Product Review | Chigee AIO-5 Smart Riding System

Chigee is a hybrid company. It was founded in 2020 in the US but is based in Shenzen in the PRC and derives its name from a version of the Chinese word for “miracle”. Sound a bit odd? Fortunately its products, or at least the Chigee AIO-5 Lite, lay any doubts to rest.

This is a high-quality product that clearly belongs to the current “second wave” of quality Chinese products. Chigee says that it “aims to enhance the riding experience by providing innovative products that blend cutting-edge technology with stylish functionality,” and although that sounds like a big promise, I’m happy to say that the AIO-5 Lite bears it out.

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Feel free to call me a hypocrite for liking this product. I’m the bloke who has always bought bikes in their basic version; no touch-screens, no phone connections – as little electronic stuff as possible. But even before this kit arrived on my desk, I had an epiphany. I do have ABS on my Triumph, as well as tyre pressure monitoring. And contrary to my supposed beliefs, I would not like to do without either.

So the Chigee kit came at a good time. It is pretty much an all-in-one electronic pack. Most obviously, it offers an all-weather 5-inch touchscreen to mount on the handlebar and front and rear Sony cameras with Sony’s IMX307 STARVIS‑class image sensor. They serve for keeping an eye out behind you in tight traffic as well as for recording rides on an SD card. Resolution options are 1920 × 1080 p (Full HD) and 1920 × 720 p at 30 frames per second, which allow a choice between clarity and manageable file sizes. The lenses cover 150° and have a large f/1.8 aperture which admits plenty of light, helping with detail in dim conditions in much the same way as many dedicated dash cams.

The price of the Chigee AIO-5 Lite varies quite a bit; I have seen it as high as $1000 in a retail shop and as low as $600 online…

The unit turns on and the cameras automatically start recording when you turn on the ignition. There is no need to press a separate button, and storage depends only on the size of the SD card you use; it’s possible to capture hours of footage. If you want to save a particular sequence, there is a button for this on the handlebar remote.

Despite the external GPS module, you still depend on your phone for navigation. The module is used only for speed and system data. It kept a strong satellite lock in different conditions. Phone connection is quick and easy. The main unit offers access to a large number of navigation programs. Real-time Bluetooth tyre-pressure monitoring is included, as well as that useful handlebar-mounted remote for hands-free control. The remote means you can keep both hands on the handlebars and your eyes on the road. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality is there too. I don’t listen to music on the road, but if you do, you won’t miss your dose of The Doors.

I did not fit the unit to the Street Twin myself, but handed it over to my usual gang of helpers at Northside Motorcycles in Sydney. They reported no problems and suggested that I could probably have done it comfortably myself.

Sydney weather has been its usual unpredictable summer self, and I have been hit by more than one of its short but heavy summer storms. No problems with waterproofing of the Chigee system; it’s been a lot drier than me. The display and the buttons along the top, as well as the remote, are easy enough to use in the wet and with gloves on.

Summing up, then, I’d say that the positives include the high build quality with effective weatherproofing; bright display that’s readable in all weather including strong sunlight; independent GPS unit, reliable mobile phone integration and useful, safe handlebar remote; quality dual cameras providing rear view, and a complete ride record. Their hydrophobic lenses keep the view clear, even in the rain and darker conditions.

It’s hard to find negatives. Let me just say that installation is not quite plug and play, and the unit’s features may duplicate something you already have on your bike. The price of the Chigee AIO-5 Lite varies quite a bit; I have seen it as high as $1000 in a retail shop and as low as $600 online. Check Amazon for price. It’s not cheap, but the price reflects the quality; Chigee offers an over-engineered product, if anything. Perhaps not quite a “miracle” but good news indeed.

When I compiled the list of accessories I wanted with the AIO-5 Lite, I didn’t know which bike I was going to fit it to. That turned out to be the Triumph Street Twin, which has the Triumph tyre pressure monitoring system, so I didn’t need the one from Chigee. I passed it on to my buddy Mike, who has a venerable Vespa which barely has paint, never mind monitoring.

“This has certainly been an eye opener!” he said after installing the system. “Never having been too sure of my Vespa GTS 250s tyre pressure, especially when most garage pumps are about as accurate as a bag of cats, this addition is a marvel.

“Pairing the 2 valve caps was as easy as 1, 2, 3 and off we go. I no longer endanger my hands and fingers with the hot exhaust being so close to the rear tyre valve, simply looking at the small dial tells me in an instant whether my tyres need air or not. It also tells me the temperature of the air in the tyre.

“The battery is supposed to last for months and is easily recharged with the included USB cable. The only difficult decision with all of the different methods of attachment included in the box is where to place it on your bike! Good luck and enjoy.” Just one question: what does the bag of cats thing mean?

The TR100 two-way charging hub would have been redundant on the Triumph too, since I already had it set up for that. It found a home on my BMW F 760GS instead, where I tried it out and found that it worked fine – the battery charging and the accessory power functions both did their jobs. This is a tidy and unobtrusive – depending on where you fit it – tool that has a lot of potential on any bike.

Available from AMX Superstores currently on special for $899 – click here.