GPS navigation for an off-road motorcycle tour

GPX tracks vs routes: the difference that matters

A GPX file can contain two very different things. A track is a recorded line made of many closely spaced points – exactly the line someone actually rode. A route contains only a handful of waypoints, and your device calculates the path between them using its own map.

Off-road, that distinction is critical. Many gravel tracks are missing from road maps or classified wrongly, so a recalculated route may send you to the nearest tarmac road or down a track that is not rideable at all. A track simply shows you the checked line.

• Always import GPX files as tracks and do not let the device convert them into routes.
• Switch off automatic recalculation and detours for off-road days.
• Name each file clearly, for example by day and variant, so you don't load the wrong one at breakfast.

Dedicated GPS unit or phone with an app?

A dedicated motorcycle or outdoor GPS is rugged, waterproof, readable in bright sunlight and usable with gloves. It works without mobile signal and can be wired permanently to the bike. The downsides are cost and sometimes fiddly imports.

A smartphone with an off-road navigation app is cheap and flexible, but it is more sensitive to vibration, heat and rain, harder to read in the sun and hard on its battery. Many experienced riders use both: the GPS unit as the main navigator and the phone, loaded with the same tracks, as a backup.

Whichever you choose, look for:

• GPX import as a track without conversion
• Offline maps that show farm and forest tracks, ideally with contour lines
• Glove-friendly operation or large buttons
• A bright, anti-glare screen
• Water and shock resistance

Offline maps, mounting and power

Never rely on mobile data. Download maps for the whole area before you leave – for a Bosnia trip that means the entire country plus your transit route. The map should show minor and forest tracks.

Gravel means constant vibration. A solid mount with a secure lock is essential, and a phone should also sit on a vibration dampener, because shocks can damage the camera's image stabilisation. Position the screen so you can read it with a quick glance while standing on the pegs.

For power, fit a permanent USB socket or a cable wired directly to the bike, and check that the connector stays sealed in the rain. A small power bank and a spare cable in the tank bag are cheap insurance.

Test everything before you travel

• Import every track and check that each day displays completely.
• Do a test ride: check the mount, readability when standing and charging on the move.
• Set screen lock and power saving so the display stays on.
• Choose a zoom level that shows junctions early enough.
• Save the tracks on your phone as well in case the main unit fails.

How navigation works on the Bosnia Marathon

On the Bosnia Marathon there are two GPX tracks for each of the six riding days: a longer, more technical Rally route and an easier Classic route recommended for beginners and large adventure bikes, with a tarmac option for individual sections. You receive the files by email in advance, and at registration in Kupres the team helps you load them onto your GPS or smartphone.

At registration you are also issued an OWAKA GPS device. It is not a navigator: it provides tracking throughout all six riding days and, together with the emergency team, is a key part of the safety set-up. You still navigate yourself, because you ride independently, alone or in smaller groups. Our guide to riding off-road safely in a group explains how to make that work.

Lost the track? How to get back on it

Bosnia still has mine-suspected areas, mainly along former front lines. Roads and regularly used tracks are safe; the risk starts when you leave them. That is why you always stay on the official tracks. Read more in Off-road in Bosnia: rules and landmines.

• Stop as soon as the line is no longer under your position arrow, rather than riding on and hoping.
• Zoom out and work out where the track runs and where you left it.
• Ride back the way you came to the last point where you were definitely on the track.
• Never cut across country, even if the track looks only a few hundred metres away.
• If a track ends or becomes overgrown, turn round.

Frequently asked questions