Garmin brings its radar safety tech to motorbikes for the first time, but I'm not convinced

(Image credit: Garmin)

Garmin's new system for motorbikes builds on cycling radar tech
Audio and visual alerts are sent to headsets and sat-nav systems
Handlebar-mounted lights alert riders to approaching vehicles

Building on Garmin’s experience with its Varia bicycle radar systems, the company has just unveiled similar technology that it hopes will equip motorcyclists with improved situational awareness on the road.

As with its Varia bicycle-based system, which takes the form of a rear light that synchs up with a handful of the brand’s cycling computers and a smartphone app to deliver notifications about vehicles approaching from behind, the zūmo R1 radar takes things a step further with both audio and visual notifications.

Although Garmin is frustratingly scant on details, it appears that the zūmo R1 radar requires hard-wiring into a motorcycle’s onboard battery, with the unit discreetly mounted to the top or bottom of a motorcycle’s rear license plate.

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You can then run several more wires up to the handlebar-mounted lighting system, should you want to make use of the visual indicators notifying of surrounding traffic.

Garmin | zumo R1 Radar | Ride and See - YouTube

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When a vehicle approaches fast from the rear, these LEDs will light up red before turning amber on either the left or right hand side of the handlebar to indicate which side the car is passing on, helping riders banish the blind spot.

On top of this, riders can also receive audio prompts through compatible helmet-mounted headsets, as well as an additional radar display that appears on either the brand’s zūmo R1 Radar smartphone app or a compatible zūmo XT2 motorcycle sat-nav head unit.

Seeing as the water and dust-proof radar itself doesn’t feature any sort of display, users will have to download the smartphone app to access things like light brightness settings, as well as how near or far away approaching vehicles have to be before the system alerts the radar.

According to Garmin’s specs, the radar is able to detect vehicles up to 60 meters away, while a rear-facing LED attached to the zūmo R1 radar unit glows amber when the system is activated, but changes its hue to red as a vehicle gets closer to increase drivers' awareness of a rider ahead.

The system is on sale now, costing £519 /$599 / AU$1,099, with shipping slated to start in five to eight weeks.

Analysis: A lot of faff and money for a little extra safety

A number of motorcycle manufacturers, including Ducati, are already shipping models with both Adaptive Cruise Control and a similar Blind Spot Detection system built into their vehicles.

These play nicely with the bike’s head unit and don’t require any additional (and unsightly) cables or lights to spoil a motorcycles clean aesthetic.

As time moves on, it’s only natural that even more advanced safety technology, much of which will be borrowed from the four-wheeled world, will filter down to the more expensive motorcycle models on sale.

Garmin’s retrofit radar system works well on bicycles, which don’t tend to have mirrors and travel at a much slower pace compared to motorcycles, making fast-approaching traffic from the rear something to be very wary of.

But this additional kit feels like a lot of effort, faff and outlay for something that can as easily be achieved with a good old-fashioned mirror and shoulder check – something motorcycle instructors drill into you when navigating the learner stages.

What’s more, past experience with Garmin’s Varia system on a road bicycle proved that it worked fabulously well on quiet country lanes, where the traffic is generally much less dense, but it came rather unstuck in bustling cities like London or New York.

Although we haven't tested it yet, it’s likely to be a very similar story with the zūmo R1 radar and, considering motorcycles tend to thrive in the city, the system could actually end up being more of a nannying hindrance than a helping hand.

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Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.