From Kitchen Table to Kickstand Up - Plotting the Perfect Ride

It Has Never Been Easier

It always starts the same way: a cup of coffee gone cold, a kitchen table slowly disappearing under maps, notes, and an inner dialog that included, “What if we went this way instead?” Before the engine fires and the side stand comes up, the ride has already begun.

For the seasoned sport touring rider, plotting a ride isn’t about stacking miles for bragging rights anymore.

It’s about chasing the right miles! 

Route planning should not be something you dread or avoid. It’s part of the experience.

So how do you plan yours?

Are you the methodical type, carefully shaping waypoints in route-planning software and exporting the file to a dedicated GPS like a pre-flight checklist? Or have you embraced a CarPlay-style solution, letting your phone handle navigation while you focus on the ride?

Both camps swear their approach is the right one, and both have valid points. But when you’re a few hundred miles from home, staring at a frozen screen while your riding buddies wait with helmets on, the system you chose suddenly feels either brilliant, or deeply flawed.

Life in the Dedicated GPS Camp

For years, I lived firmly in the dedicated GPS camp, and not because I loved it, but because we really didn’t have much of a choice. Options were limited, software was clunky (yes, I’m looking at you, BaseCamp), and we paid premium prices for GPS units that mostly did what we asked… on a good day.

It worked fine, sometimes…but “fine” was acceptable because it was the only option we had. We learned its quirks, developed workarounds, and accepted that a little pre-ride frustration was just part of the sport-touring experience. It wasn’t elegant, but it got us down the road, and for a long time, that was enough.

When Route Planning Stopped Feeling Like Defusing a Bomb

Eventually, it dawned on me that I didn’t have to keep using antiquated software. There were other tools out there that could build clean, reliable .gpx files without requiring a minor anger-management course.

These newer tools were easier, more intuitive, and, most importantly, didn’t punish you for daring to move one waypoint by detonating an entire route you’d spent hours perfecting. Suddenly, route planning felt less like defusing a bomb and more like… planning a ride. And once that light bulb went on, there was no going back to yelling at the computer screen while questioning my life choices.

Enter CarPlay: A Quiet Game Changer

Then, just recently, when I picked up my Honda NT, I learned about wireless CarPlay options that actually worked on a motorcycle, and that changed everything.

Now I could use my trusted phone to navigate, running whatever app I wanted to manage my .gpx files. Even better, I discovered that maps could be downloaded ahead of time, so constant connectivity wasn’t required. No signal? No problem.

It was a great day, one of those quiet “wait a minute…” moments, and it got me thinking: do I really need a dedicated GPS anymore, or was I just hanging on out of habit?

GPS vs. CarPlay: Two Philosophies, Same Goal

When you strip away brand loyalty and habit, dedicated GPS units and CarPlay-based solutions really represent two different philosophies, along with cost and control.

Dedicated GPS units are purpose-built, weather-resistant, and largely immune to phone notifications or OS updates. But they often come with higher upfront costs and limited software choices. CarPlay-style setups typically cost less and let you choose the route-planning tools that fit your brain, drag-and-drop planners, web-based tools, or apps built specifically for .gpx files.

That freedom usually means faster planning, easier edits, and less friction overall. One approach favors structure and specialization; the other leans into flexibility, affordability, and user choice. Neither is wrong, they’re just different ways to get you to the same great roads.

Why I Made the Switch

I’ve officially gone over to the CarPlay side of things, and just as importantly, I’ve dumped Base Camp for my route-planning needs. There are simply too many good options available now not to explore them.

After trying just about everything out there, I landed on MyRoute-app for both Plotting the Perfect Ride and navigation. Once I realized it checked all the boxes, easy planning, clean GPX handling, and seamless use on the bike, I took the plunge and bought the lifetime packages. 

Even then, the total cost was roughly a quarter of what a new dedicated GPS unit would have run. That was an eye-opener. Modern tools, ongoing updates, and no feeling that my expensive hardware might be outdated before the tires wore out.

The Power of Community-Curated Roads

One feature of MyRoute-app, and something many modern platforms now offer, is community-shared routes. Riders upload routes they’ve already ridden, which can be browsed, downloaded, and dropped straight into your personal library with just a few clicks.

I’ve found some truly amazing roads this way, especially when traveling in areas I wasn’t familiar with. It’s like getting local knowledge without having to corner someone at a gas station and ask, “Hey… which way should I really go?”  For sport touring riders who value great pavement over guesswork, that shared experience is worth its weight in premium fuel.

Don’t Let Familiarity Hold You Back

Change is hard, especially when what you’re using works, even if deep down you know there are better tools available. As riders, we tend to stick with familiar systems because they’ve gotten us down the road before, and there’s comfort in that.

But taking the time to explore today’s route-planning platforms can be eye-opening. Most offer free versions, so you can see how they think, how they route, and how they fit your riding style. And if your bike doesn’t have CarPlay built in, affordable units like Carpuride work great without breaking the bank.

Don’t let the fear of change, or the phrase “this is how I’ve always done it”, keep you from an even better riding experience. Sometimes the best roads come from simply being willing to try a new way to find them.

Until next time.. Be safe, Be Kind and Let’s Ride!