Part 2 of our four-part equipment review from the 2026 ACT Pyrenees. For the full story of the trip, read ACT Pyrenees 2026 – five bikes, seven days and one unfinished adventure.
Rain on the screen, and the map is still crystal clear.
Dave used a Garmin Zūmo XT. For what he wanted—straightforward, turn-by-turn road navigation—it did the job.
Joe, James and Andy used the Carpe Iter Caretta, and this trip demonstrated just how different a dedicated seven-inch Android motorcycle tablet is from a traditional satnav.
One device, any app
On day one, travelling from Pau across to the Mediterranean coast of Spain, we used MyRoute-app—currently our favourite road-routing software.
When we joined the ACT tracks, we switched to DMD2, our favourite app for following tracks off-road. We also used Google Maps and Google Search throughout the trip, all on the same devices.
That’s the point: you aren’t permanently tied to one ageing piece of navigation software. You can use MyRoute-app, DMD2, Google Maps, Waze, Calimoto, Stegra or virtually any other Android app. If something better appears in six months, you can use that too.
With a traditional navigation device, you’re stuck with whatever software and functionality it had when you bought it. It doesn’t keep evolving with the rest of the technology around you; it simply becomes more dated every year, while newer apps, mapping tools and features move on without it.
“It’s like having a cheat code”
One trail was completely blocked by a large digger. Replanning that on a conventional satnav could have been a real hassle. With DMD2 and the Caretta, we zoomed out using the handlebar controller, found the next junction beyond the blockage, touched it on the screen and navigated directly there.
James described it perfectly: “It’s like having a cheat code.”
Screen brightness in 39°C sunshine
The Caretta’s 2,200-nit screen remained visible throughout, even in intense sunlight and temperatures reaching 39°C. For comparison, the Garmin Zūmo XT is rated at around 1,000 nits, while an iPhone X screen reaches roughly 625 nits at maximum brightness. In other words, the Caretta is more than twice as bright as the Garmin and around three and a half times brighter than an iPhone X.
That difference was obvious on the bike. While the Garmin remained usable and the iPhone X could be viewed in many conditions, the Caretta offered considerably more headroom against direct sunlight, reflections and the glare encountered on exposed mountain roads.
Of course, you can turn the brightness down when conditions allow. But having that extra brightness available when you need it is a real advantage.
Power, cradle and everyday use
While the engine is running, the Caretta operates directly from the bike’s 12V supply rather than continually charging and heating its internal battery. Its lockable quick-release cradle also meant we could remove it at cafés or hotels to study the next section, search online, check emails or use it like any other Android tablet.
The built-in speaker isn’t its strongest feature, so we’d use Bluetooth headphones or a speaker for watching video.
The one issue we found
We did encounter one issue. Riding closely together created a fog of very fine dust, which eventually dried out or obstructed the cradle’s quick-release mechanism. A small amount of lubrication got it working again; our visor-cleaning solution was enough at the roadside.
We reported everything directly to Carpe Iter’s technical team, who are already working on a solution. That responsiveness is one of the things that has impressed us most about the company.
Why we became a Carpe Iter dealer
The Pyrenees confirmed why we decided to become a Carpe Iter dealer. We stock the Caretta, additional cradles for riders with multiple bikes, mounting options, accessories, handlebar controllers and bike-specific cables—including BMW integration using the original Wonder Wheel. You’ll find them all in our Carpe Iter range.
Try a Caretta on your own bike
Want to experience the difference yourself? We have two demonstration Carettas. We can clamp one onto your handlebars, connect it to your Bluetooth intercom and let you try it properly. Call us on 01795 899204 to arrange it.