TomTom Vio, the smart and trendy navigator for the scooter [REVIEW]

TomTom Vio – Right on the mirror shaft of my scooter, I mounted a support and a waterproof case for my cell phone, to use it as a navigator if necessary. A simple and rather cheap solution, but not too cheap, given that between RAM support (the best and not surprisingly also used by TomTom) and case you can spend more than 50 euros. Apart from the economic aspects, using a mobile phone as a navigator on a scooter is not the best and there are certainly negative aspects. For example, the screen does not respond to commands if you wear gloves, battery consumption is very high and other smartphone functions (phone calls and incoming messages, notifications and more) can interfere with navigation. Furthermore, the case is quite laborious to dismantle and I have already had one stolen from me once by a friendly thief. A more emergency solution than anything else, to overcome the problem of the difficulty of installing a motorcycle navigator on the scooter. When TomTom launched the Vio it therefore seemed to me to be a very intelligent, practical idea, as well as really well thought out from a design point of view. The Dutch company, not surprisingly, has decided to equip it with colored covers, matching some of the colors of the Vespa range, the scooter that excels for its refined and fashionable look.

Our Customers Than we willingly accepted and with discreet curiosity to try it, choosing to use it during our road test of a Vespa Sprint 125, the best partner we could ask for. The package is a cube, inside which, in addition to the Vio, we find all its accessories. We have already mentioned the silicone coverthat I am Interchangeable. We find some in the standard kit a neutral one, black in colour, others can be purchased separately (to date there are a total of 7 colors available, with a price of 14.95 euros for an additional cover). It is not mandatory to use the cover, but it protects the Vio, both from impacts while it is mounted on the scooter, and from scratches caused by other objects if you keep it in a jacket pocket, perhaps together with your house keys and other things. In this sense, one is also available dedicated protective case (19,95 euros). In the package we also find the USB charging cable, but above all the support to fix the Vio. The really interesting idea comes from the fact that it has a dual usability, because it is born small and compact, designed to be fixed to the classic mirror rod, but a bracket can be used, which allows it to be used on the left knob, if the scooter or motorbike has faired mirrors, or with special rods. Obviously it should not be fixed to the right knob (it is the gas one...).

The Vio has an essential but very pleasant design, round and with a diameter of 8,8 centimetres, with a very low weight, just over 100 grams (104 to be precise). The thickness is just 24 mm and there are no protrusions or edges, because the fixing system to the support is located in a recess on the back.

Above, still in the rear area, we find the power button, while in the lower part a small door with gasket hermetically closes the micro USB port. This is to guarantee thewaterproof IPX7 (30 minutes immersed at 1 meter depth). The anti-glare capacitive screen, suitable for use with gloves, is also round, with a diameter of about 6 centimeters.

The first necessary step is to download the dedicated app on your mobile phone (available with both Android and iOS). The Vio in fact, it is not a stand alone navigator, but replicates, via a Bluetooth connection, the image from your smartphone. It installs in a few moments and it is then possible to select and download the map of the area of ​​interest (in our case Italy).

They are the advantages of this “hybrid” solution are undoubted, because by using the smartphone to run the application, the Vio is much smaller and lighter than any other navigator, therefore it is well suited to being fixed to the rod of a mirror. Compared to using the phone as a navigator, here too there are many advantages. First of all, the phone's battery consumption is much lower, given that the display remains off, but it is also possible to keep the mobile phone charging in the glove compartment, which is increasingly equipped with a USB socket. It then avoids having to expose it to possible risks of breakage and to the elements in case of rain, while the Vio is absolutely waterproof and very robust.

Turning to mounting the device on the scooter (but also on a motorbike), the operation takes a few moments. An Allen key, present in the package, to unscrew and refit two screws and you're done. If you need to use the bracket for the handlebar grip, first fasten the support and bracket, then a single screw allows you to tighten the eyelet, which is internally equipped with a rubber pad to keep it more stable. In all cases it is then possible to adjust the bayonet coupling, which rotates, but can also be tilted, to obtain the best position of the screen. At this point the Vio can be put into position with a simple and immediate gesture. You insert it onto the support and rotate it approximately 90°. This is one of the strong points of the new TomTom device, because it is so practical to put on and take off, that you never leave it unattended when you get off the scooter, being able to then put it comfortably in your pocket or on the scooter itself, away from your eyes and hands of the bad guys. On the scooter, especially if you fix it to the mirror rod, very little remains, given that the support is very compact.

Our test

We were also able to take advantage of voice commands of the TomTom Vio application, thanks to Caberg Bluetooth Just Speak S mounted on the Ghost Carbon that you see in the photo. The interaction thus becomes three-way, with mobile phone, Vio and hands-free kit, getting the best possible result. The possibility of doing so is very convenient being able to store your mobile phone in a pocket, but also under the saddle or in a bag, controlling its functions from the two other devices. The Vio signals an incoming call, displaying the caller's name and photo on the screen. In addition to this, as a navigator it takes advantage of the experience of one of the market leading brands, also making useful accessory functions available. You can choose the routes according to your needs, perhaps avoiding leaving the city or fast routes, if you use vehicles up to 125 cc, just as in the case of the Vespa Sprint 125 with which we carried out the test. They come tutors and speed cameras reported, which is very important in cities like Milan, where fixed locations are no longer counted and a small distraction is enough to go beyond the limit by a few kilometers, incurring a fine. The smartphone then allows the use of functionality of TomTom's flagship models, because thanks to the connection it makes available, for example, TomTom Traffic, which receives information in real time and allows you to avoid a traffic jam or detect work in progress, revising the route accordingly. It is mainly controlled from the telephone, as it should be. It would certainly not be safe to be able to select the destination while driving, which is why it must be done before leaving, in a much safer, but also very quick way, from the smartphone screen. However, from Vio it is possible to select your favorite places with just a few clicks. Vio uses the phone's GPS for faster operation, but still has a built-in antenna.

The configuration then allows you to customize the layout, with various colors for the maps, different voices for voice commands, as well as switching between day and night views. The battery lasts up to 5 hours, while the micro USB port can theoretically also be used with the device mounted on the support, provided that it is waterproof during charging, obviously. From the mobile phone it is possible to monitor the charge level of the Vio, while in terms of interaction between the two devices, by closing the app on the phone the Vio automatically turns off, when you turn on the Vio the program on the mobile opens, again automatically , but it is not expected to close by turning off the Vio. However, if the battery is flat, this allows you to continue listening to the voice instructions through the hands-free kit in the helmet.

Maps and services such as updates on tutors and speed cameras, or TomTom Traffic, are free for life, while the list price of TomTom Vio is 169 euros, for a product that could pave the way for a new concept of navigator. After those for cars and navigators dedicated to motorbikeshere comes the compact and practical product for scooters, perfect for city use and beyond. Of course, there is always some room for improvement (for example, greater autonomy would be desirable, at least considering those who use it intensely and continuously), but There are more advantages than disadvantages of this interesting solution.