Beeline Moto II metal in gunmetal grey

The Beeline Moto 2 is, as the name suggests, the second iteration of the Beeline navigation system. The first version was a bit of a bit of a disappointment. This new version marks an improvement.

 

Measuring some five centimetres in diameter by about two centimetres in depth, it's basically a diminutive, satnav-style device that uses the GPS locator from your phone to find its bearings. 

 

The original idea for the Beeline was  for something that would look nicer on the bike than a traditional satnav device if you rode some kind of minimalist, custom or café race machine. But it's a really neat bit of kit, and so the appeal, in truth, is probably a little wider than that.

 

The previous version gave you little more than arrows that sort of pointed you in roughly the right direction. The new version actually incorporates maps, and it gives you warnings of turnings, and all the stuff you'd expect of a proper sat nav, but if you're going to buy one of these you need to know what you're buying, and so that's what we're going to try and do, without hopefully getting too nerdy about it.

 

But before we get to the heart of it, let's talk about some of the detail, how it works, and what it does.

 

In addition to turn-by-turn directions, the Beeline can give you route options, to give you rides that are twistier, and potentially more fun. You can also import and export GPX files. The device will also tell you what the speed limit is wherever it is you're riding, and it can flash speed alerts to you if you want them.

 

The screen has an anti-glare coating, and is IP67 rated for waterproofing. There are three versions. Two with aluminium dials. And one that has more of a rugged looking dial, even though it's actually made from plastic. Out of the box, the Beeline comes with a slightly Heath Robinson handlebar mounting system.

 

The unit is rechargeable, and Beeline reckon it's good for 14 hours. You can charge with a USB lead, but Beeline recommend you don't do this whilst riding. You can buy a charging unit for the bike, but that costs an extra £50. Even though the device is small, you can operated the navigational functions by clicking on the bezel with gloved hands.

 

Listen, this a neat and clever piece of technological marvellousness.; and who doesn't like miniaturisation? The Beeline is really cute, and if subtlety and understatement are your thing, it's good to know that the Beeline will seamlessly blend in with the contours of your bike, in the way that a GPS device, or an iPhone, won't.

 

But how does it stack up against a proper satnav? Say something like a Garmin. For a top-of-the-range satnav, you'll pay something like £500, against the Beeline's £200, although if you want to the charging unit that s an extra £50. The bottom line, though, is that a satnav will be something like twice the price.

 

But there's another another thing. You don't get voice instructions with the Beeline. If you want those, that's another £50 a year. 

 

The big issue with the Beeline is probably the screen. It's pretty tiny, and it's monochrome. If your eyesight isn't up to scratch you could be in trouble. The screen on a modern satnav, by comparison, is huge. The current Zumo's screen is over five inches. And it's in colour.  Plus, all the other functionality on a proper satnav is way more sophisticated. You don't need a phone at all with a satnav, and so it will work even when your phone doesn't.

 

And that's really the nub of it. A modern satnav is way more capable than the Beeline, often giving you live traffic feeds, for example. The screen is larger, and much easier to read. A modern satnav will also have two channels, allowing you to route your phone through it so that you can receive instructions, play music, and take phone calls through your comms. system. But a traditional satnav is not as pretty or stylish as the Beeline, and you can buy two Beelines for the price of one decent satnav.

 

If you do a lot of touring, want clear instructions that you will always be able to understand, then divvy up buy a proper satnav. But if style is everything, if you've got the eyesight of a hawk, and if you sometimes get lost trying to find your way from Chelsea to Shoreditch, then it's definitely the Beeline that you need.

 

As ever, there's the right person for every product; the right product for every person. You just have to decide whether you're a Beeline person or a satnav person.