Apple's CarPlay infotainment system is finally coming to vehicles with two wheels.
Honda's new 2018 Gold Wing will be the first motorcycle in the world to have Apple CarPlay integration, according to CNET. The bike has a 7-inch LED screen on its handlebar dashboard, giving bikers a platform to control Maps, music, and more for an onscreen Apple experience that's been available on four wheels since 2014.
Apple insisted on a few extra safeguards to bring CarPlay to the bike. The connection isn't wireless — a feature that's still rare for CarPlay-enabled vehicles of any type — so users have to plug their iPhone into one of the motorcycle's USB ports, which are in the trunk and the tank's storage cubby.
A separate Bluetooth device with a microphone is also required for the CarPlay functionality, so riders will need a pair of wireless headphones in order to use it. Google declined to include support for its own smartphone-connected infotainment system, Android Auto, according to the report.
The Gold Wing's LCD screen doesn't have touch functionality, so riders have to depend on a panel on the motorcycle's tank or a four-way pad on the left handlebar to control their infotainment center on the road. That's much safer than fiddling on a phone while riding, which could be why Apple's finally bringing the platform to motorcycles.
The Gold Wing has a base price of $23,500 and hits the streets next February. It also offers a liquid-cooled six-cylinder engine, adaptive suspension, and a smart key. Your car might not have CarPlay, but your next motorcycle might.
Topics Apple
