´21 GW GPS Maps

[contra]

We are importing a '21 Goldwing from the USA to Iceland and the GPS/Navi has US maps and we want to either add Northern Europe/Scandinavia to it or change it out completely, any place I can download the maps to update/change it or any recommendation.

[Alois]

I have new DCT Tour 2022 European version from July. Honda write in Owners manual the maps are newest as motorcycle is produced. I though the maps are from 2022. Mistake. Maps are from 2018 year! My dealer send me e-mail from Honda CZ that I have newest maps what Honda instaled to motorbikes. And MAYBE will be new maps update this year. Maybe. I bought also Goldwing in 2015 Y EU and Honda have not upgrade of maps till this year!!! Why they instal navi system when they not provide new maps? Twice deceived me by Honda

[raven41951]

Not sure how far you are willing to go. I am a long time user of Garmin GPS products. I still have a RINO purchased a long long time ago. I used a Nuvi on my GL1500. Now that I have GPS built into my vehicles and one of my bikes I have converted to them. In a few words they all stink. You can't create and save routes, you can't save traveled routes as easy as you could on a Garmin. Soooo...

Why not try a Garmin? They should have the maps you need. If not I am sure they can point you in the right direction. I don't have one (yet) but I hear good things about the XT which is specially made for bikes.

[Alois]

Dear friend,
I have several navi system of TomTom. For example top of motorbikers navi Rider. But internal Garmin in Goldwing 1800, 2015 is excellent. I prepare gpx file at home and use it for my traveling accross Europe. No GPX navi for IPHONE cannot use gpx file for navigation. That is why I would like to get actual maps for my GL from Honda. Why I had to buy navi system without maps? Do you understand of Honda philosophy?
In this time I have actual maps for my GL 1800, 2015. After 7 years of research and study. All users of Gl 1800 in Europe have not actual maps. They are discused about external navigation in their forums. Why USA and Canada have possibility to buy actual maps and in EU it is not possible? But I have new GL 1800 DCT Tour without new maps. Is it normal? Are you still thing Honda is friendly company?

[Lippo]

I recently came across this website. It allows you to use Google Maps to create a route (the method I used was to enter Home to Destination, then drag the route to minor roads to make it a more interesting route), then copy the Google Maps resultant url and paste it into the convertor. Out pops the route as a gpx file, which I believe can then be uploaded into Honda Nav?
I haven't got my 2020 DCT Tour yet, hopefully arriving 18th August, but I've tried it on my 7-year old Garmin and it seems to work fine.
With the Garmin, I connect it to the laptop, then transfer the gpx file into the Garmin Tracks folder. Then, in the Garmin itself, go into the Tracks app and let the Garmin convert it into its Trips app for me to use.
I'm sure I've read that the 2018+ Honda Nav also uses gpx files, so should be able to upload these via a usb stick?
Here's the website: https://mapstogpx.com/?utm_source=Itera ... 20-%20RTBA

[Alois]

Dear Lippo, to create gpx file is not problem. I am using MRA routeplanner. https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/home
It is very good software for plannig tracks. I am using it for European roads. Output can be gpx, itn, kml, kmz etc.
The gps file save to flash disc and insert it to USB in main trunk. It does not work in the left side trunk. After switch on GL twice and start navigation. In menu type Upload route (gpx). After loading - several seconds unlike GL 2015 - choose your route and open it. It is very easy and without problem. I already used several dozen my own routes without any mistake.
Once more I have to repeat - I have no new maps for Europe. I have to use maps from 2Q 2021! Why Honda have not new maps for EUROPE? For USA and Canada is possible download maps from server free of charge.

[Lippo]

Hi Alois,

Thank you for that extra information.
I have not yet received delivery of my 2020 Gold Wing Tour DCT Airbag, so I am on a learning curve.

I certainly agree with you that it is a poor show by Honda not to properly support the navigation system that we all pay for when we buy these bikes.
I have owned a Garmin Zumo for about 7 years and I still get free map updates from Garmin.
I bought the Garmin when I owned a 2014 BMW R1200RT. The Zumo (badged as a BMW Navigator V) used to clip into the BMW dashboard. It was very good, as it used to collect and display other data about trips, fuel consumption and so on. It offers a curvy routes option, plus you can create custom trips. And of course, it has a touchscreen.
When I sold the BMW, I kept the Nav V and found that a Zumo cradle was perfect for it to now be used on any of my bikes with a 12V power socket and a Ram mount.

Then, 4 years later, Honda release the 6th generation Gold Wing with a Satnav that is not as good. No curvy route option. No touchscreen. And, poor updating!
Seems to be relying more on Apple & Android car play tech. That would be fine, if connection was easier and more reliable.

Anyway, I didn't buy the GW for the tech, I bought it for the comfort and the DCT. So, I will persevere with the tech in the hope that eventually, Honda will service its customers better.

[Alois]

Dear Lippo,
I have GL 2015 and GL2022. That is why I can compare both navigation. Both are from Garmin. As you write Garmin has every year actual maps. Several years I used maps for my GL 2015 from Garmin. The new navi (GL2022) is worse. It is not so comfortable as old navi. For example GL 2015 NAVI has possibility to get information of elevation above sea level. The new navi is so slow, when are in town and start navi it takes several minutes, until navi is ready and give you right direction. Navi have to be moving.

The new GL is very very good motocycle. It is not possible to compare with GL 2015. It is different bike. You villl be satisfied wit it! Honda has made great strides. Mainly the front suspension was successful. Sport mode is very wild. Seat comfortable, the trunks are smaller, but is enough. The exhausts are very noisy during a long drive on the highway. Bad mirrors and small handlebar controls. The navi is poorly controled while driving. Electric control plexiglass is excellent especially in the rain.

I keep my fingers crossed - get the bike as soon as possible.

[psioner]

Dear Lippo,
I have GL 2015 and GL2022. That is why I can compare both navigation. Both are from Garmin.

Apologies for my urge to correct: the navigation system of the GL2018-2023 is not Garmin. It is Harman/Becker, as far as I know they were bought by Samsung. So actually it is Samsung
Many car navigation systems customized for the different car brands are coming from Becker Automotive.
In case you download a gpx track file from the GW to the PC and open the file with a text editor, you see the first line header mentioning

Code: Select all

creator="Harman/Becker Automotive Systems GmbH">

[Alois]

Thank you for your correction. File of map swdl.iso contents file VERSION.txt:
[ifs]
version=HG.ACM.21.11.28.12.04.00
host=HISHD100
user=SVC_CPMSHINT
date=11/28/2021 Sun
time=21:00:45.63

In file magic.txt is: HB_HONDA. A man who is expert in car navigations told me the maps are from Garmin. I am sorry for incorrect information.

[Lippo]

Alois,
Although the Nav unit is Harmon/Becker/Samsung, they may have bought the map files from Garmin.
If this is the case (and I don't actually know one way or the other), you were not misinformed.
It's shame, though, if they have used Garmin's maps, that they didn't also use their functionality in the unit.

[Alois]

Yes, it can be like this. As motorcycle user, I do not care. But I don´t care that Honda does not supply new maps to the EU market. That is not a fair deal.

[psioner]

<….> that Honda does not supply new maps to the EU market. That is not a fair deal.

Honda does provide map updates, in EU unfortunately only to Honda dealers. My Honda dealer is installing the updates during the periodic maintenance (I got my latest update 2 weeks ago, it was released by Honda early 2023), or he also says that he copies the files also to his customers if asked for updating by themself (sure, not every Honda shop might do that).

And thanks for sharing the fact that the maps are from Garmin, I wasn‘t aware of that, good to know.

[Alois]

This is very important information for me. They told me the newest maps are from 2Q 2021 on April. I installed maps myself at home. It is very easy. I got the link of dealer with map.
I have already written to HONDA CZ about new maps. I will see.
Thank you!

[psioner]

This is very important information for me. They told me the newest maps are from 2Q 2021 on April.

That is correct. The newest map date (e.g. if checking the map database version on the GW) shows Q2 21, however, Honda only released this version earlier this year. So between the map date until Honda releases it, there are almost 2 years. The previous Version (that is the current version in 2022) was Q2 19 (not sure when that was released by Honda).
So my guess would be that only in 2 years we will get to see the Q2 23 map.