and the tour must be stopped in the middle because of exhaustion. In addition, you can rely on the experience of other biking friends who share their best tours with the community. In our bicycle navigation comparison you will learnWhat about the devices and what to look for when looking for the best bike navigation system.

A bicycle navigation system should not be differentiated from the basic functionality of navigation devices for other usage contexts. Also a bicycle navigation system uses the geospatial data of the GPS satellites to determine its location.

Next to the American GPS system Several systems with similar functionality are under construction. The European system becomes Galileo called, one Russian means GLONASS, there is that for the Asian region Chinese Beidouwhile India is building a regional system.

Navigation via GPS is one Calculation of the location of the receiving device from the positions of at least four satellites of the GPS system. For this, the GPS device must have a Radio connection to the satellites produce, These permanently send their position and a time of the signal. The receiver, whether it's a smartphone, a car navigation system or even a bike navigation system, uses this data, to calculate your own position, For this purpose, the assumed vector system is converted into geographical coordinates using the reference system WGS1984. These coordinates can then be displayed on a map using the appropriate data.

Regular updating of the satellite signals also makes it possible for the Position change of the receiver to determine, Originally intended for military purposes, the GPS system has been used by civilian users since 2000. This year, an artificial inaccuracy, which until then existed to exclude potential military opponents, was shut down. This allowed an accuracy of 10 meters for all users.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: 2018

With a bicycle navigation system, the procedure is a thing of the past due to a lack of card reader competence.

With the ability to position worldwide, the Navi became a popular companion for many contexts. While motorists use the system to compensate for their lack of direction, security companies can monitor their bank transports, animal lovers can follow their cat's paths, Pokémon fans can enjoy augmented reality, cyclists use the possibility of determining their position to plan routes.

The special thing about navigation devices for cyclists is the format. While the navigation systems for motorists usually have a large display (5 inches or more) in widescreen format, the Outdoor Navis usually smaller displays (between 2 and 3.5 inches are common), which are executed in portrait format. As a result, smaller sections of the current map material can be displayed, however, the format is better suited to be moored to a bicycle handlebar.

In order to be a helpful instrument for a successful bike tour even on a sunny day, the display of a bicycle navigation system must also reach a high brightness level. In contrast to car navigation systems, the devices can be exposed to direct sunlight for longer, To ensure readability, the display should not reflect and be very bright. In addition, the sensitivity must not be too low, so that the operation is also possible without stripping the bicycle gloves.

Also, a certain weather resistance is one of the properties of bicycle navigation systems, As cycling fans are not only in good weather on the road or the weather sometimes provides surprises. If a sudden rain shower surprises the cyclists, it is an advantage if the sat nav is not immediately ready for scraping.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: 2018

If you also want to protect your bicycle navigation system from the weather, you can also use a splash-proof case.

In addition to the hardware-specific features, the devices also differ in the maps of the navigation devices for motorists. While drivers of motorized, four-wheeled sheet metal boxes prefer to use fixed paths, ie mostly roads, the users of muscle-operated two-wheelers are usually more flexible. For the navigation device, however, the difficulty arises that more routes can be calculated. Also dirt roads, forest roads and even large floodplains can be used by cyclists; this is too great a variety for many standard route guidance programs. Therefore, the navigation programs in the bicycle navigation test have an option that can also calculate more direct routes.

NoteAlthough many navigation programs have a bicycle option, they usually can not calculate paths through meadows or the like. If you want to do such a tour, you should plan ahead and load corresponding maps on your device.

To enable a comfortable route planning on the home PC, exist different solutions for the interface between navigation device and computer. The easiest way is the Connection via USBbut they are too Bluetooth, SD card and the ANT + interface, which was co-developed by Garmin, in many Navis on board.

In addition to the possibility of route planning, the GPS function also provides the recording of a route. In retrospect, you can retrace your tour and save it if necessary.

Advantages and disadvantages of a bicycle navigation system:

  • satellite-based orientation
  • no breaks necessary for orientation anymore
  • Tracking feature
  • route planning
  • Directory of interesting places
  • low battery life
  • must be attached to the handlebar

2. Buying advice - you should pay attention

2.1. externals

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: 2018

Compact and safe: The holder of the Navis on the handlebars should withstand strong shocks.

Of course, the best bike navigation system should adapt to your needs. In order to tickle the optimal fun out of the device, not only must the functionality be guaranteed, but also the exterior must be pleasing. Therefore, you should pay attention to the following factors:

  • design
  • colour
  • display size
  • Display resolution
  • menu navigation
  • holder

If you can make friends with the design and also find the operation good, this initially increases your appreciation of the device. In addition, you will have more fun with a good-to-use sat nav if you want to make fine adjustments on the go.

The Size of the display and its resolution are crucial for easier operation and readability, especially while driving.

2.2. maps

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: navigation

Points of interest such as train stations, restaurants or sights facilitate orientation.

Probably the most important point for the functionality of a bicycle navigation system is that suitable maps, It is not only the material in the delivery condition, but also the crucial Possibility to download updates and additional information, Since you never know what life is like, you should be able to reload even more exotic countries. Most of the devices sold in Europe have also pre-loaded European maps. Some manufacturers offer updates and extensions, but not all, When buying, make sure that the material can be extended. How to ensure the future suitability of your device.

Furthermore, it is important that your bike navigation test winner is also suitable for this purpose. There should therefore be an option for cyclists, which still best considers the different types of cyclists. Some maintain data of the ADFC in their maps on, Others allow easy transfer of data from community pages.

In the following table we list some well-known manufacturers:

ManufacturerBiker optionCommunity involvement
Falk
Garmin
Teasi
Blaupunkt

2.3. Additional functions

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: navigation

It depends on the right functions.

In order to use the map material in the best possible way in connection with the satellite-based locating function, In addition to the route guidance, additional features should be on board.

With the help of POI function interesting places along the way can be identified. POI stands for Point of interest and can with "Interesting place" to be translated. The term has largely prevailed when it comes to navigation devices. POIs can be used to group together the most diverse places, e.g. Sights, restaurants, workshops, accommodations So, if you plan to make some discoveries away from your planned route, the POI feature is very helpful.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: bicycle

The display of the navigation system should be easy to read in all lighting conditions and should not reflect in direct sunlight.

For discoverers is also the Tracking feature useful. This can be understood as a kind of reverse navigation: Instead of the user following a given route, the device records the driven route. Thus, spontaneous and athletes can retrieve the parameters of past trips: How many altitude meters have I overcome? How long was the route? Where did I go for a long time?

Some devices have besides the possibility of the geodata to pursue other options that could be particularly interesting for athletic cyclists. This is how some can be Devices with the Smartphone or a pulse sensorthat can provide information about the training success.

2.4. interfaces

To connect the Navi with other devices, such as the smartphone, most devices have different interfaces. The most common are:

  • ANT +
  • Bluetooth
  • SD card
  • USB

While the other three can be used directly for file transfer and communication with external devices, the SD card with navigation devices one special role on.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: navigation

The data of the navigation system can also be transferred to your smartphone or PC via Bluetooth.

It is normally called Source for map data but can not be used by the navigation device for other tasks. So it is not possible, e.g. Store music files on it (especially since most Navis can not play music anyway). Instead, the SD memory card on the computer to be populated with mapswhich can then be used by the navigation system.

To create routes, the navigation systems usually use the internal memory, It can be fed from other devices using either ANT + and / or Bluetooth wireless technology or data via USB cable connection. So the previously created routes can be transferred from the computer to the Navi or vice versa.

ANT + is a wireless standard developed by Garmin, which primarily transmits data from the fitness area (pulse rates, etc.). ANT + is designed as an interface in devices from more than 25 manufacturers.

2.5. Storage

Since the SD card is reserved for the map material, care should be taken that the internal memory of the navigation system is of sufficient size. Please note, that not the complete internal memory is usable for you, because on it also the firmware (so to speak the operating system) of the Navis is stored. If you want to store many routes on your sat nav, the internal memory should be 4GB or larger.

2.6. Battery life

A decisive factor is the strength of the accumulator. The best bike navigation system will not do you much good if the juice stays away after four hours and you can not finish your 100-kilometer Alpine tour as planned. Therefore, the longer the battery life, the better, It should be at least 10 hours for a day tour. However, there are also devices on the market that can have over 20 hours of battery life.

2.7. equipment

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: comparison

The Garmin taillight, which warns of approaching vehicles and adjusts the brightness of the light accordingly.

In addition to the function of navigation, the scope of delivery is also of interest to users. Many manufacturers supply their models with one Holder for the bicycle handlebar, These can be designed as a holder that resembles that of a car navigation system. However, even simpler solutions are available, so some models are attached with rubber rings or cable ties. Some manufacturers have not included the bracket, in these cases it is sold separately,

A Garmin bike navigation system has, in addition to the usual equipment, an interesting, separate feature on offer: It is a device that Radar scans the area in front of and behind the user and warns of approaching cars or trucks. At the same time it is designed as a rear lamp, which increases the brightness of vehicles approaching from behind, in order to reduce the risk of collision.

Bicycle navigation comparison 2018: comparison

A sensitive display, which can also be operated with gloves, facilitates the handling of the Navis.

A bracket for the handlebar of your bike should definitely belong to your choice, Finally, the device should be on tour with your companion. Surely you do not want to do it with one hand, because you have to hold the sat-nav in your hand all the time.

For multi, long or multi-tour riders can also the Investment in a replacement battery worthwhile. So you are protected if the tour is delayed (for example, by a weather break) or you have on a multi-day tour no way to recharge the battery in between.

Many Navis have programs for the PC that make it easy to create routes. The files created with it are already in perfect file format for the associated Navi.

tip: Community portals like OpenCycleMap also get routes from other bikers in all popular file formats.

Some devices with tracking function also exist Smartphone Apps, with which health data etc. can be synchronized.

3.3. What does Stiftung Warentest advise about?

The last test of the foundation in the field of two-wheeled locomotion is already a while back: In 2009, the Garmin Bike Navi Oregon 400t was named Bike NAVI test winner. However, this model is no longer commercially available because it does not support many of today's common features, such as smartphone pairing.

Yes it does! Thanks to its handy design, a bicycle navigation system can also be used for the modern GPS-based treasure hunt.

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