The 8 Best GPS Units For Motorcycles
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in October of 2018. Hitting the road on two wheels is hazardous enough when you know exactly where you're going. When you don't, these GPS units for motorcycles will direct you to your destination, with options like Bluetooth connectivity to let you hear directions and stay in touch with the outside world hands-free. We've ranked them here by their map and display quality, ease of installation, and user-friendliness. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Garmin Zūmo XT
2. BMW Navigator Street
3. Garmin Zumo 595LM
Editor's Notes
September 24, 2020:
A couple of new models have been added to our ranking, including the Trail Tech Voyager Pro 922-125, which uses radio signals to communicate with other units of the same make, allowing you to see your fellow riders on the screen. That can help you make sure you're riding at a safe distance, and it can help you locate your compatriots in a cloud of dust.
We also added the Garmin Zūmo XT, which is my kind of device for a reason I'm not too ashamed to admit. I've been riding now for almost four years, and while I can and do maintain my bike in the most basic ways, I rarely find an excuse to use my bike lift. Anything involving the electrical system or an aspect of the mechanical system that could cause a dangerous failure on the road, I leave to the professionals. And this Garmin unit can run on batteries, meaning you don't have to hardwire its mount to run power to it. At max brightness, that battery lasts about 3.5 hours, but can reach six hours on lower settings than that.
October 31, 2018:
Generally speaking, most customers don't seem too thrilled with any of the options out there, though motorcyclists can be pretty demanding considering the danger of their pastime. Garmin and Tom Tom are more or less the only companies still making these devices, though a lackluster Koolertron unit did make the list for its low price.
4. TomTom Rider 550
5. TomTom Rider 400 Portable
6. Garmin Zumo 396 LMT-S
7. Trail Tech Voyager Pro 922-125
8. Koolertron 4.3-Inch All-Terrain
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).