r/KTM390ADV • u/normaltusker • 1d ago
Built a Google Maps–native navigation app for the KTM dash — would you pay a subscription for it?
I've been building a companion app for KTM's connected dash (the 1290/1390 SD, 890/790 Adv, etc. — anything running the KTMConnect TFT nav) that uses Google Maps as the actual routing and map engine instead of the stock Mapbox (in India at least) provider. Turn-by-turn, lane guidance, live traffic, and search all come from Google, projected onto the bike's dash exactly the way the official app does it.
Before I go further I want to gauge whether people would actually use this, because it can't be free — more on that at the end.
What it does today:
- Full turn-by-turn on the dash — turn icons, distance-to-turn, street names, ETA, distance-to-destination — same BLE protocol the official app uses, so it works on the stock cluster
- Google Maps routing with live traffic, so reroutes actually reflect current conditions
- Google Places search — find a destination by name, not just coordinates
- Multi-stop route planning with drag-to-reorder stops
- Save routes and favorites; favorites (Home, Work, and your saved places) show up in the dash's own favorites menu, and picking one on the dash starts navigation from your current location
- Mirrors phone notifications (maps apps, messages) to the dash, with your own guidance always taking priority
- Ride history with GPX export
- Overspeed alerts using the road's actual speed limit
- Handlebar volume controls for voice guidance
Why it's better than the official app for a lot of riders:
- Google Maps data — better POI coverage, better traffic, better search, more current maps in most regions than the stock provider
- Faster, more predictable rerouting
- Route planning that doesn't fight you — real multi-stop editing, reorderable stops, saved routes that persist
- Notification mirroring done sanely — third-party nav apps get suppressed while your Nav SDK is guiding so the dash never shows conflicting turns
- Active development — I'm adding dash features the official app has had for years (recent-destinations list, POI-by-category browsing from the dash, handlebar menu navigation) and shipping fixes fast
The subscription part — being upfront:
This will be subscription-based. Not because I want recurring revenue for its own sake, but because using Google Maps as a native, embedded map and navigation provider is a paid licensing cost to Google — every route calculated, every map tile, every search, every place lookup is billed. A free app can't absorb that at any real user count. The subscription exists to cover the Google platform cost per active rider and keep the lights on for development.
I don't have a price to announce yet. What I need first is a sense of how many people would genuinely sign up for this.
So: if you ride a KTM with the connected dash — would you pay a monthly/annual subscription for Google Maps navigation on your cluster instead of the stock experience? Drop a comment (a simple "yes / maybe / no" + your model helps), and tell me what feature would make it a definite yes.
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u/ddas131093 1d ago
I am willing to pay, but only once I see a working demo and the subscription plans. Also need an iOS version properly hosted on the App Store; not keen on sideloading stuff.
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u/19palaksavla199 1d ago
Make it open-source, self hostable option. Also allow users to bring their own keys
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
making it open source makes it vulnerable to security issues plus not all users are developer mindset oriented to bring their own keys. I did explore this option already though.
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u/19palaksavla199 1d ago
Probably open source community will help in identifying and fixing the issues, rather than hiding vulnerabilities. Also make it as an option for people who are into software development and understand things.
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u/PoppedBitADV 1d ago
making it open source makes it vulnerable to security issues
This is only true if all you've got is security through obscurity(which isn't security at all)
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u/Late-Adhesiveness 1d ago
I see mandatory subscriptions, I delete the app.
If it's really just about covering the API fees, sure. But let me bring my own Google API key as an option. Offer alternate map engines like OSMAND. Limiting to Google is a deal breaker for me anyway. I need GPX support.
Open source the app so someone can add this capability for you.
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
GPX support is built in. OSMAND does not have the kind of traffic and POI data like Google does. hence my usage of google.
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u/WonderfulSpell3064 1d ago
Great work, I would love to see the demo.
Personally, I avoid subscription based services.
I am not sure if its possible from a developer's perspective but can an app be built in a way like android auto works? We don't need any paid services there but the map and other features are displayed on screen.
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u/Ok_Guidance_259 1d ago
Like everyone says, make a demo, put it up on youtube/ig reels as well, might help speed up reaching the audience you need.
And heck yeah i would contribute
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u/Oxlokesh 1d ago
Please make for iOS too🙏
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
that's next in the list since I own both an iOS and Android that I use with the bike.
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u/johnwickisneo 1d ago
I guess a similar app is already there.
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u/Gamerock 1d ago
There are already few apps which do it for free reason being they take direction data from google maps notification and cast it to bike.
Your should be more reliable if your are trying to integrate google maps but i have their apis are not cheap
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
Yes, they are expensive. I am building app worth reliability as a focus. Have been testing this as per that.
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u/Mean_Acanthaceae_519 1d ago
I have seen multiple posts about this kind of app and also used them, but for me they just suddenly freeze then I have to close the app close the navigation and start again and again it freezes
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u/Koalarmyftw 1d ago
I've tried using your app not so long ago. I couldn't get it to work. Anyway, id subscribe if it works flawlessly. Instead of turn by turn id like it if it showed some sort of a visual representation at least for a 50m radius that'd be great as another option
Is this your app?
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
This is my first app ever. Not sure how you have tried it when i have not even opened it up for beta users.
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u/normaltusker 1d ago
no, the app in the link is not my app.
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u/Koalarmyftw 1d ago
Oh okay, I mistook you for the other person who was also working on a similar project.
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u/RadioQuick6509 1d ago
i use third party carplay screen, i use mappis for motorcycle navigation as well as gmaps (car) for most of my city travel.. It works pretty well in Delhi NCR (since almost no restriction in NCR for motorcycle except the main-lane meerut expressway & Dehradun expressway.
GOOGLE SUCKS by blocking motorcycle navigation on carplay screen, Google braindead devs need to understand turn by turn does not work in India.
for OP: Turn by Turn is a dead end, It does not work in India. telling after riding 300k+ km on different motorcycle residing in Mumbai/Pune/Delhi NCR/Sikkim. dont persue it full time. for part time project - Go ahead, show some demo.
Personally i will never use turn by turn.
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u/u_shome 7h ago edited 7h ago
I'd pay for it if the display includes at least a rudimentary 2D map. And iOS appstore download only. I'd be very happy with what the RE tripper nav does (except keeping the phone screen on) or even the Beeline Moto 2.
That said, since the cost (subscription) isn't visible yet, I'd be careful. An MVP which does away with the frills like speed alert might be easier to sell at lower cost and build early adopter user base.
Subscription makes sense for me, for I might go on or two long trips in a year when I actually need the detailed nav only.
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u/spannerphantom 1d ago
Show a working demo. That would help people to judge