Easy way to transfer routes from Google maps to GPS

Inspired by motorcycle paradise reader Rob to dig out my GPS for the upcoming overseas holiday I started by revisiting the methods of transferring a Google map type route to the device and found the developers of Tyre, a motorcycle GPS routing solution have extended the software to work with Garmin GPS units. Hallelujah at last a simply solution! But first the background to why this has made me so happy.

In Australia I have made routes in the Mapsource software and transferred them to the unit no problems. However I have the UUD Japan map for Garmin devices which I purchased with a Garmin 760 at same time and have never been able to display the third party Japanese map in Mapsource to do routing (nor any free maps like those made for Malaysia etc). So to take a Japan route from Motowhere to GPS I did the following. 1. Save route from Motowhere to PC in .gpx format. 2. Use GPS Babel to convert that file from Track to Route and filter number of waypoints to fit Garmin limitations. 3. Use Expert GPS to transfer file to GPS unit.

GPS Babel can also convert the file to Garmin Mapsource format however placing these files in the unit myself never seemed to work, same for the converted gpx files if I tried to put them in the unit myself. When the 30 days trial of Expert GPS ran out I weighed up buying it but by then was pissed off that a basic thing like uploading a route was so hard and tossed the unit in a box with the intention of using offline maps on my iPhone instead for navi in Japan. Maybe there is another way but trawling the net for hours I seemed to just find lots of guys like myself perplexed to why this sort of thing was not supported better.

Just by chance I revisited the Tyre site last night and saw they now supported Garmin. It was Tom Tom only for long time and there is only one Japan map in English made and it works on Garmin only. So I gave it a go and despite needing a few goes it did successfully transfer a route I had just drawn in the Tyre’s Google maps interface straight to the device which then I previewed and it appears quite accurate. I could have added more waypoints to improve it further as I see the device has routed a short cut where not wanted but if that’s the only issue on a first attempt then this  pure gold!

The best motorcycle roads in Japan

The Japanese BikeJin magazine held a survey of it’s readers to rate their best roads. Scenery as well as road surface/curves were considered so the final ranking reflects the voters opinions on that.

I managed to get a copy of the April issue that had this article and will give a bit more info here with some notes on the scans mainly on some of the roads that are within riding distance from Tokyo.

13. (tie) Zaou Ecoline. This drive winds across Mt. Zao range from the East to the West, and connects Miyagi prefecture and Yamagata prefecture. The drive is closed from the beginning of November to the end of April of the following year for the winter but is bursting with colours of red in autumn.

13. (tie) Mikata Goko Rainbow Line. This scenic mountain road lies in the Fukui Prefecture which is positioned at the southwest part of Hokuriku District.

13. (tie) Tatsudomari Line
13. (tie) Hachimantai Aspite Line

12. Choukai Blue Line is in the Yamagata prefecture and is a fair ride from Tokyo. The Chokai Blue Line rises from sea level to 1150 metres, offering spectacular view of Mount Chokai and the Sea of Japan.

11. Tsunoshima Big Bridge
10. Chirihama Nagisa Driveway

9. Aso Panorama Line – have been up by car – would be great riding, its in Kyushu though. Lots of corners and spectacular views as well as another active volcano to visit at the top, conditions being suitable.

8. Kouya Ryuujin Skyline. The Ryujin-Koya Skyline as also referred to is route 371that links Koyasan and the Kumano area and is a mountain road famous for beautiful autumn coloured leaves as well as being a popular road for motorcycles.

8. (tie) Shimanami-kaido.
6. Shiretoko Oudan Road.

5. Izu Skyline – many say this is in fact the best motorcycle ride in Japan. I will ride it next time I am there. There are so many mountain roads in Japan but this road is said to be designed as if by a rider such is the surveying. Being close to Tokyo means this probably got more votes simply as more people would know it than any other road so I will decide for myself once I ride it.

4. Shiga Kusatsu Road - I have ridden this mountain (active volcano) also on my last ride and it was fantastic! You can find this road easy by looking on Google maps for the route 292 situated east of Nagano.

3. Yamanami Highway.

2. Venus Line - I rode this last time, my header photo was taken on the upper section of this road where it is numbered route 199. The lower section is route 40 however the road flows in two directions the best section of the road runs north from the junction with 199 however the road back to Suwa is also good. Idea ride is from Suwa ride up 40 then up 199 to the top and back down then onwards north on the rest of route 40 which is superb all the way to Tateshina.
1. Bandai Azuma Skyline

Not been there but its definitely somewhere I want to go given its number one rank. Mt Bandai is situated north of Tokyo in Fukushima prefecture a fair ride away which puts it at odds with also riding Izu and Fuji on my next trip but will see what I can map out.

Read about my riding in Japan here

PS. I am aware older browsers are not displaying the pages here correctly but have decided not to reduce the content of the blog for the minority. Correctly displayed there is a full page backdrop photo then a smoke translucent overlay then a inner blacked out section where the text is in white with yellow hyper links to the outsides of this.

Pant - Boot clamps

I used to ride with Draggin Jeans however switched to pants also with knee armor (and then knee + hip armor) after reading that relatively few riders slide on their bum Vs hitting their hip or knee on the ground when involved in an accident. 

However knee armor in pants does tend to make the pants ride up my legs regardless of how I adjust the pads or the brand and model.

After my last ride to the New England Tablelands I decided to try find a solution as besides letting in the cold and causing wind chaff I need pants to stay down near my boots on the upcoming tour should I encounter rain to stay dry as well as to keep warm.

I obtained these clamps/straps very reasonably priced from eBay (look awhile the prices vary wildly) and tried them out last ride. Happy to say they work perfectly, they did not intrude yet held the pants in place. They are adjustable for length and the clamps held fast all day yet do not a fix in a way to damage your clothes.

The Cedar Route

Despite being tempted to ride south and stay within the less cold coastal areas I went west after a slow start.

I stayed up later then I was going to watching tv and had a hard time getting going. I also left wearing regular summer socks and without my full winter gloves which I was going to regret by the time I got to Peak Crossing in route to Aratula, so I stopped to take some photos.

After refueling I stopped for a coffee to let the sun warm the air a bit more before riding up Cunningham's Gap. Nice little ride that actually, the curves are flowing and dual lanes means no getting stuck behind cars, reminds me of Burringbah range road except with much better views to your right on the ascent.

I had thought to ride the back roads out of Aratula and also over to Maryvale however turns out the road I was thinking of is not sealed. (I should of checked google street view)  Great looking pub but not much else to the town, might make for a good lunch spot if riding from the other side of Queen Mary Falls.

The Cedar route is on your left after Gladfield. It runs via Freestone, Yangan, Emu Vale, Tannymorel and Killarney. Each intersection is well signposted so navigation is very easy. The road itself is not particularly curvy however there is enough variation and top scenery to look at. I enjoyed riding it.

Previously I always rode to Urbenville from the falls (via Tooloom) and skipped Killarney. Turns out I had not been missing anything, place was a ghost town despite more than a few tourists driving/riding up and down the main street looking for a place for lunch.

We all ended up at the Queen Mary falls cafe.

 

I had a early light lunch and then ran into a lot of traffic heading up the range. Poor timing on my part as lots of people arriving then to have a bbq at the falls. Would not have been too bad but for the many oversized four wheel drives, yep like you really need one of those to get there... I just took it very slow and that allowed me to spot a great vantage point to capture ‘The Head’ as the spot is called.

I went back via Rathdowney and from Aratula did not refuel until I got to Tamrookum (201km) when I finally hit reserve. Not bad mileage out of the old Harley mill from a 11 litre mains (3l reserve) tank. Makes my carbon foot print even smaller then it already was in comparison to those lumbering four wheel drives.

Lovely day for a ride.

Route (including unsealed bits not ridden) here.

iPhone motorcycle GPS

I have been disappointed in my Garmin GPS and stopped using it some tine ago altogether. For my upcoming Europe ride and for use on other rental motorcycles I wanted a GPS and this is what I have come up with.

This is a iPhone GPS solution for motorbikes developed by WikiMobi called SoEasyGPS. The system works like this, the case has a waterproof outer that you remove to access the main case itself. This has a waterproof zipper and two compartments inside the top is for you iPhone and the lower is for a backup battery which feeds your iPhone thus eliminating the need to source power from the motorcycle.

 

A standard USB to iPhone/iPod cable is used. The battery is a 3400mAh, much more than the original iPhone battery thus the combination is rated good for 10hrs. Now you can buy as a kit or source the battery and cable separately and save some money, which is what I did. Just don’t compromise on the battery mAh rating.

Once placed in case you can affix to your handlebars triple clamp with the velcro straps or even to your arm courier style. See the makers web site above for examples. It can be attached very quickly and with no modification to the bike and with no need to run power wires.

I like this idea. I can use it here via local GPS software I have on the phone. I can obtain fully featured latest European GPS software for the iPhone on a monthly license for just $9.90, and a month is all I need that for there, and I can use offline cached Google maps of Japan that I have on the phone that offer 5 zoom levels of zoom on my next ride there. (those maps were made available via a app called mapfolder which is no longer on the apps shop but may return) None of this will incur data charges so I am hopeful this will prove a better solution than the Garmin GPS.