As motorcyclists, we know we have to do a lot more preparation before heading out on the open  road compared to a car driver. While those on four wheels can just get in and drive away, we need to at least don our protective gear before firing up our bikes.  

If you’re travelling with others, you’ll likely need to test your communications equipment and discuss what route you’ll take.

You might also want to consider using some apps as part of this preparation as they can provide us with crucial information about road conditions, help us find the best roads for biking, and keep an eye on us while we’re riding.

Social Apps

One of the best things about riding a motorcycle is the community of other riders that share the same passion. Of course, there are many cafes, bars, and rest stops where you can almost always find bikers congregating, social apps add a new element to this experience.

Kappa, Riser, and Rever are all great options for this. Most include planning and tracking features, but they also include social features like friend tracking, challenges, message boards, and community areas.

This is especially great for when you’re heading on multi-day rides and you want to get tips on where to stay or advice from those that have ridden the route before you.

Entertainment

In that same vein, if you’re riding for more than a day, you’ll need to spend some time resting to ensure you’re fresh for the next day in the saddle. Thankfully, there are thousands of mobile entertainment options that cater to just about every taste.

If you’re kicking back in a hotel, you might want to put your feet up and watch a movie. In which case, apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Britbox are great options. There are plenty of motorcycle shows, movies, and documentaries on all three of these platforms.

Alternatively, you could use the MotoGP app to watch the latest shows including live coverage of races and exclusive interviews with people close to the sport. Those that enjoy betting on MotoGP races while they watch could also download the app of one of the many bookmakers that cover motorbike racing. You can improve the experience even further by creating an account with one of the companies that also offer free bets or one that offers live race updates right in the app.

Navigation Apps   

There are plenty of great navigation apps that motorcyclists can use while riding. They all connect to your smartphone’s GPS to give you a precise location and most will also give you indications of the traffic locations.

The most commonly used apps are Apple Maps and Google Maps, depending on which type of smartphone you own. These are great and will serve most people well, however, you may want to give Waze a try.

Waze uses the same traffic data as the other two apps do, but adds in community reports to alert you to stopped vehicles, police cars, accidents, road closures, traffic cameras, and more.
This means you’ll get faster notification of incidents on your route than you would with any other app.

Tracking

Tracking your riding stats has become a popular hobby among bike enthusiasts in recent years. There are plenty of apps out there that will track your route, speed, and even lean angle.

Apps like EatSleepRIDE will then give you maps that let you see your route, the changes in elevation you went through, and other interesting data. You can then share it to social media or keep a record in case you want to retrace your steps.

Safety

Safety is important when riding. Much of that is your own responsibility, so apps like Autoist can help keep track of your servicing and MOT so you never forget to get your bike checked.

Some apps, including the tracking app EatSleepRIDE, also feature an automatic crash detection feature. This will use your smartphone’s sensors to pick up if you’ve fallen off or crashed your bike and will begin a countdown timer. If you don’t cancel it, the app will automatically alert the emergency services to your location so help can be summoned if you’re incapacitated.

 

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