BMW Navigator VI

The BMW sat navs are made by Garmin so, essentially, are just rebadged 595s. All the extra smartphone and action-camera control are present. The case is different, though: you can’t fit a 595 into the mount for a Navigator. For BMW owners trading up from an earlier Navigator model that has lifetime mapping, it’s possible to buy the unit on its own for £665 and save yourself a tenner…

Installation One does not install a Navigator… One’s dealer does that, if the bike hasn’t come pre-prepared for the nav. This is because the system is designed to be operated from the bars, using a wheel around the left-hand grip.

Ease of use Obviously, it’s much like the Garmin – with the bonus of the wheel on the bars to zoom in and out. The catch being that until you get used to this, it’s quite easy to accidentally knock the ring and switch from the map to the service log or the compass screen.

Directions Sadly, no trace of steely German imperative to the voice commands: they are exactly the same as the Garmin.

Route planning — on the device Naturally, it’s the same as the Garmin, though the Nav VI stresses that its Curvy Road routing preference is designed to avoid urban areas as much as possible. We tested both in a rural area and this and the 595 suggested the same route. It does however come with locations of BMW dealers loaded, so you can quickly find your way to the nearest outpost if you’re worried about your fork stanchions.

Route planning — on the computer Exactly the same as the Garmin.

Verdict With such a strong presence in the touring and adventure market, it’s inevitable that BMW partnered with the more touringoriented sat nav maker. The way it integrates with the bikes means it makes sense for BMW owners. It is pricey, though.