I don't do affiliate links as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's a direct link to the two controllers on the Carpe Iter website: shop.carpe-iter.eu/product/adventure-control/ shop.carpe-iter.eu/product/bmw-control-kit/ Cheers for watching, John
A tip for zooming if you don’t have a remote - on most map apps if you double tap the screen with one finger and leave your finger on the screen after the second tap, you can drag it up and down to zoom with 1 finger. Works with my RST leather gloves on and much easier than pinch to zoom.
This looks to be a fantastic product. Just placed an order. Only downside is shipping to the US is about 25% of the product cost! Still looks to be worth it for me. I was just out riding yesterday and I was getting frustrated a few times trying to touch the screen on my tablet. I usually wind up stopping to be safe but that gets old. Thanks for this review!
Yeah, it's tricky, but hopefully you'll find it worth it. When I bought the Adventure Control, a lot of that was shipping and tax, but ultimately it's just looking at the landed cost then seeing if it's worth it to you. What tablet are you using? Cheers, John
I'm using a Samsung Active Tab. I had been using my phone for the longest time but wanted to try something with a bigger screen. Even with the biggest phones I didn't like the screen real estate. The touchscreen isn't too bad, but more often than not it requires a solid finger push which isn't always easy on a bumpy road lol. I used to use Garmin back in the day but can't justify a single use item anymore. I use my tablet for everything when not on my phone. The main downside of the tablet is the screen brightness; none of the tablets can match a phone's nits. I plan on upgrading to a Tripltek 9 this Christmas. It has a max of 1300 nits, so plenty bright in sunlight, plus it runs on Android. I saw Carpe has their own tablet, but the spec on the Tripltek is much better. Finally, thanks for the insight on the other navigation apps, I never heard of Locus or OsmAnd. I've been using Waze primarily. Can't wait to try the others!@@bennettsbikesocial
@@stevef5490 Excellent, thanks! There are a few ruggedised tablets designed for bikes now - I'm using the Carpe Iter V4b and find it's very bright. Have fun trying some new apps! Cheers, John
You blokes in the US are spoiled when it comes to shipping. For us blokes in South Africa it is a given that we generally have to pony up from 30 to 50% of the product's price for shipping and taxes. Now you sort of feels how it is for us down here almost all the time.
Early days with the BMW ownership, but having used TomTom for years, I can read their instructions and mapping at a glance. The ability to zoom in and out was what I was after and this delivers. I also like to move the view about with a fingertip to see options & traffic and then easily re-centre with the wonderwheel. There’s a few comments about distraction and in all honesty, I can’t say that’s an issue with a UI I know so well. It’s a benefit in my mind to manipulate the view to what I want and back again so easily - and certainly a lot better that fetching up at a junction reading the signs whilst trying to remember the next destination or reading the post-it that (may still be) stuck to the tank!
This is great, thanks SO much! It's a good point about using your fingers for some of the actions if you don't want the buttons. Glad you're getting on with it well. Cheers, John
Love this. I’ve been using this for a year. Great piece of kit. I’ve also got the gsa specific new version. Brilliant. Works with the wonderwheel. Great company for support etc.
I use "pen for mobile" the one with soft tip. I attach it with an elastic band to my bike and is precise as my finger. Granted it cannot be used while driving (safely). But on back roads you can stop easily and sort thing out.
When I'm on the bike, my cheapo Android handset lives in a weatherproof case, so this could come in handy; otherwise I have to stop, pull off gloves (and undergloves in winter) and prod at the bloomin' thing with my stubby digits. This is the second positive review I've seen regarding this bit of kit.
As a daily commuter I've always struggled with accessing the phone without having to stop and remove gloves. I've got the F900XR so will give this a go. Thanks.
Well John I ended up buying the BMW kit. Extremely easy to fit, with cable routing taking longer than connecting it and setting it up with both my phone and tablet. Roll on my Bosnia trip in May 24
Blimey, something that only works with Android! That's a first. Looks like a useful device, trying to manipulate a map via the screen when riding is just impossible even with the best touch screen friendly gloves. Oh, and the rain thing!!!
Android is more open to allowing background apps interact with the app you're currently using on the screen. Is it potentially less secure? Yes. Is it potentially more useful? YES!
Thanks, that's good of you! We don't take any kick-backs, but it's always great for manufacturers to know where the traffic's coming from. Cheers!@@ADVBear
I've got the BMW controller, and it's fab and looking forward to the MRA integration, though. I've seen your comments Carpe Iter forum about additional functionality, so I'm looking forward to seeing where this gets to. Considering getting the BMW bar buttons too once MRA integration there 😀
I'm using the MRA app and love the fact that you can plan your routes through the website and they are just there in the navigation part. Few strange behaviours at times like taking you off a main road onto side tlroad only to retake you back onto the main road again a few hundred metres later. But they all do this on occasion. Main issue at present is the battery drain issue but that's down to the Here mapping that they use and I believe that they are hassling Here on a daily basis about this. Their forum is really helpful too.
This is amazing. I never knew it was a thing. BMW 1250RS and so many issues with the bmw sat nav that i removed it and now use my phone and google maps. Drawback is its a pain in the rain and using thick gloves on tiny buttons. Hope i can find a solution with Carpe for my bike! Thanks!
If my route doesn't include highways/freeways and if I'm going to an unfamiliar area I quite like using Komoot for planning and navigating routes. It's designed for cycling but the route planner on Android and PC is excellent and gives you a nice summary before and after your trips, eg. distance, road surface types, altitude, weather (premium), etc. The only downside is it'll steer you away from main roads in town which you'd need to ignore, so it's best used for regional trips.
Don't forget to check if the green lanes you find are accessible. I use the TRFs GRM. Green Road Map. It's regularly updated with TRO's etc. Or check the council's definitive maps. 👍
@@bennettsbikesocial By pushing the near side of the left handlebar whiz wheel. However, it did stop working once. I closed the app and restarted it, and then it worked again. Have you been able to get it to work? Locus looks impressive so far.
@@bennettsbikesocial Update. On the home screen map, the whiz wheel "enter" always centers the map but when DMD2 is on the navigation map screen the whiz wheel "enter" recenters the map until you use the pan buttons. Using the pan buttons puts the navigator into "Panning Mode Target" mode so a whiz wheel "enter" launches a sub menu. To stop this from happening, disable "Panning Mode Target" in the settings found under the gear icon in the upper right corner of the map. The setting is near the bottom.
My dream bike would have even fewer buttons and gauges than the early 80's bikes. When riding the very first rule I follow is "Total Focus". I mean, looking at anything else than the road and possible interceptors is just voluntary blindness, and fidgeting with anything than the basic bike speed and trajectory controls is just voluntary amputation...if I have to use any device I stop and if I need to deal with a touch screen I remove my gloves...
You're evidently not commuting on a bike. Commuting on a bike is a mix of cycling through music or podcasts to pass the time and the odd phone call from the missus with child updates or checking on your person. There is a use case when your bike is a tool and not a weekend pleasure.
@@listerthat you are perfectly right. I have been commuting on a bike in the early 80's. No electronics to interfere with the pilot's attention ... And still I had an accident because I was not focusing enough. From then I decided to NEVER ride again for any purpose other than the fun of riding. If it gets boring or it's just a travelling tool, it is deadly dangerous.
Parrot used to have an amazing control like this for their helmet headset. Its the one thing I never understood why folk like Cardo or Sena never took it up as an idea. Love my dedicated garmin satnav still tbh. More reliable than a phone needing phone signal to render a map you've not had the forethought to download previously.
Looks great.! This would be a fantastic and useful tool for uber eats/ deliveroo delivery riders to accept jobs on their app without having to take your hads off thevthe controls. It would be interesting to see if it does integrate well with the rider delivery apps.
Hi John, Thanks for the review, can this be used at the same time as there is a Bluetooth connection from a sena to the same phone the controller is connected to ? Thanks, Mark
@@listerthat As long as the GS had the navigation preparation installed when it was first sold, I'd get the BMW Control without a doubt. Full set with buttons, so you can easily move around apps. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial the adventure one. I don't have a BMW and even if I did I would be tempted to buy the universal one to be able to transfer it in the future.
Looks like a great gadget. Sometimes it looked as if you were speeding up the video whilst using the controller. Did you, and if so, what is due to lag in the response of the app?
That Carpe-Iter controller is exactly what I need for my Street Bob! That will clean everything up and I will have one less group of wires leaving the fairing! Will it fit 1" bars?
Good info , I contacted them to see if they ship to Canada and if the app is available here, I do ride a Can-am ryker ace2021 a bit different but love my 3 wheel Alain & Yellow
What's important for me as a commuter, does the BMW Hub, which is connected to your phone via Bluetooth also allow your Bluetooth helmet to also connect to your phone at the same time. That would be two Bluetooth connections at the same time. Google pixel 7 pro. I really want to make calls, listen to music and have BMW Hub control at the same time. Also does the BMW hub, with the 4 button remote allow me to make & answer calls without touching the phone. My bike is a BMW F900XR.
My problem with using the phone for navigation is on rainy days, the rain messes the screen up, it's like having a toddler pressing random buttons! Other than that, I use a mix of setting everything while stopped and just using voice commands while driving.
Thanks for showing us what looks like a great product. Personally I'm still not happy about mounting my expensive camera phone on my handlebar. Still managing to navigate around using Garmins old 660, still reliability working.
Still thinking about this. How do you use OS maps with locus maps? I don’t suppose you can route/navigate with them, but expect you can overlay your position, orientate the map according to the current direction, overlay a gpx, etc?
You have to download the OS maps at a small additional cost for each area (same areas as paper maps), but you can use the nagivation on them. It's transparent to you as a user in how it works, but but it must be using the Open Street Map data to know where the roads are and effectively treating the Ordnance Survey maps as overlays.
@@bennettsbikesocial ok, makes sense. Prob the Ordnance Survey maps are just a tile overlay and the routing is done on the underlying open street / lomaps. It’d be interesting to see with paths that exist on the former but not on the latter, if any.
I don't do affiliate links or anything as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's the website: carpe-iter.com/ Cheers, John
I'm reviewing it at the mo. The CI BMW Control wont work with it, though it does have its own remote, an option of which is to work with the BMW wheel using its own adaptor. Cheers, John
I've not used it, but if it has any app supporting it on the phone, make sure that's set to not have any battery management on it. Ensure it's 'unrestricted', not 'optimised'. The Carpe Iter sets all this kind of thing up automatically.
@@bennettsbikesocial Android will actively put background apps to sleep if it thinks they're not being used; the unrestricted status means they'll keep running (and using battery) no matter what. Need to jailbreak an iPhone to do this in iOS.
Locus map doesn't appear to have a nav mode for motorcycles though or am I missing something? I'm enjoying Kurviger as a route maker and nav or Osmand.
I haven't used Kurviger yet - will give it a try. I'm using Locus for map reading, rather than nav. For that Ive been using Calimoto or Google. Cheers, John
Answering my own question here - dmd2 works but it seems (at least) zoom out doesn't work. That's a real head scratcher for me because my old Carpe adventure controller did work with dmd
I have the controller with the Carpe Iter Pad. When in DMD2 and following a gpx file it keeps spanning the map and never comes back to my position, very annoying ! I had to disable the controller. Any clue ?
Not unless you hack Android Auto into a second Android device, then possibly it might. But for Android Auto units (like Chigee and CarpuRide), no, sorry
Both the Adventure and BMW Controllers shown in this video are made by Carpe Iter in Prague. Thork, in Portugal, sells Wünderlinq, which integrates with BMW but not to the same extent and is in some ways far less elegant. You can get more details in the written review here: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/carpe-iter-bmw-universal-controller-review
@@bennettsbikesocial I’ve looked into that system time and time again but it’s still confusing, who does what? What do I need? Why can’t I use their software on my iPhone? What about that dashboard software, is it required? Why can’t they just make one thing?
These are two different companies. DMD2 Beta is navigation sofware. Use it if you like it, or use OsmAnd or Locus or others. Thork is also starting to produce its own hardware@@simulacrae. There is nav software for iOS, but more for Android. These controllers aren't designed for any one app - they're fairly universal. Have you had a chance to watch the video all the way through? Hopefully it's all explained in there
"how many of these were you paind to promote?" Can you have a go at rewriting your comment in such a way that it makes some sense please? I'll guess you're trying to imply I was incentivised to produce this video, which as I've tried to make very clear, I'm not and never am.
@@bennettsbikesocial Fair enough. I never intended on being an apple fan boy but it suits my simple brain. Equally a second phone for sat nav isn’t a bad idea
Totally get that@@1991julez I still only use Apple computers as it's all I used from starting work on an SE30, so I just can't get my head around PCs. I had iPhones for years, tried an Android and hated it, went back to iPhone then tried Android again and now I won't go back. There's good and bad of both platforms of course! Cheers, John
It goes into the plug that would connect to the BMW navigation. Your bike must have been prepped for BMW nav when new, but doesn't need to have the bracket on it.
I don't do affiliate links as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's a direct link to the Carpe Iter the website: carpe-iter.com/ Cheers, John
I have been wanting to find a handlebar remote for my music as I want to keep my hand on the bar, especially since I'm an IAM observer and often use hand signals so I don't want to confuse my associates with them seeing my hand on my helmet. Would this be overkill just for that purpose or are there better options for a music controller? I have an Interphone so the Sena controller unfortunately isn't an option for now
Try googling "QXS-001". It is a cheap, waterproof bluetooth controller that does not need to be connected to power. Out of the box it controls music apps on Android but the buttons can be mapped to control other apps. Not as good as the Carpe Iter but for £15 it might be all you need to solve your problem.
I just like being able to switch between maps easily, but I still use OsmAnd too. That's what's great about using kit like this - you're not tied to one platform.
Hi after watching your video I ordered an adventure controller which cost around £200 delivered. On delivery UPS wanted another £45, so I sent it back thinking it was a scam. The company should be more upfront on the checkout that this cost is associated with the UK not being in Europe. Sure I am not the only Brit conserved. Are there any UK distributors?
No UK distributors at the moment, but the extra cost has been the case with everything ordered from Europe since Brexit, and it's why the price you paid on the site had tax excluded. You then paid tthe standard UK 20% VAT on import, plus likely a fee from UPS (which is annoying, but that's the couriers). It's not helped by some shops, particularly in the Far East, that send to the UK without proper declarations, so evade tax. Reputable companies don't do that.
Recently ordered it, and the customs fee came in this morning.... £45 ouch. If only it was £25 cheaper it could have avoided it. All adds to the cost of it.
It is frustrating, but that's why you don't pay VAT at checkout. Hopefully you'll still enjoy it. Did you get the Adventure Control or BMW Control? A Bike Thing here in the UK will be distributing them soon, which is great news!
They're working on compatibility for the Treads but haven't heard anything about the Zumos yet. If they can bring BMW's wonder wheel control to an XT2 I'll buy one.
@@Pyrrho_ Finger crossed that they consider a version for Garmin XT. 🤞👍 As far as I know, the very latest BMW Navigator is basically a XT2 but with BMW software, and does work with a BMW wonder wheel.
@@windinthewillows6248 Their latest navigator is a standalone unit running almost identical software as the BMW Connected Ride app, and it costs over a grand.. I have the Connected Ride cradle and app; the XT2 is a much better nav experience -- BMW's is too basic in comparison.
I remember the days when motorcycling consisted of turning the key and pushing the start button, putting it into gear and off ya go. Enough if this tech BS. Just go ride.
It’s mostly for offroad or adventure riding. Instead of spending hours planning your route with maps, you can do things on the go and ride more. This “BS”, as you call it, allows people to spend more time riding and discover new routes. That being said nobody forces you to use those. I think it’s great that some companies try to innovate, this is how things progress either we like it or not.
Call me a Luddite, but when I ride I know where I'm going, look at the maps before I go and keep my concentration on the road and hazards. Every time you break your riding concentration focus by fiddling with tech, pushing buttons, looking at maps as you move - is an opportunity for a fatal accident involving you. I have picked enough bodies off the tarmac to know that it can happen in the press of a button or glance at a sat-nav. Know where you're going before you head off, look at your route and know it. If you are unsure about your route and worried about getting lost - pull over safely, consult it properly at the side of the road in a safe place, instead of juggling another distraction. Bikers like me whinge about other drivers using their tech on the move, so don't increase the danger of getting yourself killed.
Good lord, don't use a GPS while you're driving a motorcycle, unless it's talking to you in your helmet turn by turn and you don't have to actually... look at it. Pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot if you need to make sure you're on course. That's what I did on my last trip. Not a big deal, and infinitely more safe.
Most people I see with all these items strapped on their motorcycle never go further than Starbucks 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ I put my phone in my pocket and Bluetooth to my helmet speakers. And I travel all over the NW USA on my bike and never plan the route. Just point twist and go. At around 5pm I start looking for a camp site or hotel/motel….
Great piece of technology, but I won't recommend using it in terms of security. In the end, you'll use your phone more often than you did, and I think this is not good for your security. Keep your phone in your pocket, train your brain to memorise the way and look at the road ;)
That's an excellent idea for remote control on the handlebar. But the price is an abuse. There are much cheaper Bluetooth ring joysticks in the market that can be easily adapted with some 3dprinting and cost a fraction of this product.
Do they offer universal control of apps? Do they offer the HUD that allows you to lock the screen off and provide other features? Do they offer support and backup?
This could be a dangerous distraction for me. I would rather stop. There are already more than enough things to take your mind off the road on modern bikes.
I highly appreciate your channel. But English isn't my native language and it seems like you have a train to catch. Also you are speaking about several new products and compairing them and at the same time you are showing other effects on the screen which make it difficult to understand what you are talking about and what you want to point out by the things you are showing. At least for me as a non native English person. Please keep up making videos but make them twice as long 😉
Who the hell uses a paper map nowadays?? its out of date on the day its printed. Stand alone satnavs are a utter waste of money and will never come close to using a smartphone and more importantly google maps
Google maps is great for getting you from one place to another as quickly as possible, but that's rarely the most enjoyable route. Have you tried Calimoto, or just decided your own route on the fly with Locus or OsmAnd? All can be tried / used for free. For some, it's the experience of exploring a route without having a computer guide you, so using apps like these gives you utterly up-to-date mapping, but leaving the choices to you. Of course, these controllers work with Google maps too, as shown in the video. Cheers, John
I'm very new to biking.... Literally my first weeks! And I agree with everything you say here! I won't buy a car without Android Auto, and did buy a phone mount as soon as I bought my bike, for Google Maps. But I just kept having this nagging thought that, should the worst happen, and myself and my bike become 'involuntarily separated', I would rather have my phone on my person and not on my bike. So I ended up buying a sat nav anyway. But this is the thoughts of someone who doesn't really have much of a clue right now. Soon the amount of miles on a motorbike, in my entire life, will have smashed through one whole hundred!! 😂😂
@@bennettsbikesocial I must admit its the live traffic feature that gets me (I just hate traffic). Also the ability to plan routes on your PC in google maps with stops etc and then send them to your phone in advanced makes google maps very very versatile. However when I go onto the continent I do try and use OsmAnd (I bought a full life subscription).
@@pcat1378 Have you had a chance to watch the video through to see how these work with OsmAnd? It's that app (and Locus) that make these so useful. And I agree about traffic - even if I can filter through, I prefer knowing where it is when I'm in a hurry. With these controllers you can quickly get a route overview when navigating in Google maps, so you can see where those alternatives take you.
@@bennettsbikesocial Sadly I have a BMW but have removed the SatNav mount thingy so couldn't install the BMW one (I will not refit it as its in the bin) but its a great idea as I have seen other types. But they are expensive considering its just a wireless mouse!
I don't do affiliate links as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's a direct link to the two controllers on the Carpe Iter website:
shop.carpe-iter.eu/product/adventure-control/
shop.carpe-iter.eu/product/bmw-control-kit/
Cheers for watching, John
looks brilliant but sounds like youre saying "carpet eater" which has very different meaning here in the states 😂
Cool kit. It actually helps rather than distracts. Love the u-turn at the end 🙃
A tip for zooming if you don’t have a remote - on most map apps if you double tap the screen with one finger and leave your finger on the screen after the second tap, you can drag it up and down to zoom with 1 finger. Works with my RST leather gloves on and much easier than pinch to zoom.
This looks to be a fantastic product. Just placed an order. Only downside is shipping to the US is about 25% of the product cost! Still looks to be worth it for me. I was just out riding yesterday and I was getting frustrated a few times trying to touch the screen on my tablet. I usually wind up stopping to be safe but that gets old. Thanks for this review!
Yeah, it's tricky, but hopefully you'll find it worth it. When I bought the Adventure Control, a lot of that was shipping and tax, but ultimately it's just looking at the landed cost then seeing if it's worth it to you. What tablet are you using? Cheers, John
I'm using a Samsung Active Tab. I had been using my phone for the longest time but wanted to try something with a bigger screen. Even with the biggest phones I didn't like the screen real estate. The touchscreen isn't too bad, but more often than not it requires a solid finger push which isn't always easy on a bumpy road lol. I used to use Garmin back in the day but can't justify a single use item anymore. I use my tablet for everything when not on my phone.
The main downside of the tablet is the screen brightness; none of the tablets can match a phone's nits. I plan on upgrading to a Tripltek 9 this Christmas. It has a max of 1300 nits, so plenty bright in sunlight, plus it runs on Android. I saw Carpe has their own tablet, but the spec on the Tripltek is much better.
Finally, thanks for the insight on the other navigation apps, I never heard of Locus or OsmAnd. I've been using Waze primarily. Can't wait to try the others!@@bennettsbikesocial
@@stevef5490 Excellent, thanks! There are a few ruggedised tablets designed for bikes now - I'm using the Carpe Iter V4b and find it's very bright. Have fun trying some new apps! Cheers, John
Also in the US. How did the order go for you? Is the device worth the high cost and shipping?
You blokes in the US are spoiled when it comes to shipping. For us blokes in South Africa it is a given that we generally have to pony up from 30 to 50% of the product's price for shipping and taxes. Now you sort of feels how it is for us down here almost all the time.
Early days with the BMW ownership, but having used TomTom for years, I can read their instructions and mapping at a glance. The ability to zoom in and out was what I was after and this delivers. I also like to move the view about with a fingertip to see options & traffic and then easily re-centre with the wonderwheel. There’s a few comments about distraction and in all honesty, I can’t say that’s an issue with a UI I know so well. It’s a benefit in my mind to manipulate the view to what I want and back again so easily - and certainly a lot better that fetching up at a junction reading the signs whilst trying to remember the next destination or reading the post-it that (may still be) stuck to the tank!
This is great, thanks SO much! It's a good point about using your fingers for some of the actions if you don't want the buttons. Glad you're getting on with it well. Cheers, John
Love this. I’ve been using this for a year. Great piece of kit. I’ve also got the gsa specific new version. Brilliant. Works with the wonderwheel. Great company for support etc.
That's great to hear, thanks! All the best, John
This looks a really good product John - top review!
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
I use "pen for mobile" the one with soft tip. I attach it with an elastic band to my bike and is precise as my finger. Granted it cannot be used while driving (safely). But on back roads you can stop easily and sort thing out.
That's a good idea - nice one! Cheers, John
Great share John, first I'd heard of these and now I've learned a great deal thanks to you.
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
When I'm on the bike, my cheapo Android handset lives in a weatherproof case, so this could come in handy; otherwise I have to stop, pull off gloves (and undergloves in winter) and prod at the bloomin' thing with my stubby digits. This is the second positive review I've seen regarding this bit of kit.
Maybe they can call the iOS version Carpet Muncher to differentiate it?
I thought he was saying carpet eater for the first few mins too. "Rug Muncher" automatically popped into my head out of nowhere 😅
It's written in the title?
It's latin for, roughly, choose your own route. Thing is, it's a Czech company, so the potential for a slang interpretation wouldn't have been obvious
😂
As a daily commuter I've always struggled with accessing the phone without having to stop and remove gloves.
I've got the F900XR so will give this a go. Thanks.
I use a trusty old 276c with hardware buttons.Enough to get you to a major road when you very lost! Interesting stuff coming out.
Top level content, as always. Thank you!
Hi again! Watched this again as I bumped into another remote, the ARN Rally Pro. Have you got any experience with it? Cheers.
Well John I ended up buying the BMW kit. Extremely easy to fit, with cable routing taking longer than connecting it and setting it up with both my phone and tablet.
Roll on my Bosnia trip in May 24
Fantastic... hope you enjoy it! Cheers, John
Blimey, something that only works with Android! That's a first.
Looks like a useful device, trying to manipulate a map via the screen when riding is just impossible even with the best touch screen friendly gloves. Oh, and the rain thing!!!
Android is more open to allowing background apps interact with the app you're currently using on the screen. Is it potentially less secure? Yes. Is it potentially more useful? YES!
Hey man. Thanks for the tip. Just bought the BMW full kit. Cheers!
Fantastic - hope you enjoy it. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial I'm sure I will. I took the liberty to mention to the company your review as the source.
Thanks, that's good of you! We don't take any kick-backs, but it's always great for manufacturers to know where the traffic's coming from. Cheers!@@ADVBear
Is this one of the many that reviews that has complained how busy the handle bar clusters are? Come on! LOL Good review.
I've got the BMW controller, and it's fab and looking forward to the MRA integration, though. I've seen your comments Carpe Iter forum about additional functionality, so I'm looking forward to seeing where this gets to. Considering getting the BMW bar buttons too once MRA integration there 😀
You're using the MRA Myroute nav app? How's it treating you?
I'm using the MRA app and love the fact that you can plan your routes through the website and they are just there in the navigation part. Few strange behaviours at times like taking you off a main road onto side tlroad only to retake you back onto the main road again a few hundred metres later. But they all do this on occasion. Main issue at present is the battery drain issue but that's down to the Here mapping that they use and I believe that they are hassling Here on a daily basis about this. Their forum is really helpful too.
This is amazing. I never knew it was a thing. BMW 1250RS and so many issues with the bmw sat nav that i removed it and now use my phone and google maps. Drawback is its a pain in the rain and using thick gloves on tiny buttons. Hope i can find a solution with Carpe for my bike! Thanks!
If my route doesn't include highways/freeways and if I'm going to an unfamiliar area I quite like using Komoot for planning and navigating routes. It's designed for cycling but the route planner on Android and PC is excellent and gives you a nice summary before and after your trips, eg. distance, road surface types, altitude, weather (premium), etc. The only downside is it'll steer you away from main roads in town which you'd need to ignore, so it's best used for regional trips.
Don't forget to check if the green lanes you find are accessible. I use the TRFs GRM. Green Road Map. It's regularly updated with TRO's etc. Or check the council's definitive maps. 👍
Absolutely! And of course check for any seasonal closures
Great review. I just mounted the Carpe Iter BMW controller to my R1250 GS. It will work with the DMD2 Beta version of the app.
Thanks! How are you recentring the map please? Cheers!
@@bennettsbikesocial By pushing the near side of the left handlebar whiz wheel. However, it did stop working once. I closed the app and restarted it, and then it worked again. Have you been able to get it to work?
Locus looks impressive so far.
@@bennettsbikesocial Update. On the home screen map, the whiz wheel "enter" always centers the map but when DMD2 is on the navigation map screen the whiz wheel "enter" recenters the map until you use the pan buttons. Using the pan buttons puts the navigator into "Panning Mode Target" mode so a whiz wheel "enter" launches a sub menu. To stop this from happening, disable "Panning Mode Target" in the settings found under the gear icon in the upper right corner of the map. The setting is near the bottom.
This is fantastic@@Brad-RB. Thank you SO much! I'll have a go with this today and update the written review. Thank you! Cheers, John
My dream bike would have even fewer buttons and gauges than the early 80's bikes. When riding the very first rule I follow is "Total Focus". I mean, looking at anything else than the road and possible interceptors is just voluntary blindness, and fidgeting with anything than the basic bike speed and trajectory controls is just voluntary amputation...if I have to use any device I stop and if I need to deal with a touch screen I remove my gloves...
You're evidently not commuting on a bike. Commuting on a bike is a mix of cycling through music or podcasts to pass the time and the odd phone call from the missus with child updates or checking on your person. There is a use case when your bike is a tool and not a weekend pleasure.
Totally agree. Fiddling with anything on a motorcycle on the fly is a distraction nobody can afford.
@@listerthat you are perfectly right. I have been commuting on a bike in the early 80's. No electronics to interfere with the pilot's attention ... And still I had an accident because I was not focusing enough. From then I decided to NEVER ride again for any purpose other than the fun of riding. If it gets boring or it's just a travelling tool, it is deadly dangerous.
@yveslegrand9826 fair enough. Poor riding capabilites manifests itself regularly.
Get a Yamaha TW200. Speedo only. Not even a petrol gauge!😂😂
Parrot used to have an amazing control like this for their helmet headset. Its the one thing I never understood why folk like Cardo or Sena never took it up as an idea.
Love my dedicated garmin satnav still tbh. More reliable than a phone needing phone signal to render a map you've not had the forethought to download previously.
Sena had a remote control at one point
Great review!
Thanks so much! Cheers, John
Looks great.! This would be a fantastic and useful tool for uber eats/ deliveroo delivery riders to accept jobs on their app without having to take your hads off thevthe controls. It would be interesting to see if it does integrate well with the rider delivery apps.
Hi John,
Thanks for the review, can this be used at the same time as there is a Bluetooth connection from a sena to the same phone the controller is connected to ?
Thanks, Mark
Yes, absolutely. It uses Bluetooth LE, so is kind of transparent and doesn't take up a 'channel'
Super question, never even considered it.
Ok, I am buying this!
Out of interest, which one? The Adventure Control or the BMW Control? Cheers, John
If you had a 2019 1250GS and were fairly interest in apps and music selections over mapping but the odd mapping . What would you pick up ? ..
@@listerthat As long as the GS had the navigation preparation installed when it was first sold, I'd get the BMW Control without a doubt. Full set with buttons, so you can easily move around apps. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial the adventure one. I don't have a BMW and even if I did I would be tempted to buy the universal one to be able to transfer it in the future.
Makes sense@@nicksokolis6343
That BMW controller looks the biz.........I wonder would it work on a R1200RS ??
Looks like a great gadget. Sometimes it looked as if you were speeding up the video whilst using the controller. Did you, and if so, what is due to lag in the response of the app?
Cheers! The only point I sped it up was when I was showing setting up the app. There's no noticeable lag that I've found. Cheers, John
That Carpe-Iter controller is exactly what I need for my Street Bob! That will clean everything up and I will have one less group of wires leaving the fairing! Will it fit 1" bars?
It fits a standard 22mm bar diameter at the control ends - shouldn't matter what diameter the centre of the bars are.
Good info , I contacted them to see if they ship to Canada and if the app is available here, I do ride a Can-am ryker ace2021 a bit different but love my 3 wheel Alain & Yellow
What's important for me as a commuter, does the BMW Hub, which is connected to your phone via Bluetooth also allow your Bluetooth helmet to also connect to your phone at the same time. That would be two Bluetooth connections at the same time. Google pixel 7 pro.
I really want to make calls, listen to music and have BMW Hub control at the same time.
Also does the BMW hub, with the 4 button remote allow me to make & answer calls without touching the phone.
My bike is a BMW F900XR.
Yes - it's Bluetooth Low Energy, so fine. You can't answer the phone with the control though, sorry
Cool video is there a special mount or wiring connection for HarleyDavidson bikes ??
The Adventure Controller is universal - just needs power. Cheers, John
My problem with using the phone for navigation is on rainy days, the rain messes the screen up, it's like having a toddler pressing random buttons! Other than that, I use a mix of setting everything while stopped and just using voice commands while driving.
That rain problem is exactly what makes these two such brilliant devices (you did see that bit, right?)
Thanks for showing us what looks like a great product. Personally I'm still not happy about mounting my expensive camera phone on my handlebar.
Still managing to navigate around using Garmins old 660, still reliability working.
Cheers! You could also use an old phone for navigation, or a ruggedised tablet if you want to go all in.
Does the phone need to be unlocked for this to work? I usually keep my phone in my pocket, but it would be nice for media controls
Yes, and to be honest that wouldn't really work in your pocket, as you need to be able to see what you're selecting, sorry! Cheers, John
Cool, never thought i would want a Carpet-Eater!
Ha! I knew that'd be coming!
Yeah,rug munching is a different sport 😂
More interesting videos like this from John and fewer from that bloody Mann bloke please.
Thank you so much for this, the question I still have is, do you still need DMD2 for it to work?
DMD2 is just one of the many options for nav software
Still thinking about this. How do you use OS maps with locus maps? I don’t suppose you can route/navigate with them, but expect you can overlay your position, orientate the map according to the current direction, overlay a gpx, etc?
You have to download the OS maps at a small additional cost for each area (same areas as paper maps), but you can use the nagivation on them. It's transparent to you as a user in how it works, but but it must be using the Open Street Map data to know where the roads are and effectively treating the Ordnance Survey maps as overlays.
@@bennettsbikesocial ok, makes sense. Prob the Ordnance Survey maps are just a tile overlay and the routing is done on the underlying open street / lomaps. It’d be interesting to see with paths that exist on the former but not on the latter, if any.
Where can I buy it?!? I may have missed it in the video but would be great to have a link in the bio if possible?
I don't do affiliate links or anything as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's the website: carpe-iter.com/ Cheers, John
Have you had a look at the Chigee AiO5-Lite yet, just wondering if its compatible with the Carper-ITE I have on my R1250GSA?
I'm reviewing it at the mo. The CI BMW Control wont work with it, though it does have its own remote, an option of which is to work with the BMW wheel using its own adaptor. Cheers, John
I got the wunderlic, black box embeded and its a pain keeps disconnecting I'm very keen on the Carpe Iter
I've not used it, but if it has any app supporting it on the phone, make sure that's set to not have any battery management on it. Ensure it's 'unrestricted', not 'optimised'. The Carpe Iter sets all this kind of thing up automatically.
@@bennettsbikesocial Android will actively put background apps to sleep if it thinks they're not being used; the unrestricted status means they'll keep running (and using battery) no matter what. Need to jailbreak an iPhone to do this in iOS.
Why didn’t you put voice activation on for ‘Oundle rd towards Bollock rd’ 🤷 😂
Definitely thought you were saying 'carpet eater'!
Locus map doesn't appear to have a nav mode for motorcycles though or am I missing something?
I'm enjoying Kurviger as a route maker and nav or Osmand.
I haven't used Kurviger yet - will give it a try. I'm using Locus for map reading, rather than nav. For that Ive been using Calimoto or Google. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Thanks for clarifying. Have a good weekend
You too!@@_Makanko_
does this also operate other features of the phone i.e. phone and music apps
i don't understand, what do you mean the GS controller doesn't work as well with DMDv2?
DMD2 doesn't respond to all the potential control that the GS controller could offer. OsmAnd and Locus work great.
thanks for responding@@bennettsbikesocial. Sorry, I'm still not understanding: what features in DMD2 don't work?
Answering my own question here - dmd2 works but it seems (at least) zoom out doesn't work. That's a real head scratcher for me because my old Carpe adventure controller did work with dmd
Are they making an Iphone compatible version?
I have the controller with the Carpe Iter Pad. When in DMD2 and following a gpx file it keeps spanning the map and never comes back to my position, very annoying ! I had to disable the controller. Any clue ?
I haven't seen it mentioned in the comments but does this controller work with Android Auto??
Not unless you hack Android Auto into a second Android device, then possibly it might. But for Android Auto units (like Chigee and CarpuRide), no, sorry
Aren’t thork racing or whoever is behind this product sell a kit that integrates it with the bmw controls?
Both the Adventure and BMW Controllers shown in this video are made by Carpe Iter in Prague. Thork, in Portugal, sells Wünderlinq, which integrates with BMW but not to the same extent and is in some ways far less elegant. You can get more details in the written review here: www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/reviews/products/motorcycle-technology/carpe-iter-bmw-universal-controller-review
@@bennettsbikesocial I’ve looked into that system time and time again but it’s still confusing, who does what? What do I need? Why can’t I use their software on my iPhone? What about that dashboard software, is it required?
Why can’t they just make one thing?
These are two different companies. DMD2 Beta is navigation sofware. Use it if you like it, or use OsmAnd or Locus or others. Thork is also starting to produce its own hardware@@simulacrae. There is nav software for iOS, but more for Android. These controllers aren't designed for any one app - they're fairly universal. Have you had a chance to watch the video all the way through? Hopefully it's all explained in there
I don't see it anywhere for sale in the US!
It's shipped direct from the manufacturer! carpe-iter.com
@@bennettsbikesocial awesome thanks!
how many of these were you paind to promote?
"how many of these were you paind to promote?"
Can you have a go at rewriting your comment in such a way that it makes some sense please? I'll guess you're trying to imply I was incentivised to produce this video, which as I've tried to make very clear, I'm not and never am.
😂😂😂@@bennettsbikesocial
What's wheely neely?
Is there any scope for this coming to Apple? (Sorry if I missed that)
Potentially, maybe. But the Android platform is so much more flexible. Plus you can get a used or budget phone pretty cheaply
@@bennettsbikesocial Fair enough. I never intended on being an apple fan boy but it suits my simple brain. Equally a second phone for sat nav isn’t a bad idea
Totally get that@@1991julez I still only use Apple computers as it's all I used from starting work on an SE30, so I just can't get my head around PCs. I had iPhones for years, tried an Android and hated it, went back to iPhone then tried Android again and now I won't go back. There's good and bad of both platforms of course! Cheers, John
I have bought one but cannot figure out where to plug it into on the 2007 BMW GS. Can you help?
It goes into the plug that would connect to the BMW navigation. Your bike must have been prepped for BMW nav when new, but doesn't need to have the bracket on it.
Where to buy?
I don't do affiliate links as I always want it to be clear that my reviews are utterly independent, however, here's a direct link to the Carpe Iter the website: carpe-iter.com/
Cheers, John
Aı May missed but can we program buttons to start /stop go pro recording??
That's not an option at the moment, though it'd be worth posting it here as there might be a way it could be incorporated... carpe-iter.eu/community/
Can it control carplay/Android Auto devices?
Who the goodness me thought of this name . I need to grow up but each time you mention it 😂😂😂😂😂
It's latin for, roughly, choose your own route. Thing is, it's a Czech company, so the potential for a slang interpretation wouldn't have been obvious
I have been wanting to find a handlebar remote for my music as I want to keep my hand on the bar, especially since I'm an IAM observer and often use hand signals so I don't want to confuse my associates with them seeing my hand on my helmet. Would this be overkill just for that purpose or are there better options for a music controller? I have an Interphone so the Sena controller unfortunately isn't an option for now
Not overkill at all - it's just a tool that hopefully does what you need. Cheers, John
Try googling "QXS-001". It is a cheap, waterproof bluetooth controller that does not need to be connected to power. Out of the box it controls music apps on Android but the buttons can be mapped to control other apps. Not as good as the Carpe Iter but for £15 it might be all you need to solve your problem.
Whats the sensor plug for?
That's for a wheel speed sensor if you do rallying for instance.
followed you till you said you dropping osmand for locus map. why? Seems to me osmand is much superior at least for off-road tracks.
I just like being able to switch between maps easily, but I still use OsmAnd too. That's what's great about using kit like this - you're not tied to one platform.
Is it still rechargeable via usb (with an internal battery) ?
Both of these controllers are powered direct from the bike
Sylogic?
Hi after watching your video I ordered an adventure controller which cost around £200 delivered. On delivery UPS wanted another £45, so I sent it back thinking it was a scam. The company should be more upfront on the checkout that this cost is associated with the UK not being in Europe. Sure I am not the only Brit conserved.
Are there any UK distributors?
No UK distributors at the moment, but the extra cost has been the case with everything ordered from Europe since Brexit, and it's why the price you paid on the site had tax excluded. You then paid tthe standard UK 20% VAT on import, plus likely a fee from UPS (which is annoying, but that's the couriers). It's not helped by some shops, particularly in the Far East, that send to the UK without proper declarations, so evade tax. Reputable companies don't do that.
‘Carpet Eater’ 😏
Carpet Eater?
Recently ordered it, and the customs fee came in this morning.... £45 ouch. If only it was £25 cheaper it could have avoided it. All adds to the cost of it.
It is frustrating, but that's why you don't pay VAT at checkout. Hopefully you'll still enjoy it. Did you get the Adventure Control or BMW Control?
A Bike Thing here in the UK will be distributing them soon, which is great news!
Shame it doesn’t work with Garmin devices.
They're working on compatibility for the Treads but haven't heard anything about the Zumos yet. If they can bring BMW's wonder wheel control to an XT2 I'll buy one.
@@Pyrrho_ Finger crossed that they consider a version for Garmin XT. 🤞👍
As far as I know, the very latest BMW Navigator is basically a XT2 but with BMW software, and does work with a BMW wonder wheel.
@@windinthewillows6248 Their latest navigator is a standalone unit running almost identical software as the BMW Connected Ride app, and it costs over a grand.. I have the Connected Ride cradle and app; the XT2 is a much better nav experience -- BMW's is too basic in comparison.
I remember the days when motorcycling consisted of turning the key and pushing the start button, putting it into gear and off ya go. Enough if this tech BS. Just go ride.
What if you want to go somewhere you've never been before, a long way away?
It’s mostly for offroad or adventure riding. Instead of spending hours planning your route with maps, you can do things on the go and ride more. This “BS”, as you call it, allows people to spend more time riding and discover new routes. That being said nobody forces you to use those. I think it’s great that some companies try to innovate, this is how things progress either we like it or not.
Old man yells at cloud
Not sure why you care so much lol miserable being smh
Call me a Luddite, but when I ride I know where I'm going, look at the maps before I go and keep my concentration on the road and hazards.
Every time you break your riding concentration focus by fiddling with tech, pushing buttons, looking at maps as you move - is an opportunity for a fatal accident involving you. I have picked enough bodies off the tarmac to know that it can happen in the press of a button or glance at a sat-nav.
Know where you're going before you head off, look at your route and know it. If you are unsure about your route and worried about getting lost - pull over safely, consult it properly at the side of the road in a safe place, instead of juggling another distraction. Bikers like me whinge about other drivers using their tech on the move, so don't increase the danger of getting yourself killed.
Good lord, don't use a GPS while you're driving a motorcycle, unless it's talking to you in your helmet turn by turn and you don't have to actually... look at it.
Pull over to the side of the road or into a parking lot if you need to make sure you're on course.
That's what I did on my last trip. Not a big deal, and infinitely more safe.
I think that if you are not able to manage navigation why riding on the STREET its pure skill issue...
Most people I see with all these items strapped on their motorcycle never go further than Starbucks 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ I put my phone in my pocket and Bluetooth to my helmet speakers. And I travel all over the NW USA on my bike and never plan the route. Just point twist and go. At around 5pm I start looking for a camp site or hotel/motel….
Im sorry but....."Let me show you its features (with german accent)", to me you and Jorg Sprave look very similar.
Hahahahahahaha YES! I thought the same thing but most folks here in the comment section have likely never seen his crossbow channel
It would be a great solution if I had a phone with a screen that is visible in direct sunlight.
The higher-end phones have brighter screens, or go for a ruggedised tablet designed for bikes.
never wanted to eat carpets so much till now
Is it just me, or did anyone else think he was calling it Carpet Eater?? 😂
Nah, definitely just you!
Me too.
Have Bennetts done a detailed analysis of motorcycle accidents caused directly or indirectly by rider distraction of nav. systems?
I started it, but then I got distr... oh look, a squirrel
Great piece of technology, but I won't recommend using it in terms of security. In the end, you'll use your phone more often than you did, and I think this is not good for your security. Keep your phone in your pocket, train your brain to memorise the way and look at the road ;)
Can it be powered via usb?
In 50 years of riding never needed to carry a map or any type navigation. Lay out a route before you leave out and enjoy the adventure.
Who on EARTH wants to use PAPER to navigate on a motorbike?? It would be enough of a nuisance in a car! 😂
Absolutely! threw a tank bag full of sodden rotting maps away years ago.
This looks good until you look at the price!
Haven't even got a phone
Carpet Eater 😂
Every time he said the name of the device all I heard was 'carpet eater'
That's an excellent idea for remote control on the handlebar. But the price is an abuse.
There are much cheaper Bluetooth ring joysticks in the market that can be easily adapted with some 3dprinting and cost a fraction of this product.
Do they offer universal control of apps? Do they offer the HUD that allows you to lock the screen off and provide other features? Do they offer support and backup?
Wil it work oneday on the bmw 1250gsa with a garmin zumo xt. Il love that
Greate work sir
Don’t think it’s a good idea to mess with your phone while on the move. I can see motorcycle accidents increasing as a result.
This could be a dangerous distraction for me. I would rather stop. There are already more than enough things to take your mind off the road on modern bikes.
He said carpet eater 🙊
1min 33sec.... aaaaaaand im gone! (apple user)
Best accessory 😂😂
I highly appreciate your channel. But English isn't my native language and it seems like you have a train to catch. Also you are speaking about several new products and compairing them and at the same time you are showing other effects on the screen which make it difficult to understand what you are talking about and what you want to point out by the things you are showing. At least for me as a non native English person. Please keep up making videos but make them twice as long 😉
You can slow down the playback speed to .75 by tapping the gear icon in the right upper corner. Try it!
Carpe iter aka rug muncher lol.
Who the hell uses a paper map nowadays?? its out of date on the day its printed. Stand alone satnavs are a utter waste of money and will never come close to using a smartphone and more importantly google maps
Google maps is great for getting you from one place to another as quickly as possible, but that's rarely the most enjoyable route. Have you tried Calimoto, or just decided your own route on the fly with Locus or OsmAnd? All can be tried / used for free. For some, it's the experience of exploring a route without having a computer guide you, so using apps like these gives you utterly up-to-date mapping, but leaving the choices to you. Of course, these controllers work with Google maps too, as shown in the video. Cheers, John
I'm very new to biking.... Literally my first weeks! And I agree with everything you say here! I won't buy a car without Android Auto, and did buy a phone mount as soon as I bought my bike, for Google Maps. But I just kept having this nagging thought that, should the worst happen, and myself and my bike become 'involuntarily separated', I would rather have my phone on my person and not on my bike. So I ended up buying a sat nav anyway.
But this is the thoughts of someone who doesn't really have much of a clue right now. Soon the amount of miles on a motorbike, in my entire life, will have smashed through one whole hundred!! 😂😂
@@bennettsbikesocial I must admit its the live traffic feature that gets me (I just hate traffic). Also the ability to plan routes on your PC in google maps with stops etc and then send them to your phone in advanced makes google maps very very versatile.
However when I go onto the continent I do try and use OsmAnd (I bought a full life subscription).
@@pcat1378 Have you had a chance to watch the video through to see how these work with OsmAnd? It's that app (and Locus) that make these so useful. And I agree about traffic - even if I can filter through, I prefer knowing where it is when I'm in a hurry. With these controllers you can quickly get a route overview when navigating in Google maps, so you can see where those alternatives take you.
@@bennettsbikesocial Sadly I have a BMW but have removed the SatNav mount thingy so couldn't install the BMW one (I will not refit it as its in the bin) but its a great idea as I have seen other types. But they are expensive considering its just a wireless mouse!