GPX Generator: Questions and answers
Does my sat nav support this, and which format should I download?
The site has been tested most with a Garmin Zumo 660 and a Garmin Zumo 595, as those are the sat navs I have. The track formats have also been tested with phone and computer apps such as Locus Map and Viking.
If you have a recent Garmin motorcycle sat nav, I'd be quite surprised if the Garmin format didn't work. For a Zumo 595 (and similar), I'd recommend Garmin Route - All Legs Merged, as it copes well with several legs in a route. For older sat navs such as the Zumo 660, I'd recommend Garmin Route - One File Per Leg: a zip file with a GPX file for each leg (the part of the route between two stops, however many control points it has). If you have a Zumo 660, make sure it's running a recent version of its software (3.80 or later).
If you don't have a Garmin, see Which format should I choose?
My sat nav changed my route!
Sat navs are usually set to work out a new route automatically if you leave the planned one. That throws away all your careful planning if there's a small error in its map, or you decide to cut a corner somewhere. See below for suggestions of how to deal with this.
Garmin
I'd recommend changing the recalculation setting to Prompted or Off: on a Zumo, it's Recalculation Mode, under Tools > Settings > Navigation. It's also worth turning off Traffic, as traffic information can make it recalculate too. (The site reminds you of this when you download a Garmin format.)
On the Zumo 660, I always had it set to Off: if I went off the route and wanted it to recalculate, a Recalculate button appeared on the home screen that I could press. On the Zumo 595, Garmin have removed that button, so if you set it to Off there's no way to recalculate the route, and you have to use Prompted (and put up with the prompts). If, like me, you think that's a big step backwards, please ask Garmin to bring it back!
Mobile Phone Apps
There are a couple of track formats designed for use with mobile phone apps. These are called "Locus Track" (based on the format used by Locus Map) and "Pitstopper Track" (based on the format used by the Pitstopper website). These formats include turn-by-turn directions so if your app supports the format then you should get good directions. Alternatively, use the GPX Track format and follow the line.
Configuring your chosen app to follow the route without trying to recalculate if you deviate slightly can be a challenge. Locus Map has several different configuration pages that allow tweaks to recalculation options but in my experiments it tends to recalculate regardless. It can also be difficult to get it to follow a planned route if you don't start from the start of that route. I'll update this page with the recommended settings if and when I find something that works.
If you have suggestions for a good mobile phone app that will follow a route with turn-by-turn directions and will allow you to deviate from the route slightly without it recalculating then please get in touch and let me know.
Other
For non-Garmin sat navs you may have to use the GPX Track format (see Which format should I choose?) and get your sat nav to follow the track instead of a route. This tends to mean that you don't get turn-by-turn instructions, but see your device's documentation for more information on supported formats.
Why does the map always start showing the UK?
That's where it starts until you tell it otherwise. Move the map to where you usually ride, then open your preferences and press Set to current view.
What's the difference between the routers?
See The Mapbox router.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes: it works on phones and tablets, using a long press wherever you'd right-click with a mouse. See On a phone. Planning a long route is still easier with a mouse and a big screen, and you'll need an internet connection.
Do I have to pay?
No: the site is free, and always will be. It does cost money to run, so if you find it useful, please consider supporting it (Help > Support this site), or send me a message to let me know what you liked.
Which web browsers does it work with?
I make the site in my spare time, and test it mostly with Vivaldi (which is based on Chromium) and Mozilla Firefox on a computer, and Vivaldi on Android. Other up-to-date browsers should work, but if something doesn't, please let me know.
Something's missing, or isn't working properly!
Press Help > 
Contact Dr Al,
and tell me what you were doing, what you expected and what happened
instead.
This website is free and ad-free, but costs me money to run. If you'd like to support this site, please consider making a small donation or sending me a message to let me know what you liked or found useful.