I (Brady) do not own a smartphone, and thus can't speak to this kind of topic - which is why I was delighted to have Stacy guest blog. No smartphone? It's true, I'm old and cantankerous. I spend a fair amount of time on the net, but I keep deciding to live in a cave. I've already got two computers, and I prefer to interface with the internet the way God intended: in my underwear. (Or, nakey, if you can swing it). Got comments? Leave 'em. Want to guest blog? Send me an article or idea - there are links above!
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I
was as dubious at the notion of "useful" motorcycle apps, (as
you surely are now, dear reader), but the other day I decided to check while on my new smartphone. Some are duds, (gaming apps and “build your own!” motorcycle apps designed to inform biking newbies) but to my surprise I can affirm that there are several apps, and some of them are quite good. Though motorcycling apps on the whole lack the sheen and pizzazz of more mainstream app categories, the quality is still there and they can help with maintenance, purchasing parts, and even route mapping.
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| Screenshot from the app - from the app store. |
Motorcycle
Minder
The
first app is for motorcycle maintenance and repair
issues. Motorcycle
Minder
is designed to work as a digital log/reminder for all your
maintenance needs. It’s easy to use interface allows you to log all
sorts of reminders about your bike, from oil change dates to mileage
to information about your tire tread. The more information you store
in this app about your motorcycle, the more it can do to ensure
that you meet all the necessary maintenance needs. Motorcycle Minder
will anticipate and notify you about impending repair deadlines, warn
you if it thinks you’ve traveled too long without having a tune-up,
and so much more. In other words, it’s an indispensable service for
motorcyclists with a tablet or a smartphone.
Greatest
Road Motorcycle Rider GPS Road Finder
 |
| Screenshot from the app |
Whew,
that title is a mouthful! But despite the clunky name, this app
designed by Greatest Road Software can be invaluable for
motorcyclists traveling long distances towards foreign locales. It is essentially a crowdsourced tour guide of thousands of popular
biking roads and destinations. Fellow bikers leave comments and
reviews on certain routes, informing anyone nearby of their
difficulty, scenery, distance, and any other useful information
you’ll need to know. It’s a great app for helping a biker decide
between multiple routes, as the most popular routes on this app are
often the best ones available!
Ultimate
Motorcycle Buyer’s Guide
And
then we have the app
for someone in the market for a new (or first) bike.
Despite the somewhat slapped-together interface, the Ultimate
Motorcycle Buyer’s Guide actually contains a host of useful
information for bikers looking to buy or sell a new set of wheels.
The developers tend to release a new version of their publication
every month, so there’s always some new information to read about
the latest trends and insider tips on how to get the best deal on a
motorcycle. What’s more, the app is free so it doesn’t hurt to
give it a try!
Stacy Holmes is a
freelance blogger for a number of publications including
motorcycleinsurance.com.
When Stacy isn’t writing about motorcycles, insurance, or personal
finance, she’s either enjoying the open road on her ride or
spending some time indoors with a new novel. Feel free to leave her
comments!
Here is a very interesting app, one that give rough HP numbers for your bike. Originally designed for scooters, like the Vespa and Lambretta, it will work for any geared vehicle.
ReplyDeleteFree version is available, but you can't share or save the results.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pledlstefan.siphorsepowerdyno#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLnBsZWRsc3RlZmFuLnNpcGhvcnNlcG93ZXJkeW5vIl0.
Hey Brady you cantankerous old iconoclast, I got my first smart phone last week and it comes compelte with maps of Iowa. And everything. I have heard rumors of a speedometer app to convert my Vespa's Euro km/h speedo into old money. You need to get out of the cave old timer and join the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteThis type of post is a great idea. The only thing missing was a review of some similar apps for the Android platform (since the apps that were reviewed do not appear to offer Android counterparts). Otherwise, a good article.
ReplyDeleteiTunes store...bah Never happen in my world. I have been searching for motorcycle android apps for several years (and models). Europe seems to have the most 'trip' and mapping apps. I guess with Google Maps, not dedicated but Google does apps right, I am not comparing apples to apples. Everything else seems to be worthless or just a hair above that line. Where are the enterprising motorcycle app developers?
ReplyDeleteDear Brady:
ReplyDeleteI applaud your concept of the guest blog to introduce diverse opinions and different riding experiences to this forum. While I enjoyed this article, I found it to be the briefest of survey pieces. Generally speaking, I like slightly more in-depth analysis that go into the pros and cons of a device, service or app. I too forward to more of these.
Fondest regards,
Jack/Reep
Twisted Roads