#android

Regular readers of Motorcycle.com know that I am a huge fan of wireless headsets, and one of the biggest reasons is my use of turn-by-turn directions. Since I have been very skeptical of many of the moto-mounts on the market up until now, I’ve been content to keep my phone safely tucked inside my jacket pocket. One of the issues has been that the safer-looking mounts utilized cases that simply didn’t look comfortable to carry on a daily basis. However, carrying the phone in my pocket comes with two big drawbacks. First, I can’t glance at the map to make sure I understand the verbal instructions. Big five-way (or more) intersections can usually be deciphered at a glance when the instruction to “take a slight right turn” leaves me with multiple options. Also, running navigation software for long periods of time will take its toll on a phone’s battery (an even bigger issue as my iPhone XS’ aging battery diminishes in capacity). So, wireless charging is a perfect addition for folks like me who hate to fiddle with dangly cables on a motorcycle. This is where SP Connect and its wide array of mounting components enters the picture. 

Way back in March of 2015 I reviewed the Sena 20S Motorcycle Bluetooth Communication System and found it to be my favorite of all the systems I’d ever sampled. I liked it so much that I bought a an extra mounting kit for it so that I could use it on my two favorite helmets, and when I wore something other than those two lids, I usually switched one of the mounts. In those two-plus years since the review, I’ve used the 20S on almost every single one of my motorcycle rides. It is an essential part of my motorcycle kit. That’s how much I’ve grown to love the Sena 20S. So, you can imagine how stoked I was when I received a pair of the upgraded Sena 20S EVO communicators.

Bluetooth-enabled accessories have revolutionized the helmet communicator market. Originally, one could only use them for talking to friends who had the same kind of device. Now, riders are using helmet communicators for a host of activities: phone calls, music, and turn-by-turn directions. Through all of these, the rider is using a smartphone to provide the information via audio cues.

Whether you’re cooking, exercising or simply relaxing on the couch, apps often rule our digital lives. In this age of smartphones, tablets, virtual reality and a myriad of other electronic gizmos, all of us use apps at some point during our day. Yes, that includes while on our precious motorcycles, too. Two wheels may be a form of escaping the digital world, but it would be a shame to ignore the different ways in which technology can enhance our riding experience. Here we’ve gathered 10 apps we believe would be useful to everyone on two wheels. From finding great riding roads to potentially saving your life, the 10 apps we’ve included here should appeal to the wide array of riders out there. Users on an iOS device are lucky in that almost all the apps listed here work on your device. Android users are also mostly covered. Sorry, but if you’re using a Windows phone or some other OS, you’re largely SOL. Read on to see our 10 featured apps.