Navigating

[bowber]

Map and write some waypoints and road numbers on a bit of tape or paper, if you think you're lost get the map back out and "recalculate" your route.
Steve

[Oop North John]

I use the latest technology when on the road, so when it was maps, I used them to plan and navigate by. Now I use the GPS as it assists by not caring too much if I go the wrong way, assists by showing the turn plus speaking it. The GPS is most useful in a strange city when its A-Z knowledge makes it so much easier and therefore allows me to concentrate on the road, and let the GPS do the navigating.
Still use maps during the planning stage.

[Brenhden]

I've tried it all over the last few years and I've found the best (and cheapest) combo is a road atlas and a phone to check where you are. Each night (over a beer) I mark up the map with where I want to go the next day in red felt tip.
The only issue I found was in Greece where I struggled to read the Greek signs.

[Paul-S]

Maps every time for me and printed off google maps of site locations. I possess a satnav as a back up and helps find things like fuel, stores etc
I like to plan routes on maps and will buy local area maps for the small and nadgery stuff not found on main maps and satnavs

[paul_tim2000]

Towns/Cities and major road numbers on a note taped to tank for the long distance bits.
Old car Sat Nav for the last 5/10 miles into a city/town/hotel/campsite (wrapped in clingfilm to waterproof the screen / digitiser)
Map in the luggage for when it all goes wrong (remarkably often)

[Simon_100]

What satnavs are really good at is finding a way out of cities -and into them when you need a mechanic
Ps.Why did my mobile suggests 'massage' when I started tapping 'mechanic'!

[qcnr]

Towns/Cities and major road numbers on a note taped to tank for the long distance bits.

Old car Sat Nav for the last 5/10 miles into a city/town/hotel/campsite (wrapped in clingfilm to waterproof the screen / digitiser)

Map in the luggage for when it all goes wrong (remarkably often)

How my thinking is going at the moment. Just trying to find a route not involving motorways as that is just soo boring...

[SteveW]

Exclusive use of sat navs, rigidly pre-planning prior to setting off are ideal strategies for business meetings or delivering parcels.
But on a motorcycle tour, holiday, trip, adventure (whatever you'd want to call it) for me, it's better to be flexible don't set yourself schedules, if it's an area new to you and it's pretty cool, stay a while, if you see something interesting take a detour and have a look.....chill out.
Looking at good quality paper maps, talking to locals, open your eyes as you travel, rather than just trusting google maps.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

I've tried it all over the last few years and I've found the best (and cheapest) combo is a road atlas and a phone to check where you are. Each night (over a beer) I mark up the map with where I want to go the next day in red felt tip.
The only issue I found was in Greece where I struggled to read the Greek signs.

That's the ouzo, you take it after you have marked up the map, solves the reading problem nicely.

[DavidS]

Even if sat nav is used, it is always good to work out the route on a map.
Not only does it give you an idea of where you should be, not where the sat nav wants you to be but reliance on electric technology alone is not the greatest idea and certainly no fun.
Maps are good fun anyway and you'll need one to see where you might wnat to go. Spot that interesting road that the sat nav would ignore....
I only ever use mine for that last mile or so to find somewhere in a warren of roads.
My wife and I even plotted our car route from the Golden Gate Bridge to Union Square in San Francisco with google earth and Street View so we didn't need the sat nav we didn't have.
Talking of which, Google Earth and Street View are great for seeing what a turning or arrival point looks like. Great when you are in a row of traffic looking for a name board etc as you already know what you are looking for.