DMD-T865-X Nav Tablet

Looks to be a quality product that I look forward to using in the near future.

Coming from using a Nav app on a phone to this, hasn't been too bad of a learning curve. Before working on getting the wiring harness installed on the bike, I spent a week learning my way around the 2 different Settings apps, one for DMD, the other being the Tablet. Figuring out how to connect my phone as a WiFi hotspot for accessing offline data like for navigating via Google maps. Typical Android system, has definitely sold its soul to Google.

Installing the harness, I connected power post ignition via a PDM60 programmable load center I have installed. Got the Remote 2 controller installed. Powered up the tablet thru the mount connection only. The tablet and the Remote 2 didn't act properly. In the Buttons app where you test the functions of the Remote, the app was recording continuous, erratic, un-commanded movement of the joystick without me touching it.

The tablet was also not auto-powering up when turning on the ignition. Had to manually power it up. The battery indicator would initially show it getting 12v power. Then the "auto power off" popup kept coming up and that's when I realized it was losing 12v power.

Rechecked my PDM60 load center connection and setting. I then disconnected the tablet mount power connection and opted to power the tablet at the back port with one of the 3 legs of the harness splitter. Turned on the ignition, the tablet auto powered up like it should. The Remote was detected and all the buttons and joystick acted properly in the Buttons test app. 12v power was steady. The red light on the Remote was strong and steady, whereas before it was kinda flickering, assuming at the time, that was normal.

So I conclude that the pogo pins in the mount are problematic. Not surprised, as I've had similar issues with pogo pin mount interfaces before. A closer look at them reveals that some pins don't seem to be protruding thru the rubber seal as high as others.

The tablet mount backplate is not drilled/configured in a proper bi-directional AMPs pattern. Depending on what/how you'll be mounting this to your bike, you may have to locate/drill an APMs pattern 90* to what's already there. You can see in some of the video tutorials that this has been by done, presumably by Thork themselves. Tho the backplate is a little too narrow for it, with careful location of the hole layout, it looks like it can be done acceptably well enough.

I really like the large screen and the visibility of the DMD map and all the size adjustments for different aspects of the map, especially street label/font size. Currently, I don't see myself using half the features this thing can do.

Currently, the only problem I'm having with it is, even tho the joystick function is recorded correctly in the Buttons app, it still doesn't work in actual use to pan the map around. I'm hoping, thinking I may have disabled some setting somewhere while learning my way around the Settings menus earlier. I'm still not sure what I should be seeing on screen to know if an app or function is performing properly or not.

Maybe I'll figure it out with a little more time.

There's is no printed manual for this. It's all video tutorials at Thorks website. Those are problematic in that, the menu layout and style of the current software version is different than what it was when the videos were made. And the screen capture method used to make the videos doesn't capture the actual navigation thru the menus. Doesn't show what was tapped to get to the next menu level shown. So it's trial and error on the users part to figure out how to get there and if it's the same submenu as shown, because it may not look the same in your current software version.

My biggest problem with the Settings apps is finding a particular setting once and then can't remember where I found it. Reminds of the days of learning my way around the guts of the Windows OS.

To conclude, yeah it's been a little frustrating learning a new system, getting it up and running, but wasn't unexpected. The Tablet and DMD app appears to have great potential. I look forward to using it in the field.

I was skeptical about spending the money on this setup since the total was going to be about $1200 (T865x, Remote 2, bracket). So far, I have been very impressed and satisfied. Plan to spend some time with it in your living room, and watch the "how we use it" videos on Youtube. One big recommendation that I have is to NOT plug your phone into the tablet during setup. I did this, then realized that I didn't want to type in a pin number everytime I start the bike. In order to get rid of the pin number (for security) I had to go back through and make sure that I wasn't signed into Google or anything else. Really, all that I want to do, is sign into Drive when I want a file. I do not have a sim card installed, but a separate DMD app connects your phone to the tablet and pushes text and phone call notices to the tablet. Oddly, the phone calls only show the number, and not the contact name, but I can live with it. All the units can be switched to imperial, except the contour lines are still in meters, but again, I can live with that.

I installed it on a 2019 Honda CB500x and used a Tusk wiring harness (highly recommend) for connecting to the battery. The stock accessory bar on the CB needs to be flipped around backwards, which works, but requires an additional bolt on each side. I bought an aftermarket aluminum mounting bracket (short), and all is well.

The remote is the icing on the cake. What a tremendous experience to be able to pan and zoom around while riding.

Tim has been great for support too.

I could fill the box, because I started life with Rand McNally ... LOL This is just witchcraft!

It's still winter where I live and I don't snowmobile....so, it will take a bit longer before I can get out and do some two-wheeled exploration. I've owned several Garmins over the years with the most current model being a Nav 6 on my BMW 1300GS. I wanted something much more off-road, so after spending a lot of time researching, I narrowed my search to a Rally Pro (Itchy Boots) or the 865X. The 865X won out for me as the Rally Pro is a "one-man shop" and that scares me a bit over the long haul. But, initially, I rated the 865 a "4 star" mainly because I believe anything electronic that costs this much should come with some indoctrination help. One opens the box to discover the 865, the mounting bracket, the harness and another cord plus a packet of screws. The mount is pretty self explanatory, but the harness offers three socket ends, two female and one male. Which female to use....?? Turns out they're both the same, but a "quick-start" guide would have explained that saving some research time. No explanation what the cord is for. No guide for where all the screws go (or could go??? Still have no idea.). No explanation about how to charge the 865 with a landline. When I googled DMD2 for an explanation of what it is......"navigation app" came back as the answer. Great, that's what I thought I was buying. But, where are the maps? More UTube videos (that you have to find) and one discovers they have to be downloaded from a screen in the 865X. So, it takes a bit of playing with the 865X and numerous videos to get a good feel for what you've bought. I like that I can download other navigation apps, GAIA, onX and any other you might like to try and I'm excited to eventually get out in the sticks to try them out. But, for us "old farts" not born into computer-operations it is a bit frustrating having to do a "self-guide". A few hours designing a guide (or even reference links to UTube videos) would have been so much appreciated. Regards the mount, long-handlebar riser bracket and AMPS extended bracket that I also purchased.......absolutely first rate machining on these pieces with my only dismay in finding "made in China" on them. But, this factory certainly knows how to run CNC's, too. This combo appears to offer good rigidity for the 865X on my Yamaha XT and I don't think there will be any vibration issues. Response time from Adv-Tim was first rate and even though the 865X was noted as "back-ordered" when I ordered it, I received notice of full delivery within a few days. I'm interested to do a recap review of these pieces about July or so to offer my thoughts about how they work. Remind me.