Motorcycle GPS Navigation: How to Import GPX Files onto Your GPS Unit

There are several different ways you can add GPX files onto your GPS unit, and the final steps are often different from unit to unit. In this tutorial, we’ll be showing you how to export your GPX routes from Garmin Basecamp and Mapsource and directly from your computer. The units we’ll be using for demonstrating purposes are a Garmin 550, a Garmin 220, 390, and a 660.

Transferring GPX files from Basecamp to Your GPS unit

1. Plug your GPS unit into your computer via USB cable
2. Wait for all the data to load on the unit
3. Once the unit is ready, a graphic of a computer will show up on the screen
4. Open Garmin Basecamp
5. Import the route you wish to send to your GPS unit and make sure the route is selected in the Basecamp
   *note, we work on macs, PC wording/options may differ slightly
6. From the menu at the top of window, click Transfer
   *For PC, choose the Device option in the top menu, and then select Send to Device, and then choose the file you’d wish to transfer.
7. From the Transfer options, click Send to “name of route” to Device
8. A window will pop up with the option to include tracks, routes, and waypoints
   *For PC, select your Device name from the list in the pop up window and the data should begin to transfer.
9. Choose only routes and waypoints
10. Click OK
11. A new window should pop up saying Transfer Complete.
12. Eject your GPS unit from your computer

*If you are still using Mapsource (no longer supported by Garmin), the steps are identical, except some of the wording in the windows may be slightly different

Transferring your GPX route directly to your Unit from Your Computer (without BaseCamp)

1. Plug your unit into your computer via the USB cable that came with your unit
2. Locate the GPS unit on your computer (should show up on your desktop)
3. Open the folder containing the GPX file you’d like to add to your GPX unit
4. Double click on the unit’s icon on your desktop, which will open the unit on your computer.
5. Drag or copy the GPX file into the Folder labeled GPX
6. Eject your GPS unit from your computer
7. Follow the instructions for one of the above units

Finalizing the Process

Your route is now on your GPS unit; however, you still need to import them on the actual unit itself. If your unit didn’t automatically power up after you ejected it from your computer, hit the power button to turn it on.

For Garmin 550

1. once the unit has powered up and is ready for use, a message will pop up saying “new routes found, would you like to import?”
2. Choose Yes. This option will import the route(s) one at a time.
3. Once the import is finished, you’ll find your routes under Where To > My Routes
   

For Garmin 220

1. Once the unit has powered up, click the Tools icon on the home screen of the unit (blue circle icon with wrench at bottom right).
2. Click the Down Arrow (bottom right), until you see My Data (folder icon).
3. Select Import Route From File
4. Once the unit has finished searching for imported routes, scroll down with the arrow icon until you find your desired route (if there are more than one).
5. Click the check box beside the route you wish to import.
6. Select Import (bottom middle button).
7. Select Import Route From File
8. Once the unit has finished searching for imported routes, scroll down with the arrow icon until you find your desired route (if there are more than one).
9. Click the check box beside the route you wish to import.
10. Select Import (bottom middle button).

For Garmin 390

1. once the unit has powered up and is ready for use, a message will pop up saying “new routes found, would you like to import?”
2. If the route has more than 29 via points, the route will be split into two trips (this is unavoidable at times, depending on how complex the route is).
3. If you get a message reflecting the above, click OK.
4. Click on the Apps icon (middle blue circle icon at bottom of GPS unit screen)
5. Click Trip Planner
6. Hit the Down arrow icon on the left until you find the correct route
7. Select the desired route.
8. Click MAP to preview the route on the unit or select GO (green button on bottom left).
9. Then press START

If you have a different model than the 550, 390, or 220, these steps should still help you import your routes, but you may have to experiment a little, as wording or labels vary from unit to unit. You can also consult the manual that came with your unit or contact Garmin directly.