I was at the NEC bike show yesterday and the Ducati offering included a separate satnav as one of the options for the V4S. I queried this with one of the Staff and asked was this Ducati finally acknowledging that Ducati Connect/Sygic is pants and he smiled and replied "You may say that but I obviously can't." The point is, if they are offering a separate satnav, they must have acknowledged that their integrated system just does not work. Let's just hope there is a fix in the works.
I think it has been on the parts list for a while, I ordered mine with a V4 Rally in July this year. Would not be without a dedicated Navi! Peter
Why oh why won’t they just bite the bullet and use Apple CarPlay. It’s not as if these bikes are cheap.
Whilst I agree that Carplay/Android Auto works well, in the automotive world it tends to use a different display, usually the infotainment head unit. The Honda Africa Twin (only bike I know of that uses it), as I understand, has a small separate screen to show speed whist Carplay/Android Auto is displayed, full screen, on the main one. Constant indication of speed is probably a requirement for type approval. There is a switch on the bars to switch the main display between modes so to can cycle to the regular dash. I think any implementation will require hardware changes such as a supplementary screen, to make it legal for road use. The alternative is to add your own screen for Carplay/Android Auto, quite a few are now available such as the Carpuride. I have one of these, early days but I'm pleased with it so far.
It’s a Garmin ZUMO XT, not even the latest model and hugely overpriced. They’ve offered rebadged Garmin for many years. Apparently the Sygic app is supposed to be free of charge to Ducati users. Not sure how that works, I paid for my app. Sygic has some good points, plenty of issues but ok as a backup.
I use a Carpuride w702 on my V4S now and it is really good for calls / music etc and for navigation I use an android Pixel 8 with TomTom Go navigation on the phone, works really well. So far no battery issues with the phone, which was my only concern, I do still carry a power bank for the phone JIC.
When spending over £30k on a bike, this should be standard, Ducati can worry about how they can do it. If a much cheaper Honda can have it, they’ve obviously worked out how to do it, so why can’t Ducati?
On a future model/update incorporating a secondary screen for speed would make it workable. Carplay/Android Auto takes the full screen.
Just do what everyone else does- use Maps app… Unless you car or bike is brand spanking new and running the latest twatnav rev, vehicle installed satnav is shite…
It would be easy enough to incorporate current speed in the main display, it’s big enough. Just needs coding in properly.
That's my point, it would take the cooperation of Google and Apple to appease a small minority. Not going to happen. Hence Honda's solution on the Africa Twin.
Some of us just use road signage. Plus benefit from a misspent youth riding lambrettas to all 4 corners of the UK on A roads to avoid plod. Never needed sat nav. Wifey thinks ive radar in my nose. Its certainly big enough.
I always think it's a bit sad to read the threads discussing best Sat screens, and radar controlled cruise etc. That's why new ducatis are, in my opinion, tending toward the car experience.
I think some of you are missing the point. We paid a fee, as part of the bike price, for a connected app including satnav, and most of us are not using it in any form. I personally have uninstalled the app and just link my phone to the bike so that I can see my phone battery and signal status on the bike display, rather than squint at the phone screen. It also alerts when a phone call comes in but as I have a Cardo system, that's not so useful. It would be nice to have a connected app whereby you could pre-setup the bike, know the mileage and status of other things like tyre pressures, etc. We all have our own preference for satnav and therefore you're unlikely to be happy about whatever system they choose. I personally don't like Google Maps for touring or ride-outs as you can't set and keep to a route without Maps wanting you to interface with it all the time. I much prefer Calimoto as it's far less 'needy'.
If you think Google Maps is needy, steer well clear of Garmin’s Tread app, it is in my experience, vampiric, it drains the life out if your phone battery. Andy
Me and the Mrs were walking the dogs last time I was home. A bloke and his Mrs pulled up and asked me for directions to the Yorkshire Wildlife Centre. Afterwards I thought ‘fuck me, it’s a while since that happened!’
Ha, maybe. But they were getting on a bit (about my age ) and she was holding an iPhone ffs… with Maps open!! Probably having a ding dong over directions. Not that I’d know about that of course…
