Carpe Iter Android navigation info

During the summer of 2023 I took my 2019 KTM 790 Adventure S from Nova Scotia, Canada to the UK and Europe to continue my multi-media portraits series called The Motorcycle Portraits: https://themotorcycleportraits.net/ During the three months that I was on this trip I rode just over 10K miles. It was an epic adventure. I added another 37 new portraits to the series and had some amazing experiences.

Navigation was always going to be a challenge. In the past, I had used a Garmin Zumo XT but found that too many times, the unit would freeze on me at the most inopportune moments. So I got my hands on a Carpe-Iter to help with my navigation. https://carpe-iter.com/

They make an amazing tool which is basically a larger Android phone that sits above my normal display on the 790. It is weatherproof and charges from pins on the back and a cable on the side.

I am able to download apps such as Google Maps, Calimoto, I-Overlander, etc. Then I can simply view the display in front of my eyes at a size that is clear and legible.

Since I need glasses for closeup I can no longer clearly see my iPhone that is mounted to my handlebars as the display is too small. That makes the Carpe-Iter perfect.

Since I'm an Apple user and not in the Android world there is one drawback to the system and that is that I do not sync my Sena helmet headset with the Carpe. Instead, I sync it with my iPhone. This way I can make calls, listen to music, and hear turn-by-turn navigation directly from the phone to my helmet.

In order to use the Carpe-Iter, I simply mimic the search destination on the Carpe to what I have already selected on the phone. That could be Google Maps I-Overlander or Calimoto. in the end, I'm listening to the turn-by-turn from the phone but following along with the Carpe. If I was in the Android world then none of this would be an issue. I would simply sync my helmet with the Carpe and all the phone, music and navigation would come directly from the Carpe to my helmet. But that is life with an Apple :)

Regardless, I could not be happier with this unit. It has made riding so much safer now that I can see my directions in front of me.

I also use the "adventure controller" which was developed by the fine folks at Carpe-Iter to control the unit. I could of course control it with my finger the way I would a phone but thanks to this three-buttom/one joystick controller attached just to the right of my left grip I can make most selections on the unit directly from the controller.

Other than one day that was above 45 degrees C and all my devices were too hot to work the unit worked flawlessly and even on that hot day once I started moving and air began to circulate the Carpe began working again without an issue.

I put together this little video to explain a few things about my experience and some advice. I hope it helps.

David