Thork Racing DMD-T865 Nav Tab | The only off-road navigation tool you'll ever need

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The Thork Racing DMD T865 Nav Tab V2 is an off-road focused touchscreen navigator built using an 8″ Android tablet but upgraded to become rugged, waterproof and ready for adventure on the path less travelled.

A big part of off-road riding, especially in the UK, is about finding routes to ride and how to navigate them. In recent years, more and more fully legal trails have been shared within the off-road community with the biggest online asset being the TET (Trans Euro Trail) which has over 100,000km of routes across 37 European countries, or the ACT (Adventure Country Tracks) a resource aimed at adventure bikes with routes in the UK, Croatia, Pyrenees, Italy, Greece, Romania and Portugal.

They are resources I’ve been using for just over six years now – and it’s been a game changer. Up until recently I’ve downloaded the TET or other routes in the form of a GPX file on to my old but trusted Garmin Montana 600 motorcycle sat nav; a unit which is now well over 10 years old. While it’s dependable, it’s slow, clunky and has a tiny screen, but I’ve been unable to find anything any better, until now….

How well does the Thork Racing DMD T865 Nav Tab V2 function?

I’ve been testing the T-865 tablet for the last few months riding familiar trails as well as brand new ones. It’s essentially a tough, shock- and waterproof 8” Android tablet and comes with its own DMD mapping pre-loaded, meaning there are no additional subscription fees.

It took me a little while to get used to the mapping having run the Garmin with highly detailed OS maps, but within a couple of rides I’ve been able to get fully dialled in to my new view. Also as a long time Apple user it’s taken me a bit of time to get acquainted to the Android interface, but with every ride it’s getting easier.

The big advantages are the size of the screen, and combined with the handlebar mounted DMD Remote I can quickly zoom in and out of where I’m riding, and where I’m heading, without having to take my hands off the bars, which is an absolute game changer. This combined with the super crisp screen means navigating on the fly is made so much easier and means you spend a lot less time looking down, which in turn makes the ride safer and more enjoyable.

The option to show multiple routes you have loaded on the screen is also a real asset, and on a recent ride, which was a route I was riding for the first time, I realised that two routes crossed, which gave me the opportunity to take my ride in a different direction. There is also a record function so you can record, save and share any route you ride amongst friends or the wider motorcycling community.

Not only can Thork’s DMD devices help you get around, but they can call for help in the event of a crash. Inbuilt accelerometers detect high impacts which trigger an SOS function. This can be configured to automatically alert two contacts that you are in need of help. If the contacts are also using DMD2 software, they will be presented with a rescue dialog and your position on the map.

How user friendly is the Thork Racing DMD T865 Nav Tab V2?

Getting routes on to the device couldn’t be much easier, as you simply load them into a Google Drive and transfer them across at a touch of a button. This means you can do it at any time, as there is no need to connect the device to a computer.

With the hardware essentially being an Android tablet, it also comes with all the associated advantages, usability and apps, such as Google Maps. You can of course download whatever you want from the Google Play App Store, from weather apps through to Spotify or YouTube, and you can use it as a regular tablet when you’re not riding, making it a versatile motorcycle accessory.

The ability to download Apps means that the unit can also run Dakar style road books. It’s a function I’m yet to test but there are plenty of riders using the DMD units for events throughout Europe where navigation is done via digital road book.

For connectivity you can connect to Wi-Fi when you’re at home or when a connection is available. This allows for updates which happen pretty much every time you turn the unit on. Although this is a little bit frustrating, it literally only takes a minute or two so is a minor inconvenience.

The reason for the constant updates is that it is very much a live and ever improving project. Joao Pereira the lead developer at Thork Racing is incredibly pro-active in ongoing developments and answering questions on the companies Facebook page (DMD2 – user group). It’s not uncommon for a DMD owner to post a question or suggestion on the Facebook page only for Pereira to respond personally within minutes.

During my time with the unit I have seen improvements and developments being introduced regularly. It’s unlikely you’d get this sort of first hand interaction and ongoing development from a big multinational like Garmin. For accessing routes and navigating its genuinely next level, but I’m only scratching the surface as to what it is fully capable of.

There are dongles which can be added to display, speed, engine temperature, RPM etc and there is always more being added. The tablet itself is mounted using the dedicated cradle and charger. It’s neat and secure and I’ve experienced zero issues with it charging or staying in place, despite some spirited riding. The tablet can also be locked in place for security.

Is the Thork Racing DMD T865 Nav Tab V2 good value?

Priced at £648 for the T-865 and £780 for the T-865X tablet, £74.40 for the cradle and power supply and £318 for the handlebar mounted remote it’s not a cheap piece of tech. However it’s proven to be a tough robust hardware and comes with full mapping already loaded with life long updates, meaning there are no additional subscription costs.

While it is an expensive set-up when you factor in all the elements, playing devils advocate a new Iphone 16 pro costs £999. As a piece of hardware it promises to be tough and last a long time and with ever improving software it should stay current for years. Not cheap, but if you want the very latest in tech, mapping and user interface it’s a solid investment.

So what’s the verdict?

Thork Racing have developed navigation and mapping for the 21^st century. With a DMD T-665 phone, DMD T-865 tablet and brand new T-865X (which is £132 more expensive but features more memory and a brighter screen) their range offers something for everyone. Enduro riders will probably prefer the smaller 665 phone version, while riders with more space to mount the tablet will benefit from the size and clarity of the 8” display.

Having switched from an old Garmin for off-road use, and also used a Garmin XT and TomTom on the road in the past, it will be hard to go back. I would say that a key element of the improved experience is down to the ease of getting routes onto the unit, and the ability to scroll and zoom in and out with the handlebar mounted remote.

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