Heads-up displays (HUDs) are steadily becoming a standard feature in modern cars, allowing you to see various driving data right on your windscreen, so you can stay fully informed without taking your eyes off the road. It’s incredibly useful, so much so that there’s a good chunk of motorcycle riders who will probably appreciate it, too. Problem is, there’s no place in a motorcycle to put a similar HUD at eye level, which is why we’ve been seeing them integrated in helmet visors. Of course, doing that forces you to use the same helmet all the time. If you’d rather not do that, the BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses offers a different way to put a digital readout on a rider’s line of sight.
A smart pair of sunglasses, the wearable comes with a built-in HUD on the right lens, allowing you to see pertinent ride information, no matter where you are looking. Just slip them under your helmet before you hit the road and you’ll have access to any data you need right in front of your eyes the whole time.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses look like regular eyewear, albeit one fitted with an optical projection module on the inner part of the frame. This display tech beams the information straight to the right lens, allowing you to see pertinent riding data right in your field of view. It can show a variety of information, including speed, speed limit, navigation, and more, with a button on the left temple allowing you to switch the display on and off at will. A built-in battery keeps the HUD running for up to 10 hours between charges, so this should keep you company even for longer rides.
The glasses will need to be paired with the BMW Motorrad Connected app, where you can adjust the precise position of the HUD on the lens and choose the exact kinds of information it displays, allowing you to customize the readout to your liking. Obviously, this setup is likely to work best with a duly-equipped BMW motorcycle, although it’s supposed to work with other bikes as well.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses are offered in two sizes, medium and large, each coming with a set of two swappable lenses (one tinted, one 85 percent transparent) sporting integrated light sensors that ensure you’re able to see the riding information clearly. If you wear prescription glasses, the lenses can be ground and adjusted to the required visual acuity using an RX adapter, so you just take it to an optician to get it to the same grade as your everyday glasses. The lenses come with UV protection, of course, so they should be as protective as your favorite sunglasses, while four swappable nose pads allow you to dial in the fit of the sunglasses. According to the outfit, the sunglasses were designed specifically with a slim shape, ensuring they can be worn comfortably under any kind of motorcycle helmet.
The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses is slated to arrive later in the year. European pricing is set at €690, although no US pricing has been announced.