Who's happy the Garmin Nav is going away?

Quite an improvement!!! I’d rather have this than Dave sitting on the handlebars giving me directions.

Looks like something that will go wrong right when you need it! 👍🏻

Never had a problem with the Navigator V or VI. Certainly not slow. Both worked just fine. However, integrating it into the dash makes sense. On the RT, unless you buy an aftermarket lock, the navigator can be removed all too easily by a casual thief. What's stone-age here is not the Garmin unit per se, but the lack of integration into the vehicle.

Would really like to see a mid-year upgrade on the 2021 GS/GSA to include the new TFT.

Adding tech is not the problem, the problem is that they are giving us the tech in drops so you have a reason to upgrade to the next one and that drives me nuts. The fact that I need to beg BMW dealers to upgrade the software on my TFT to get rid of issues with connectivity drives me nuts, I sort of understand from a dealer point of view that they don't make any money by doing so and they have a bay/computer gone for hours to do this upgrade. But still, how difficult would it be to use the phone that you already have connected to pull the updates? I'll be happy with Navi going away and yes, it would make much more sense to replace the craddle to house a phone. Also, let's not reinvent the wheel here... BMW, just give us Apple Car Play / Android Auto and be done with it!"!!

I ride F900R and the tech including navigation is golden. I'm in my sixties and remember the good old days of carburetors, choke, petcocks, drum brakes, kick-start, smoke, stink and two banger racket. Fortunately we've come a long way.

I don't need a GPS to tell me where I'm going, but sometimes it's nice to have one to tell me how to get home.

I like the “caveman style” display

I like it, my GS replacement is set for 2022 and it will be state of the art for eh... 1 year or so. LOL Like the dash, now the Missenden Flyer will have to upgrade from his 2013 model

A giant leap ahead! Dang, now I am going to have to buy a new GS:-)

My dream came finally true🥰hopefully the 900 xr will get the same treatment over time.

I love the TFT on the current bikes, and it is a stark comparison when sitting next to the Nav VI (the TFT screen is just so much better). I have three trepidations with using the phone-based nav, though. A. Pairing. While the app is amazing, pairing sucks. Some days I just have to sit there for 30 seconds and wait (since it stops trying to pair once the bike is running). Today, if I'm in a hurry, it's fine to skip pairing (I just miss recording the trip and the speed limit signs). But it would suck to also lose the ability to have a map up. B. Battery. If I need to have my phone paired for GPS, it means I need to keep my phone powered. Right now it's usually in a pocket or bag since I don't like having it mounted. I actually wouldn't mind having a cubby or holder that's out of the way like some bigger bikes (and my Vespa...) to keep the phone charged and out of the way. Bonus if it also served as an additional wired connection method (though I'd love to have wireless charging). C. Maps. Right now I have all the maps I'd ever need loaded into my Nav VI. Of course I need to update them every year or so, but I'm never worried about not having a map if I'm outside of cell phone range (which, if I'm riding, is half the point). I would imagine you can preload them, but it's going to be (using preloaded maps in other apps has always had issues for me).

I like the dash on the RT/ K bikes. I like being able to upgrade my sat Nav if I want to. I don’t like the idea of app controlled navigation. I think there is just too much tech going on to these bikes. Yes some tech but there has to be a limit before it gets too much.

Next year I was gonna purchase a K1600B but I was hoping that BMW would put a TFT on the bike. My prayers have been answered. Thank God! Bike sold.

It would be funny if BMW listened to your vlog and said "screw you Dave !" and put the first screens on the 310.

I really like the modern look that my tft and nav 6 brings to my 2019 GSAdv. BMW knows how to empty your wallet to cover that nav cradle. Add your phone to the mix and you now have 3 screens that you shouldn’t be messing around with while riding. I find myself only using the fuel gauge, speedometer and gear indicator anyway. You should be able to talk to your systems to get the features that you want and not be so distracted that you miss the rest of what the ride should be about. My older Subaru is more interactive and efficient whet it comes to connecting to multiple phones. The bike is awesome and I’m loving riding it. Hopeful the things will get better with the electronics. It would be nice if your phone was your dash and your bike was interactive through it. One device for everything.

Very cool indeed, but I think I'd stay with my paper maps, i just like them :-)

As exciting as new tech always is to me, I moan over the thought of a second wave coming of “tacked on tablets” as it seems we’re finally coming over that phase within the car industry. If motorcycle designers can integrate these new, larger displays into the design rather than what they’re currently doing on the F900R and R1250R then bring it on! I have the F900r and love the display and also love the look of the bike, but, just not together.

Be interesting to see what BMW comes up with. I think my Garmin is great for planning multi day trips where I want to hit specific roads and plan my route in detail with Basecamp. Using my phone is great for getting to a location

I would prefer a place to put my phone for GPS instead. TFT display is nice but integrated GPS in motorcycle (or car) is useless. It is too cumbersome and difficult to type in an address every time, while I can just click in my phone. I have GPS in my car, but I use my phone to navigate instead.

This is a good idea! I've got the Nav V and although it's integration is awesome, Garmin navigation is by far the worst of them all. BMW should distance them selves from it ASAP! No more Garmin Base Camp and Garmin Express pain will be most welcome!

New integrated dash looks awesome.

So much hate for the Nav VI, would you rather print out a yahoo maps page and put it on your tank bag? Plugging your phone in? What are you...a savage? That said, this new interface will be fantastic, nice upgrade. Personally I like the NAV VI but use it more for situational awareness than dedicated route planning, so no big deal. Solid info.

I had a 5 hour test ride on a 2020 S1000XR the other day. I found the tft screen confusing in terms of how to get to various functions. HOWEVER, I’m sure if I owned it (which I’m hoping to do early next year) I’d be able to figure it out. The visibility of the screen was first rate. There was very bright sunshine and at no point was the screen illegible. Ditching the Navigator VI and adding navigation is excellent and the obvious way to go forward.

We need an update here :) So if the New VI is discontinued, what will we be getting as a navigation with our 2021 GS´s since we didn't get the large TFT ?

Meh, I like my old Nav 5. It works fine and with free map updates I can get directions for almost everywhere. I don't mind the separate screen at all.

Man I hope so. I also hope for the sake of super slab riding they improve the horn too. Put the RT horn in this bike and it will be perfect.

You nailed it! This is prep for the K1600 refresh. Nice sleuthing work.

Hopefully the wheel will be more functional then it is with the navigator. Zoom in Zoom out.

Main drawbacks: 1. you need a charged phone; 2. the "navi" is not placed in a high-position, close at your line of sight.

Garmin navigator for cars,bikes and the like have no future.Garmin must be crying.They can continue taking care of the aircraft industry although that is seemingly grinding to a halt with the Covid issue.Love the new tech being introduced to bikes.All part of the fun.Cheers JHB-SA

If your 3 miles outside of East Bumble and there’s no cell signal I assume the app and navigation won’t work?

I hope the new system with the BMW app works better than the current one. Mine disconnects from the TFT at very inconvenient times and has not recorded a complete ride in some time now.

depends on the bike touring and sports touring yes but street and supersports possibly ok with smaller tft with basic connectivity ability to put nav on it is a great idea and after all you dont have to connect your phone if you want a simpler ride

I thought he said that the new TFT on the RT will NOT be a touch screen, and you have to use the phone app to control the NAV. That is not easy, to operate the phone while it is tucked away in the wireless charging compartment while driving. I often use the touch screen to just hit the go home button or enter an address or destination with a glove friendly Garmin GPS touch screen. I have the Apple Car play on my Goldwing without touch screen, and it is a pain to use. I would not mind wireless bluetooth Apple Car play / Google maps if I can touch the built-in TFT screen WITH my gloves on. I am almost ready to upgrade my RT!

At what point, will we reach “too much” tech? I think we’re getting pretty close. 👍🏼

About time bikes are picking up more car tech. Look how long before ABS and TC. That was mandated by Euro 4 and 5 for safety. Until recently the only 2 American companies only offered ABS as an option

I love the screen but you will always need a cell service connection but is some places I ride (upstate/rural areas) there is no cell service AND you will also need an unlimited data plan (which I and many other don't have). I wish they would have just embedded Garmin or Tom-tom Navi software, the way its done with the Honda Goldwing!

The current app already has voice directions and if you make sure you can see your phone while riding it will show a pretty good map as well, it also has tracking (with gpx export) and gpx route import which works great.

Have a R1200RT with the Garmin. I don’t use it much. Just on longer rides or needing to go through towns, etc. Find it too much of a faff despite that it does work very well with the bike. Tried a GS last year with the TFT and was quite impressed. TFT on the RT would be ideal for me with me phone connected as a GPS.

"Batman voice" LMAO 🤣 I'm REALLY excited that they're dumping Garmin... and "phone" connectivity. Hopefully it WON'T be Apple only...

Basically marrying the auto technology from the BMW i3 to the motorcycle tft. Connected drive has been around in auto world for years now.

Mate this video of yours has won me over, SUBSCRIBED!!!

Older non-Tft GS instantaneously looks dated (some ppl want to update) and the tft dash is now an extra on new bikes where the clocks where previously standard equipment. So it’s a double whammy basically. As to practicality , only long term use will show since bikes are generally exposed to weather and electronics don’t like moisture and overheat.

Always funny, Entertaining but informative too. Keep it up! :) Decent Nav display is a must in todays world, especially on a touring bike.

I say "bring back girder forks!" Does that answer the question on technology? The march of the machines is upon us!😳😳😳😂😂😂😂

Gotta admit my 2014 Harley Street Glide came stock with everything BMW is finally adding! I want to get a RT, but they have to fix the TFT!

Got a Tiger 900, almost there with the dash, but still use my google maps anyway. The stash area for the phone under the pillion seat is just silly. I mount mine with a Quadlock to the bars, job done.

Out in the middle of nowhere i don't see how this will work without cell service, especially since its not touch screen so you cant pan around to find a way out.

its been almost 2 years, where's the new TFT?

I may be an old fart, but all this hype on technology makes me appreciate and enjoy my RnineT even more!

Will you think bmw will offer this new display in 2022 GS 1250 model?

Nailed it Dave, now back in your box!

Can't see why they can't add a camera that snaps traffic signs, when even the cheapest car has that.

So what do you think of the new revamped K1600 B Grand America, with new tft screen

I love the new tech on motorcycles, I think it adds to the riding experience! BMW is the leader in this area for sure, everyone else is playing catch up!

At the price of a Navigator VI I would want to be able to input the destination and have the bike drive there on it's own.

I miss my Lemans big white rev clock, the only information I need.

Hope they stick with your technical name for it, you know the tablet looking thingy

Man you are hilarious :D love the accent. Always a pleasure to watch your videos. I would generally prefer Apple car play as Honda did on the Africa Twin. I use the phone as a navigator (Waze) on road and a Garmin Montana for off-road.

The information is a must in any vehicle, specially on motorcycles, I extremely like the idea to improve TFT size, specially for the Navigation system, do you have any idea if this larger display will come in S 1000 XR?

What a nice thing to look at. It's always nice to have a GPS guidance in front of you, but for what price? Apple car play or Android Auto are enough and right there. why should I pay for BMW SW development if there most capable companies doing that? The priority for me would be to allow SW updates via Wi-Fi...

Hello from Greece

Dude, are you losing weight? It seems so - good for you. I've pigged out so much since the start of the pandemic that the question amongst my friends is not whether I can pick up my GS Adventure if I drop it, but whether they can pick me up if I lay down.

All very clever..... reinventing the Phone Link... but not sure their electronic engineering is as good as Apple or Google. Honda has CarPlay on the Africa Twin...How long before we get this on the GS 2 years time?

About time they upgraded the dash of the RT and K bikes ... for the money they’re asking !

As long as it can be switched off, if required, motorcycle manufacturers can keep adding as much tech as they like. It can be very useful.

I think new tech is great on bikes like this. They cost a lot of cash so deserves good tech. If you want old style rough and ready motorcycling then there is plenty other options out there.

Tech = huge profits (for manufacturers), just more shiny crap for riders at too-high prices...!

If this comes to GS 1250 in 2022 I will go with the BMW.

Yes we are

Is it coming to 2019 AND 2020 models with a firmware update ? And do we finally get volume up down now for music ?

NO NO NO! This is NOT the solution. I don't know about Germany, but here in the Southeast USA there are LARGE areas without cell service rendering phone app navigation worthless! The Garmin Navigator VI is not good. Not terrible, but far from good. Also, this screen is too small for what they are trying to do. Dedicating only a third of that space to navigation is a much smaller area than a NavVI and I need to be able to see that at-a-glance while dealing with traffic.

Absolutely love the TFT display on my KTM 1290 SA! Wouldn't want to go back and it looks like BMW has came out with a better looking layout than KTM. As far as electronics go how else can you run a 160HP 500+pound off road?

It will be on the 2021 R1250RT... it’s already listed on dealer order info!

Nice, but I will stick with my Garmin 396 and a map on my tank bag. Plus it would kind of be clashing aesthetics on my Ural 🤔

Maybe get those leaking brake calipers fixed first :)

I guess this GPS will be dependent on a mapdatabase from Garmin or any simular database. I dont think BMW will create ther own. Will there be four mapupdates every year as on the original Garmin units? Will it be possible to create routes and waypoints on a computerprogram like BaseCamp and then use them on the BMW GPS?

Finnaly a solution that I was waitting for. Great job BMW. That just might be the reason I will upgrade to GS 1250 from my Vstrom 1000 XT since the 1050 is a boring upgrade.

if the navigator is a 600quid option, will navigation in the tft be a 6 or 700 quid option? or just an additional 800quid? I'd love to replace my k1600 with a new one or an RT, just can't afford one.

Very satisfied with My T7 Would love to ride A BM again But don't want any fancy electronics Which is why I don't have an 850GSA

No, that’s the stuff that we are used to seeing in cars as well.

But it will be also for S1000RR?

Would that not be too big for the GS's and XR's? the current dash already pretty much fills the space behind the screen.

Haha oh man your channel cracks me up

Carplay, Dave, carplay! As slow as Garmin units are, they still provide great navigation, GPX track support, map packs and other good things which most manufacturers’ proprietary mapping “tools” and apps do not. So just add Carplay and be done with it! I don’t want another routing app!

Awesome display 👍

As always, a great video, my friend, I think moving to the integrated TFT/Nav function and getting rid of the Garmin Nav device makes so much sense. Only issue for me is that I have a 2019 GSA with a Nav 6. Wonder how much it will cost to upgrade? Any thoughts? Cheers.

Heck ya, get me in on the bmw easy debt payment system.

SO, the app is running of your cell phone data plan???? Do they realize what number that would do to my Canadian cell phone bill when I travel in the US? $80.00 for 30 days with a max of 1GB of data, after that it adds $6.00 PER MEGABYTE. The $80 get charged additionally to your regular $65 data plan.Awesome idea....

Leave it to BMW. Haven’t bought a new bike in years drifted from the boxer (four previous versions) I had, to KTM. Working on them was easy Peezy. Loved the new boxer engine for 2020 so I bought an R 1250R. Working on them is a nightmare. Changing the handlebars is an all day affair. Oh, and the flatter handlebars (HP/sport version)for the R 1250R $350! Hello eBay. Thought I was getting the lean angle graphic, brakes, dial tachometer as shown in many videos. Nope! Didn’t spend that extra 1500 bucks not realizing the screens were different. No worries maybe just a download. Nope, wrong again. You have to buy a whole new screen! Even though my bike has all the IMU’s. WTF? First thing to come off of it was the navigation cradle. I use the BMW app in my phone.

Why didn’t BMW put a small cuddy where you could lock and charge your phone ??

And we are still waiting 2 years later. Did everyone working on the TFT get sacked?!

Is this something that will fit in bmw sat nav holder?

More tech, more electronics, more headaches when it breakdowns! What they should look is a way to reduce the weight of the bike, which turns away so many potential buyers!!

Love that new screen. Unfortunately, high tech will only become more and more prevalent in every thing we do, cars, M/C, houses, our jobs, etc., so no sense fighting it!

Wait did I get this right? It's a cell phone signal-enabled navigation system??? What is the point of this? I need a navigation system that is satellite-enabled... I ride my GSA beyond the nearest Starbucks and often take it to places with no cell phone signal, damn it...

Never bought a Nav unit. Much simpler and cheaper to use my phone and my Calimoto app to select curvy roads!

I like the marketing strategies of these big companies, design a bike then 12 months later come up with a new model with an extra gadget you can’t live without. Then 12 months later come out with a new model that is improved over the last model then 12 months later update that one, then 12 months later update that one, and so on and so on. And because humans like new shiny things they will spend money to buy a new bike every 2 years, wonder why there are so many low mileage bikes in the classifieds? The search for the best cod piece shall be never ending.