- Blog
Top Motorcycle Apps for Touring
WhatsApp is an essential communication tool for motorbike riders on Explore Indochina motorbike tours because it offers group chats, making it easy for the tour guide to send messages to everyone. Riders can also use the app to share photos, videos, and voice notes, making it one of the top motorcycle apps for tour communication.
Maps.me
Maps.me is an offline navigation app that allows riders to download detailed maps of entire countries or regions, offering turn-by-turn navigation even without an internet connection. What makes Maps.me particularly useful for motorbike riders is its extensive coverage of less-travelled roads and off-the-beaten-path locations – perfect for those looking to join Explore Indochina’s tours of Mongolia, the Himalayas, and the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Google Translate
Communication can be challenging when motorbike touring in countries where you don’t speak the local language. As one of the top motorcycle apps, Google Translate offers real-time translation of text, voice, and images, making it easier to communicate with locals. Its offline mode is particularly useful in remote countries like Mongolia, India, and Laos.
Airalo
Airalo is an eSIM app that allows motorbike riders to stay connected to the internet without worrying about expensive roaming charges. This app, which many consider a must among motorcycle apps, provides access to local mobile networks in over 190 countries, ensuring that riders can use essential services like navigation, messaging, and emergency contacts.
PeakFinder
PeakFinder is a beautiful app for motorbike tours of the Himalayas and Mongolia. It provides a 360-degree panoramic view of surrounding peaks, naming mountains and hills even if they are out of sight. For those using motorcycle apps for tour enhancements, this app adds value by allowing travellers to appreciate and identify stunning mountain ranges, adding depth to their experience.
Relive
Relive allows motorbike riders to create a 3D video of their entire journey. By tracking GPS data and overlaying it onto a dynamic map, riders can relive their adventures visually, from start to finish. As one of the top motorcycle apps for tour documentation, it’s a fantastic way to capture scenic routes, epic landscapes, and thrilling road trips, sharing them with friends or fellow riders.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a go-to navigation app for many, providing real-time traffic updates, turn-by-turn directions, and street-level imagery. As a backup tool among top motorcycle apps, riders can quickly find their way if lost. Its comprehensive search functionality helps riders reconnect with their group as soon as possible.
Windy
Windy is a weather forecasting app that provides detailed information on wind patterns, storms, and precipitation. The app’s real-time radar and forecast features make it a valuable motorcycle app for tour planning. It allows riders to plan routes around dangerous weather, avoiding heavy rains or strong winds.
Spyglass
Spyglass is an advanced GPS navigation and augmented reality app that turns your phone into a professional-grade tool for navigation. With its compass, speedometer, altimeter, and waypoint features, Spyglass ranks high among the top motorcycle apps for tours. It helps riders track their position accurately in unfamiliar territories and overlays navigation data onto the real-world view through the phone’s camera.
GPX Tracker
GPX Tracker allows motorbike riders to record their routes and save them in GPX format, which can then be shared with others or used later for navigation. This is one of the best motorcycle apps for tour tracking, as it’s particularly helpful for riders who explore unfamiliar or unmarked roads, ensuring their path is always recorded. Riders can also import GPX files from others, enabling them to follow pre-planned routes without needing an internet connection.
By Digby Greenhalgh
Digby Greenhalgh is the founder of Explore Indochina, and a recognized expert on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. All motorcycle tours are designed and guided by Digby.
Recent Posts
Oscar 8
US Special Forces suffered a devastating defeat while attacking an NVA base deep inside Laos
Operation Lam Son 719
South Vietnamese and US forces suffered a catastrophic defeat when they invaded Laos in order to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail
