[American Motorcyclist Association] - AMA Member Tested: SPOT Trace

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Track your ride

MSRP: $99 plus $74 per year for tracking service (includes AMA member discount)
www.findmespot.com

By James Holter

SPOT offers a number of products to tell you, and others, where you’ve been, pretty much anywhere in the world, in (almost) real time.

This review is about the SPOT Trace, which can send signals to your cell phone and update an online map with its location. The Trace uses GPS technology, making it among the most reliable tracking products available.

For $99, you get a rugged rectangle about the size of a large key fob and some mounting hardware. The device is simple and tough. The USB port cover is secured by two screws, and a large rubber gasket seals the battery compartment. You also need to purchase the tracking service. This is $74 for the first year for AMA members—a $25 discount off the regular price.

With the Trace in hand and the tracking service lined up, plug the device into a PC with the included micro USB cord. Go to www.findmespot.com/activate. The website walks you through setting options and downloading firmware updates.

For mounting, options are a mounting plate, double-sided tape or hook-and-loop fasteners. SPOT says the logo needs to face skyward and that there should be no metal obstruction above the Trace.

When the Trace is turned on, two lights flash. One is for the battery. It should be green. The other is for the GPS signal. Red means there’s no signal. Green is good.

As you ride, the Trace will update an online map with your location every 2.5, 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes. You can share a link to this map with those you want to follow along with your two-wheeled adventures.

The Trace stops sending signals automatically when it’s stationary for a set period. When it starts moving again, it will notify you with a text or email and resume updating the online map.

In testing, we got three months of daily use out of the factory-installed lithium batteries using the 2.5-minute update option. If you don’t like batteries, SPOT offers a waterproof DC power cable for $49.99 that can connect the Trace directly to your bike.

For recording and sharing your rides, the Trace is easy-to-use, reliable and rugged. Reported location points appeared to be accurate down to the meter, and the online map is intuitive, clean and easy to use. During our test, we didn’t experience a single service failure.

SPOT also advertises the Trace as a theft-control device. Its size and boxy shape perhaps makes it too conspicuous to go unnoticed by a wary thief for long, but if you (or the cops) act fast, it could thwart any getaway attempt.

To get your member savings, send an email including your AMA number and the electronic serial number of the SPOT device you purchased to dave.soregaroli@globalstar.com. You’ll be sent a one-time use discount code.



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