For years, the dream of integrating technology seamlessly into motorcycle riding has been just over the horizon. The promise of staying connected, informed, and safe without taking your eyes off the road has fueled innovation in motorcycle accessories. Enter the Hud Bike Helmet, a game-changing piece of tech that’s transforming how riders experience the road. Among the leaders in this space is the EyeRide HUD system, and after extensive testing, it’s clear this technology is not just a gimmick, but a genuine leap forward for rider safety and convenience.
The Quest for Safer Motorcycle Riding: Why HUD Bike Helmets?
Motorcycle riding is exhilarating, but it demands constant attention. Traditional GPS devices or phone mounts, while helpful, force riders to divert their gaze from the road. Even a momentary glance down can be perilous. At highway speeds, those seconds translate to covering significant distances with your eyes off potential hazards. This is where the brilliance of a HUD bike helmet shines. By projecting critical information directly into the rider’s line of sight, these systems minimize distractions and maximize road awareness.
Early attempts at helmet HUDs faced challenges, but companies like Eyelights have persevered, refining the technology and delivering practical, user-friendly solutions like the EyeRide HUD. Having previously experienced a now-defunct helmet HUD system, the potential was clear, but the execution needed to be flawless. The EyeRide system, with its focus on clarity, ease of use, and safety, appears to have cracked the code.
EyeRide HUD system components including display, puck, and helmet mount
EyeRide HUD: A Closer Look at the Technology
The EyeRide HUD bike helmet system is ingeniously designed with four key components working in harmony:
- The Puck: This hockey-puck sized module mounts discreetly to the side of your helmet and houses the system’s brain – the battery and CPU. It’s the powerhouse that drives the entire experience.
- The OLED Prism Display: Mounted inside the helmet, near your eye, this adjustable arm holds the magic – an OLED prism projecting crisp, clear visuals. The adjustability is crucial for achieving optimal viewing.
- Integrated Audio: Stereo speakers and a microphone are seamlessly integrated into the helmet, enabling voice commands, phone calls, and potentially rider-to-rider communication.
- Optional Bluetooth Remote: For riders who prefer tactile control, a small Bluetooth remote can be mounted on the handlebars, offering easy access to system functions without voice commands.
Setting up the EyeRide system requires some patience, especially for first-timers. It’s akin to installing a standard motorcycle communication system, involving minor adjustments to helmet padding to position the display, mic, and speakers correctly. Eyelights provides helpful installation videos, and the effort invested in proper setup pays off significantly in performance and comfort. While optimized for full-face helmets, the EyeRide can also be adapted for DOT-approved open-face helmets.
On the Road with EyeRide: Clarity and Performance
The most immediate and impressive aspect of the EyeRide HUD bike helmet is the display quality. The OLED prism projects a vibrant, sharp, and surprisingly transparent image. It surpasses previous HUD systems in clarity and color fidelity, making displayed information easily digestible at a glance. Adjusting the prism arm to find the perfect viewing angle is essential initially, but once dialed in, it becomes second nature to fine-tune it for optimal clarity.
The system seamlessly integrates with smartphones via the EyeRide app, supporting both Apple CarPlay and a dedicated “Captain Rider” app. The Captain Rider app allows for system adjustments, wireless connection management, and even facilitates communication with other riders (a feature that wasn’t fully tested during this review but holds promising potential).
Controlling the EyeRide system is intuitive, offering both voice command capability (via Siri/CarPlay) and the optional Bluetooth controller. While voice commands are functional, the Bluetooth controller provides a more reliable and immediate way to navigate menus and functions, especially at speed. However, Eyelights could improve the handlebar mounting options for the controller beyond the included sticky tape.
Rider's perspective of the EyeRide HUD display in a helmet.
The transparent nature of the HUD display allows for information to be overlaid directly in the rider’s line of sight without completely obstructing the view. While it can be positioned directly in the center, tilting it slightly upwards, into the upper periphery, proved to be a comfortable and effective placement for quick glances. Managing calls, music, and navigation via voice commands through Siri worked reliably. Audio quality from the integrated speakers is adequate for navigation prompts and calls, but audiophiles might desire higher fidelity sound for music, perhaps through future speaker upgrade options.
Adapting to riding with a HUD bike helmet takes a few rides. Similar to learning to use motorcycle mirrors, the HUD becomes a source of information glanced at as needed, particularly for navigation or incoming calls. It doesn’t dominate your vision but is readily available when you need it.
Safety First: The Core Benefit of a HUD Bike Helmet
The fundamental question surrounding any motorcycle technology is safety. And surprisingly, HUD bike helmets like EyeRide can enhance rider safety. For riders accustomed to glancing at handlebar-mounted GPS units or phones, the EyeRide system is a significant safety upgrade. The crucial advantage of a HUD is keeping your eyes on the road. Even brief glances away from the road to check a GPS or speedometer can be dangerous, especially at speed.
HUD technology, pioneered in aviation and increasingly common in automobiles, places essential information where it’s quickly and easily accessible – in the rider’s natural field of vision. This minimizes reaction time and keeps the rider focused on the road ahead. The adjustability of the EyeRide HUD is another safety plus. Riders can position the display optimally and even quickly push it out of their direct line of sight if desired, reverting to a completely traditional riding experience instantly.
Final Verdict: EyeRide HUD – A Recommended Safety and Tech Upgrade
The EyeRide HUD bike helmet system represents a significant step forward in motorcycle technology, successfully merging safety and convenience. Eyelights has delivered a product that is not only functional but genuinely enhances the riding experience. While minor improvements like controller mounting and potential speaker upgrades could be considered for future iterations, the core functionality, display clarity, and safety benefits are undeniable.
For riders intrigued by the concept of HUD bike helmets and seeking a practical, currently available solution, the EyeRide system is highly recommended. It’s more than just a gadget; it’s a tool that can genuinely contribute to safer, more informed, and more enjoyable motorcycle rides.
Eyelights EyeRide in-helmet HUD system: Approximately $450 USD MSRP
