TwatNav / Comms... feedback from recent trip.
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2026 11:16 am
Hi all..
Some time ago I asked about phone mounts, headphones, mapping software......etc . I had a lot of great info, so I thought I would share what I found / ended up with...
Bike Mount
I tried lots of different mounts on the bike, but ended up with a https://interphone.com/en/collections/c ... vibrazione as my local Yamaha dealer a) recommended it based on a lot of sales b) fitted it . This was a really secure bit of kit, and kept my Pixel 7a Phone charges, despite the phone having a shite wireless charge rate!
Headphones / Intercom
I tried several amazon cheapies, but they all had some type of design flaw, so ended up with the entry level Cardo Spirit. BUT They do not offer an adapter for me Shoei side pods, however there is a guy called Tubs Jackson who 3D Prints them - https://tubsjackson.co.uk/collections/all. Then I tested the unit on sat nav only and after 5 hours, it had used 25% battery. I did a further test where I played music continuously for 10 hours before it died.
The Cardo increments charge from 0-5% 5 to 25, 25 to 50, 50 to 75, 75 to 100
I popped it on a portable battery pack, as this would be how I would use it on the move...
First 20 mins took it from 5% to 25%
Then somewhere between 20-40 mins showed as 50%
Then somewhere between 60-70 mins showed as 75%
Then somewhere between 80-90 mins showed as 100%
The reality was I used the music all the time, and despite having custom fit earplugs I could still hear the music at 70mph.. OK, it was not perfect, but not an issue. In towns I turned of the music so I just wanted the nav instructions
When I stopped for a 30min lunch break I popped it on charge..At no point during my trip did it ever go below 50%
Mapping software
I wanted to have offline maps where I could build routes on my PC, the best one I found was https://kurviger.com/en this has all the usual waypoints / shaping point, BUT you could select routing preferences between way points, so for example instead of going through Hamburg could you put a way point either side, and choose motorway for that section... It was super configurable! After a free 7 day trial I signed to the their top package for €29.99 per year - https://kurviger.com/en/premium
In the real world the software was amazing, when you were out and about and needed it you could easily add a POI (fuel, cafe..etc) to the route with 1 or 2 clicks...
The only thing missing was the SpeedCam database, BUT I think this is still illegal in parts or Europe....so not sure if this German company is blocked from offering it...
Final notes
None of this would have been possible without the help from the following members in my other posts
KungFooBob, Taff, Rockburner, Yorik, Dodgy69, Trinity765, McNab, MrLongbeard, gremlin, Ditchfinder, Count Steer, Scootabout
Thanks all
Some time ago I asked about phone mounts, headphones, mapping software......etc . I had a lot of great info, so I thought I would share what I found / ended up with...
Bike Mount
I tried lots of different mounts on the bike, but ended up with a https://interphone.com/en/collections/c ... vibrazione as my local Yamaha dealer a) recommended it based on a lot of sales b) fitted it . This was a really secure bit of kit, and kept my Pixel 7a Phone charges, despite the phone having a shite wireless charge rate!
Headphones / Intercom
I tried several amazon cheapies, but they all had some type of design flaw, so ended up with the entry level Cardo Spirit. BUT They do not offer an adapter for me Shoei side pods, however there is a guy called Tubs Jackson who 3D Prints them - https://tubsjackson.co.uk/collections/all. Then I tested the unit on sat nav only and after 5 hours, it had used 25% battery. I did a further test where I played music continuously for 10 hours before it died.
The Cardo increments charge from 0-5% 5 to 25, 25 to 50, 50 to 75, 75 to 100
I popped it on a portable battery pack, as this would be how I would use it on the move...
First 20 mins took it from 5% to 25%
Then somewhere between 20-40 mins showed as 50%
Then somewhere between 60-70 mins showed as 75%
Then somewhere between 80-90 mins showed as 100%
The reality was I used the music all the time, and despite having custom fit earplugs I could still hear the music at 70mph.. OK, it was not perfect, but not an issue. In towns I turned of the music so I just wanted the nav instructions
When I stopped for a 30min lunch break I popped it on charge..At no point during my trip did it ever go below 50%
Mapping software
I wanted to have offline maps where I could build routes on my PC, the best one I found was https://kurviger.com/en this has all the usual waypoints / shaping point, BUT you could select routing preferences between way points, so for example instead of going through Hamburg could you put a way point either side, and choose motorway for that section... It was super configurable! After a free 7 day trial I signed to the their top package for €29.99 per year - https://kurviger.com/en/premium
In the real world the software was amazing, when you were out and about and needed it you could easily add a POI (fuel, cafe..etc) to the route with 1 or 2 clicks...
The only thing missing was the SpeedCam database, BUT I think this is still illegal in parts or Europe....so not sure if this German company is blocked from offering it...
Final notes
None of this would have been possible without the help from the following members in my other posts
KungFooBob, Taff, Rockburner, Yorik, Dodgy69, Trinity765, McNab, MrLongbeard, gremlin, Ditchfinder, Count Steer, Scootabout
Thanks all