View Full Version : TomTom Rider 400
Thinking about replacing my ageing TomTom V2 with the new Rider 400.
The active mount has just broken for the 3rd time and at £60 for a replacement I think I'm better off just getting a new satnav.
Anyone used one of these yet?
Grant66
04-06-15, 12:22 PM
A colleague at work moaned at TomTom, not fit for purpose etc. and eventually they sent him a new one, even though the first they said no (they do offer a discount on the latest model at this stage) and claimed said they no longer have any in stock.
Problem is with the active mount is they are only waterproof when the satnav is attached, if you remove the satnav and leave the mount on the bike it will get damp and break. It's a really bad design and even if it's replaced it's going to break again.
7755matt
04-06-15, 12:46 PM
Vaseline or similar electrical grease on the contacts?
Grant66
04-06-15, 12:46 PM
It's a really bad design
i.e. not fit for purpose, leverage to get it replaced or really heavy discount on a new one (don't accept their first offer).
They rave about it on the tiger forum.
So sounds like a very handy bit of kit,
I've emailed TomTom, see what they say, but last time they just sent me a new mount which has failed again for the same reason. Not got any electrical grease or vasaline (prefer ky jelly) but I'll get some and see if that helps.
Just seen the TomTom 40 which is a cheaper version, looks exactly the same apart from missing a few countries I'll never ride to anyway.
How long does the battery last on yours without the dock.
Says up to 8 hours on my urban rider.
Never got close to that.
How long does the battery last on yours without the dock.
Says up to 8 hours on my urban rider.
Never got close to that.
managed to get 5 hours out of it the other day so I might just not bother and charge it off 12v when I stop.
If you want another non active dock ultimate add on's do one for most tomtom ones that use a different dock locking mech.
Personally never had issues un hitching my non charge mount .
But cheaper than the oe one if you use it on another bike or in the car
Nutsinatin
04-06-15, 04:48 PM
I've got a 400, they're still a work in progress software wise. You can't import routes from tyre yet (unless you use an SD card but you have to remove and reinsert every time you turn the device on otherwise it can't find it) and the screen rotates every left turn, with no option to turn this off yet. Most of the time it rights itself eventually.
The charger attaches via ram mount so is easy to remove, however the connector is very weedy and not waterproof so is greased and taped up to prevent water ingress when not in use (pretty much all of the time). I've not used it loads but I've had over three hours use out of it without charging and it was still showing well over half a charge left. Also the screen is permanently on, there is no option for the screen to turn off when not giving directions yet. There was a major software update two weeks ago that also allowed you to sync with your Mydrive locations. However direction wise it is great, really clear especially at junctions with a screen big enough to easily view at a glance, any questions feel free to ask.
Screen also works with summer gloves, not tried winter gloves yet, and I think the 40 is just the 400 with less countries and no speed camera updates (not sure on this as the tomtom website says no updates on the comparison page but says updates on the 40 page so worth checking) and 8Gb internal memory instead of 16Gb. The factory software takes up 7Gb so it might leave you a little short with future updates, although it's not like tyre files are all that big, if you even use it. The hands free phone calls was also only just released in the last update so not had a chance to test that yet, really it's still in Beta testing.
Fordward
09-06-15, 06:58 AM
I'm on my third active mount too, but now the contacts on the back of the sat nav have pin shaped dents in them, so the contacts no longer reach each other unless you squeeze the sat nav and mount together.
The battery on the V3 is bigger than on the V2, mine lasts all day so long as I use the battery saving feature that turns the screen off between directions.
The other trick for battery life of course is turn it off whenever you know where you're going, or the directions are simple enough to just follow the signs.
12-14 hour days through France last year, I did have to charge during my lunch hour, but I have a 12v socket which is permanantly live, and a 2.1 amp iPad USB charger which tops it up pretty quick.
So yeah, I just use the battery now.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Credit where it's due. TomTom offered me a 25% discount off any new satnav so I thought it would be rude not to order the 400 Premium, the discount I received is exactly twice what I paid for the mount that broke.
Comes with a car kit and a locking mount.
Happy days :)
Just need to find a decent satnav mount for the V-Strom
New TomTom Rider came in the post today
First impressions fiddling about with it are good, it looks so much nicer than the old Rider 2.
The "Plan a Thrill" option looks promising although will need to test it properly on a ride.
The main issue I have at the moment is the PC software it comes with, it now used MyDrive Connect rather than the old TomTome Home which, while it's a lot easier to put content onto the device because it's all cloud based, trying to find all the community POIs and stuff is looking impossible. The POIs I have managed to install (already on my PC) work okay but they don't show the little icons so you wont know one is close when you're our riding.
Another major gripe is that in order to use custom routes (the whole point of a bike specific satnav) you have to purchase and additional micro SD card. A £400 satnav and to use a major feature they won't chuck in a fiver's worth of memory card?? That's just mean!
Nutsinatin
18-06-15, 08:58 PM
[QUOTE=L3nny;3015686]New TomTom Rider came in the post today
First impressions fiddling about with it are good, it looks so much nicer than the old Rider 2.
The "Plan a Thrill" option looks promising although will need to test it properly on a ride.
The main issue I have at the moment is the PC software it comes with, it now used MyDrive Connect rather than the old TomTome Home which, while it's a lot easier to put content onto the device because it's all cloud based, trying to find all the community POIs and stuff is looking impossible. The POIs I have managed to install (already on my PC) work okay but they don't show the little icons so you wont know one is close when you're our riding.
Another major gripe is that in order to use custom routes (the whole point of a bike specific satnav) you have to purchase and additional micro SD card. A £400 satnav and to use a major feature they won't chuck in a fiver's worth of memory card?? That's just mean![/QUOTE
Don't say you weren't warned about the software being in beta or having to use the SD card for Tyre! :p] The SD card is just a workaround and will be moved to USB with a future update although when that will be...
Well I know I was warned but this is the same as I do with my old TomTom Rider 2, just pop the SD card out, stick it in the laptop, copy itn files over and job's a goodun so I wasn't too bothered. I am just amazed they don't include an SD card in the box. I've now go to buy one online and wait till next week for it to be delivered.
After more fiddling I've found you can't use any of the TomTom community content, and that's "as designed", you also can't use it as a phone dialer, even though it copies your phonebook to the satnav.
Tempted to send it back at the moment and just persist with the old V2
Nutsinatin
19-06-15, 04:52 PM
The ability to make phone calls from the TomTom has been removed due to safety concerns and they have no intention of reintroducing it, the reason it copies your contacts is so that it can display names when someone calls you as it has the ability to receive calls. As a sat nav for navigating it's great, but it lacks the features of a premium device, and once the software is finished it should be pretty good, but it's a joke that a £300 sat nav is released unfinished and without the required workarounds. I got mine on special offer at duty free so I didn't pay full price but a next gen product shouldn't be worse than the previous gen.
Amadeus
19-06-15, 05:10 PM
Other options (i.e. other manufacturers)?
There's the garmin but that's even more money
Mark recond the garmin are not as glove freindly......
Fordward
21-06-15, 06:07 PM
See eBay item 121675506929 £115
Battery life is only a couple of hours apparently but with a charging mount included who cares, and a budget car sat nav I used to have used the same software and it was absolutely fine.
Whether or not you can copy routes to it from Tyre I don't know.
Two failed Tom Tom active mounts and it's paid for itself though.
I'm seriously considering it when I need to replace my Tom Tom, I still navigate the old fashioned way and only switch the Tom Tom on when I need help.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
It looks like Tyre are up to something, making their own smartphone app I think. Surprised they would try and take TomTom's share of the market though seeing as they have a good relationship.
It will probably just be a route planning app for phones/tablets
That's(mobile planning app) a seriously good idea.
I'd like to keep my mobile battery unstressed. It does get hot when using Co Pilot.
And if you can create the map on a tablet, using the hotel or free WiFi. then upload to the tomtom it's got to be easy a good idea. But if
Nutsinatin
08-07-15, 07:00 PM
Well I suppose this is almost a 400 review thread so I'll update. This week another new update was released allowing you to click and drag tyre files to the TomTom via a USB, so no more microSD and turning it off and on. Also in the update there is now an option to lock the orientation in either landscape or portrait mode (you can still allow it to rotate freely based on its current orientation) so no more trying to read the screen after it rotates in a left bend! They've also added a function that can direct you to designated parking areas. There may be more but this is all I've discovered so far, oh and you can choose your theme colour now as well.
All good news.
Apart from the fact the micro SD I ordered for the Satnav was delivered yesterday :/
All good news.
Apart from the fact the micro SD I ordered for the Satnav was delivered yesterday :/
Can you use it in your dash cam etc
It was only a fiver so not too worried
Installed the updates and went for a ride yesterday. The orientation lock is a good addition, that was getting on my nerves when it kept moving around.
I connected it up to my Sena headset and the voice instructions were really good, although she kept telling me everytime I hit a waypoint which is unnecessary and a bit annoying.
One really good thing is some of the villages I went through had average speed cameras and it no tonly beeped when the start and end camera were close but also drew a yellow line across the whole measured part of the road.
Just been reading up this thread as I went out today and was a little impulsive. Went for the 400 premium, mainly because I wanted the locking mechanism and that's like £70 on its own so worth plumping for the premium.
I went straight out after fitting and gave the "thrill" mode a little go.
Nothing major, went from Christchurch to Ringwood which is usually a straight-ish Road and it gave a decent alternative. Was well impressed with it.
Couldn't hear it at all, I didn't have a Bluetooth headset with me (spur of the moment purchase and all) but will be trying to get it all up to date shortly. I first need to restore my mac to factory before flooding it with the tomtom stuff.
I have a Sony MW600 headset so hoping that works well with it.
I don't do many long trips but it should be good for weekend blats as I can plan a route and follow it rather than forget the route and end up on dull roads aiming to get to a destination
i had a play with a forum members V5 on sunday and i must say i'm very disappointed. faaaaarrrrr to may buttons to press to get your route up from a file. think i'll stick to my clunky car home waterproofed garmin.
now if the tomtom had a button for 'load your own route from file' and it followed that exactly as you made it and went straight to the mapping i would buy one tomorrow.
my garmin used to go straight to the map after loading the route file but i stupidly updated it and now i have to scroll to the bottom of a list to press 'view map' which is very annoying.
Oh also, this tyre thing, how does it work? Is it a standalone app? If so is it Mac compatible?
dont think tyre is Mac compatible but i could be wrong.
just had a look and they say no but suggest you install the emulator WINE.
Peatrich
06-08-15, 09:13 PM
I have a Macbook pro and can't get TYRE. It was ridiculously slow on my old windows vista laptop so I gave up and add stops to a route to visit villages I want to pass through or use 'plan a thrill' like you did.
Tyre is windows only, they are working on a mobile version though but that's about a year behind release. I think TomTom's vision is to plan the route on your phone and send it straight to the satnav.
I used the "Plan a Thrill" last weekend when I was daarn saaaf and it took me on some really good roads. It also took me on some really narrow single track roads and some were unpaved but the Vstrom didn't mind. Wouldn't have enjoyed it on the CBR though!
The main issue that the 400 has over the old Riders is that you can't delete waypoints on the move so if you miss one you have t go back and ride over it or your whole route is ruined.
Peatrich
07-08-15, 09:12 AM
Planning on the device is laborious and that's where TYRE comes in. Hope they develop it for iPhones and tablets.
That way point thing sounds like it could be a ball ache!
Didn't bother with tyre last night, by the time I updated it to the newest software and ****ed about with maps etc it was really late.
Ended up using motogoloco to plan a route out, transferred it across with no issues.
Sun is out a treat today so will be off out to try it shortly 😀
Also lenny, is the tyre subscription you get with it lifetime or just a year?
I also have another issue since updating it. It no longer seems to be able to connect to my phone 😠
Delete the old profile on the phone and nav.
Then re pair .
V5 ,had a paddy after an updat and it fixed it.
That way point thing sounds like it could be a ball ache!
Didn't bother with tyre last night, by the time I updated it to the newest software and ****ed about with maps etc it was really late.
Ended up using motogoloco to plan a route out, transferred it across with no issues.
Sun is out a treat today so will be off out to try it shortly ��
Also lenny, is the tyre subscription you get with it lifetime or just a year?
Tyre isn't the most intuitive piece of software but once you get the hang of it it's pretty good. Motogoloco is good as well. I use both, only thing I prefer about Tyre, is you can automatically add a lot more waypoints which adds piece of mind that 'ts going to definitely take you on the route you want to.
License is a lifetime one as far as I know but the pro version doesn't do much that the free one doesn't.
Anyone who uses the rider 400 also use an iPhone?
Have you had difficulty in maintaining the connection to the network?
Anyone who uses the rider 400 also use an iPhone?
Have you had difficulty in maintaining the connection to the network?
Try resetting your Rider to factory settings then reinstall all the updates, I had a similar problem with my Android phone when I first got the Rider but this seemed to fix it.
Yeah that doesn't work!
I spent about 2 hours this morning at the Apple Store and found a work around.
Seems to not like connecting when you have an Apple Watch. The steps are easy but an inconvenience as you have to do it every time you lose connection. Such as turning one or the other off.
Such a ball ache as it appears tomtom know there is an issue but won't fix it.
We found an article from last year re a known issue with iOS 8! Still not fixed.
If you do have an Apple Watch the steps are as follows:
Put watch in to airplane mode.
Delete pairing to phone from the tomtom.
In the phone settings reset network settings (you'll need to enter your passcode and the phone will restart).
Re-pair the tomtom and phone, the hotspot should connect and maintain the connection.
You can then put you watch back off from airplane mode.
We didn't test the reconnecting without the watch in play so you might be able to get away with losing the connection if you are happy for the watch to stay in airplane mode.
Also you may have absolutely no problems what's so ever if you don't have an Apple Watch!
Fordward
22-01-16, 07:57 AM
I'm on my third active mount too, but now the contacts on the back of the sat nav have pin shaped dents in them, so the contacts no longer reach each other unless you squeeze the sat nav and mount together.
The battery on the V3 is bigger than on the V2, mine lasts all day so long as I use the battery saving feature that turns the screen off between directions.
The other trick for battery life of course is turn it off whenever you know where you're going, or the directions are simple enough to just follow the signs.
12-14 hour days through France last year, I did have to charge during my lunch hour, but I have a 12v socket which is permanantly live, and a 2.1 amp iPad USB charger which tops it up pretty quick.
So yeah, I just use the battery now.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Quick update. I fixed this problem with the mount by splitting open the hinge, removing the springs, stretching them lengthways with a pair of plyers so they are a bit longer and putting them back in. The tom tom now snaps tight onto the mount and the spring action is much stronger. No disconnection problems and I'm back to using the charging mount as normal.
I do and always have had an isolator switch though, so that I can have the unit on the mount and disconnect the power and run off the battery. This is a design fault with all sat nav mounts which are powered either permanently or ignition switched, in that whenever the sat nav is in use its on charge. That kills the battery, they need to be charged and discharged to maintain the battery properly. Why many people have no battery capacity after a year, it's never been discharged. I run off my battery until its flat, at which point I flick the switch and switch on the charging mount. My battery still lasts a full day after 5 years of use.
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
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