Android Auto/Apple CarPlay For Any Motorcycle: New Option

[advrider]

Want to upgrade your machine with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay capability, or maybe add dashcams, or tire pressure monitoring? If the factory doesn’t offer that upgrade for your bike, even if your bike is a 40-year-old relic, you may soon be able to get this modern tech thanks to the NaviCam CL876.

GPS and electric eyes

The NaviCam is basically an accessory “smart screen” for your motorcycle. From the factory, many new bikes offer TFT screens that connect to your mobile phone and helmet comm via Bluetooth. This can make it easier to use turn-by-turn navigation systems, or stream music—but these systems are typically not offered on lower-priced bikes. The NaviCam is specifically designed to be a universal-fit unit for (almost) all motorcycles.

If your bike didn’t come with a fancy-pants dash, the NaviCam allows you to add those features. Photo: NaviCam

It mounts with a RAM-style ball on the back, which can connect to your bike via claw mount, handlebar mount, steering stem mount, or other option. The 6.86-inch screen offers a wide view, but it’s less bulky than many of the TFTs on the market. Perhaps this is to allow easy access to keyswitch or your bike’s stock gauges? Screen resolution is 1280x480p, with 1000-lumen brightness (auto-darkening as needed).

When connected, the Navicam CL876 offers Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, depending which OS your phone runs. This allows you to easily control navigation, music playback and other mobile functions as needed.

The CL876 also offers a wired connection to a 1080p/60fps dash camera in front and rear, and a wireless connection to tire pressure monitors. The cameras can be set to either straight recording or loop mode. These two add-ons will set you back extra money, but many riders will probably be especially interested in these functions as TPMS is hard to find on a bike that isn’t a premium current-gen machine, and no major OEM offers dashcams yet.

You may remember that we’ve reviewed some similar, but less-advanced units on ADVrider before. Here’s how NaviCam’s marketeers stack up their product against some competitors’ older units. We can’t say whether the NaviCam is better or not, without testing it, but it does look good on a spec sheet. Photo: NaviCam

 

How to buy

For now, the NaviCam CL876 is on Kickstarter, with potential buyers offered Early Bird Pricing (about 35 percent off, in most cases). The unit itself is only $269 US with that offer, but the real deal is the $299 US price tag for the unit plus two dashcams. The company says it will ship these units in November, so if it’s not a scam, you’ll have plenty of time this winter to install the NaviCam while you wait for better spring weather.

To be clear, like all Kickstarter projects, this is not without risk. You could lose all your money spent on this gadgetry, if they don’t deliver. But this tech is not pie-in-the-sky stuff; it simply appears that NaviCam is offering existing tech and features that nobody else has been fussed about, so far. See more details here, if you’re interested.

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