Skip to main content

Handlebar Controllers

← All Topics

With a handlebar controller you can control essential Scenic functions with your left hand, without touching the screen. E.g. Zoom In, Zoom Out, Play/Pause Music, Next/Previous Track, Open the navigation menu and select buttons from there.

At this moment Scenic supports three handlebar controllers: The WunderLINQ, MotiveMonkey and BarButtons.

The below video shows what aspects of Scenic can be controlled with a Handlebar Remote. This specific video shows the WunderLINQ, but the same functions can be controlled with the MotiveMonkey and BarButtons.

Note that this video still shows Scenic 2, but the handlebar controllable features are the same in Scenic 3.

https://youtu.be/DfxxBqZB3AE

The WunderLINQ clicks into your existing BMW Nav Cradle, and allows you to control essential Scenic functions with the multi-controller (a.k.a. the ‘wunderwheel’) on the left handlebar. Through the WunderLINQ app it also displays bike information on your phone. For purchase options and more information, including what BMW Motorcycle Models are supported by the WunderLINQ, please visit the BlackBoxEmbedded website.

The MotiveMonkey and BarButtons are universal controllers. They fit on just about any motorcycle, and with their buttons you can control essential Scenic functions, without touching the screen. Visit the MotiveMonkey Website and BarButtons Website for more information and purchase options. P.S. For Scenic use BarButtons KeyMapping 1.

How does it work?

Basically, the controls mentioned above work as an external bluetooth keyboard. Scenic “catches” keyboard presses and performs actions based on that. The key presses that Scenic catches are:

  • the arrow-up, down, left and right buttons
  • Enter
  • Esc
  • + and – (for zooming only)

This means that you could even connect an actual bluetooth keyboard and Scenic will works with those buttons too.

HANDLEBAR CONTROLLERS AND CARPLAY

Yes, handlebar controllers work with Scenic on CarPlay, but they behave a bit differently than when using Scenic directly on your iPhone.

Apple does not intend CarPlay to be controlled by external keyboards or remote input devices. Because of this, handlebar controller support on CarPlay has some limitations. Still, Scenic allows you to control several important functions from your handlebars.

What you can control with a handlebar controller on CarPlay:

  • Guide me back to route

  • Skip next via/stop

  • Zoom

  • Pan

You can assign these functions to your controller buttons in the Scenic handlebar settings, just like when not using CarPlay.

Panning mode instructions:

  • Enter panning mode: long press the right button

  • Pan: short press in any direction

  • Zoom while panning: long press up or down (or + and – if your controller has those buttons)

  • Exit panning mode: long press the right button again

Important: Your iPhone must be on and showing the Scenic screen that says “Scenic active on CarPlay,” otherwise the controller will not work.

Why there are limitations:

CarPlay basically has two layers.

  1. The CarPlay (Apple) layer

    This includes the app grid, status bar, and several buttons and information elements shown during navigation. These are Apple templates. Navigation apps are required to use these, and apps cannot change their position, cannot press these buttons programmatically, and cannot cycle through them automatically. They can only set the text and icons. These elements can only be activated by the user directly, either by touching the screen (if available) or through built-in vehicle controls.

  2. The Scenic app layer

    This is the map and Scenic-specific items like the compass, scale, and speedometer. Scenic can control this layer programmatically. This is why handlebar controllers can still be used to pan and zoom.

Scenic cannot control the CarPlay layer / the template buttons, and Scenic is not allowed to show its own grid menu on CarPlay. Apple requires using the menu provided by the CarPlay template.

In short, handlebar controllers on CarPlay provide key navigation controls (panning, zooming, skipping stops, returning to route), but due to Apple’s CarPlay rules, they cannot control all interface elements the same way they can in the standalone iPhone app.