Replacement for the motorcycle rider 400-> 550 series?

[callefr]

Hello,

I am new here and have been driving around with a TomTom GPS device for many years starting with the first rider, and now the rider 400.

The rider was very good in it's time, the rider 400 somewhat disapointed me with a dangling screen just after the waranty period ended (of course). Since then and for many years now, I am driving around with a TomTom kept together with adhesive tape.

Now, I am starting to look out for a replacement, concluding that from 400 to 550, not much seems to have changed, and this while Garmin has brought some interesting thing to the market and very interestingly, there are now rugged tablets than can be used for more than just navigating as well.

Is there any news on what tomTom is doing in this respect? Being familiar with TomTom I would prefer sticking to the brand.

 

[Willy875]

Hi
Tomtom does not communicate whether a new GPS model will soon be on the market.
so for the moment there is only the rider 550.

 

[callefr]

For me, the 550 builds on the 400 and that concept is relatively old.

I accept that it is in some aspects very good but I do plan to go for a more versatile "open" android tablet style.

Well, the rider 400 will be used for as long as it works, and I follow the market to be able to decide fast once that fails.

I seem to like those carpe iter things despite their weight

 

[Willy875]

The Rider 400 only has a map of Europe, the Rider 550 has a map of the world updated via Wi-Fi so no need for a computer.

 

[callefr]

Well, I consider even the 550, which has more or less the same concept as the 400 as relatively outdated.

The Rider 400 only has a map of Europe, the Rider 550 has a map of the world updated via Wi-Fi so no need for a computer.

You are right, in a relative way.

In my situation, I only ride in europe

and I prepare my holidays with my-routeapp on the computer (I think preparing weeklong holidays on a 4 inch screen is a nightmare) so I use a computer anyway for 70?% of all kilomteres that I ride... and I don't need a GPs for most of the other kilometers.

 

[idealhobbies]

As far as a new Hardware GPS, I would LOVE to see a Tomtom 650 (6 inch brighter screen), but they seem to be App driven these days. They've completely cut off the United States, leaving us with only overpriced Garmin (yuk) GPS's to buy here. I can't even buy a 550 to replace my failing one and have it shipped here. It makes business sense for them to be a software only company... no factory to make hardware, no r&d, no large staff to employ, no benefits to pay for, no electric bills, etc...just a few people writing software code, and they could be working from home. I've given up on Tomtom meeting my hardware needs. Which is a shame, I liked their route planning and the transfer method to my Rider 550 soooo much better than Garmins methods. So much so, that I have 2 - 6 inch ones for cars. It's nice having 3 devices with the exact same places and routes in them. Oh well.

As for a replacement... consider one of the carplay devices. I just added one to my Honda NC750 and I like it. The HUGE drawback is that it's a drain on my phone battery, which is EXACTLY why I used a hardware gps and not my phone, but shelling out $600 for a Garmin XT 2 is just not something that I am willing to do at this time. The Ricoel c7 II is getting really positive reviews and is on sale right now for about $129 (US dollars) depending on what mounting hardware you need. I have a Carpuride 7 and it's brite and lightweight. The 7 inch screen is REALLY nice on my 53 year old eyes. Be aware though, the current version of Tomtom Go app is NOT working properly. It is not syncing your saved routes from plan.tomtom.

 

[Julian23]

I've got a Rider 400; with no indication of a replacement on the horizon from Tomtom, my first choice would be the new Innovv N1 Pro. I think Car Play / Android Auto is the way forward; I'm waiting for some reviews before deciding whether to move on now or wait to see what else becomes available in due course.

 

[Abbienormal]

I bought a Garmin since TomTom has abandoned the bike market apparently. I hated their mapping program and after a few months I sold it on eBay and bought a used 550 on eBay. I really wish they would make a new one as I have all my routes on my-route on my computer as I also like the larger screen for plotting. My current 550 is doing like my last one which is I touch the screen, it highlights what I chose but nothing happens. After several attempts it works but when I am riding that is not what I want to do.

 

[canderson]

I bought a Garmin since TomTom has abandoned the bike market apparently. I hated their mapping program and after a few months I sold it on eBay and bought a used 550 on eBay. I really wish they would make a new one as I have all my routes on my-route on my computer as I also like the larger screen for plotting. My current 550 is doing like my last one which is I touch the screen, it highlights what I chose but nothing happens. After several attempts it works but when I am riding that is not what I want to do.

It is unlikely that you will ever see a new TomTom sold in the United States. I'm not even convinced that they'll ever update the 550 in Europe.

 

[Craig63]

I think if tomtom do not at some point update the rider then more and more bikers will go to garmin for the xt2. tomtom are starting to fall behind the competition and not only garmin.

 

[Julian23]

I ended up buying an Aoocci C6 Pro for £126 a few months ago. It's a massive upgrade from the 400 I was using. It's very responsive, intuitive and a pleasure to use. It even comes with front and rear 1080p cameras (I've not used these as I already have cameras) and TPMS. CarPlay has been seamless so far. Aoocci went on an influencer blitz a few months ago, which is how I heard about them. They're not perfect, but their customer services team are very responsive.

 

[Abbienormal]

I ended up buying an Aoocci C6 Pro for £126 a few months ago. It's a massive upgrade from the 400 I was using. It's very responsive, intuitive and a pleasure to use. It even comes with front and rear 1080p cameras (I've not used these as I already have cameras) and TPMS. CarPlay has been seamless so far. Aoocci went on an influencer blitz a few months ago, which is how I heard about them. They're not perfect, but their customer services team are very responsive.

Your reply made me look but I notice in the comments it only does kmph and I could not see how long of a recording the memory card could hold. Living in the US I need mph.

 

[canderson]

I ended up buying an Aoocci C6 Pro for £126 a few months ago.

Nav requires that you have a cell signal, though, since it doesn't allow for offline maps, right?

 

[callefr]

Rumours are (again) that TomTom is working on a new device for mtorcycles. At least that is what my local dealer claims.

They are apparently not stocking any 550 anymore expecting an announcement of TomTom soon.

I wonder whether there is any truth to this, whethr it will be any good and if I will be tempted to buy one. TomTom seems to be an obvious choice compared to the more specialised options such as Carpe Iter but I quite dislike their "no communication" policy .

 

[idealhobbies]

These days, my Rider 550 stays in my "Frunk" on my NC750. I use my Carpuride and phone exclusively. I do use the TomTom app, as it has all of my routes and "places", but also, with the Carpuride I have access to Waze and My Route App. I download the off line maps of anywhere I plan to go, so I don't need signal. I keep the Rider 550 on my bike "just in case". Having the large screen is a God send, and I have it mounted just below my eye line, so it's literally just a slight glance downward. I've tried everything that I can think of to replace my aging 550, tablet (too big with mounting), jerry rigging a 6 inch car tomtom (not bright enough), large phone (got too dang hot long term) and the Carpuride has won out. The only thing that I didn't like was the mounting and I have since solved that with a quadlock converter for Evotech. Now I can quickly mount it and dismount it when I go in someplace without having to fool with getting it back where I want it everytime. In a perfect world, I would still rather have a hardware GPS, but Tomtom will not provide us with what we want. IF and BIG IF... they come out with a 6 or 7 inch GPS in the future, I'd seriously consider it... though I'd have to order it from Europe and have it shipped to the US.

 

[callefr]

i have been using mra route-app next for navigation for some time.

The advantage is the obvious integration of the very good mra routeplanner.

The disadvantage is that the navigation app is plagued by shortcomings: excessive battery drain, updates that introduce new problems, difficulties to download maps... Overall, it seems impossible that such small team (5 people, Waze has a few hundred) makes such a nice product but you have to take the shortcomings as part of the package.

MRA Next ruined one holiday by not functioning properly and I don't want to risk another holiday on a tool like that.

So I am back using my old TomTom 400 while looking for an alternative. And these seem not so obvious

 

[callefr]

the tomtom rider 550 is now not available on the tomtom website, only on "partnersites"

are we getting a new 7 inch motorcycle navigator?

 

[raesewell]

Don't hold your breath.

 

[Willy875]

the tomtom rider 550 is now not available on the tomtom website, only on "partnersites"

are we getting a new 7 inch motorcycle navigator?

A Rider 550 purchased from partner sites is always cheaper than on the TomTom website.
On partner sites, you are entitled to the same guarantees as on the TomTom website.

And being out of stock doesn't mean the Rider 500/550 model is gone.

 

[canderson]

the tomtom rider 550 is now not available on the tomtom website, only on "partnersites"

are we getting a new 7 inch motorcycle navigator?

We are also seeing it out of stock on the TomTom UK site

https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/navigation/motorcycle-gps-sat-nav/rider-550/

That's not a good sign. Clicking on that on the TomTom site redirects you to Amazon UK where Tienda Siglo XXI will sell you the device.

@Willy875
I had not looked recently, but this is the first time I have EVER seen an "Out of stock" tag for the 550 on the UK site. It sounds as though are still some available in the distribution channel that haven't sold through yet, which is why people are still able to buy one.