Beeline Moto II motorcycle sat-nav review - Sportsbikeshop

The new Beeline Moto II lets you use your phone as a sat-nav and keep it in your pocket. It’s minimalist, it stops you getting lost and might help you avoid a speeding ticket. We’ve spent 500 miles on the road with one and here’s our review.

[JasonShinks]

I have the first iteration of this and love the Fun Ride part, you find roads you never knew existed!

[vilmos_csehi]

Another brilliant review, thanks.
Tony, I have "another" Tony on the top of my "best reviewers" list but I have to say you got right up there for quite some time now ;)
Thanks for the great videos and the no bias/no bs real life advices.
SBS forever

[Speedmaster-du]

Looks interesting, if a little pricey. I have original Beeline, this looks like a good step up as Occasionally I found I missed turns on old version. Seeing the shape of the road helps. The app is excellent and looks to be the same. My fav function is compass, which I suppose oddly I set destination as home and then just ride to explore never worrying about getting lost as the arrow always point home. Setting routes on app is exceptionally easy by just long pressing a location and it adds to the route. Easy to attach and easy to pocket when you stop for a cuppa, but that ease also has a negative in that its easy to forget and leave on the bike which I do regularly and being easy on and off could result in a quick theft, so be careful. I've had my reminder for the 2nd release to purchase, but I think I will stick with old version for a while.

[scottvessey]

The last thing I would want in view when riding is my phone.

I have a Moto and have ordered a Moto II.

[hardknoxgames]

I found Beeline after making a comment about how cool it would be if the new Truest North Compass had a motorcycle version, and he suggested the beeline.

The function that the Truest North Compass had that made me excited for a bike version was that it simply showed distance and direction. And while those aren't enough for a lot of folks, I can very much envision being able to ride by dead reckoning where you find your own way somewhere. That would allow you to joy ride, or wander wherever you liked by what looked like a fun direction while still knowing in a rough sense which direction you need to head...or to wander all day seeing what you can see...then navigate back by a different route using dead reckoning by direction and distance. The ability to switch back to a true navigation would be a nice feature for when frustration set in of course.

I think the ability to wander while not getting yourself completely lost is something that a lot of folks would enjoy the opportunity to do.

[Geshmaal]

I got a Velo 2 when they came out and was really impressed, just that little bit of extra info on junction layout etc is a huge help vs the previous approach of just an arrow.

[RichDunn]

The Beeline has never auto-redirected riders for imported GPX files (it will for routes planned in the app). It's something I, and I assume many others, reported to them years ago; but they've still not fixed. It would be particularly useful. However, the mileage will tell you how far you've deviated from the route (and therefore how much closer you are to rejoining it), and you can always stop and look at the map on the phone app to see precisely where you are and the easiest way to get back on route. Once back on route, the Beeline will act normally - you just gave up too soon! As for accuracy, it's better than Connected, Sygic, and even Garmin. I've tested them all at the same time over many complex routes.

[ianparish]

But if it won’t navigate you back onto a GPX route if, for instance, you had to divert off the route for a road closure then that seems quite a big flaw?
Also it still seems incredibly expensive for what is, an admittedly nice and compact, repeater of the info on your phone.
Also for longer journeys, you’re still going to need a power source for your phone, unless the beeline drastically reduces battery drain? Something no one seems to cover in their review.

[maximiliangloith]

Thanks for the review! Could you use it also for Offrad Riding for example the TET offroad trails in Europe? The old beeline just supported onroad maps.

Cheers

[Bob-tstu]

a fair summary, thanks. i like to plan my routes using calimoto web on my PC and import the gpx, as i find planning routes on the phone (iphone 13 mini) too fiddly and awkward, but beeline are developing their own route planner for the PC atm but it's not quite ready yet and development of it seems to have stagnated over the last 6 months. i don't do too much city centre riding, and my original beeline while not perfect, especially with close togeter turns, works well enough for what i need it for. I personally don't see a need for the bells and whistles of the moto II as the problem of gpx import files 'back on track' still isnt in there, but not to dwell too much on the negatives, overall i'm a reasonably happy 4/5 with my original moto, as it has a good battery life, and minimal intrusion on the bike, but i'll keep up with development, & maybe in future when my device fails i'll get the newer one. GL

[rtrudel]

Are you able to plan ‘random rides’ in the Beeline app? Just pick a direction and distance then it will plan a route?

[Pikestnt]

I’ve never really use a SatNav to take me along pre-determined roads. Mostly, I want to get to a location via one of a couple of routes. If I specifically wanted to take the A149, I’d navigate to there and re-map. I know some devices allow this but I’ve never seen it as a requirement or consequently an omission
I do agree that the extra info on the Moto 2 makes it easier to use. I’ve run into problems with Moto 1 when junctions are close to each other.
Certainly not going to pay for a nagging voice to distract me but I’m sure some will love that feature

[motomark]

It is a great concept, it’s compact, basic, and easily stored away, but with the recent intervention of CarPlay devices, which give all the same advantages of having your phone tucked away in your pocket, it looks expensive in comparison! I would certainly consider it if it was a lot cheaper though!

[Smoky-jflp]

Also seems bit shady you pay £200 for the device only to have features locked behind pay wall?

[comfysofa]

In all fairness this has its own additional costs...mounts, cases, charging mounts so a litle bit unfair to say that phones have that extra cost....30 quid for a piece of plastic is pretty steep..

[chunkiliff]

Seems a good system, my only concern is I have used my phone too navigate using my ear buds to tell me directions, it drained my battery 🤔🤔

[martinbridgwater]

Had the original one which worked well thanks for review waiting for new version to arrive main down point seems to be battery life version 1 was amazing.

[tuftistump]

Downside for the beeline moto 2 for me is that you only seem to be able to use it as a speedo when you have set a route. I was hoping to use the speedo feature with out having to set a route for when I just wanted a gps speed reading on a route I know.

[MsDenver]

After watching your video, and the moto 2 problems it’s going to cost me over £200 well I might as well put that towards a proper satnav 😊

[botiduran]

I really like that. Only have a question: is easy to see the graphics on the tiny screen when riding?