It seems that augmented reality, along with artificial intelligence, is the theme for 2023. BMW Motorrad has unveiled its ConnectedRide smart glasses. You’re probably familiar with the concept — smart glasses display information about your surroundings that you might otherwise gather from a smartphone or a console display.
These glasses, which actually look like a pair of glasses, albeit with thicker bows, will show motorcyclists the same sort of info you’d get from an in-car heads-up display (HUD). So expect speed, gear, and navigation information to be projected onto the two sets of lenses BMW will provide to bikers with enough cash to throw around.
Taking you for a ConnectedRide
BMW has put some thought into the ConnectedRide glasses. They pair with a smartphone rather than a bike, which suggests that they might be usable outside of BMW’s own motorcycle ecosystem. But they also rely on a handlebar-mounted controller, so maybe you’ll have to own one of BMW’s two-wheeled rides after all. They’re certainly priced high enough to make them more than an impulse buy.
The BMW ConnectedRide glasses are priced for Europe at a little over R14,000 (€690). For the money, buyers will secure the glasses, plus two sets of lenses. One is fully tinted, for use in sunlight, while the other set is 85% clear. These can be selected in either medium or large sizes, meaning they should suit almost every head/helmet configuration. There’s also an RX adaptor, meaning those needing prescription lenses can use the new smart tech. A visit to the optician (at your expense) will be in order, however.
The glasses are, of course, battery-powered. There’s a charge port at the temples but you probably won’t be doing that on the road. BMW reckons the battery is good for ten hours. That’s long enough for a trip to or from the coast, at BMW speeds. The only tricky bit? There’s no launch date attached to these smart glasses just yet.
