I'll never not admit that riding a motorcycle is dangerous. It is. The world around us isn't paying attention and as they scroll their phones, eat, apply makeup, or nod off thanks to the countless podcasts they have on repeat, we're at the mercy of their 5,000 to 9,000-pound killdozers.
As such, motorcyclists tend to have their heads on a swivel, attempting to pay attention to all the world's cagers as they merge, straddle lanes, and otherwise treat driving a car as if they were just walking to the grocery store—i.e. without a care in the world. But we can only watch so much from within our helmets. We can only see so much or be aware of so much when all we have are our eyes and two dinky-ass mirrors to keep us safe. That, however, could be changing.
Debuting at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Garmin dropped the zūmo R1 Radar system, which combines a rearview camera with a simple radar system that gives you eyes in the back of your head, as well as to the side of you, offering motorcyclists more awareness on the road.
Speaking ahead of the system's launch, the brand's VP of Global Consumers Sales, Dan Bartel, said, “We’re excited to bring innovative radar technology to our motorcycle customers with the zūmo R1
Radar. As all riders know, situational awareness is paramount when sharing the road. Information
about the location of approaching vehicles, especially those that may be in your blind spot, can allow
you to ride with more confidence and the high-visibility external lights can help other drivers be more
aware of you as well."
The zūmo system is comprised of a hard-wired radar system that mounts either above or below a motorcycle's license plate for a cleaner aesthetic, but provides the rider with a rear-view camera, as well as side blind-spot monitoring, thereby giving the rider awareness of not only what's in front of them through their helmets, but also completely around them. Twin lights mount to a motorcycle's handlebars, one on each side, to provide the rider with a clear understanding of what's beside them, as well as audio prompts that can be heard via connecting a compatible moto headset to the Garmin's app.
The prompts themselves can also be adjusted by the rider, including both the lights' intensity themselves, as well as the distance a rider wishes to be informed of a vehicle's presence. As for ruggedness, the system is IP67-rated both for dust and water ingress, and is likewise pairable to Garmin's zūmo XT2 navigation system, which will display a full-screen radar of "in-range vehicles."
As for price, it's $599.99, which for those who want peace of mind, as well as an extra set of eyes on the freeway, on your commute to work, or while legally lane-splitting, isn't too bad. I know from experience how more eyes could be beneficial, as does my right thigh. It is an interesting concept, though, especially as you don't need a new motorcycle to enjoy the benefits of the technology.
It could help a lot of folks avoid those drivers who just can't seem to quit Tesla's pretend Autopilot or the police running red lights.
