Chigee AOI lite
- Thread starter smudger64
- Start date
Well I've had mine for 2 weeks now and I'm impressed, does everything it says on the tin. The resolution on the screen is very sharp so easy to see even for 60+ year old eyes so don't be put off by the relatively small size. As mentioned on ridercamtv there are no BT conflicts like you get on many nav devices so headset connection has been 100% reliable.
Control from the wizz wheel works great, though you can only scroll left and right, you action the highlighted button by a short press on the indicator, what you can't do is zoom in and out on a map like the BMW Nav by turning the wheel, you have to find the zoom in/out button on your chosen may and then action that, not as convenient but it works.
Blind spot detection obviously doesn't replace mirror checks but in busy urban scenarios with multiple lanes it's a useful aid to have that extra warning and it is very noticeable.
An issue raised by some is the fact you can't remove it from the bike when you're parked. It would take some force to break it off the bike and probably trash it in the process, Personally I think it looks factory fitted and I like the fact that the wires are all sealed into the back of it so less chance of moisture to get in.
Camera's appear good quality, only interested in them as a dash cam and for that they work well.
I really rate CarPlay and find it very useful but one downside over a phone is on some apps not all the information you get on the phone is displayed on the CarPlay screen. MyrouteApp Next has come on a long way and has some very useful features on it's dash but these don't show on the CarPlay screen.
Expensive?? Yes, but when you look at what you get then compare that with buying camera's, a Nav and other stuff like the latest BMW offering it starts to look like good value.
Early days, so not a full review but so far very happy with it!
Control from the wizz wheel works great, though you can only scroll left and right, you action the highlighted button by a short press on the indicator, what you can't do is zoom in and out on a map like the BMW Nav by turning the wheel, you have to find the zoom in/out button on your chosen may and then action that, not as convenient but it works.
Blind spot detection obviously doesn't replace mirror checks but in busy urban scenarios with multiple lanes it's a useful aid to have that extra warning and it is very noticeable.
An issue raised by some is the fact you can't remove it from the bike when you're parked. It would take some force to break it off the bike and probably trash it in the process, Personally I think it looks factory fitted and I like the fact that the wires are all sealed into the back of it so less chance of moisture to get in.
Camera's appear good quality, only interested in them as a dash cam and for that they work well.
I really rate CarPlay and find it very useful but one downside over a phone is on some apps not all the information you get on the phone is displayed on the CarPlay screen. MyrouteApp Next has come on a long way and has some very useful features on it's dash but these don't show on the CarPlay screen.
Expensive?? Yes, but when you look at what you get then compare that with buying camera's, a Nav and other stuff like the latest BMW offering it starts to look like good value.
Early days, so not a full review but so far very happy with it!
Seems inexpensive tbh if bought via indiegogo
Sounds like I made the right call then! Am a big fan of CarPlay too. So I assume there is no functionality for turning the wheel itself or for long press left or right?
Maybe that will come in time. Would be good to be able to switch from CarPlay to the inbuilt menu and back again with a long press (as I can do in my car with the home button). Also a long press on the indicator button to bring up Siri would be nice too.
Speaking of which can you set it up to automatically go to car play or do you have to select it from the menu whenever you start up?
The only down side I can see over my current iPhone/TomTom app set up, is that I use an SP anti vibration wireless charger mount, where the Nav normally is. Ok when I’m using my tank bag that plugs into the power outlet, as I can stick my phone on charge in there, but not if it’s in my pocket. I suspect CarPlay will run the battery down pretty quick. Although I could
Keep the mount I guess and move it to the bars.
Either way it does seem to tick all of the boxes.
Still awaiting my unit, but apparently the long press left/right changes from CarPlay to video feed to the screen with speed and tyre pressures.
What I am curious about is what happens when you use the wheel to go into the BMW menu in the bike to look at things like the trip computer. When in that menu does the Chigee ignore the wheel or does it randomly scroll about as you navigate the BMW menus?
What I am curious about is what happens when you use the wheel to go into the BMW menu in the bike to look at things like the trip computer. When in that menu does the Chigee ignore the wheel or does it randomly scroll about as you navigate the BMW menus?
Long presses to the left and right will change what page you are looking at, turning it has no effect (atm).
The unit appears to default to whatever the last page was that you were using.
Power draw on the phone isn't too bad, the phone screen goes blank when it's in CarPlay mode so there must be some savings there. I was out for about 5 hours the other day and still had some charge left in my phone
If you are in the device main menu or the metrics menu scrolling through the TFT menus has no effect on the Chigee. However if in CarPlay mode scrolling will change both. In practice this is a non issue. phone, nav and music is now all controlled via the Chigee and settings and info can only be accessed when you are stopped so quickly selecting the main page on Chigee will stop the device scrolling. I don't have the OBD gizmo but I think using that will bring up all the stuff the Nav used to show on the metrics screen, not something Ive ever used so again, a non issue for me.
One thing that I don't think they clarify enough is 'security recording'. Basically if someone tampers with your bike Chigee will record a video loop. It's quite sensitive and when you switch on the bike you will be informed that the bike has recorded video and asks if you want to review it. This is a nice touch but........If some twat nicks your bike you have no access to the footage!! You can only view it on a direct wifi connection to your phone. That said, if someone accidentally knocks your bike over in the carpark and stands it back up and walks away without saying anything you may capture the bastards face on your camera!!
Thanks. I only really use it to reset the trip counter or look at the pressures so shouldn’t be a big deal.
Do you have the height and width of the actual visible screen (not the unit entirely)? I think it’s technically a smaller diagonal than the iPhone I’m using, but suspect it’s a different aspect ratio so may actually have more useable screen, if that makes sense.
I ordered the crossbar mount so it’ll be going on the nav bar where my current Quadlock is mounted. Hoping to hide the cables between the screen (it’s a black short screen you can’t see through), but not looking forward to routing the camera wires. I’ve not yet decided where I’ll be putting the cameras.
I'll measure later but I'd say it was smaller than an iPhone pro but has a better aspect.
I've fitted mine to the nav bar with the extra crossbar mount, it works well and is rock solid (the device has some isolation rubbers). There ar 4 wires coming out the back that I've zip tied to the bar and are no more obtrusive than the Nav wire. All the wires are the same length so you end up with a lot of connections all in the same place. I've fitted the connections inside a piece of push bike inner tube, sealed at the top but open at the bottom to allow any water to escape, this happens down by the area where the power connector is for the GPS. It's zip tied to the frame down there and there is just enough clearance for the fork tubes when you turn the bars right. You don't see it when riding but when someone pointed me to aliexpress where you can buy a knock off cockpit cover for under 2 quid (Wunderlich is 80quid!!) I bought one and it completely hides any of the Chigee wiring.
Yes, routing the camera wires is a pain, I have a GS, I removed the right side covers, pretty easy and used a piece of wire to find a route to the battery. Rear camera is glued and screwed to the underside of the rear rack so sits just above the tail light, front is on the mudguard and doesn't seem to have any vibration issues
Looks like we’re all singing from the same book!
Have also ordered the mount for the cross bar and have one of those knock off cockpit covers to hide the wiring.
Not looking forward to the install, but plan to remove plenty of body work to make it easy as possible. Also have a nippy Norman converter which plugs into the satnav socket and converts it to a usb. Have been using this for my phone mount, which I’m going to keep, but move to the handle bars or possibly use the same mount and attach it to one of my mirrors.
So am hoping to use a spiller on that, use one for the charger and take the constant live from the other. Not sure if the splitter will reduce the amps/volts, If that doesn’t work i’ll go for the 7.5amp fuse under the seat and splice into that instead.
Once it’s all in, I’ve got a number of Siri Shortcuts pre-programmed, which I use in the car, drive home, put 6music on, play my favourites etc.
Also will try to keep the Bluetooth connection to the phone as it nice to have all the trip data recorded on the bmw connected app (all it’s good for!). The only issue I’ve had with this in the past is that it switches the playback source on the phone from my Sena to the bike and since the Sena isn’t connected to that, I get no sound. So have another apple shortcut that’s triggered by the Bluetooth connection between my phone and the bike. That resets the playback device to the Sena.
Even when it’s easy, it’s never easy!
Have also ordered the mount for the cross bar and have one of those knock off cockpit covers to hide the wiring.
Not looking forward to the install, but plan to remove plenty of body work to make it easy as possible. Also have a nippy Norman converter which plugs into the satnav socket and converts it to a usb. Have been using this for my phone mount, which I’m going to keep, but move to the handle bars or possibly use the same mount and attach it to one of my mirrors.
So am hoping to use a spiller on that, use one for the charger and take the constant live from the other. Not sure if the splitter will reduce the amps/volts, If that doesn’t work i’ll go for the 7.5amp fuse under the seat and splice into that instead.
Once it’s all in, I’ve got a number of Siri Shortcuts pre-programmed, which I use in the car, drive home, put 6music on, play my favourites etc.
Also will try to keep the Bluetooth connection to the phone as it nice to have all the trip data recorded on the bmw connected app (all it’s good for!). The only issue I’ve had with this in the past is that it switches the playback source on the phone from my Sena to the bike and since the Sena isn’t connected to that, I get no sound. So have another apple shortcut that’s triggered by the Bluetooth connection between my phone and the bike. That resets the playback device to the Sena.
Even when it’s easy, it’s never easy!
Hi just ordered mine should be with me end of Feb.
As I am taking off the Sat nav cradle and mounting Chigee to cross bar where would be the best location to add the live switched wire? Could I use the original Sat navigation plug with a plug adapter or would the fuse under seat be better? Thanks
Whichever you find easiest, would seem best. Providing the device works, it really doesn’t matter. The only thing to consider might be, if you go direct to the battery, the cradle the device sits in might well stay live. Something as simple as a Thunderbox would solve that problem.
Many thanks I have had a Hex on my other GS’s but pick my brand spanker up 9th March and don’t want to be hacking in to wiring on first day. Not fitting a Hex to this one as I don’t need it also bought the wiz wheel adapter on the Chigee
also they are unlikely to be stealing it in front of either camera.
And what will you do then? Find them and smash their teeth in?
Hi I have just received a message from Chigee confirming that mine has been despatched. My question is I am removing the BMW sat nav and attaching the Chigee straight to cross bar mount.
I have bought the adapter for wizz wheel am I correct in thinking I can use the power feed off the redundant sat nav plug just get the adapter from NN
Hi could you explain how how and where you wired it up please. Im also mounting mine to sat nav crossbar but am unable to find any information on wiring in the device.
Thanks in advance
I don’t have mine yet, but it has permanent 12v as well as switched 12v wires. One to battery +ve and the other could be picked up from the GPS adapter for the switched 12v.
It needs both so it can stay alive long enough after ignition off to save the looped recording files (it has no internal battery). It also uses the permanent 12v in case you want the parking camera feature.
Thanks I wasn’t sure if you could use the old sat nav plug for full power feed connection instead of wiring to battery. It would save alot of messing about. Just buy the plug with the three wires from NN
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