Carpuride 712D First Impressions

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Wasn’t sure where to put this. It’s sort of a Mod, so here goes. This is not intended to be a full review. I’ll add to it later if anyone is interested in any additional info as I get more familiar with the unit.

I’d been researching dedicated MC CarPlay units for a bit. Knew I wanted one but didn’t want to spend a bunch. Based mostly off of some review on a Triumph forum, this is the unit I settled on.

Tried it in a few positions around the cockpit. Originally I had it on the windscreen support next to the Oxford heated grip control. Went for a spin, hated it there. Too distracting up high, always looking right at it. It also put extra weight on the front subframe which already holds so much, and which I’ve broken and had welded once already. Down low on the bars was a better choice for me. This unit comes with both a USB power cord and a fused direct to battery with lugs. After Trying the USB and having power cut out a few times, I went to the battery. I just have to remember to turn the unit off when I get off. Shouldn’t be hard.

Connectivity to iPhone was straightforward. Phone is also paired to in helmet Bluetooth. This setup works well. The plan is to keep my phone in my pocket so as not to wreck its camera by keeping it on the bars. I can run a USB power cord from the bikes accessory socket in front of the gas tank to the phone in my pocket.

There is a 3 button wired remote that I have inboard on the left grip. Instructions for what the buttons do are included. I figured out how to take a still shot, and the Home button gets you back to the main screen. Top button turns the unit on and off if you hold it in for a few seconds. They all have multiple functions but I’ve got to play with it a lot more to figure it all out.

Front and rear cameras were easy to mount on my Tiger. We’ll see if the adhesive lasts past a few washes.

Camera quality isn’t great for stills or video. But I knew that. GoPros they are not.
But they’re better than nothing.

I just finished the install yesterday morning in time for a planned benefit group ride. My first. Not the point of this post but pics and videos below are from that ride.

front camera still:

rear camera still (vignetting from rail rack):

front cameras video:

rear camera video (same scene):

The companion app that is needed to get the pics and videos onto your phone and then to the iPhones camera roll is the wonkiest bit of tech I’ve ever experienced. Involves switching phone Bluetooth/wifi on/off in some maddening fashion. Never got the phone to do it. I was successful in using my iPad to get pics onto iPad then up to Imgur, and videos onto iPad then up to YouTube. The apps UI had me changing from portrait/landscape and back. You could only access certain operations one way but not the other. It’s ridiculous and super frustrating.

That’s all for now. Need to salvage the little bit of daylight left and go for a ride.

Minor update. Frustrated. Try as I might, I could not connect the unit to show CarPlay when I got on to go for a ride. I think I somehow screwed up the connection going back and forth from phone to iPad. Would not properly pair to my phone. I’ll monkey with it more later in the week.

 

[Rob S.]

Yikes!!! Not distracting enough.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Big Bird flapping his wings in front of me was more of a distraction than the 7” CarPlay screen.

 

[rphillips]

No doubt, good for the folks that need this stuff... For me, I don't remember ever needing it.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I often ride where I'm going in and out of cell service. The main reasons I got it is are: To have a better/bigger screen for map apps Waze, Apple Maps, or Google Maps. There are also dedicated off-road apps that I'll be better able to take advantage of; and to make it easier to switch in-helmet entertainment from Spotify or Sirius, or Amazon Music. (which require cell service), to the music on my phone (which does not). The cameras are nice, as I've often wanted to to take a pic or video of something as I'm riding, but don't want to go for the full GoPro or Insta 360 route.

rphillips, I realize I'm speaking Greek to you. No one "needs" any of this. And I realize this isn't for everyone.

 

[trevor]

I recently bought a cheap Chinese version for $131cdn to my door. Doesn't have the cameras though....I just wanted my phone out of the elements

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Trevor, did you get the Chigee?

 

[trevor]

Trevor, did you get the Chigee?

I got the AOCI one...

 

[Rob S.]

I remember when all we needed was an engine and 2 wheels. Handlebars. Maybe a seat. I'm old. :indecisiveness:

 

[rphillips]

Dang Rob, you remember when????? That's what I have today... Well, have added the flip phone.

 

[trevor]

Yeah but you two don't actually ride anywhere.

 

[rphillips]

Kind'f scared to venture off too far, at our age, we may not have enough time left to make it back home.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

If you two are through, I’ll continue.

I came home from work and turned on the Carpuride with the button on the remote, and the CarPlay came up and immediately connected to my phone. Hallelujah. Don’t know why it was having such an issue last night.

Looking through the saved videos, I realized that it records around the clock on loop. Deletes older files as needed unless specific pics and videos are deliberately locked by me. Seems to be quite a bit of storage on the included 64GB card. But this also means that turning the unit off using the grip-mounted remote only turn off the screen. The cameras continue to record. I don’t know how long it would take to run down the battery. My guess would be a day or 2. I’m not going to find out. Digging around under the seat, and studying the wiring diagram, I found an unused accessory pair of wires that comes live only when the bike is running. That seems ideal. Going to go wire it up now.

I believe I will also be pulling the memory card and taking it to my computer when I want to download videos and pics. It’s not exactly convenient as you have to unscrew a cover, but my frustrations using the app just aren’t worth the hassle.

 

[salty_monk]

I just bought a 603B to put on my Tenere.. Will see how it works out

 

[GRich]

Rich, have you noticed a large (ish) current draw when your unit powers up?

I've been thinking about getting something like the Carpuride unit for my GK, but I dont want to overwhelm my charging system. I think other than the initial frustration of installing and getting used to new tech on a cycle, the only other complaint was the current draw.

Thanks!

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I now have the unit wired to an accessory circuit on the bike. It is only live when the bike is running. It does not come on with just the key on. Like the headlight on this bike, it doesn't get power until the engine is actually running, so no worries about current draw there. I haven't been on any long trips with it to see if there is a major draw while running. But I do have a voltmeter in view all the time. It's in the din (like a euro cigarette lighter) plug/USB port up front. And it always shows +14.2 when I'm running. Again, this is on my 2015 Triumph Tiger. I think this is the best way to run it. I never have to worry about forgetting to turn it off. The trade-off is, If I want to do anything with it: review pics/videos, change camera settings, etc, I have to start the bike. As for Waze or other map stuff, Spotify, etc. I just make sure those apps are up on my phone before I put it in my pocket (phone is supplied constant power from a USB cord to a 12v accessory plug up front). Carplay fires up as I'm pulling out and picks up everything from my phone.