How Head North works

What Head North does

Head North is a GPS map that stays visible on your Stark VARG dashboard while you ride. That’s it. One job, done well.

Here’s what you get:

• A floating map window that sits on top of the Stark gauge display. The Stark app runs normally underneath — you still see your battery, power mode, and safety warnings.
• Your live position shown as a dot on the map, so you always know where you are.
• Your heading shown as a directional indicator, so you can tell which way you’re facing even when stopped.
• Your GPX trail drawn on the map as a line. Follow the line, stay on the trail.
• Street and satellite map views that you can switch between with one tap.

And here’s what it deliberately does NOT do:

• No turn-by-turn voice directions.
• No route planning or editing.
• No ride recording or social sharing.
• No accounts, logins, or cloud sync.
• No monthly subscription.

The idea is simple: plan your ride somewhere else (onX, GAIA, Komoot, wherever), export the GPX, load it in Head North, and ride with it visible on your dashboard. Head North handles the “while riding” part.

Step 1: Install Head North

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Stark phone (the Arkenstone).
2. Search for “Head North” or scan the QR code from our homepage.
3. Tap “Install.” The app is small and installs in seconds.
4. Open Head North. It will ask for location permission — tap “Allow.” This is needed to show your position on the map.

That’s it for installation. No account to create, no email to enter, no tutorial to sit through.

Step 2: Load your GPX trail

If you have a GPX file for your planned ride (see our GPX guide if you’re new to this), here’s how to load it:

1. Get the GPX file onto your Stark phone. Download it directly from a trail site, grab it from Google Drive, or transfer via Nearby Share or USB. The file just needs to be somewhere on the phone.
2. Open Head North.
3. Tap the import button (the file icon on the screen). A file picker opens.
4. Select your GPX file. The trail immediately appears on the map as a colored line.

Don’t have a GPX file? That’s fine. Head North works without one — you still get a live map with your position and heading. The GPX trail is an optional layer on top.

Step 3: Start the floating window

This is the key feature. The floating window (Android calls it Picture-in-Picture) is what lets Head North stay visible on top of the Stark dashboard.

1. With Head North open and your trail loaded, tap the home button (the circle at the bottom of the screen). Or tap the dedicated shrink button inside the app.
2. The map shrinks into a small floating window. It stays on screen no matter what app is in the foreground.
3. The Stark app comes back up underneath. You now see the Stark gauges (speed, battery, power mode) with the Head North map floating on top.

The floating window shows your position, heading, and GPX trail in real time. It updates as you move.

Step 4: Ride

Once the floating window is running, you’re set. Here’s what happens while you ride:

• Your position updates in real time. The dot on the map moves as you move. The map pans to keep your position in view.
• Your heading updates. The directional indicator rotates as you turn, so you can tell which way you’re pointing even at a standstill.
• The GPX trail stays drawn. Follow the line. That’s your route.
• The Stark app keeps doing its thing. Battery level, power mode, speed — all still visible and functioning. Change power modes, shift to neutral, go into walk mode — the floating map stays put through all of it.

Going full screen and back

Sometimes you need a bigger view. Maybe you want to scout what ’s ahead, check an upcoming fork, or zoom out to see the big picture.

1. Tap the floating window. Head North opens in full screen.
2. Pan, zoom, and explore. Drag the map around, pinch to zoom in or out. Check side trails, look at the terrain, see what’s coming up.
3. Tap the re-center button to snap back to your current location.
4. Tap the home button (or the shrink button) and the map drops back into the floating window. You’re back on the Stark dashboard instantly.

This expand-and-shrink flow is smooth and fast. No app switching, no menus, no fumbling.

Switching map views

Head North has two map views you can switch between:

• Street view. A clean map with roads, trails, and place names. Good for sections with roads or when you want a clear, uncluttered view of the trail line.
• Satellite view. Aerial imagery showing the actual terrain — trees, clearings, rivers, dirt. Good for off-road sections where you want to see what the ground actually looks like.

Switch between them with one tap. The button is visible in both full screen and the floating window.

Most riders use satellite view on the trail and street view on road sections or when planning. There’s no right answer — use whatever makes the terrain easier to read.

Offline use

Cell coverage in the backcountry is hit or miss. Here’s how Head North handles that:

• GPX files always work offline. They’re stored on the phone. No internet needed to show your trail.
• Your position always works. GPS doesn’t need cell service. Your dot on the map updates regardless of connectivity.
• Map tiles need to be loaded first. The underlying map (the roads, terrain, satellite imagery) loads over the internet. Once loaded, map tiles stay cached on the device. Areas you’ve recently viewed will usually still show up without a connection.

Best practice: Before you leave for the ride, open Head North and pan around the area you plan to ride. Zoom in enough to load the detail level you need. This loads the map tiles into the cache while you still have signal. When you’re out on the trail, those tiles will be there.

Common questions

Do I need to change any settings on the Stark app?

No. Head North uses Android’s Picture-in-Picture, which works alongside the Stark app without any settings changes. You don’t need to disable “Display over other apps” or force-stop anything. The Stark app runs normally, and Head North floats on top.

Does Head North drain the Stark phone battery?

The impact is minimal. The Arkenstone stays charged while it’s mounted on the bike, so battery drain from Head North isn’t a practical concern during riding.

Can I use Head North with onX or GAIA?

Absolutely. That’s the intended workflow. Plan your ride in onX, GAIA, Komoot, or whatever you prefer. Export the route as a GPX file. Load it in Head North. Use Head North’s floating window while riding to follow the trail. The apps work together, not as replacements.

Does it work on both MX and EX?

Yes. Head North works on any Stark VARG with an Android phone setup. The floating window works the same on MX and EX — no workarounds needed for either model.

What if I don’t have a GPX file?

You can still use Head North without a GPX file. You get a live map with your position and heading — useful for knowing where you are and which way you’re facing. The GPX trail is just an extra layer on top when you want to follow a specific route.

Is this turn-by-turn navigation?

No. There are no voice prompts, no “turn left in 200 meters,” no re-routing. You follow the trail visually on the map. For off-road riding, this is actually what most riders want — a quiet map that shows you where to go without shouting at you.

Quick reference

• Price: One-time purchase (see Play Store for your region).
• Platform: Android only.
• Account needed: No.
• Subscription: No.
• GPX support: Yes, import any standard GPX file.
• Map views: Street and satellite.
• Works offline: GPX and GPS always work. Map tiles need to be cached first.
• Built for: Stark VARG riders using an Android dashboard setup.