Motorcycle performance in testing Aoocci C5 Pro

Aoocci’s C5 Pro display mirrors smartphones for motorcyclists via CarPlay and Android Auto. The test shows what else the little monitor has to offer.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto have made their way into the automotive sector, but motorcycle accessories have also now joined the fray. Chinese brand Aoocci offers the C5 with a five-inch display to provide bikers with information and entertainment while riding.

The motorcycle’s small cockpit has limited information display capabilities. The transition from LC to TFT displays in motorcycle manufacturing gradually began about ten years ago as access to more information became possible. Bluetooth connectivity with smartphones is now standard in current models, but displays are limited to small displays, so navigation in the cockpit is usually satisfied with simple turn-by-turn displays, i.e. arrow navigation.

The menus on the TFT display are operated almost exclusively via buttons on the handlebar; Touchscreens are still a long way from being installed on motorcycles. There are very few motorcycle models that already offer a touchscreen, like the Honda Africa Twin. Although navigation devices from manufacturers such as Garmin or TomTom specifically for the needs of motorcyclists have existed for almost two decades, they remain quite expensive. These are waterproof, glove-friendly touchscreens, and offer handlebar mount.

The alternative is motorcycle mounts for smartphones, of which there are more and more, but on the one hand sensitive devices are exposed to rain and vibration and on the other hand some cell phones do not react to touchscreen motorcycle gloves. Therefore, displays that mirror smartphone content wirelessly via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are a practical and often inexpensive solution for motorcyclists, while the smartphone remains safely stored in the jacket.

But these displays have the same problem as navigation devices: they are attached to the handlebar with a holder, but not every handlebar is suitable for it, sometimes the handlebar bend or lack of handlebar width prevents adequate attachment; Additionally, the monitors are often so large that they cover the cockpit and speedometer. It is important to consider these points before purchasing a display.

Assembling the bracket is simple, but we had to fiddle with the two included shells until they fit over the thin tubular handlebar (22mm diameter) without play. The angle of the screen can be adjusted and fixed with a screw. Unfortunately, the C5 does not have a USB port, so any USB plug on the motorcycle cannot be used to supply power. Cleanly laying cables into a motorcycle battery is a little more complicated, as the tank and seat have to be removed. We laid cables along the frame, but the necessary cable ties are not included in the scope of delivery.

Both of the included dash cams can be affixed to the motorcycle though with the appropriate screws included. Gluing has the advantage that there are no ugly holes in the motorcycle, but the question is how well the pre-made adhesive strips will hold up at high speeds. So we left it at a maximum of 100 km/h for testing.

The two tire pressure sensors included are simply replaced with the valve cap on the tire. To use the various apps, speakers and a microphone (both not included in delivery) must be installed and paired with the helmet. Alternatively, small wireless earphones (Apple AirPods in our case) can be used, although they do not fit under every helmet. You can then listen to navigation announcements, voice messages or music while driving. Of course, phone calls are only possible with the helmet-mounted microphone.

Aoocci’s C5 has a screen diagonal of 5 inches, making it relatively small and therefore suitable for two-wheelers. Two dash cams and two tire pressure sensors are also included. The housing meets protection class IP67 and is therefore immune to water and dust ingress. The enclosed operating instructions are in English only, but even people who do not speak this language can use the pictures.

The display is bright and high-contrast, so there’s no problem in reading it, even in direct sunlight. If you wish, you can also install a small sun protection on the housing.

The C5 supports CarPlay and Android Auto. As an iPhone user, the author of this test primarily tested CarPlay. It worked perfectly fine in testing. The motorcyclist can use selected apps on the screen of his smartphone.

The Aoocci starts as soon as the ignition is turned on, but can also be turned on and off using a button on the right side of the housing. The first start-up works perfectly, the C5 responds instantly and can be paired to a smartphone via Bluetooth. It also has Wi-Fi to connect to your cell phone and helmet simultaneously. The largest icon on the touchscreen is reserved for the driving recorder of the two dash cams. The six small icons are for selecting CarPlay, GPS info, Panel, Replay, Settings, and Bluetooth.

While driving, the “Panel” icon can be used to display a digital cockpit that shows the speed, direction the motorcycle is traveling, and tire pressure of both tires. When you tap the “Driving Recorder” icon, images from the dash cam are shown on the display (either individually or on both sides), but this seems a bit unnecessary to me: I can look ahead anyway and Rear-view mirror is used to view rearward. Of course, you can now argue that the rear dash cam shows vehicles in the blind spot, but that requires you to keep the image on the display constantly.

The “GPS” icon provides coordinates of the current position and shows the number of connected satellites. The two dash cams have a resolution of 1080 pixels in HD and are equipped with a G-sensor that detects vibration such as an impact or fall and automatically saves the last seconds filmed. For understandable reasons, I haven’t tried it to see how well it works. GPS tracking records the route and speed and the exact position of the vehicle. Important evidence for accidents and potential legal disputes with opponents in insurance companies.

We tested some apps while driving and didn’t notice any issues. Streaming music or speech into the helmet works perfectly; The quality of playback certainly also depends on the speakers used. After pairing the tire pressure sensors on the front wheel and rear wheel – Aoocci differentiates between sensor A and sensor B – has been done, they display the pressure in bars or psi. However, the accuracy of measurement is not guaranteed. We checked the values ​​with a precision pressure gauge and found a difference of minus 0.1 bar in both tires compared to the information given in the C5.

Aoocci C5 Pro comes with a special code from the manufacturer techstage22 Only 146 eurosThe Aoocci C5 without camera is about 20 euros cheaper.

The Aoocci C5 satisfactorily delivers on its promises, works reliably and offers good features. The manufacturer charges a reasonable list price of 185.19 euros for the C5 Pro package. Still, our conclusion is ambiguous, as the display encourages you to look at it again and again and distracts you from what’s happening on the road while driving. It is not free from danger in a car, but on a motorcycle it can have fatal consequences.

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