Why does my Garmin change my motorcycle route?

A GPS recalculates a loaded route with its own settings, and with only a start, an end and a few stops it picks the fastest road between them. Exporting GPX for Garmin from MotoCurve adds shaping points along the line, so the recalculated route still passes over the roads you planned.

Which file format does a Garmin zūmo use?

GPX. In MotoCurve choose Export, then GPX for Garmin, and copy the file to the GPX folder on the device or import it in BaseCamp.

Which file format does a TomTom Rider use?

Newer TomTom Riders take a GPX through TomTom MyDrive. Older models use ITN, which MotoCurve also exports.

Is exporting a route free?

Yes. Planning and exporting in MotoCurve is free and needs no account.

Guide

How to put a motorcycle route on your Garmin or TomTom

A route planned on a big screen is only half the job: the GPS on the bars has to ride the same roads. The catch is that most devices recalculate a route the moment they load it, and a plain list of stops lets them pick the fastest road between them. Exporting with shaping points stops that.

Open the planner

Export the route from MotoCurve

1
Plan the ride
Open the planner at motocurve.com, add a start and an end, and pick a route style such as Curvy. Drag the line onto any road you want to be sure of.
2
Open Options and choose Export
The Options menu is at the top of the planner. Export lists four formats.
3
Pick the format for your device
GPX for Garmin makes a Garmin trip with shaping points along the line, so the device keeps your roads. Plain GPX suits TomTom MyDrive and most apps. ITN is for older TomTom Rider models.

Load it on a Garmin zūmo

4
Connect the zūmo to your computer
Use the USB cable. The device shows up as a drive.
5
Copy the file into the GPX folder
Put the downloaded GPX for Garmin file in the GPX folder on the device (or on its memory card), then unplug it.
6
Import it in Trip Planner
On the zūmo, open Trip Planner and import the file. It appears as a saved trip; start it from there.
7
Or go through Garmin BaseCamp
On a computer, import the GPX into BaseCamp and send it to the device, if that is how you manage your trips.

Load it on a TomTom

8
Newer TomTom Rider
Import the plain GPX into TomTom MyDrive, on the web or in the app, and it syncs to the Rider.
9
Older TomTom Rider
Export ITN instead and copy it to the device with TomTom's desktop software.

Tips

Before the ride, check the trip on the device itself: zoom along the line and make sure it follows the roads you planned.
If the device asks whether to recalculate, a trip with shaping points still passes through them, so it stays on your roads.
Got a route from another planner? The free GPX converter turns GPX, KML or ITN into a Garmin-ready GPX.
No GPS on the bike? The free MotoCurve app rides the same route with turn-by-turn voice navigation on Android and iPhone.

Questions

Why does my Garmin change my motorcycle route?: A GPS recalculates a loaded route with its own settings, and with only a start, an end and a few stops it picks the fastest road between them. Exporting GPX for Garmin from MotoCurve adds shaping points along the line, so the recalculated route still passes over the roads you planned.
Which file format does a Garmin zūmo use?: GPX. In MotoCurve choose Export, then GPX for Garmin, and copy the file to the GPX folder on the device or import it in BaseCamp.
Which file format does a TomTom Rider use?: Newer TomTom Riders take a GPX through TomTom MyDrive. Older models use ITN, which MotoCurve also exports.
Is exporting a route free?: Yes. Planning and exporting in MotoCurve is free and needs no account.

More guides

How to avoid highways on a motorcycle ride

Keep a ride off the interstate with a curvy route style, the Avoid roads sliders and a few shaping points.

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