There are now many very helpful apps out there for motorcycle and scooter riders, easily accessible from our phones! From route planning and GPS to stat tracking, or even just for finding a good community of like-minded bikers, there's an app out there for you!
In this blog today, we've compiled a list of some of the handiest apps for two-wheel riders and a bunch of them are free, so why not give them a go?
It's pretty easy to get a smartphone attachment for your bike but some of these motorcycle apps are useful even when you aren't on the road!
10. REVER
App Type: Motorcycle route planner, GPS and community
Credit: REVER.com
Kicking off our list today is the trusty REVER app...
REVER allows you to plan out your routes, highlighting interesting and popular roads, as well as providing GPS navigation. It will also track the details of your ride, including distance, duration, and speed. There is even the option to share details with friends and community members, so you can compare your performance, check each other's routes out, and even complete challenges!
The community features can help you find fellow enthusiasts and nearby rallies and ride-outs in real-time, while the offline modes mean you can continue your navigation even if you lose signal! A great one for any type of rider, especially for those who love to explore and go off-road, as well as those who want to enhance their in-app experience with the optional subscription cost for the 'Pro' version.
- Android app price: Free
- IOS app price: Free
- In-app purchase / Subscription: Optional premium service
9. Detecht
App Type: Motorcycle route planner, GPS and community
Credit: Detecht.com
Taking the ninth spot today is the Detecht app - the all-in-one motorcycle app that provides turn-by-turn navigation, route planning, and crash detection features.
The free version comes with most of the features we're after already, with a trip planner to plot your routes and a social feed to share them. Detecht will track stats from your rides and build up your profile to help you meet other similar riders. The app's crash detection feature is something we never want to use but a good thing to have nonetheless. You can store your personal emergency contacts and the app will alert them of your condition and location in the event of an accident. In my opinion this feature alone is worth an install, especially when it is free!
There is a premium subscription available for a fiver a month which gives you a curvy road finder to make your journeys more interesting, as well as the ability to share your live position with others and navigate community uploaded routes.
- Android app price: Free
- IOS app price: Free
- In-app purchase / Subscription: Optional premium service
8. Calimoto
App Type: Motorcycle route planner and GPS
Credit: Calimoto.com
In at number eight on our list today, we have Calimoto...
The free version grants access to over 50,000 recommended ride routes as well as offering a trip planner, with maps and points of interest along your routes. The premium version is a little bit steep for me but it does add a ton of extras.
For a weekly £9 subscription fee you get full worldwide route planning, including the 'twisty' algorithm that finds the more interesting roads for you. It offers terrain and satellite maps with full voice navigation, as well as weather and danger alerts. There is also a stat tracker to monitor your riding performance and trip data. I think if you are planning a tour or a ride overseas, it will be worth upgrading to premium but otherwise free options will likely fulfill all your needs.
- Android app price: Free
- IOS app price: Free
- In-app purchase / Subscription: Optional premium service
7. Waze
App Type: Map and GPS
Credit: Waze.com
Next up on our list today and sitting at seventh is Waze!
While not specifically for motorcycles, Waze is a free app that will track your location and let you plan out your journeys, as well as update your routes in real-time with traffic and delays. It's pretty cool when riding with a friend too, you can keep tabs on fellow users and ping them information like your ETA.
Waze can locate the nearest petrol stations, restaurants, and parking facilities so you can find essential places wherever you might be. As standard, it will always try to send you along the swiftest possible routes but it can be customised to avoid areas you don't want to ride in, like bumpy or muddy roads or particularly busy crossings, etc!
6. Best Biking Roads
App Type: Motorcycle Route Planner
Credit: Best Biking Roads iOS App - Apple Store
Moving swiftly onto number six - here we have the Best Biking Roads app!
The Best Biking Roads app is a great little app, offering some GPS and map features but its main selling point is the list of over 10,000 popular ride routes from all over the world. It does cost money but it's only a few quid (exact pricing below).
You can use Best Biking Roads to look up new routes for your biking trips or weekend rides and the app can actually find any recommended routes near your current location in real time. Great if you just want to go out and have an adventure and useful for any motorcycle or scooter rider.
5. MyRide
App Type: Motorcycle Route Tracking and Ride Analysis
Credit: MyRide iOS App - Apple Store
Fifth spot on the list today is Yamaha's very own motorcycle app - MyRide...
MyRide is an app developed by Yamaha but it works for all riders and bikes. It will let you plan out your trips and even give weather warnings along your route in advance. You can take photos at your stops along the way and post a mini journey on social media, as well as check out other users' journeys.
I think the best feature of the app is the various analytics it can track, including lean angles, average speed, top speed, acceleration, and distances. You can literally see how your riding progresses as you cover more routes and go on more journeys. Useful and free!
4. Google Maps
App Type: Maps
Credit: Google Maps iOS App - Apple Store
Coming in at number four today is Google Maps!
Whilst it might be a slightly obvious one that comes readily installed on a lot of phones and most of you will have already used it in some form, it still does not take away from the fact it is a pretty decent tool.
It doesn't offer quite the range of tracking features that more specific biker apps have but it's easy to use and can help you plan your journeys or find your way back when you took a wrong turn. I've used this to find my way home many times!
3. BBC Weather
App Type: Weather
Credit: BBC Weather iOS App - Apple Store
Next up and sitting at number three on the list today is BBC Weather...
Not exactly the most exciting app in the world but here in the UK we are constantly at the mercy of the weather! When you are planning your ride-outs and adventures use this to see what Mother Nature has in store for you, make the most of those sunny days, and even help decide if it's time to go home when there are clouds on the horizon.
Another bonus of this app is the fact it is completely free and a very useful app!
2. Chargemap
App Type: Electric Vehicle Charging Point Locator
Credit: Chargemap.com
Number two on this list today has to go to the Chargemap app - a great little app that offers real-time info on the nearest charging stations as you ride!
With the number of electric motorcycles and mopeds on the rise, the Chargemap app is good for planning routes on your electric bike and making sure there are plenty of charging stations along the way. You can set up various filters to search for the best options for you, including connector type, charging power, and speed or nearby free charging points. With over half a million points listed across Europe, Chargemap should have you covered.
- Android app price: Free
- IOS app price: Free
- In-app purchase / Subscription: Optional one-off purchase for Chargemap payment card
1. Motorcycle Theory Test Kit
App Type: Motorcycle Training
Credit: Motorcycle Theory Kit iOS App - Apple Store
Taking the last spot on this list goes to the Motorcycle Theory Test Kit!
I'll round out the list with something aimed at helping those who are just starting out on their motorcycle journey. There are a few different versions of these apps, depending on if you are on Android or iOS but they all function pretty much the same.
There are basic versions available for free with a variety of mock test questions to help you practice but I would actually recommend investing in one of the paid versions, like Motorcycle Theory Test Kit from Deep River Development. The app costs £5.99 and features both the UK edition test questions for 2023 and 80 unique hazard perception test videos. These Hazard perception tests can sometimes be a bit awkward if you have never seen them before - and they will be in your test!
Another good feature of this app is that it will update for free to the latest version any time the DVSA makes changes to the motorcycle theory test!
- Android app price: £5.99
- IOS app price: £5.99
- In-app purchase / Subscription: Optional in-app purchases
The Last Stop!
So there you have it, I hope you enjoyed my run down on the best apps out there for motorcycle riders...
Last but not least, if you have your very own motorcycle you need to insure - make sure to get a motorcycle insurance quote direct with Lexham!
