Not a day goes by where we don't hear about some new technological marvel, seemingly developed overnight. Such was the case when smartphones popped up in everyone's pocket out of nowhere. From students to our grandparents, everyone now had a tiny computer in the palm of their hand. And with it came all the ups and downs that are usually associated with new technology. For every person that learned about something new on their phone, another was driving recklessly, without looking up from that same device. That's something we as riders are acutely aware of, especially when we're out on the streets. So you could say that our relationship with smartphones is somewhat... complicated.
But nevertheless, the benefits of owning a smartphone, for us riders, far outweigh any of our trepidations. Other than the ability to look at a map, make a phone call, text someone or take a photo of our bike, there are a multitude of motorcycle-specific apps that have come a long way from being useless, feature-less data hogs. They now provide us with bike-centric navigation, accident detection tools and a way to find like-minded riders all over the world.
Connect With Your Bike
If you have a motorcycle from a mainstream manufacturer such as Harley-Davidson, they probably have an app available for download. A brief look through an app store, shows offerings from the likes of BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Yamaha, Kawasaki and many others. And they all offer similar features, tailored specifically for their bikes.
Depending on the provider, you can keep a log of your maintenance, track your rides and connect to the motorcycle itself, if it has that capability. If you have a new bike with Bluetooth, your app will most likely allow you to do many additional things with your bike, such as changing settings, viewing statistics like gas mileage, and working in reverse, allow the motorcycle to control your phone, letting you play music and answer calls, all while not taking your eyes off the road.
Navigate The World
With the proliferation of Google and Apple Maps, as well as a slew of lesser apps like Waze and MapQuest, you could simply mount your phone to the handlebars and go with the flow. There is a downside to that, however. Those apps are usually built with cars in mind. They have only one mode, and that's to get you to your end point as fast as possible, avoiding traffic, yes, but also anything interesting along the way. You'll typically be able to turn off highways and tollways, but that's about the end of customization for us bikers.
Apps like REVER, which was designed specifically for the motorcycling community, know exactly what we want. REVER comes with Butler Motorcycle Maps pre-installed (in the paid option), that have riders in mind. You can use the app to navigate as you would, say, Google Maps, but when you want to ride somewhere more interesting, just turn on the specific layers, and you'll see interesting routes highlighted throughout the area, options for riding off-road and many other motorcycle-related features. You'll also be able to track your rides, connect with other riders and plan detailed routes for future trips.
Accident And Crash Detection
Apple had made waves, recently, when they'd released their latest iPhone that had the capability to detect if you're involved in a crash. There was even an incident where a biker was involved in an accident, and his Apple Watch had alerted the authorities, which swiftly came to his rescue. That kind of technological progress all riders should be able to get behind. But getting a brand-new phone or watch can be a pricey proposition. And it may be a lot more affordable, though no less life-saving, to simply have an app installed that does the same thing.
There are several apps on the market that provide that service. Triumph had recently come out with their SOS app that detects a crash and sends out a call to local emergency services. Crucially, this app is available to all riders, regardless of what kind of bike they ride. REALRIDER, Detecht and EatSleepRIDE are standalone apps, that do the same thing. And it's important to note that although you can use most of these apps for free, to turn on certain features, which may include crash detection, you'll most likely have to pay a small subscription fee. But even if you do end paying $5 a month, that's still cheaper by a mile, than getting a brand-new iPhone that could do the same function.
Meet Other Riders Worldwide
Motorcycle riders come in all shapes and colors. And just like in any societal group, we can be extroverts or introverts. And regardless of whether you like to ride alone or in a group, there are times when we crave the comfort that comes with belonging to a community with similar tastes and interests. Sometimes, however, our living situations prevent us from finding those communities and that's where social apps have become the perfect way to connect, albeit digitally. But apps like Facebook and Twitter are enormous, populated by an entire world full of people. And it could be hard to find that little circle of friends you want.
Fortunately, apps like Brapper, Tonit and the previously mentioned Detecht can often times step in to fill that space. Each app is slightly different, and offers unique features such as ride tracking, photo sharing and group creations. They take the best attributes of Instagram or Facebook and tailor them for motorcycle riders. You can see if there are riders around you, looking for someone to ride with, plan a meeting in a group or share a map of a ride you'd taken as well as any photos or videos you took along the way. You may live off the beaten path somewhere, but there's no reason why you can't belong to a thriving motorcycle community.
Rent, Buy Or Sell A Motorcycle
Whether you're looking to buy a new motorcycle, rent one on vacation or to sell one of your old ones, most likely, you'll need the internet to help you do it. Sure, you could go to a dealer, but that could be a long, drawn out process, with no guarantee that your time will be well spent. You could also browse endlessly through local boards like Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, with varying results.
But now there's a growing list of websites and apps that provide services for riders looking to rent or buy a motorcycle. CycleTrader is probably the most known of the sales apps, that connects you with potential sellers (private or otherwise) and buyers. You can create a free ad for your bike, and post it with details and pictures. And if you're looking to rent while traveling in a new city, you could always check out Twisted Road. It's a good bet that you'll be able to find yourself an affordable motorcycle rental, in a style that you're comfortable with, or to simply rent a model to see if you'd want to eventually buy it. But whatever your ultimate need is, as a motorcycle rider, there's probably an app already made for it.