BMW Motorrad Connected Ride Phone Cradle

[Diavel]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience using this cradle and whether it is worth buying as compared to soldiering on with a Nav V or VI 🤔? I have a Gen 1 + Gen 2 but assume it only works on a Gen 2? Appreciate any advice .TIA.

[capt cf]

I have one and use it on both my gen 1 and gen 2 although I have never owned a nav.  It's slick and I like it quite a bit but there are a lot of reports of it screwing up phone cameras due to vibration damage.  I think most (all?) of the reports I have read are from iPhone owners though.  It might be worth some research if you are worried about your phone and/or are an iPhone user.  There were a bunch of people on the XR FB group that were selling the cradles and going to Quad Lock or Nav due to damaged phones.

[Diavel]

Thanks for that...especially as I do use an iPhone 😊....maybe a quadlock is better.

[capt cf]

Maybe..  I'd be tempted to remove the GPS prep then and mount the Quadlock there if possible.  After years of Ram bar, stem and mirror mount mounted phones I have gotten really addicted to having the phone right in front of me in the nav prep spot now that I have the cradle.  I wouldn't want to go back to a different position since it is so nice having it right in front of you where it ought to go.  That said, I have done zero research on Quadlock so maybe there is already a solution for that and I am just unaware of it.  The Wunderlinq might also be an option, but again, I never looked at it.

[ZH2]

I have just bought my 2022 XR and purchased one of these from Ebay.  So far I am impressed with it.  I use an Iphone SE bought specifically for the sat nav, so not really bothered if the camera screws up.  I used the BMW app and it did function as it should, however I did have connectivity gremlins with it.  However I won't be using the app in future, much prefer the other platforms or google maps.  Its secure enough and fits the bill for me.  I used an SP connect on a few previous bikes, equally good, but was pointless going this route again when my bike came with the Nav set up.

[Gazk]

I work in the tech industry for a logistics company, they ship all Apple products worldwide, we were waned about this six months ago.

(It is recommended to avoid exposing your iPhone to extended completed vibrations.

High-power or high-volume motorcycle engines generate intense high-amplitude vibrations, which are transmitted through the chassis and handlebars.)

Here is the full advice from Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212803#:~:text=It%20is%20recommended%20to%20avoid,through%20the%20chassis%20and%20handlebars.

 
On the vibrations I've not looked into some sort of stabilisation device I guess there are or soon will be products out there.

[capt cf]

Originally Posted by ZH2

I have just bought my 2022 XR and purchased one of these from Ebay.  So far I am impressed with it.  I use an Iphone SE bought specifically for the sat nav, so not really bothered if the camera screws up.  I used the BMW app and it did function as it should, however I did have connectivity gremlins with it.  However I won't be using the app in future, much prefer the other platforms or google maps.  Its secure enough and fits the bill for me.  I used an SP connect on a few previous bikes, equally good, but was pointless going this route again when my bike came with the Nav set up.

That's what I do...I generally run Waze and Spotify and don't use the BMW app at all.

[Mab1067]

Went and bought the Cradle. Not used as yet due to all the issue with vibrations as have an Iphone. However will be able to use soon as contract runs out on existing Iphone.
So just going to use this old phone and leave in cradle. Should solve the problem. Only thing i then need to work out is how to connect everything else to TFT or just use stand alone with new phone to headset.

Anybody use this setup at present and if so can you advise on whats best way to set everything up??

[capt cf]

I have the cradle paired to my phone (Samsung Galaxy) through the procedure shown in the video below using the BMW app and then the phone and my Cardo paired to the TFT separately.  Works fine for me, but I never really use the BMW app so apart from playing with it the first ride or two just to see how the wheel works and passing control between it and the TFT (kinda slick imo) I just leave it on waze and only touch it when I stop.

&index=6

[ZH2]

Well after all this, I just got a great deal on a Navigator 6, so I am gonna be selling the connect cradle.