Welcome to 9to5Mac Gearbox. Whereas Gearbox is primarily written for motorcycle riders, you’ll discover that using expertise isn’t at all times only for bikers. Keep protected and benefit from the experience!
Apple CarPlay is turning into extra frequent on bikes, however infotainment programs are usually solely provided on high-priced touring bikes. Happily, there’s a improbable aftermarket answer for including CarPlay to virtually any bike. I’ve been testing the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite, an all-in-one system that features a CarPlay/Android Auto show, entrance and rear cameras, and an built-in security system to maintain riders alert.
Simple sufficient improve
Particularly, I put in the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite on a 2020 Honda Insurgent 500, a regular cruiser that’s spec’d properly for brand new riders.
With its entrance and rear cameras, the AIO-5 Lite makes for an incredible security enhancement for brand new and skilled riders. Set up is easy sufficient in case you’re comfy with working wire and accessing your battery. A couple of YouTube movies helped me alongside the way in which.
Digicam advantages
My buddy and fellow rider Jon had an incredible description for one profit I described. AIO-5 Lite enables you to see your rearview whereas sitting at an intersection and searching ahead towards the cease gentle.
Or as Jon put it, AIO-5 Lite gives a rearview mirror. And he’s precisely proper. Aspect mirrors may give you a glimpse of your environment, however there’s nothing like a rear-facing digital camera that may provide you with a warning of oncoming visitors. Happily, I didn’t want to check how shortly I might evade a automobile racing towards me. Nonetheless, the peace of thoughts of a 360-degree view whereas sitting at a cease gentle supplied reassurance.
Each cameras additionally act as presence sensors together with whereas using. That is helpful when using in visitors or teams. When a automobile or bike will get too shut, each visible and audible cues will provide you with a warning.
Document each a part of each experience
However the one factor that riders I met whereas testing the AIO-5 Lite appreciated was the onboard digital camera system for at all times capturing video.
The AIO-5 Lite has 32GB of onboard storage, and you’ll increase it with further storage. The unit accepts as much as a 256GB microSD card that’s secured with a rubber door that latches with hex screws. The unit consists of the required screwdriver. The unit additionally attaches to your bike in such a method that somebody can’t simply stroll by and steal it.
Now again to the always-on video seize: As long as the bike is powered on, the AIO-5 Lite is robotically recording video from the back and front cameras. This gives two separate video recordsdata you can wirelessly ship to the iPhone or Android app.
Whereas it was CarPlay that originally caught my consideration, it’s this always-on video and audio recording that made me love the AIO-5 Lite. Significantly, recording begins moments after you have interaction the facility swap in your bike — earlier than you even crank the engine. When paired with a excessive capability microSD card, this allows you to use the digital camera system as each a touch cam for capturing incidents and a approach to document your rides with out desirous about it.
Issues
The Sony sensors utilized by the digital camera are rated for 1080p, and the footage it captures consists of overlays on the prime and backside, however you possibly can simply crop in barely and have a clear video clip to share on social media. In case you’re searching for greater high quality to seize and share your rides, although, a good motion digital camera could also be a greater match. Moto vloggers, in fact, usually seize a number of angles for extra attention-grabbing views.
If there’s a approach to disable the video overlays, I missed it. I additionally had no luck transferring the video utilizing the microSD card and a card reader on my iPhone or Mac; app switch solely. But when I might add one characteristic, it might be some onboard low energy video seize to observe your bike when parked in public locations. Whereas the unit at all times data whereas powered on, it may’t document when your bike energy is switched off.
Motorbike CarPlay
And at last, the CarPlay expertise. CHIGEE helps wi-fi CarPlay so there’s no requirement to mount your iPhone and join a cable. As a substitute, the AIO-5 Lite will robotically and wirelessly connect with your iPhone and show CarPlay on the 5-inch LCD display.
Whereas this was actually the smallest CarPlay show I’ve ever examined, it was additionally completely usable and positively helpful. There’s not a lot fiddling round with a show that you could do whereas using, however having a compact CarPlay display made utilizing Apple Maps nearly as good as in a automobile. Google Maps and Waze additionally work with CarPlay.
As for audio, I used my standard setup with my iPhone in my pocket and a single AirPod in my ear. Having visible entry to the Music and Podcasts at cease lights was a lot faster and safer than pulling out my telephone. Spotify, Overcast, and different music and podcast apps are additionally suitable.
Alternatively, I might have powered up the Sena headset with my helmet — it pairs to my iPhone similar to Bluetooth earphones — and used CarPlay to manage and listen to navigation, leisure, and telephone calls.
All in all, CHIGEE makes a powerful all-in-one answer for including CarPlay or Android Auto to virtually any bike with out paying touring bike costs. Simply cruising round with the AIO-5 Lite attracted some potential clients as fellow riders have been impressed with the worth.
You possibly can take house the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite for $598 for the total digital camera expertise. In case you solely need the CarPlay/Android Auto expertise, CHIGEE presents the AIO-5 PLAY with no cameras/security options for $399. Study extra or buy from CHIGEE.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
