An old Galaxy Watch 4 has been turned into a mini navigation screen that can be used on a motorcycle. In the project shared on Reddit, the smart watch was fixed to the motorcycle with a 3D printed body and the magnetic base of the charger.
Galaxy Watch 4 moved next to motorcycle display
Although smart watches are generally designed for wrist use, old models can be reused in different projects. A new example shared in Reddit’s Galaxy Watch community is about using the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 as a mini navigation screen on a motorcycle.
The user named someones427, who shared the project, placed the Galaxy Watch 4 in a special casing prepared with 3D printing. This case attaches to the motorcycle using the magnetic base of the watch’s charger. The user states that the watch is connected to the phone and the map guidance on the phone is reflected on the watch on the motorcycle.
Motorcycles do not have much space for large multimedia screens or large interfaces like Android Auto like in cars. Adding a screen around the handlebars later can cause problems both in terms of placement and installation. For this reason, a smart watch that is small, round and close in size to the existing dashboard becomes a remarkable alternative in such projects.
The hardware used in the installation is quite simple. The project basically includes the Galaxy Watch 4, 3D printed housing and the watch’s own magnetic charging unit. According to the information in the Reddit post, the charger was wired secretly on the motorcycle. The user says that the power connection is provided by a wired charging device hidden under the tank.
Keeping the charging unit constantly connected plays an important role in this installation. The screen needs to work for a long time when the map is open, and the battery of the smart watch can quickly decrease during navigation. The user also states that he has enabled the setting to keep the screen on while charging through developer options.
Two main problems emerged in the first attempts. The first of these was the automatic rotation behavior that came into play while the watch was charging. The user stated that when he braked, the screen turned upside down, and the motorcycle had to accelerate in order for it to come back to the right direction.
The second problem was the lag on the map screen. While the phone was tracking the location accurately, the map on the watch screen would sometimes remain static for 5 to 10 minutes, then the location would suddenly jump forward.
The user stated that during the initial setup, the watch reflected the map orientation on the phone. In subsequent experiments, the current version of the Wear OS version of Google Maps was downloaded, a large offline map was saved for the watch, and a connection was made to the watch via the phone’s Wi-Fi access point instead of direct pairing with the phone. In this setup, the watch worked more independently and the GPS accuracy setting was also enabled.
After the updated installation, the system became more usable. The user stated that in approximately an hour of driving, the tracking issue was experienced only once, for approximately one minute. However, the automatic rotation problem and occasional delays in map tracking have not been completely resolved.
In the post, information was also given about the durability of the assembly. In response to a user’s comment that the watch might come off after a speed bump, the project owner said that the case fits well onto the charging base and that he did not have any problems while driving to work. When asked in another comment whether additional magnets were used, he explained that only the standard magnetic charger and a tight-fitting 3D printed body were used.
In Reddit comments, some users also shared different solution suggestions. To avoid map delay, it was recommended that the watch work with its own map application and GPS instead of mirroring it from the phone. Some users wrote that automation options such as Tasker, MacroDroid, AutoWear or ADB commands can be tried in case of display and synchronization problems. The project owner stated that he could share the 3D printing files online later.
This Galaxy Watch 4-based setup isn’t yet a perfect motorcycle navigation system. However, the ability to use an old smartwatch on a motorcycle as a low-profile and removable display is a remarkable example of reuse. Especially second-hand or unused Wear OS watches can gain a different function in such practical projects.
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