Indian Motorcycle will join Honda and Harley-Davidson in offering Apple CarPlay to owners of 2020 Chieftain, Roadmaster and Challenger models with navigation.
Honda Goldwing was the first with Apple CarPlay in 2018 and Harley followed a year later with the software update to its Boom! Box GTS Infotainment Systems on their Touring models.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow riders to access some phone apps such as access Google Maps for navigation, traffic and weather reports, as well as some other apps such as Spotify.
Indian Motorcycle Australia & New Zealand National Marketing Manager Tom Mendey says the free update for Aple CarPlay is available now for owners with the 7″ Ride Command system.
“It’s free to do at home via the website provided and a suitable USB device or can be taken into a dealership for the update,” he says.
To use the device, the phone must be plugged into the bike via its charging cable.
The screen will mirror the phone, allowing riders to access it through the touchscreen, Google Assistant voice control or a handlebar control.
It will also allow riders to stay up to date with the latest vehicle information; plan and track routes; share rides with others; and keep maintenance records.
Chinese computer company Lenovo signed a multi-year agreement with Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati in 2018.
Initially the agreement was to support the Ducati MotoGP team with computer firepower, but also to develop products and collaborate on research and development.
The result of this collaboration includes special products such as this limited-edition Lenovo Ducati 5 laptop PC, starting at $1999. Only 12,000 will be produced.
It is based on Intel Core i5 processors up to the 10th generation, with a 14-inch full HD display with a thin bezel and Dolby Audio speakers facing upwards.
Lenovo Ducati 5 also has a fingerprint reader on the power button for secure access that is quicker than entering a password.
There’s also a Privacy Shutter, so you can close the webcam when you don’t want to be disturbed.
Matching Ducati’s MO of lightweight and powerful motorcycles, the laptop is 19.1mm thin and weighs only 1.52kg.
Motorcycle relationship
We love the official press release that also plays on the motorcycle relationship:
The Lenovo Ducati 5 can run for up to 12 hours without needing to pull over and refuel—more than enough to watch your favourite motorbike team go from pole position to the podium. And when the battery’s low, there’s Rapid Charge. Just 15 minutes of recharging and you’re good to go for another three hours.
Get off to the best possible start with lightning-fast performance and various options, including 1TB PCIe SSD storage, 8GB DDR4 memory, and WiFi 6. Plus, with a state-of-the art USB-C port, you can charge your other devices or transfer data at speeds up to 10Gbps.
Ducati. A symbol of speed, performance, and innovation. The Lenovo Ducati 5 taps into that spirit. Dynamic and aesthetically engineered, it fuses pure horsepower with style and verve. With its metallic chassis elements and Ducati detailing, this special edition 14″ laptop is sure to ignite your passion. Start your engines.
Have you ever found out the hard way that waterproof gear has a use-by date after which it is totally useless?
Two pairs of boots, two pairs of gloves, a jacket and several pair of pants have failed me after as little as five years of periodic use.
This is despite the fact that I look after my gear and store it in a cool, dry cupboard.
Waterproof warranty
I’ve checked all my waterproof gear and none offers a lifetime guarantee.
Also, note that “weatherproof”, “water-resistant” and “water-repellent” are not the same as “waterproof”. These terms mean the garment is rarely watertight even in light showers when you are riding.
This rating consists of two numbers. The first from 0-6 measures protection from foreign bodies such as dust, while the second from 0-9K measures resistance to water. Click here for more details.
Also note that your supposedly waterproof gear may only be guaranteed to be impervious to water in some areas or just have watertight pockets.
Waterproof warranties are typically the same as the garment which is usually from one year to about three years.
Manufacturers could fit jackets and pants with more robust and heavier waterproof membranes and offer longer warranties.
However, that would impact on comfort, weight and price.
So it’s important to look after your waterproof gear.
Failures
Caught in the rain
One of the main problems with waterproof failures is that you may not notice a fault in your gear when you put it on.
And even the most minor fault, crack or split can suck in moisture when you are riding at highway speeds!
There can be a number of reasons for waterproofing failures:
Waterproof leather gear is usually the first to give in because it can age and crack;
Boots can develop minuscule cracks in the soles from simply walking around in them;
Racing boots with bolt-in toe sliders can become loose as they repeatedly hit the ground, allowing in water;
Waterproof pants can develop small tears in the lining or you can dislodge the glued-on taped seams if you pull them on while wearing your boots; Waterproof pants lose their taped seams and lining from years of use
Folding waterproof garments can cause them to wear and split at the creases;
Carrying waterproof gear on your bike scrunched up on a rack and secured by Occy straps can cause rips and wear;
Gore-Tex pants and jackets should last a long time, but the outside layer can get worn from rubbing in areas such as the armpits, crutch and backside;
Zippers can become rusted from rain and road grime and even waterproof zippers can become gummed up by dust and bugs; and
Machine washing your gear can remove or destroy the watertight capabilities of some materials.
Waterproof care
King Canute found he could not hold back the tide and maintaining waterproof riding gear can be similar.
However there are some things you can do:
Boots will last longer if you only wear them on the bike and do limited walking.
Regular treatment of leather with shoe polish, special softeners and waxes such as Dubbin may help prolong their waterproof life;
Take your boots off before pulling on waterproof overpants;
Re-spray your textile gear with waterproof sprays;
Store your gear in a cool, dry cupboard;
Hang your jackets and pants and never fold them;
Always allow wet gear to dry in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight before storing;
Carry waterproof gear in a safe place in your backpack or bike luggage, preferably rolled up, not folded;
Give zippers an occasional spray with silicon or rub them with an appropriate wax to help the zipper slide smoothly and last longer; and
So you should periodically wash your gear before storing it away.
When washing your gear, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They usually stipulate a hand wash or gentle, warm-wash machine cycle.
Long, hot machine washing cycles can limit the waterproofed life of a garment.
Never use fabric softener when washing and most manufacturers warn against tumble drying or ironing.
However, note that some materials, such as Gore-Tex, actually require tumble drying or ironing after washing to restore their waterproof qualities. Watch this instructional video.
“The majority of wet claims I believe are mainly due to incorrect usage or fitment,” he says.
“You can have the best jacket in the world, but if you don’t get all the closures correctly positioned, ensure your shirt collar or cuffs aren’t exposed (which creates a wicking point for water entry) you will still get wet.
“If you wear gloves over your cuff, water penetrates through the jacket stitching in the chest and arms, runs down between the outer shell and the outside of the waterproof liner (so the rider is still dry) and drains straight into the gloves. This is not a glove issue but a rider fitment issue.
“Likewise with waterproof boots. I see riders buy ‘shorty’ waterproof boots and then complain they get wet feet.
“If you have a look at their rain pants when their feet are on the pegs, the rain pants may ride up just enough to allow water into the boots.”
Ron Grant tests waterproof gear
Ron warns that water will finds its way into that 1% vulnerable area in your whole riding ensemble and spoil your ride.
He says he left for work recently in the pouring rain on his Triumph Tiger 800 fitted with a new, large touring screen to protect him from the elements.
“This new screen creates a bit of a vacuum between the screen and I could see water droplets swirling around in front of me around my throat area,” he says.
“I didn’t really think about this too well, but I had pulled my neck-sock on before fitting my jacket as it’s more comfortable that way.
“The droplets eventually soaked my neck-sock which wicked the water downwards wetting my jumper and shirt. My waterproof jacket didn’t fail, it was the dummy wearing it that failed!”
At least the Arai Corsair-X RC is race developed and a full one-piece shell.
Neither of the world’s two most expensive helmets has been tested by SHARP or CRASH as it would simply be too costly for them to destroy one for testing!
So if you value your head at this sort of price, are you putting your head in the hands of fashion designers rather than safety technicians?
Esoteric Austrian suspension company WPPerformance Sports GmbHwhich is owned by KTM Group has announced it is branching out into units for other models.
In Australia, WP Suspension is sold through KTM and has been available only for KTM models.
However, a recent release from the company about its street suspension says WP Suspension plans to “expand its portfolio with suitable products for a large number of other manufacturers”.
It’s good news for riders as the suspension units are among the best in the world.
The range includes on and off-road competition-focused Pro Components, such as Cone Valve forks, Trax rear shock absorber, triple clamps and steering dampers, as well as t-shirts and stickers.
WP Suspension history
The Dutch company launched as White Power Suspension in 1977 and has been heavily involved in motorsport, winning more than 300 FIM World Championship titles.
Its unfortunate name was based on its iconic white coil springs.
The company went broke in 1991 and relaunched the same year as WP Suspension.
KTM gradually took over the company from 1997 and re-established the factory right next to theirs in Mattighofen.
Championship winning KTMs
Their combined engineering has helped the company develop their off-road and now road racing motorcycles.
Meanwhile, their street-oriented APEX PRO COMPONENTS feature a growing selection of cartridges, forks, shocks and steering dampers for KTM motorcycles.
As Australia’s internationally awardedMotoCAP safety and thermal comfort testing and ratings system for motorcycle clothing has surpassed 200 tested items, there seems to be a paucity of women’s gear.
However, in women’s gear only eight leather jackets, eight textile jackets, seven textile pants and three gloves have been tested.
The lack of women’s gear is a common criticism we receive here about the MotoCAP testing.
However, it should be pointed out that the testing is actually quite representative of the proportion of female riders in the community which is estimated to be about 10-12%.
In fact, the women’s gear tested represents 12.9% which does not account for the fact that gloves are often sold as unisex, rather than for men or women exclusively.
Testing methodology
Dr Chris Hurren*, a research scientist at Deakin University in Geelong where he and his laboratory work on protective motorcycle clothing, explains the MotoCAP methodology for selecting gear for testing.
“We have all of the instore women’s gear in the purchasing database alongside the instore men’s gear,” he says.
“The algorithm determines what will be purchased and it does not discriminate between men’s and women’s apparel.
“Appropriate proportions of both are being purchased.
“We have tested women’s gear in each of the categories of MotoCAP.
“If you compare the percentages tested with what is hanging in store the ratio of men’s to women’s is quite similar.”
In the past 24 months, all garments reported on the MotoCAP website have been purchased covertly by MotoCAP purchasing staff.
None has been supplied by distributors or manufacturers.
* Dr Hurren worked with Dr Liz de Rome and others to produce the protocol that is used by MotoCAP for their testing regime. He has also written a series of four articles for Motorbike Writer on the new European clothing standard which you can start reading by clicking here.
With summer just around the corner, riders will be considering riding pants and may be wondering whether traditional double-layer protection is better than the new single-layer materials.
Traditional double-layer jeans and riding pants have a separate layer of protective material, usually Kevlar, and sometimes even a third layer of mesh to “wick” the sweat away and protect against the scratchy material.
More recent double-layer designs have done away with the mesh as the protective layer has become more soft and breathable.
However, double-layer pants can be quite heavy and hot in summer.
Single-layer pants promise to be lighter and cooler. They have the protective fabric woven into the material so there is no need for a separate layer of protection or mesh.
Which is best?
I have tested both types and you can read my reviews by typing “jeans” or “pants”in the search field at the top of this page.
For a more scientific answer, I contacted Dr Chris Hurren, a research scientist at Deakin University in Geelong where he and his laboratory work on protective motorcycle clothing.
Chris Hurren and his Honda GB400
He also worked with Dr Liz de Rome and others to produce the protocol that is used by MotoCAP for their testing regime.
Dr Hurren has written a series of four articles for Motorbike Writer on the new European clothing standard which you can start reading by clicking here.
Verdict: Single Vs double layer
This is the unedited verdict from Dr Hurren:
From the testing conducted by MotoCAP on ‘Protective Denim’ products, the best performance has been in multi-layer products where a separate protective liner is present inside the jeans.
The most important part to protect in a pair of pants is the Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas (defined in EN13595-1:2002).
The abrasion time results for each of the abrasion risk areas are reported for each garment in the MotoCAP garment five-page test report.
This table shows the abrasion time in seconds for the protective material in the high-risk zone along with the amount of coverage for that zone of the protective layer.
Manufacturer
Product
Protective layer abrasion time
Zone 1/2 coverage
Multi-layer protection
RST
T125 Standard Aramid
1.12
70
RST
Vintage
1.17
85
DriRider
Rapid
1.27
100
Rjays
Reinforced Original Cut
1.34
95
PMJ
Rider Jeans
1.83
50
Bull’it
SP120 Lite Heritage Easy
2.03
100
Resurgence
Indigo sport
2.46
100
Triumph
Pure Riding
2.63
100
Bull’it
Covert Blue Straight
3.64
100
Draggin Jeans
Cargo
3.71
100
Triumph
Hero Riding
3.74
100
Rev’it
Lombard
4.04
90
Harley Davidson
Genuine Performance Riding
4.08
100
Bull’it
SR6 Oil Skin 17 Straight
4.72
100
Draggin Jeans
Next Gen Seamless
7.77
100
Draggin Jeans
Twista
7.86
100
Neo Jeans
Kevlar Men’s Stretch
0.74
100
Single-layer protection
BMW
City Denim Trousers
0.41
100
Levis
501 Normal Denim Jeans
0.56
100
Resurgence
New Wave
0.92
100
Saint
Model 2
1.51
100
All of the products achieving over two seconds of abrasion time were multi-layer products. Two seconds of abrasion time would equate to approximately 16 metres of sliding distance on chip seal.
The Saint single-layered product performed the best of the single layered products reported on so far.
All three single-layer products fall towards the bottom of the multi-layered product performance levels.
I have also included the test results for a normal pair of Levis 501 non-protective jeans for reference against the single-layer products.
Textile Vs denim
I have done a similar comparison for protective textile pants and the multi-layer products again perform better than the single.
Where the multilayer includes a foam of some type and more than one layer of protective textile, the abrasion times go up. Where a leather patch is used, the abrasion time is also improved.
With almost all protective textile pants, improvement is generally only done in the knee area with the risk in the side of the leg and bottom overlooked. This is not the same for denim.
For the single-layer textile pants, the higher performing times of one-second-plus are generally achieved by 1000+ denier polyester or nylon woven textile. Products around the 600 denier range typically get 0.4-0.6 seconds.
Almost all of the protective denims (single and multi) perform well when compared to protective textile pants.
Comfort
As for the comfort ratings of gear tested by MotoCAP, the term has been changed to “breathability”.
Dr Hurren explains why:
There has been a lot of feedback from riders on the use of the word comfort. The solitary word comfort can mean many different things to different people. Many were misconstruing it with tactile comfort (tightness, fit, flexibility, skin feel) which is of course different for each person and next to impossible to quantify.
Breathability is felt to better reflect the dimension that is measured for MotoCAP. The concept of a breathable membrane in a jacket is well known within the rider community. It is hoped that the adoption of breathability will cause less confusion and will better convey the suitability of a garment for hot weather use.
Wireless charging is now available with the Aussie invention, Quad Lock, so you can more conveniently mount your phone on your bike and charge it on the run.
Quad Lock already has a $A44.95 charging accessory, but you need to plug in a USB cable which is a little messy and time consuming (like about two seconds!).
It is a bit bigger than the previous charger, but not unsightly.
Wireless charging
Having your phone charged while you are out on a ride is not only a convenience, but also a safety device.
If you get lost, crash or fall ill, your phone will still have charge so you can ring emergency and they can track you.
The company says some of the chargers already sent out to customers have an issue with the O ring becoming detached. They have provided a video of how to easily re-assemble it.
They assure us that future units will not have this issue.
I have been using a Quad Lock for several years and have been using the charger for several months without any issues.
I’m looking forward to getting a wireless charger!
They are easy to fit, discrete, quick to mount and remove your phone, robust and secure.
While the chargers are waterproof, I found with the cable charger that if you get water on the plug end that goes into your phone, it may not work until you dry it off.
The Quad Lock is available for motorcycles, scooters, cars, bicycles and runners.
You can buy the mount (RAM, handlebar or mirror), the case to suit your iOS or Android phone, a waterproof covering if required and the charging units separately or as a pack to save money.
How to fit
They are very easy to fit with just a few allen bolts and they are very secure with the screws tightened.
The charging units sit on top of the mount with a lead that goes to your battery, a USB port or SAE connector.
To mount your phone, hold it at a 45-degree angle until it slots into place, then twist it clockwise to a vertical or horizontal position where it remains securely in place.
To remove the phone, simply push the blue tab and rotate anti-clockwise.
That makes it useful if you are riding along and see something worthy of a photo – no fumbling in your jacket for your phone, just grab it and take the shot, then re-attach it. (Obviously, stop first!)
The wireless charger should make that a little less fiddly as there is no need to remove a cable.
Although it is very secure, it does vibrate which makes it impossible to use the camera or video function on the move.
There are various places you can mount your phone – handlebar, mirror, triple clamp or RAM mount.
The mirror fitting is especially useful for scooters which often have conventional handlebars. It also puts the phone up nice and high so you don’t have to divert your eyes far from the road ahead to see the screen.
There is also an extension arm that you can fit to raise the phone up even higher in your field of vision. And now you can also get a ball mount to match a RAM fitting.
Quad Lock mobile phone mount with extension
It is handy to have the phone in front of you for navigational purposes and being able to rotate it to a wide or vertical orientation is very useful.
However, if you just use your phone for calls and music, most Bluetooth devices allow you to operate the controls without touching your phone.
It can be a bit distracting when text messages flash up on our phone while riding. There is a real temptation to read them! However, you can also turn this feature off or exercise some willpower.
Riders often criticise car drivers for texting while driving, so we strongly advise against using it for texts unless you are stopped.
Helmet accessories such as intercoms and cameras must be crash-tested with the helmet type to be legal under new United Nations rules that come into effect from July 2023.
New UN ECE 22.06 laws also include testing for head rotation in a crash, visor shatterproof durability and the ability of modular helmets to protect you when the chin bar is in place and when it is open.
UN ECE 22.06 rules will coexist with ECE 22.05 rules for a further three years, so there is no immediate impact for Aussie riders.
It is the first change to regulations for two decades.
Accessories crash-tested
Crash testing a helmet
Under the new rules, helmets with any proprietary accessories must be crash-tested with and without the accessories fitted.
This includes, integrated intercoms and cameras, peaks and visors.
Testing will measure adverse effects on energy absorption, sharp edges and field of vision.
As for aftermarket accessories, they will have to be fitted in accordance with the helmet manufacturer’s instructions.
Furthermore, all accessories will have to be tested with all types of helmet (full-face, open-face, modular, adventure, MX, etc).
The rules also says that helmets must not be modified from original manufacturer specification.
The Australian Motorcycle Council has pointed out that the EC rules only affect the helmet at the point of sale.
They say it should not impact on the owner’s desire to fit accessories, so long as they do not affect the integrity of the helmets.
For example, you shouldn’t drill holes in the helmet to fit them.
It is expected that with the rapid development of intercom and camera technology, many helmets may have standard inbuilt mounting cavities by the time 22.06 comes into force.
Other changes include:
Nolan N104 modular helmet with internal sun visor
Modular helmets must be crash-tested with and without the chin guard in position;
Visors must be able to withstand the impact of a steel ball at 60m/s to ensure they don’t shatter, fracture or deform, while the visor housing must be capable of holding the visor in place and must not break;
Helmets will be tested for rotational forces in a crash;
Sun shields must be able to move separately from the visor and all helmets with a sun shield must be tested with the shield in its working position; and
Helmets may be required to have reflective stickers in some countries, so these must be supplied with the helmet at the point of sale with instructions on where and how to apply them.
Undoubtedly, these changes will make more expensive, but also safer.
The biggest problem with many Bluetooth helmet intercoms is the poor quality of sound, but the new Sena 50R and 50S raise the bar on sound quality to a new level.
I’ve reviewed many intercom systems over the years and my go-to unit has been the Sena 20S for reliability and quality.
But my new favourite is the 50R slimline model that Sena Australiasent to me for review.
Sena 50R
Sena’s new 50 series consists of the 50R and 50S which cost $545 in a single pack or $965 for a dual pack.
The main difference between the Sena 50R and 50S is that the R is slimmer and has three buttons instead of the jog dial and has slightly shorter battery life.
Its slimline look is discrete and it probably reduces drag and wind noise, but I would be lying if I said I could discern any differences.
I thought I would miss the very convenient jog dial which has long been a feature of Sena models.
However, the 50S includes an automatic volume adjustment (or “Smart volume control”) that raises and lowers the volume as ambient sound changes.
In other words, it gets louder as you go faster and drops the level when you pull up at the lights so you aren’t blasted.
Consequently, I have never had to touch the volume buttons anyway.
The associated Sena 50 Utility app (available on Apple and Google Play) also allows you to quickly select whether you want this feature set to low, medium or high.
That means you can have subtle changes in volume or quite dramatic changes. I wouldn’t have thought this would be a significant feature, but it is.
The 50 Series will also connect to digital assistants such as Siri or Google using standard voice commands of ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Ok Google’.
So you can use that to control volume, tracks, make and receive calls, etc, so there is no need to ever touch the controls.
Sound quality
Another significant update is the slimmer and therefore more comfortable speakers with more bass and 7% more volume.
Not only are the speakers slimmer, but they are bevelled so they fit even in the tightest of helmets and don’t hurt your ears which is important on a long ride.
In fact, I didn’t even need to fit the supplied foam speaker covers.
Sound quality is also greatly improved.
Many helmet intercoms sound fine when you are stationary, but when you hit about 80km/h the bass is drowned out by the wind noise.
However, these still have a full and rounded sound with plenty of bass, even at highway speeds.
They are also louder.
Now Sena don’t want to deafen riders, but they acknowledge that many riders use filtered earplugs with their intercoms.
I use the Alpine MotoSafe which filter out harmful wind noise, but allow you to still hear important sounds such as sirens, screeching braes, car horns and, of course, your music, albeit at a slightly reduce volume.
However, this can be difficult when you’re out on the road unless you have your laptop with you.
The 50 series now comes with wifi capability allowing you to automatically download firmware updates with the special charging cable.
Just plug in the wifi charger and connect to a nearby wifi source such as your phone’s hotspot.
Wifi charger
Mesh
Mesh is an intercom software system that allows multiple riders to connect even when some riders are out of line of sight.
It’s not a system I use much, but for group rides it is very convenient and is a vital safety feature. (In fact, on one occasion, a rider behind me yelped and I knew straight away he had gone down even though I couldn’t see him.)
Critics say the Mesh software is unreliable, but Sena claim the flaws have been fixed.
I haven’t found any difficulties at all. In fact, there is less “crackling” interference from surrounding obstacles such as blind corners, trees, buildings, trucks, etc.
Sena says the intercom range s up to 2km in open terrain, which is about right by my tests.
I haven’t tested its full capacities with a “virtually limitless” number of riders in Open Mesh and 24 riders in Group Mesh intercom. (I don’t have that many friends!)
However, I have no reason to disbelieve Sena’s claims that Mesh extends range up to 8km (5miles) between a minimum of six riders.
Sena 50R tech specs
Price: $545 (single pack), $965 (dual pack)
Warranty: Two (2) year from date of purchase on manufacturers defects
Dimensions: 97mm x 48mm x 27 mm (3.8in x 1.8in x 1.0in)
Speakers: 40mm diameter, 7.2mm thick
Weight: 65g (2.29 oz)
Operating temperature: -10°C to 55°C (14°F – 131°F)
Bluetooth: 5.0
Working distance: up to 2 km (1.2 miles) in open terrain; Mesh extends up to 8km (5miles) between a minimum of 6 riders
Bluetooth Intercom: 4 riders
Open Mesh Intercom: virtually limitless (9 channels)
Group Mesh Intercom: 24 riders
Microphone Noise Cancellation: Advanced Noise Control
