TOMTOM RIDER 550 PREMIUM

Mikko Nieminen / £499.99 / www.tomtom.com

The Rider 550 has a few real benefits against much of the app-based competition. Firstly, you can download all the maps to the device and you are not reliant on a phone signal. You also have a nice big screen, which offers very clear directions. The device is easy to put on and take off the bike as the power cables are run from the mount to the battery or auxiliary power socket. Because you run it from the bike’s battery, the device will not run out of juice mid-journey (if it does, you may have some more pressing issues to work on with the bike). You can store lots of routes and destinations on the unit, and use the online tools (TomTom MyDrive, very easy to use once you get the hang of it) to plan your own routes or pick some from their free library. Then you can load the routes to the device wirelessly as long as you have added the unit to your Wi-Fi. I was impressed by how much easier it is now to use the route planners and to get the routes on the device. When I tried a few years ago I rapidly lost my patience with the systems, but now it all makes sense. You can link the satnav to your phone if you want traffic alerts, and you can link it to your headset for audio guidance, but it’s just as easy to leave it running on its own and just glance at it every now and again to see where to go. One of the nifty features is the windy and hilly route settings that can open up a whole new world of riding to you – simply select this setting to divert you from the highways you normally take and discover what’s around you. It takes a bit longer to get to your destination, but it’s a lot more fun. If you ride in the city, the app-based options are still more convenient, but for finding the best country roads, planning longer trips and making sure you stay on the right path, the Rider 550 is my weapon of choice.