Connected Bluetooth tech on motorcycles: Do you actually use it?

I have learnt to contend with it over time but I really want to know if people actually use Bluetooth pairing?

BHPian ramubwoyy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As a person who watches an insane amount of bike reviews, I have come to observe how reviewers complain and crib if a bike does not offer Bluetooth connectivity. Personally, I own a Vstrom 250, which comes with a Bluetooth app, which I have never used except for the first two rides with my bike. It offers some basic turn-by-turn navigation functionality. But beyond that, I honestly wish Suzuki provided some other useful feature. Every time I turn on the bike I am subjected to a big blank space on the left which looks quite ugly. I keep wishing that they maybe gave a more filled display.

I have learnt to contend with it over time but I really want to know if people actually use Bluetooth pairing? Ever since I have started riding seriously I have invested in cheap 6.5K android phone that is almost exclusively to be used on the bike for navigation and making calls. I keep my primary phone in pant pocket and rarely take it out. This little phone has a huge battery and rarely troubles me on rides. I can see the navigation very nicely and rarely have to charge it (thank you 5000mah battery). And even when I do Suzuki has been gracious enough to provide a stock USB charger. Even on the newer Himalayan 450 reviewers rave about how one can "cast" their gmaps to it. From my perspective, I would rather not waste time on casting and waiting for gmaps to show up (don't forget technical glitches). Instead, just plop down a secondary rough-use phone and you are good to go! Please share your insights forum members.

Here's what BHPian a_chelat had to say on the matter:

If a manufacturer is offering the feature off the shelf, it is definitely easier on the wallet. Otherwise, we end up buying the bike, a new phone and possibly a new mount as well. Love the Himalayan's navigation feature as it is pretty much a second phone without having to carry one around and is much better than turn-by-turn navigation. I wish all bike makers would do this.

I am sure everyone would have their own use(s) for Bluetooth pairing. It has been very useful on my Adv390. It offers a basic turn-by-turn navigation which is good enough to get to your destination. It is nicely integrated to appear in place of the trip details on the TFT, so no blank spaces when I am not using it. I guess Suzuki's execution could have been better and you may have found it less annoying

Here's what BHPian shyamg28 had to say on the matter:

The last 5 years, I've never used a phone mount in my car. Simply because it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If we can get the same thing on a relatively budget motorcycle, I'm not going to complain.

The TFT stays well in place and the mounting has typically been tested with the motorcycle for many thousand kilometers. What matters to me most now is the position/location of the phone so that I don't have to move my eyes too far away from the road ahead.

On the Himalayan, it's actually positioned really well, and has ample real estate to display maps. It's still a "glitchy" system is what I'm hearing as feedback as well, but hey, the more manufacturers that attempt this, the faster it becomes a smooth system like CarPlay and AndroidAuto.

Coming to an external phone mount, one needs to consider the appropriate location for it, vibrations that can destroy the phone's OIS, an extra "cheap" phone, charging that extra phone as well, among other things.

Instead if we have it on the TFT provided by the manufacturer, things become far simpler. As long as the solution "just works"  And the interface should be standardized so as to remove the need for another vendor specific app, which can still be a minor irritant.

All said, same as you, I also mount a cheaper/older phone when touring, keeping my primary phone in my pocket. Not an ideal solution according to me, but once you get used to it, all is well.

Here's what BHPian Rajeevraj had to say on the matter:

I think it is essential to have. I find the turn by turn navigation in my KTM Adv 390 very useful. More useful is the ability to know who is calling and take appropriate action. This is a huge benefit for me as I keep getting calls even during office commutes. Since I have a basic helmet Bluetooth installed, I can see who is calling and then decide to stop and take the call. Obviously you cannot do this with a secondary phone.

On the flip side, the implementation can become much much better. The KTM works because someone got fedup with the default app and developed his own 3rd party app. The example from the OP on blank space is also an example of poor implementation. RE Himalayan cast feature is very good but it means the phone screen should be on all the time.

So such challenges needs to be worked out. But definitely proper connectivity options on a Motorcycle is a must have in my view.

Here's what BHPian amods had to say on the matter:

I would love a inbuilt Bluetooth functionality in my motorcycle/scooter. Few immense benefits I see in this that I face right now are:

1. I don't want to stop and check every time my phone rings to check who is calling. If I can see this information at the display of bike, I can choose to continue or stop and respond.

2. Whenever I am navigating inside the city(more than highways), there are numerous quick turns which I need to see on display of a bike. Currently, I have to remember turns, stop and check every now and then if I missed one. This problem is solved by phone mounts, but I don't use it due to phone overheating, dust and fear of snatching. Also, I don't want to have a separate cheaper phone just for bike navigation.

Here's what BHPian Karthik1100 had to say on the matter:

People across the world have been riding for many decades without Bluetooth on their vehicles. It doesn't stop you from riding. And you cannot keep looking at your Bluetooth display while riding. If you have a smartphone and Bluetooth device on your helmet, it will be helpful for navigation. If you have a phone mount on your vehicle, it's an added advantage. Such Bluetooth connectivity on vehicles is helpful for delivery boys because every day they go to a minimum of 15–20 unknown locations. I wish to see this feature in autorickshaws and cabs where they struggle to keep their phones.

Here's what BHPian ramubwoyy had to say on the matter:

Agree with you there, Suzuki could have implemented it better. But then again, are you really telling me your bluetooth connectivity to your bike is niggle free? Let me share a few points for why having a cheap secondary phone is much better:

1. Almost niggle free: Bluetooth connectivity as far as it has come is not perfect. Be it with earphones or connecting to your bike I have noticed that connections sometimes glitch out or just don't work. Since tech will always have bugs, you are bound to run into issues at some point.

2. Quick getaways: I personally cannot and do not want to deal with connecting my phone before every morning ride. Once I put on whatever luggage I have and wear my jacket, pants and boot I just want to get on the bike and ride. In such a case, it is so so nice to just pop in my secondary phone and go, not having to bother to connect with anything or worry about it's charge level. For me, I almost always have a ridding buddy who accompanies me for most rides. As a result, I cannot keep him waiting while my Bluetooth module keeps giving me trouble. I pop in the destination, keep it on the mount and go.

3. Battery drain: Enabling Bluetooth whether on your primary or secondary phone will drain the battery like anything. Thankfully a lot of bikes offer USB charging and even for the one's that don't you can always put in a charger. Not a huge problem, but it is a pain in the posterior to route the wire and make sure it's not flapping around in the wind. I am also paranoid about somebody stealing my wire so I have to take it off every time I make a stop. Also, using costlier flagship phones means you will wear out the battery much faster.

While people may have their use for Bluetooth features on most bikes I seriously think that they will ditch them if they just invest in a secondary phone. And since it's a phone, you can always find some other use for it other than navigation (I also use it on my cycling rides and while running).

One more thing that I wanted to add was that even with Google Maps working properly on an Android phone I have been severely mislead by the app into dead ends and offbeat paths that lead nowhere. I do not think turn-by-turn would be overly accurate, especially in pocket roads or offroad trails. Do share your thoughts.

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