BMW ConnectedRide Cradle and BMW Motorrad Connected App for BMW GS Rentals

When you rent a BMW GS motorcycle from MotoGS Rental Croatia, navigation should be practical from the first riding day. All our BMW GS rental motorcycles are equipped with the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle, so you can use your own smartphone with the BMW Motorrad Connected App for motorcycle navigation, offline maps, GPX routes and ride recording during your rental period.

This is especially useful if you start your ride from our base in Trogir near Split Airport and continue through Croatia, along the Adriatic coast, across the Balkans or further south of the Alps. Instead of learning an unfamiliar GPS device, you can prepare your own phone before pickup and use it with the BMW system on the motorcycle.

The BMW ConnectedRide Cradle is more than a simple phone holder. It holds your smartphone, can charge it while riding and connects the phone with the BMW Motorrad Connected App and the motorcycle by Bluetooth. The real benefit comes from the complete setup: smartphone, Cradle, Connected App, Bluetooth connection, BMW motorcycle display and Multi-Controller operation.

Download the BMW Motorrad Connected App before pickup

Before your motorcycle rental starts, download the BMW Motorrad Connected App and prepare it at home. Do not wait until pickup. Setting up the app, logging in and downloading maps is much easier before the first riding day begins.

Download the BMW Motorrad Connected App here:

• BMW Motorrad Connected App for iPhone on the App Store
• BMW Motorrad Connected App for Android on Google Play

After downloading the app, open it, create or log in to your BMW Motorrad account and check that the navigation area works correctly.

Update the maps for the countries you want to ride

Installing the app is not enough. For useful motorcycle navigation, download and update the offline maps for every country on your planned route.

If you plan to ride in Croatia and Montenegro, prepare the maps for both countries. If your route continues to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Slovenia, Italy, Austria or France, download and update those maps as well.

This is important because outdated or missing maps can make the app much less useful on the road. It is frustrating to solve map problems while standing in the sun with riding gear on, especially when you are trying to find a hotel, a border crossing, a ferry port or a mountain road.

Prepare your phone before your BMW GS rental starts

• Download the BMW Motorrad Connected App.
• Create or log in to your BMW Motorrad account.
• Download and update the offline maps for all countries on your route.
• Prepare GPX route files if you want to follow planned motorcycle routes.
• Save important destinations such as hotels, ferry ports, border areas or daily stops.
• Bring charging cables for both USB-A and USB-C, with the correct phone-side connector for your own smartphone.
• Set up Bluetooth and navigation only while the motorcycle is stationary.

Bringing both USB-A and USB-C cable options is useful because the exact USB socket on the individual rental motorcycle can vary. You will receive the BMW GS model you booked, but the USB connection on the specific motorcycle handed over to you may be USB-A or USB-C. With both cable variants, you are prepared without needing to clarify the socket type in advance.

Smartphone charging while riding

The BMW ConnectedRide Cradle can charge your smartphone while riding. If your phone supports wireless charging, it can be charged inductively in the Cradle. This is the easiest solution because the phone can stay in the Cradle and charge without a cable.

If inductive charging is not available, does not work reliably with your phone or is affected by your phone case, charging can also be done by cable. Navigation, Bluetooth, screen brightness, GPS and map use can drain a smartphone battery quickly, so charging preparation is important for longer rental days.

Use the BMW Multi-Controller on the left handlebar

One of the biggest advantages of the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle and BMW Motorrad Connected App is the integration with the BMW Multi-Controller on the left handlebar. Many BMW riders also call it the Wonder Wheel.

After pairing the smartphone with the BMW Motorrad Connected App and the motorcycle, you can operate important app and navigation functions through the Multi-Controller instead of constantly touching the phone screen. This makes the system much more practical than a basic phone holder, especially during longer motorcycle riding days.

The Multi-Controller can be used to control app functions shown through the BMW system, including navigation view and route guidance functions. Your own smartphone provides the navigation data, while the motorcycle gives you a more integrated way to use it while riding.

Bluetooth navigation without keeping the phone in the sun

Your smartphone does not always have to stay in the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle during the entire ride. Once the phone is connected to the motorcycle by Bluetooth through the BMW Motorrad Connected App, route guidance can be shown on the BMW motorcycle display.

This is especially useful on very hot or sunny riding days. Direct sunlight and heat can cause smartphones to overheat, especially when the screen is bright and navigation is running. In that situation, you can keep the phone in a shaded place, for example in the tank bag or safely in your jacket pocket, while following the navigation instructions on the motorcycle display.

If you keep the phone in the tank bag, it can also be charged by cable while staying away from direct sun. The important point is that the Bluetooth connection remains active, so the BMW Motorrad Connected App can continue to send route guidance to the motorcycle display.

Using GPX routes with the BMW Motorrad Connected App

Many riders who rent a BMW GS from MotoGS Rental Croatia already have their own route ideas. Others want to follow prepared motorcycle routes through Croatia, the Adriatic coast, the Balkans or the roads south of the Alps.

The BMW Motorrad Connected App can be used for route planning and GPX route import. This is useful if you have prepared your own routes before pickup or if you want to follow one of our recommended motorcycle routes.

GPX files are especially practical for multi-day motorcycle riding. You can prepare each riding day as a separate route, save the files on your smartphone and import them into the BMW Motorrad Connected App when needed.

Better than a basic phone holder

A basic phone holder may be enough for short local riding, but it does not offer the same BMW integration. The BMW ConnectedRide Cradle is designed for BMW motorcycles with navigation preparation and works together with the BMW Motorrad Connected App.

For a premium BMW GS rental motorcycle in Croatia, that difference matters. You get a cleaner cockpit setup, charging options, BMW app integration, Bluetooth connection, motorcycle display route guidance and Multi-Controller operation that fits much better with long-distance motorcycle riding.

Ride recording after your rental day

The BMW Motorrad Connected App is not only useful for navigation. It can also record selected rides and show riding data after the route is completed. Depending on your app settings and phone setup, this can include route data, distance, riding time, altitude and other riding-related information.

For many riders, this becomes a useful digital memory of their BMW GS rental. After a day on the Adriatic coast, through the mountains above Split, across Bosnia and Herzegovina, through Montenegro or along a Balkan route, the recorded ride helps you remember where you rode and what you experienced.

Useful BMW ConnectedRide Cradle videos

The following videos are useful before your motorcycle rental, especially if you have never used the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle before.

How to attach the smartphone in the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle:
Watch the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle smartphone mounting video on YouTube

How to connect your smartphone via Bluetooth and use the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle:
Watch the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle connection video on YouTube

These videos explain the physical mounting and Bluetooth connection better than a long written instruction. We recommend watching them before pickup if you want to use the system from the first riding day.

Part of our BMW GS rental equipment

At MotoGS Rental Croatia, the BMW ConnectedRide Cradle is part of the broader idea behind our rental fleet: a BMW GS should be ready for real motorcycle riding, not just short local use.

Our BMW GS rental motorcycles are prepared for riding through Croatia, the Adriatic coast, the Balkans and many European countries. The rental setup includes practical touring equipment such as lockable side panniers, top case, tank bag, crash bars, tank protection bars and BMW factory equipment packages available for that motorcycle.

You can view our current BMW GS rental fleet here: BMW motorcycle rental Croatia. To check real-time availability for your riding dates, use our motorcycle rental search. For rental conditions, required documents, insurance, deposit and border-crossing information, see our motorcycle rental FAQ.

Prepare once, ride easier

The BMW ConnectedRide Cradle and BMW Motorrad Connected App work best when prepared before pickup. Download the app, create your account, update the correct offline maps and prepare your routes before the first riding day.

For a BMW GS rental motorcycle, this small preparation makes longer riding days smoother. Your smartphone is ready, the maps are updated, GPX routes can be imported and the BMW system can support you while riding through Croatia, the Balkans and beyond.

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