Garmin inReach Messenger Plus: Essential Motorcycle Sport Touring Gear

For motorcyclists who love exploring remote roads, staying connected can be a challenge. Spotty cell coverage in isolated areas may leave a rider stranded. That’s where Garmin inReach Messenger Plus proves its worth. More than just a satellite communicator, this compact device offers two-way messaging, real-time tracking, SOS signaling, and, for the first time, photo and voice messaging capabilities—all without relying on cellular coverage.

What is inReach Messenger Plus?

The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is the latest advancement in Garmin’s satellite communicator lineup, earning the prestigious CES Best of Innovation award for 2025. Tailored for motorcyclists who venture beyond cell service, this compact yet powerful device offers a comprehensive suite of emergency, tracking, and messaging capabilities. Notably, new photo and voice messaging capability that let riders share their adventure from even the most remote location.

For motorcycle sport touring enthusiasts, inReach Messenger Plus serves three critical needs.

First, in an emergency a single press of the SOS button sends a distress signal via the Iridium Satellite Network to the Garmin 24×7 Emergency Response Center. From there the Garmin team coordinates with local rescue services while maintaining two-way communication with the distressed rider, providing real-time updates until help arrives.

Second, beyond emergencies, the device allows riders to keep others informed of their whereabouts through check-in messages, live tracking, and direct messaging. This lets friends and family monitor progress throughout the journey.

Third, inReach Messenger Plus facilitates two-way communication from virtually anywhere on Earth by intelligently switching between available networks. SOS messages are sent exclusively over the Iridium network, but inReach sends other messages over cellular or Wi-Fi when either is available, and only defaults to satellite when needed. This approach optimizes both reliability and cost-effectiveness for riders.

In essence, Garmin inReach Messenger Plus provides motorcyclists with a dependable means of communication and an extra measure of safety, ensuring peace of mind for rider, friends, and family during long sport touring rides.

Ruggedly Built

True to Garmin’s reputation for practical engineering, the Messenger Plus features a minimalist, no-nonsense design made to handle harsh conditions. A small, always-on monochrome LCD screen displays essential information without draining battery life, while a simple five-button interface around the edge makes operating the device easy—even with gloves on.

Compact yet tough, Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is built to withstand the rigors of sport touring. Measuring just two and a half inches wide by three inches tall and three quarters of an inch thick, its tapered sides and rounded corners make it easy to slip into a jacket or pants pocket without adding bulk. For extra security, a built-in lanyard loop allows riders to clip the device to a bag or gear, ensuring it stays within reach.

Three navigation buttons, positioned on the lower edge, are used to scroll through features and select menu options. Garmin placed the emergency SOS button near the upper right corner, safely tucked under a protective cover to prevent accidental activation. And finally, the power button not only turns the device on and off but also locks the navigation buttons to prevent unintended inputs.

With an IPX7 water-resistance rating, the Messenger Plus is designed to withstand rain, dust, and rough conditions, making it a dependable companion for riders who seek out distant, lesser travelled, roads.

Subscription Required

A Garmin inReach Subscription is needed to activate and use inReach Messenger Plus. Without a subscription plan, the device is unable to send messages, share location data, or trigger SOS alerts. Garmin offers a choice of several month-to-month consumer plans, each subject to a one-time $39.99 activation fee and no long-term commitment required.

For seasonal motorcyclists who ride part of the year, the Consumer: Essential plan at $14.99 per month offers the best value. This plan includes emergency SOS messaging, unlimited check-in messages, and a monthly allotment of text messages, weather checks, and photo or voice messages. After reaching the monthly quota, additional messages are billed on a per-message basis. Riders can turn on real-time live location tracking at any time, but each and every live tracking message incurs a fee, currently billed at $0.10 each. 

A key benefit found in all consumer subscription plans is the option to downgrade or upgrade service at any time.  Consequently, during the off-season subscribers can save money by downgrading to the Enable Plan which costs $7.99 per month. The device remains active, history and configuration settings are unaffected, and SOS emergency service still works.  But check-in messages, text messages, and other features are billed on a per use basis.  At the beginning of the riding season, use the Messenger app or Garmin website to return the device to the Essentials plan. 

inReach users can cancel their plan anytime but location history will be lost and Garmin charges an activation fee to resume service regardless of subscription plan.

Features for Sport Touring

For a seemingly simple device, inReach Messenger Plus delivers a lot of exciting features.  New users will want to spend time learning everything the device can do, but motorcycle sport touring riders will get the most real-world benefit from the features discussed here.

Photo and Voice Messaging – The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus introduces two significant new communication capabilities: photo and voice messaging. By pairing the device with Garmin’s Messenger app, users can send photos and 30-second voice messages from virtually anywhere. Messages are delivered as email, text message, an inReach Messenger app message, or directly to the inReach device itself. As with any inReach message, the sender can choose to include or omit their precise location in the message. 

Emergency SOS Signaling – The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is equipped with a manual SOS function, enabling users to summon emergency assistance when needed. Unlike BMW’s Intelligent Emergency Call system—found on bikes like the R1250RT—that automatically detects an accident and initiates an emergency call on the rider’s behalf, inReach Messenger Plus requires the rider to lift the protective cover and press the SOS button. Once activated, the Garmin Response team is notified and directs assistance to the user’s location while maintaining two-way communication to keep the rider updated and share information with rescuers.

Check-in Messages – The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus enables riders to send an unlimited number of check-in messages to pre-designated family and friends. The three pre-set check-in messages read: ‘I’m starting my trip,’ ‘I’m checking in. Everything is okay,’ and ‘I’m ending my trip.’ Riders assign multiple recipients to each message using the Messenger app or on the Garmin website but cannot modify the message text itself. Check-in messages are sent manually either from the inReach device, the Messenger mobile app, or from a compatible GPS device like Garmin’s XT2. While the Essentials subscription plan allows unlimited check-in messages, replies from recipients are deducted from the plan’s message quota. (The live location tracking feature is available to automatically send location updates at rider-defined intervals.)  

MapShare – MapShare allows users to securely share location data taken from tracking messages and check-in and other messages with friends and family through a personalized webpage.

inReach Remote – The inReach Remote feature allows compatible Garmin GPS devices, such as the zūmo XT2, to operate inReach Messenger Plus functions—including sending an SOS or check-in message, as well as creating and viewing other messages—directly from the GPS display, eliminating the need to handle the inReach device itself.

Limitations to Note

Quotas – It is important to understand how inReach message fees work. While subscriptions include an unlimited number of check-in messages, replies to those messages count against the message quota included with the subscription. Similarly, text, photo, and voice messages sent or received, as well as location requests and replies to those messages, are deducted from the subscription quota. To avoid unexpected charges, monitor message usage through the Garmin Messenger App.

Live Tracking – Live Tracking allows family and friends to monitor your location in real-time without requiring action from the rider. However, regardless of subscription plan, every track point, from the first to the last, incurs a fee, currently $0.10 per point.  Users can manage costs by adjusting the tracking frequency from every 10 minutes to every 4 hours. Riders who simply want to track their route will find it more cost-effective to use a GPS device.

Some Features Require Internet – A handful of messaging settings can only be made or modified when an internet connection is available. The following tasks require internet access: a) assigning recipients for each check-in message; b) adding, updating, or removing quick messages; and c) selecting MapShare location data and configuring MapShare permissions.

Essential Gear for Motorcycle Sport Touring

The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is, first and foremost, a safety device. For motorcyclists who venture beyond reliable cell coverage, it provides a critical lifeline in emergencies, ensuring that help is always within reach. The ability to send an SOS, exchange messages with emergency responders, and keep friends and family informed on your location make this device an essential companion for sport touring riders.

inReach Messenger Plus is available for $499.99 on the Garmin website.  Consumer subscription plans begin at $14.99 per month after a one-time activation fee of $39.99. 

Read more about the technology in Satellite Locator Beacons Explained and discover a low cost option in the article Affordable GPS Tracker for Motorcyclists.

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